Republican
Governors Association – 2013-14
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(page updated June 26, 2014) disclaimer*
RGA, twitter || Finances (Form 8872) || DGA Organization
Chairman Gov. Chris Christie (NJ)
(elected chair Nov. 21,
2013, succeeding Gov. Bobby Jindal)
Vice Chairman
Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA)
Executive
Committee - Chris Christie (NJ), Bobby Jindal (LA); Scott Walker
(WI), Rick Scott (FL), Mike Pence (IN), Susana Martinez (NM), Tom
Corbett (PA), Nikki Haley (SC), Rick Perry (TX)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Director Phil Cox
(announced Jan. 3, 2011) Cox served as a member
of the RGA's political team in the 2010 cycle working on states
including FL and PA; he was also director of Gov. Bob McDonnell's
Opportunity Virginia
PAC/senior political advisor to McDonnell. Campaign manager for
Bob McDonnell's successful 2009 campaign for
governor of Virginia, then served as transition director. Campaign
manager or general consultant to more than one hundred campaigns over
the past decade. Graduate of the University of Virginia. Native of
Hingham, MA.
Director of Operations Larissa Ziemann
(started at the RGA in
March 2010 as a political
assistant, then executive assistant) M.S. in applied American
politics and policy (2009)
and B.S. in political science, criminology (2008) from Florida State
University.
General Counsel and Deputy Executive
Director Mike Adams
(started as in-house counsel in Jan. 2007) Also
partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP since Feb. 2012. Counsel to
the Deputy Attorney General at U.S. DOJ, 2006-07. Deputy general
counsel to Gov. Ernie Fletcher (KY). Associate at Dinsmore &
Shohl LLP, 2002-04. J.D. from Harvard Law School, 2001; B.A. in
political science from University of Louisville, 1998.
Governors Liaison and Director of Fundraising
Operations Monica Block
(June 2011) Scheduler for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Jan. 2010-mid-2011. Political assistant/scheduler at McDonnell for Governor, Feb.-Nov. 2009. B.A. degrees in communication and in government and international politics from George Mason University, 2009.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Director Gail Gitcho
(announced May 6, 2013) Senior advisor on Gabriel Gomez's campaign for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts (June 25, 2013). Communications director at Romney for President, April 2011-Nov. 2012. Communications director to Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) starting Feb. 2011. National press secretary for the RNC from May 2009 to Jan. 2010. Mid-Atlantic communications director for John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid. Gitcho started the 2008 presidential cycle as a regional press secretary for Romney for President. Communications director for U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL), 2004-07. Communications director for Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), 2003-04. Master's degree in political communications from Colorado State, 2003. Bachelor's degree in political communications from Ripon College in Wisconsin, 2001. Originally from San Antonio, TX. twitter
Press Secretary Jon Thompson
(started early March 2011) Director of radio and
television at the NRCC in the 2010 cycle. Press
assistant at the RNC, 2007-09. Degree in
political science from UNC Wilmington, 2007. From North
Carolina. twitter
Deputy Press Secretary Stacy Day
(Dec. 2013: started as an intern in June) B.A.
in journalism and
political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013. twitter
New Media and Tech
Director of Digital Strategy
Matthew
Gagnon
(Jan. 2012) Previously senior project manager at New Media Strategies, from June 2011. Director of new media communications for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, 2010-11. Deputy director of digital strategy at the NRSC, 2010. Public affairs analyst at New Media Strategies, Oct. 2008-March 2010. Intelligence analyst at iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, 2006-08. B.S. in political science from University of Maine, 2004. twitter
Director of Film and Visual Media Ed Frank
Frank also runs a consulting business, Frank
Strategies,
LLC. Most recently vice president of public affairs at
Americans for Prosperity. Additional experience includes
spokesman for former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, press
secretary for NFIB, communications director
for former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary and legislative assistant for U.S.
Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr.. Degrees in journalism and political
science from the University of Tennessee, 1994.
Political
Political Director Ken McKay
Chief of staff at the RNC from March 2009-April 2010. Attorney in private practice and earlier at Brown Rudnick. Managed Don Carcieri's successful campaigns for governor of Rhode Island in 2002 and 2006; served on the transition team for Gov.-elect Carcieri and as his chief of staff for his first 3 1/2 years in office. J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law. Served in the U.S. Army infantry for three years. twitter
Deputy Political Director Amy Lunde
(Feb. 2013) Campaign manager on Jack Dalrymple's 2012 campaign for governor of North Dakota. North Dakota Victory Director in 2010. Member of Arena Strategy Group, 2007-10. Associate at Ann Taylor Loft, 2008. Field director on Green for Wisconsin, 2006. Field rep./regional field director in South Central Wisconsin on Bush-Cheney '04. B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin, 2005. twitter
Political Assistant Kelly Holdway
(March 2013) Scheduler and executive assistant
for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (WI), Jan. 2011-Feb. 2013. Director of
scheduling at the RNC, Jan. 2009-Dec. 2010. Executive assistant
to senior advisor for Elizabeth Dole, including both Senate races, Dec.
