Republican
Governors Association – 2016
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Organization
Chairman
Gov. Susana Martinez (NM)
(elected chair Nov. 19, 2015) Elected in Nov. 2010 and re-elected
in Nov. 2014. Elected District Attorny for the 3rd Judicial
District in Doña Ana County, NM in 1996 and served three terms to Jan.
2011. Deputy district attorney; Assistant district attorney for
New Mexico's 3rd Judicial District. J.D. from University of
Oklahoma College of Law, 1986. Bachelor's degree in criminal
justice from University of Texas at El Paso.
Vice Chairman
Gov. Scott Walker (W))
Executive
Committee - Govs. Bill Haslam (TN), Rick Scott (FL), Mike Pence
(IN), Nikki Haley (SC), Mary Fallin (OK), Doug Ducey (AZ), Charlie
Baker (MA), and Pete Ricketts (NE).
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Director Paul Bennecke
(announced Dec. 2, 2014) Advisor on David Perdue's successful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2014. Principal at ConnectSouth, a public affairs firm; and part of the Georgia lobbying team at Capitol Resources. Founding principal of Red Clay Strategies, a public affairs and issue advocacy firm. RGA deputy executive director and political director from 2007-10. Executive director and earlier political director of the Georgia Republican Party, 2003-06. Political director on Sonny Perdue's 2002 campaign in Georgia when he defeated incumbent governor Roy Barnes. twitter
Governor's Liaison Justina Rusch
(announced Jan. 27, 2015) Previously events coordinator at the RGA from July 2012. Experience includes internship with Dutko Worldwide in DC and in Gulfport, Mississippi. Bachelor's degree in mass communication from LSU in Baton Rouge, 2012. Native of Gulfport, MS.
Director of Operations Laura Ciciarelli
(announced
Jan. 27, 2015) Started at the RGA as an executive intern in May
2013 and executive assistant from May 2014, organizing the internship
program and assisting the Governors Liaison with the coordination of
meetings and conferences. Bachelor's degree in political science
and Spanish from Wake Forest University. Native of Wall, NJ.
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.
Senior Advisor to the RGA Brian Sanderson
(2015) Policy director for the Republican
Attorneys General
Association (RAGA) and its 501c(4) The Rule of Law Defense Fund,
2014-15. President of Cardinal Group, LLC, 2013-15.
Attorney at Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, 2010013.
President of the Gold Coast Business Council, 2006-10. Deputy
director of the Office of Recovery and Renewal under Miss. Gov. Haley
Barbour, 2005-06. Attorney at Butler Snow LLP, 1999-2005.
J.D. from University of Mississippi Law School; B.B.A. from University
of Mississippi.
Political
Political Director David Rexrode
(announced Jan. 27,
2015) Campaign manager on Cuccinelli for Governor, Jan.-Nov.
2013.
Executive director of the Republican
Party of Virginia Jan. 2010-Dec. 2012 and also served as Virginia
RNC Victory director in 2012. Deputy campaign
manager on Attorney General
Bob
McDonnell's successful 2009 campaign for Governor of Virginia.
Campaign manager on Bob Goodlatte for Congress, Feb.-Nov. 2008.
Coalitions director on John McCain 2008 to July 2007. Director of
coalitions at the RNC starting in 2005. Deputy director of
coalitions for the Central Region for Bush-Cheney '04. Graduate
of James Madison University, 2001; while at James Madison managed Randy
Fisher's first campaign for Augusta County sheriff. Native of
Augusta County, VA (Waynesboro area). twitter
Deputy Political Director Mike Young
Executive director (2015 election cycle) and political
director
(2013-14) of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. Double major
in government and history from the College of William and Mary, 2016.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Director Jon Thompson
(announced Jan. 27, 2015) Promoted from RGA
press secretary;
served in that role since 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 Alison Caliguire
(July 2016) Policy analyst (from Jan. 2016), policy aide (Jan.-Dec. 2015) and intern (June 2014-Jan. 2015) for the Republican Governors Association/Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC). B.A. in politics and international affairs from Wake Forest University, 2014.
New Media and Tech
Digital???
Data???
Policy and Research
Research Director ???
Policy Director Janel Broderick
(announced July 22, 2015, succeeding Marie Sanderson) Previously director of policy and federal relations for Gov. Martinez. Deputy executive director and communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico. Policy analyst for former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle. Several years in the non-profit sector throughout India, the South Pacific, Asia, and Russia. Woked for U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (AK). M.A. from Indiana University; B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Alaska native.
