National Republican Congressional Committee - 2011-12

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director  Guy Harrison

(from Jan. 2009)  Chief of staff to Rep. Pete Sessions, Jan. 1997-Dec. 2008; started working for Sessions as an organizer on his 1994 campaign, a narrow loss.  Graduate of Dartmouth College, 1994.

Deputy Executive Director  Jeff Burton

(from Jan. 2011)  Previously director of coalitions for the House Republican Steering Committee, started in Jan. 2009.  Campaign manager on Mike Conaway's 2004 congressional campaign, then served as Rep. Conaway's chief of staff through to the beginning of Jan. 2009.  Worked on Darrell Issa's 2000 congressional campaign, then served as a field rep. for Rep. Issa through Sept. 2001.  From Southern California.

POLITICAL

Political Director  Mike Shields

(announced Dec. 14, 2010)  Shields served as NRCC director of independent expenditures starting in March 2010 after starting as director of special projects in Jan. 2009.  Previously chief of staff to Rep. Dave Reichert (WA); worked for Reichert for four years starting in Jan. 2005 as clerk. Research director at the NRCC in the 2004 cycle.  Press secretary to Rep. George Gekas (PA), mid-2002-Jan. 2003.  Managed Tim James' unsuccessful 2002 primary race for governor of Alabama.  Spokesman for Newt Gingrich for five years; started as communications director for Friends of Newt Gingrich in July 1996.  Started out his career clipping newspapers at the RNC during the Haley Barbour era.  Studied at George Mason University.

Regional Political Directors
(announced Feb. 24, 2011)
???West and Southeast  Chris Carr

Northwest political director at the RNC, 2007-08. Campaign manager for Sen. John Ensign’s (R-NV) successful reelection bid in 2006.  Executive director of the Nevada Victory Campaign and Nevada State Republican Party in the 2004 cycle.  Previously executive director of the Clark County Republicans.  He came to Nevada from Louisiana; extensive experience in Louisiana campaigns including manager of Dan Kyle's primary campaign for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner in 2003; manager of Donna Mayeux's 2000 campaign for mayor of Baton Rouge; and manager of State Rep. Quentin Dastugue's 1995 gubernatorial campaign.  Deputy campaign manager on Jim Gibbons' 1994 campaign for governor.  Campaign manager for Bush-Quayle in Nevada in 1992.  Interned at the White House during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.  Graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA.  Originally from Sulphur.

Central West   Lee Padilla

Padilla has been involved with Texas politics for 13 years. Worked with the NRCC’s Midwest and West regional political teams in the 2010 cycle. District outreach coordinator to Rep. Sessions, 2005-May 1, 2009.  Has also worked for Sen. John Cornyn and in the state legislature.

Northeast - John Rogers

Most recently an equities trader for AMR Capital Trading.  Campaign experience includes Bob Cohen 2010, Rob Astorino’s race for Westchester County Executive in 2009, Victory director for the NJ Republican Party in 2006, and director of field operations for the Pennsylvania Republican Party in Montgomery County in 2004.  During Gov. George Pataki’s administration he served as deputy director of regional and local government affairs, 2003-05 and appointments officer, 2001-03.  Graduate of Sienna College, 1999. 

Midwest - David Watts

Watts has been a Republican operative for the last 13 years and has worked on local, state and national campaigns in Texas, Missouri and Illinois. Watts has also worked for former President George W. Bush, Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison and Illinois Reps. Bobby Schilling and Peter Roskam.

Patriot Program Director  Liesl Hickey

(announced Jan. 13, 2011 "assisting incumbents as they commit themselves to meet rigorous goals that will strengthen their campaigns to ensure victory.")  Most recently served as an advisor to the NRSC.  Joined ONE in March 2007 as senior director of US campaigns, responsible for managing ONE’s 2008 presidential advocacy initiative, ONE Vote 08.  Chief of staff to Rep. Mark Kirk, Aug. 2004-Jan. 2007.  Served as Kirk's campaign manager starting in 2000.  A field consultant for the NRCC.  Finance director for Sen. Peter Fitzgerald's campaign in 1998.  Graduate of Southern Methodist University.

Coalitions Director  Mike Bober

(Feb. 2009)  Executive director of the House Conservatives Fund political action committee, April 2006-Jan. 2009.  Associate at Hammond & Associates, 2003-06.  PAC manager at the Manufactured Housing Institute, 2002-03.  B.S. in international politics from Georgetown University, 2000.

Young Guns Liaison  Benjamin Cassidy

Joined the NRCC in 2008. Previously a sales associate at NorthStar Express.  Degree in philosophy from Rollins College, 2006.

Political Coordinator  Britt Curley

(Jan. 2011)  Previously assistant to former Secretary of Energy Abraham at The Abraham Group, from mid-2009.  Executive assistant at Signet Management USA, LLC.  Research/executive assistant at Argent Ventures, LLC.  B.S. in economics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Legislative Director  Jordan Davis

(Dec. 2010)  Previously senior policy analyst and advisor at the NRCC starting in March 2009.  Worked for Rep. Thelma Drake from 2005-Jan. 2009, starting as a staff assistant, then as legislative assistant and senior legislative assistant.  Licensed professional staff member at State Farm Insurance and Financial Services, 2003-05.  Undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Central Florida, 2003.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director  Paul Lindsay

(announced Dec. 14, 2010)  Lindsay served as NRCC deputy communications director in the 2008 cycle, starting in Jan. 2009.  Regional communications director for Ohio and Pennsylvania on McCain-Palin 2008.  Western regional press secretary at the RNC.  Worked for Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-7) from 2005-07, first as a staff assistant, then as press secretary.  Graduate of James Madison University with a degree in political science, 2004.

