Potomac Flacks

Androff Departs T&I for Interior

On Wednesday Blake Androff announced that after seven years on Capitol Hill, tomorrow (June 1) is his last day serving as Communications Director at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Minority staff).

Androff has been appointed Deputy Communications Director at the U.S. Department of Interior.  Androff’s replacement has not yet been named.

Androff’s career on Capitol Hill began as Communications Assistant for Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR) from 2005-2008, then as Communications Director at the House Natural Resources Committee for three years until he joined T&I in 2011.

Androff is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College.  (PF tipster)

Santorum Aide Haley Named Press Secretary for Ann Romney

First reported by ABC News, the Romney campaign has “hired a new press secretary to handle the schedule of Ann Romney, an indication that the 63-year-old grandmother of 18 will soon be ramping up her public schedule.”

“Sarah Haley, formerly of Sen. Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign, where she served as the national coalitions director as well as the director of communications for Karen Santorum, has been picked for the job."

Previously, Haley served as the spokeswoman for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and at Fox News Channel.

Haley is a graduate of the University of Memphis and a native of Germantown, TN.  (ABC News)

Clemente Departs House Republican Policy Committee for American Action Forum

First reported in Politico’s “Huddle,” Noelle Clemente is joining "the American Action Forum as Press Secretary.

She joins AAF from the leadership office of House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA)," where she's been serving in the same role. "Clemente's hire is part of a coordinated effort to expand AAF's media role in the policy fights of 2012 and beyond."

Clemente had previously worked as a Research Associate at the Heritage Foundation.

Clemente is a 2010 graduate of Elon University.  (Politico’s “Huddle”)

Comms Vet Frohlich, Lewan to Pro-Ethanol Growth Energy

Per Politico’s “Influence,” an association that represents producers and supporters of ethanol, Growth Energy, has “tapped Michael Frohlich to be its new Spokesman and Press Secretary. Frohlich is a former strategic partner at Madison Government Affairs and Director of Media Relations for the National Association of Manufacturers. The ethanol lobby will also add Michael Lewan as a public affairs associate, to its Washington, D.C., communications team.”

Frohlich previously served as Communications Director for Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) and as Press Secretary for Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC).  He was also a Professional Staff member for the House Administration Committee.

Frohlich is a native of Rochester, NY, a diehard Yankees fan and a B.S. in Political Science graduate of Gettysburg College.  (Politico’s “Daily Influence”)

Lansing Leaves House Budget Committee for NRCC

Gerrit Lansing, the Press Secretary for the House Budget Committee (majority) under Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that we has departed the committee to become the new Digital Director at the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), effective Monday, April 30.

He has previously served as New Media Director for Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and got his start in DC as a blogger at the Heritage Foundation.

Lansing is a native of Lake Forest, IL and a 2007 graduate of Sewanne-The University of the South.  (PF tipster)

International Franchise Association Makes Changes to Communications Team

First reported in Politico’s “Daily Influence,” the "International Franchise Association has made a slew of leadership changes to the communications and public affairs staff.  IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira promoted Alisa Harrison, now VP of communications and marketing, to SVP of communications and marketing. Matthew Haller, is moving into the newly created role of VP of public affairs and chief of staff to the president and CEO, after service as senior director of communications.”  (Politico’s “Daily Influence”)

DCNET Announces New Board

 

 

 

 

 

Today the Democratic Communicators Network (DCNet), the professional association for Democratic press and communications staff, announced its new board of directors: 

Brad Bauman, Executive Director, Congressional Progressive Caucus
Ellis Brachman, Communications Director, House Democratic Caucus
Adam Hodge, Regional Press Secretary, DNC
Leah Hunter, Communications Director, Rep. Ron Kind
Will Jenkins, Communications Director, Sen. Jim Webb
Hannah Kim, Communications Director, Rep. Charles B. Rangel
Lesley J. Lopez, Communications Director, Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Sarah Lovenheim, Deputy Director of New Media, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Cleve Mesidor, Director of Public Affairs, Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce
Emily Spain, Communications Director, Sen. Tom Carper

DCNet brings communicators together to share their experiences, learn new skills, brainstorm strategies and build alliances on and off the Hill in order to strengthen Democratic message making. Hundreds of communicators from the House, Senate, the Administration, nonprofits and the private sector regularly participate in DCNet's networking and professional development activities, including:

More information at www.demcoms.net. (PF tipster)

 

Experienced Flack Lee Departs TSA for Senior Communications Role at Microsoft in DC

Microsoft has hired Kristin Lee as a Senior Public Relations Manager in the DC office.

Lee brings nearly a decade of communications experience in the federal government, campaign, and non-profit sectors. Most recently, she served in the Obama administration’s U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the Director of Public Affairs at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  In this role, Lee directed the agency’s external and internal communications – including rapid response and social media operations – and served as the chief spokesperson. 

During her tenure at TSA, Kristin focused on strengthening the agency’s ability to communicate with the public and the press.  She helped coordinate the agency’s rapid response efforts to many high-profile events including the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day 2009 and the air cargo bomb plot, and shaped the agency’s media strategy for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. 

Before joining the Obama administration, Lee worked as the Majority Communications Director for the House Rules Committee.  During the 2008 presidential campaign, she served as the Surrogate Press Secretary for the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania.  Prior to joining the Obama campaign, Kristin worked for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in seven states, serving as a statewide communications director and press desk, among other roles.  In the 2006 election cycle, Lee worked as the National Press Secretary for the League of Conservation Voters.

A California native, Lee also served as Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).  She started her career as an editorial assistant at The Los Angeles Times.

Lee holds a Masters degree in political communication from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelors degree in journalism and literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  She is a native of Auburn, CA.  (PF tipster)

Roskam Flack Conston to The Action Forum

Reported by Roll Call, Dan Conston started Monday as Communications Director for The Action Forum, a consortium of Republican-aligned groups (issue advocacy firm American Action Network, the policy institute American Action Forum and the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, which supports House candidates).

Conston had been serving as a top communications aide to Chief Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam (R-IL).

Before rejoining Roskam’s office in 2011, Conston managed communications in 2010 for then-Rep. Jerry Moran’s (R-KS) Senate primary and for the Florida GOP for the general. In 2008, he did press for the presidential campaigns of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) before joining Roskam for the first time in 2009.

Conston is a graduate of The George Washington University.  (Roll Call)

Former Barrasso, Royce Flack Keeley Joins TechAmerica in Defense/Homeland Security Policy Role

Gregory Keeley has joined the TechAmerica, a leading voice for the U.S. technology industry representing approximately 1,000 member companies, as Vice President of Defense & Homeland Security Policy handling the defense, homeland security and intelligence portfolios.

Keeley has an extensive background in defense policy including senior positions in the House and the Senate. He is also a Reserve officer in the U.S. Navy, recently returning from a nine month deployment to Afghanistan.

Most recently, Keeley was Senior Vice President at Monument Capital Group – a DC based defense and intelligence focused private equity firm. Prior to that, he spent five years working in Congress. Keeley once served as Communications Director for Reps. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Ed Royce (R-CA) and U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and was elected president of the Senate Press Secretaries Association in 2008.  Keeley has the distinction of having worked in the Australian Parliament and serving in the Royal Australian Navy, which included postings and deployments in Australia, the Pacific, Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a Military Liaison Officer to the U.S. Department of Defense in 2003.  (PF tipster)