Finance
Finance
Director Mary Ann Laconte
(announced Jan. 27, 2015) Deputy finance
director at the RGA in
the 2014 cycle from Jan. 2013; director of the RGA's Statesmen and
Cabinet membership programs, Jan. 2011-Jan. 2013. Previously
worked with
the major donor programs at the National Republican Senatorial
Committee, the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee, and
the Republican National Committee. B.A. in economics from Duke
University. Native Houstonian.
Executive Roundtable Deputy Director
Danielle (Evans) Cleveland
Prior to
joining the RGA, Cleveland 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.
Executive Roundtable Regional Director Nicole Dziuban
Prior to joining the RGA, Dziuban served as the
Western Regional
Finance Director for Governor Chris Christie’s presidential campaign.
In 2015, she served as Regional Finance Director for the Leadership
Matters for America PAC. Previously, Nicole was the Finance Director
for the Colorado Republican Committee from 2013-2015. She has also
fundraised for multiple congressional races. Nicole is a Chicago native
and graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Political Science.
Executive Roundtable Coordinator Mike Felici
Previously worked as the Accounts Receivable and Front
Desk Manager and
as a finance intern for the organization. Prior to joining the RGA,
Felici interned at the Republican National Committee and with Governor
Chris Christie’s presidential campaign. He is a native of Washington
Township, New Jersey and a graduate of American University with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Minor in History.
Director of Statesmen and Cabinet Membership Programs Amanda Kitchen
Prior to joining the RGA, Kitchen worked for
Hooks Solutions, a
political fundraising firm in Washington, DC. As a Senior
Associate at Hooks Solutions, Amanda handled all PAC fundraising as
well as some national fundraising for Chairman Michael McCaul, Chairman
Ken Calvert, Congressman Chris Gibson and Congressman Robert
Hurt. Before moving to DC, Amanda worked for the American Cancer
Society in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she helped manage the Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. After the walk was complete,
she worked as a Community Manager for ACS managing the Relay for Life
events for Duke University, North Carolina State University, and two
county Relays. Amanda graduated from East Carolina University with
a degree in Communications and she is a native of Richmond, Virginia.
Director of Events and Programming 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 Manager Melissa Peskin
Joined the RGA as Events Manager after serving on the
events team at
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. At AIPAC, she was
responsible for multiple national events and conferences and played a
large role in the annual Policy Conference. Melissa is a Parkland,
Florida native and graduated from the University of Florida in 2012.
Events Coordinator Juliette Crowther
Prior to joining the RGA, Crowther interned in the office of Louisiana Congressman John Fleming. Degree in political science and French from Tulane University in New Orleans. Shreveport, Louisiana native.
Finance Assistant Ashleigh Oxner
Prior to joining the RGA, Ashleigh worked for two years in the private sector as an Event Planner where she planned both corporate and political events. Ashleigh is a South Carolina native and graduated from Clemson University in 2014 with a major in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.
CFO/COMPLIANCE
Chief Financial Officer Cortlynn Parkinson
(Feb. 2015) Partner at OCTR Services [Online
Contribution
Tracking Reporting], March 2013-Feb. 2015; self-employed FEC compliance
consulting, Feb. 2011-Feb. 2015. Accounts receivable and FEC
compliance manager at the NRSC, April 2008-Feb. 2011. B.A. in
communications from Thiel College, 2008.
Counsel
General Counsel and Deputy Executive
Director Mike Adams
(see above)
"The Republican Governors Public Policy Committee
(RGPPC) serves as
the official policy arm of the Republican Governors Association (RGA).
Bringing together 31 Republican governors from statehouses across the
country, the RGPPC is committed to shaping public policy debates at the
state and federal levels of government. To that end, we highlight best
practices among states and promote the successful policies of
Republican- ed states—states which continue to dominate the rankings as
the best for business, job creation, and education reform. The RGPPC is
organized under section 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code."
Chair Gov. Mary Fallin (OK)
Policy Director Janel Broderick
General Counsel Brian Sanderson
Policy Advisor Lauren Strickland
Focuses on healthcare and education policy, as well as
a variety of
other issue areas. Prior to joining RGPPC, she worked at the Education
Delivery Institute, serving as a consultant to K-12 and higher
education systems across the country. Legislative staffer for U.S. Sen.
Joe Manchin III. Bachelor's degree in history from Duke
University. Native of Kopperston, WV.
Policy Advisor Erin Adams
Focuseson labor, budget & tax, economic development and cybersecurity issues. Legislative staffer for U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (WI). Manager of Membership Development and Advocacy for The ERISA Industry Committee. B.A. in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government from American University.
More
Accounts Receivable and Front Desk Manager
Eric Powell
Previously junior associate at 50 State LLC. B.A. in international studies from American University, 2014. Cleveland native.
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
I.E. Director ???