2001-Dec. 2008. Executive assistant to the executive director at
the NRSC, Jan. 2005-Dec. 2006. B.A. in business/corporate
communications from Mars Hill College, 2002.
Policy and Research
Research Director Kevin Wright
(Sept. 2013) Founder (Spring 2007) and director of Old Dominion Research Group, LLC. Founder and contributor at ThinkFY, LLC. Dputy research director at the NRSC, March 2001-Dec. 2006. Advance/project coordinator for the Center for the American Founding, Jan.-Sept. 2000. Staff assistant/intern on Quayle 2000/Campaign America, Feb. 1998-July 1999. B.S. in political science from Arizona State University, 1999. twitter
Policy Director Marie Sanderson
(2011) Director of federal policy (June 2009-Jan. 2012) and policy advisor (Dec. 2006-June 2009 for Gov. Haley Barbour. Legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (MS), 2003-06. M.B.A. from University of Queensland, in Brisbane Australia, 2003; undergraduate degree in marketing from Mississippi State University, 2001. twitter
Finance
Finance
Director Paige Lance Hahn
(May 2011) President of Hahn Group, Inc.,
funderaising firm since Nov. 2007. Oversaw the fundraising
operations for Bob McDonnell’s 2009 gubernatorial campaign in Virginia
and in 2010 helped
launch the McDonnell’s Opportunity Virginia PAC. Finance director
at American Solutions for Winning the Future, Feb.-Nov. 2007.
Vice president of sales and business development at the DMA,
2005-07. Director of corporate development at the US
Chamber of Commerce, 2000-05. Finance director for various
political organizations, 1997-2000. Bachelor's degree in finance
from University of Arkansas, Fayatteville, 1996.
Deputy Finance Director Mary Ann (Voigt)
Laconte
(Jan. 2013; Statesmen, Cabinet and Board
director from Jan. 2011-Jan. 2013) Major donor director at
the
National Republican Congressional Committee. She previously worked with
the major donor programs at the National Republican Senatorial
Committee, the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee, and
the Republican National Committee. She is a native Houstonian and
received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University.
Finance Recruitment Director Caitlin
Schroder
Caitlin Mackintosh Schroder, part of the RGA team
since 1999, currently
serves as National Recruitment Director in the Finance
Department.
Before assuming this role, Caitlin served as RGA Finance Director from
2002-2008 and RGA Deputy Finance Director from 1999-2002. Prior
to her
time at the RGA, she worked on the National Republican Senatorial
Committee (NRSC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
joint fundraising dinners as well as in the Finance Department of the
Republican National Committee (RNC). Caitlin attended the
Catholic
University of America, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics.
Deputy Director of Recruitment Lauren Bryan
Previously at the RNC, most recently as emerging markets director in Finance from April 2013; also Chairman's Council director from Jan. 2013; and deputy director of RNC Regents and Team 100, Aug. 2011-Dec. 2012. Mid-Atlantic regional surrogate director on Romney for President, April-Nov. 2012. Finance assistant at the RNC, Sept. 2010-Aug. 2011. Graduate of the University of South Carolina-Columbia, 2010.
Director of Events, Corporate Jodi
(Vaccarelli) Comunale
(Jan. 2012) Manager of programs and events at
the State Government Affairs Council, 2009-11. Worked at the
Direct Marketing Association, as senior conference manager (2008-09),
conference manager (2007-08) and manager of sales and business
development (2006-07). Manager of corporate relations at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, 2004-08. B.S. in marketing from Clemson
University, College of Business and Behavioral Science, 2004.
Events Coordinator Justina Rusch
Prior to joining the RGA, she was an intern with Dutko
Worldwide in DC
and in Gulfport, Mississippi. She graduated from LSU in
Baton Rouge
with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with
emphasis in Public
Relations. She is a native of Gulfport, Mississippi.
Director of Board and Council Membership
Scott Binkley
(earlier director of the Governors Roundtable, the
corporate
membership program) Prior to joining the RGA in 2013, Scott
served as
the deputy finance director for a U.S. Senate campaign during the 2012
election cycle and has also served as the finance director for a
Congressional campaign. Before leaving DC to work in campaign finance,
Scott worked on Capitol Hill as legislative staff. Scott is a native of
Atlanta, Georgia.
