Potomac Flacks

DNC's Regional Press Team

Roll Call's Shop Talk is reporting that the DNC has hired their regional press team. 

• Caroline Ciccone will be the director of regional press at the DNC, where she has worked since 2007. Ciccone previously served in various roles in Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) office.

• Joanne Peters is returning to the committee as the Southern regional press secretary, following a stint in Rep. Bob Etheridge’s (D-N.C.) office and her work as deputy director of radio booking at the DNC in the 2008 cycle.

• Alec Gerlach will handle press in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Michigan ties run deep for the Wolverine State native, who worked for Reps. Dale Kildee (D) and John Dingell (D) on Capitol Hill for four years and for President Barack Obama’s campaign in the state.

• Mike Czin will be the DNC press contact for the Northeastern region of the country. The flak from New Jersey has been promoted at the DNC, where he worked as the assistant press secretary until recently.

• Derrick Plummer is the new Midwest regional press secretary. A former communications director for Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Plummer also worked for 2004 Democratic presidential ticket in Iowa.

• Frank Benenati will be the regional press secretary for the Northwest. Benenati was the communications director for the  coordinated campaign in Minnesota in the previous cycle, and he also worked for Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) on Capitol Hill.

• Ricardo Ramirez will be the Spanish-language spokesman for the DNC, as well as serve the press in the Southwest region. Ram*rez comes from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) office, where he worked on Hispanic media.

• Megan Jacobs will be the new assistant press secretary in the communications shop. Jacobs started her career as an organizer on Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-Mont.) 2006 Senate race and also aided the Obama campaign’s media and polling team in Chicago.

• Joanna Rosholm has also accepted a gig as an assistant press secretary for the DNC. Rosholm was a DNC communications intern in the 2008 cycle but most recently worked at Ogilvy Government Relations.

Also, Natalie Wyeth will be leaving her job as spokesperson for Organizing for America to join the Treasury Department as the spokesperson for international affairs. She will be working with her old boss from the Democratic Convention, Jenni Engebretson. (Roll Call's Shop Talk and PF Tipster)

CIA Flack Leaves

Paul Bedard at Washington Whispers reported that the director of public affairs at the CIA, Mark Mansfield, will be leaving. Mansfield said, "As is frequently the case when new CIA directors take the helm, Director Panetta had indicated shortly after being confirmed that he wanted to bring in his own person to head up public affairs. This is something that I understood, respected, and anticipated fully."

It is unclear where Mansfield will work next, but he will stay at the Agency (he has been there since 1982). Paul Gimigliano, Mansfield's deputy, will serve as the acting director of public affairs (Washington Whispers). 

Gerlach to DNC

Alec Gerlach has joined the DNC as a regional press secretary for the Midwest. He was communications director for Rep. Dale E. Kilee (D-Mich.). He took a leave of absence in the fall of 2008 to serve as a press secretary on Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Michigan and North Carolina. Gerlach also served as a staff member for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

A Khoo at Population Action International

Michael Khoo is the new vice president of communications at Population Action International. He will be responsible for the communications strategy at the 55-person NGO that focuses on family planning in developing countries. 

Most recently, Khoo worked for Fenton Communications. (PF Tipster) 

Sen. Clinton's former Communications Director Goes to GW

Sarah Gegenheimer Baldassaro has joined George Washington University as assistant vice president for communications. She will manage GW's communications operation reporting to Vice President for External Relations, Lorraine Voles. 

Baldassaro comes to GW from Capitol Hill where she was the communications director for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. She also served during the Clinton administration at the White House and at HHS. She has also been a spokesperson for several presidential campaigns, including roles as deputy communications director to Sen. John Kerry and communications director to Teresa Heinz Kerry. Sarah was also one of the first employees hired by The Glover Park group when the firm first launched. (PF Tipster).  

Center for Democracy & Technology Hires Rosenberg

Adam Rosenberg is leaving APCO Worldwide to join the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) as their new media communications manager. The CDT is a non-profit advocacy organization working to protect digital civil liberties and keep the Internet safe, innovative and accessible to all. (PF Tipster)

New DNC Deputy Press Secretary

Brandi Hoffine has been named deputy press secretary at the DNC. One of a handful of holdovers from the Dean regime, Hoffine was a research associate for Rapid Response at the DNC since October 2007. (Roll Call's Shop Talk). 

Organizing for America's New Spokeswoman

Natalie Wyeth is the new spokeswoman at Organizing for America at the DNC.  She was the Press Secretary for the 2008 Democratic Convention, spokesperson for the Obama campaign in Colorado and was the foreign press spokesperson for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. (PF Tipster)

Mackowiak on MSNBC

As you probably know, Potomac Flacks is a blog written by Republicans and Democrats about PR happenings in Washington. We are non-partisan, but when one of our own is on T.V., even if it's a partisan appearances, it's nice to brag about it. 

So, please check out Potomac Flacks Blogger Matt Mackowiak's appearance on MSNBC this morning. It's partisan, but what the heck - I wanted to share.

New National Press Secretary at DNC

Hari Sevugan has joined the DNC as national press secretary where he will be helping out with rapid response. Sevugan was most recently on the campaign of President Barack Obama. (Roll Call)