Deputy Communications Director  Joanna Burgos

Western regional press secretary at the NRCC in the 2010 cycle starting Feb. 2009.  Communications director for the Nevada Democratic Party in Fall 2008.  Press secretary for the 2008 Republican National Convention.  Senior account executive at Racepoint Group. Communications staffer on Romney for President, Inc..  Assistant press secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2005-07.  Public affairs specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2004-05.  Worked in Media Affairs at the White House.  Graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in public relations, 2004.

Deputy Press Secretary  Ted Kwong

(announced Jan. 31, 2011)  Rapid response director for Susana Martinez’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign in New Mexico.  War room manager for Steve Poizner for Governor 2010 primary campaign in California.  War room Intern for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign.  B.A. in political science from UC Berkeley, 2009 after starting out at UC Davis.

Director of Radio and Television  Christyn Keyes

(March 2010) Previously legislative correspondent for Rep. Steve Chabot (OH).  Deputy press secretary on Chabot's successful 2010 campaign.  Bachelor's degree in political science from Miami University, 2010.

Director of Leadership Communications  Emily Davis 

(started at the NRCC in Jan. 2011; for the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Vice Chairs)  Previously communications director in Chairman Sessions' congressional office; started with Sessions as a legislative correspondent in June 2005.

Regional Press Secretaries

West  Tyler "T.Q." Houlton

(announced Jan. 31, 2011)  Deputy campaign manager and spokesman for Ryan Frazier's 2010 congressional bid in Colorado's 7th CD after working as a regional director on Scott McInnis' gubernatorial campaign.  Communications director to Rep. Mike Coffman (CO) for the first half of 2009.  Legislative coordinator, then spokesman to Rep. Tom Tancredo (CO), July 2006-Jan. 2009.

Midwest & Southeast  Andrea Bozek

(announced Jan. 31, 2011)  Account supervisor at Edelman.  Communications director for Rep. Chris Lee (NY), Jan. 2009-June 2010.  Press secretary to Rep. Tom Reynolds (NY), Aug. 2007-Jan. 2009.  Regional coordinator for John McCain’s presidential campaign in the first part of 2007.Communications assistant at the NRCC in the 2006 cycle.

Northeast  Tory Mazzola

(started at the NRCC in 2009 and held this position in the 2010 cycle)  Communications director for Sen. John Ensign (NV), from late 2006-Aug. 2009.  Press secretary to Rep. Bill Schuster (PA), 2004-06.  Special assistant to Sen. John Ensign (NV), 2003-04.  Graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in economics.  Lives in Southern NH.

e-CAMPAIGN

Digital Director  Gerrit Lansing

(May 2012)  Previously press secretary at the House Budget Committee from June 2011.  New media director to U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, 2010-11.  Blogger at the Heritage Foundation, 2008-10.  B.A. in classical languages from Sewanee-The University of the South, 2007.

New Media Strategist  Joe Sciarrino

Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House, 2007-09.  Degree in political science from American University, 2007.

RESEARCH

Research Director/Senior Research Analyst  Jon Black

Deputy Research Director  Todd Johnson

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

IT Director  George Griffin

(2004)  IT for SoftMed Systems,1998-99. Director of network services at the RNC, 1995-98.

FINANCE

Finance Director  Jenny Sheffield Drucker

(announced Dec. 14, 2010)  Served as NRCC deputy finance director in the 2010 cycle.  PAC director at the NRSC during the 2008 cycle. PAC director at the NRCC in the 2006 cycle.  Worked on the 2000 and 2004 Bush/Cheney campaigns, the 2004 Republican National Convention, and the 2001 and 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committees.  Staff assistant, then office manager for Rep. Sessions from 2000 to May 2004.  Graduate of Texas A&M University, 1999. 

Deputy Finance Director  Ryan Carney

(Jan. 20011)  Served as a regional finance director in the 2010 cycle.  Owner at The Carney Group, 2005-mid-2009.  National finance director on Brownback for President, Dec. 2006-Oct. 2007.  Manager of the Washington office of Steve Gordon and Associates, 2000-05.  B.A. in politics from The Catholic University of America, 2002.

Deputy Finance Director  Alex Lawhon

Experience includes a regional finance director on the John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

Direct Mail Manager  Jesse Roman

Started at the NRCC in donor services in Sept. 2007.  Bachelor's degree in industrial organization psychology from from Point Loma Nazarene University, 2007.

Director of Telemarketing  Brandon Gravley

(May 2007)  Previously fundraising coordinator at the Free Enterprise Fund, 2006-07.  Graduate of the University of Memphis.

LEGAL

General Counsel  Jessica Furst

(Feb. 2009)  Attorney-associate at Foley and Lardner LLP, Sept. 2007-Feb. 2009.  Law degree from University of Florida's Fredric G. Levin College of Law, 2007; B.A./B.J. from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003.

Deputy Legal Counsel  Jackie Barber

Experience includes work for Sen. John Thune.  J.D. from University of South Dakota, 2006; B.S. and B.A. from University of South Dakota, 2001.