Governors Board and Council Membership
Director Joanna Evans
at RGA from Sept. 2011) Prior to
joining the
RGA, Joanna
spent 7 1/2 years
at the national
headquarters of the American Red Cross where she managed corporate
strategic partnerships, 2004-11. Data product manager at eMeritus
Communications, 2001-04. Marketing manager at aTelo.com,
2000-01. Account manager at Eclipse Communications,
1997-98. Graduate of Arizona State University, 1996.
Executive Roundtable
Director of Roundtable Membership Program Jay Shelly
(earlier title "manager of corporate programs and recruitment) Prior to joining the RGA, Jay worked as a clerk’s assistant at the DC District Court and as an intern in the Finance Department at the RGA before getting hired full-time. Jay was born in Philadelphia, PA but has lived in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and New York. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Midwest and West Membership Director and Conference Director Cara Edmundowicz
(April 2012; previously deputy director from Jan.
2011) Prior to joining the RGA, Cara worked at a
polling firm in DC. Bachelor's degree in political communication
and journalism & mass communication from The George Washington
University; Master's degree from GW's Graduate School of Political
Management. Originally from St. Louis, MO.
Regional Recruitment Director and Executive
Roundtable Regional Director, Northeast Alden Wood
(Jan. 2013) Finance director on Tommy Thompson
for
Senate, March-Dec. 2012. Executive Roundtable coordinator at th
RGA,
Feb. 2011-Feb. 2012. Staff assistant in Member Services at the
RNC,
Sept. 2010-Jan. 2011. B.A. in economics, government from
University of
Virginia, 2010.
Southern Membership Director Amy
Allman Dean
(May 2012) Prior to joining RGA, Amy was Vice
President
of Marketing at
Ogilvy
Government Relations. Previously, Dean spent six years working in
various positions in The White House for the George W. Bush
Administration, including Director of The White House Visitors Office,
Associate Director of Legislative Affairs and Staff Assistant in the
Office of the Vice President. Amy also worked for the U.S.
Department
of Homeland Security as Director of Legislative Affairs and as Special
Assistant, Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of
Treasury. A
native of Dallas, Texas, Dean received a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Emory University.
Executive Roundtable Director of
Events Jane Batson
Prior to joining RGA, Jane was Executive
Meetings Manager, at the
Direct Marketing Association (DMA). At the DMA Jane managed
all
C-level and Board of Directors Events throughout the United
States.
Prior to the DMA, she was Conference Services Manager at
the Four
Seasons where she oversaw State visits and delegations, including
visits by the King of Jordan and Dali Lama. Jane began her career
at
the US Chamber of Commerce working for the National Chamber Foundation,
followed by becoming the Manager of Corporate Programs. Jane is a
graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.
Executive Roundtable Coordinator
Danielle (Evans) Cleveland
Prior to
joining the RGA, she worked on the Mitt Romney for President campaign
as the Wisconsin State Office Manager and served as an intern in the
office of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Danielle graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carthage College and is a
native of Madison, Wisconsin.
CFO/COMPLIANCE
Chief Financial Officer Joanne
Parker
Operations coordinator at State Policy
Network.
Worked for a CPA Firm in Virginia Beach. Director of compliance
at the RGA, 2008-09. Administrative assistant for the Republican
State Leadership Committee. B.A. in political science from SUNY
Geneseo. Originally from Upstate New York.
Counsel
General Counsel and Deputy Executive
Director Mike Adams
(started as in-house counsel in Jan. 2007) Also
partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP since Feb. 2012. Counsel to
the Deputy Attorney General at U.S. DOJ, 2006-07. Deputy general
counsel to Gov. Ernie Fletcher (KY). Associate at Dinsmore &
Shohl LLP, 2002-04. J.D. from Harvard Law School, 2001; B.A. in
political science from University of Louisville, 1998.
former
Deputy Director of National Recruitment Amy Burggraf
(Sept. 2011-Oct. 2013) Prior to joining the RGA, she worked on the Tim Pawlenty for President campaign. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, she received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Bethel University.
Northeast Membership Director Neil Scott
Prior to joining the RGA, Neil was the Finance Director of the Scott Brown Victory Committee for Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown’s 2012 reelection campaign, helping to raise a record $39 million. Before working for Senator Brown, Neil worked as a Finance Coordinator for the Charlie Baker – Richard Tisei campaign in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial election. At native of Massachusetts, Neil graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.