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)

Blue Engine Message & Media Continues Growth

Adam Abrams, former regional communications director and spokesman at the White House has joined Blue Engine Message & Media. Adam's background in Democratic politics is vast - he has held a variety of communications roles throughout the party - including working on the Hill for Cong. Patrick Murphy and in the communications shop of the DCCC, under then-chairman Rahm Emanuel. (PF Tipster)

TOUGH JOB: Communications Director, DC Councilman Marion Barry

Washington, DC Councilman Marion Barry is looking for a communications director. The Washington Post’s Monica Hesse looks at what interested candidates might expect through interviews with Barry’s former press secretaries. Their advice includes:

- “You have to be high energy,” says Linda Wharton Boyd, who was Mayor Barry’s communications director from 1997-1999. “There’s never a dull moment. . . . You have to hit the ground flying.”

- Make sure you’re a step ahead of him,” says Andre Johnson, a former Barry communications director. “He has a memory like a photo. Never promise him something and then forget to do it. Because he will not forget.  And he will haunt you.”

- Raymone Bain served as Barry’s press secretary in the mid-1990s and went on to represent many celebrities, including Michael Jackson.  She says Barry always appreciated her willingness to speak her mind.  “It was either Mrs. Barry or I who was saying, ‘You can’t say that; this is not the way to say that,’ ” Bain says.  Barry’s fourth wife, Cora, was his communications director.  Bain recalls one event where members of the community were airing their grievances, and he breezily responded, “Oh, well. People in hell want ice water, too.”  “I thought,” she says, “I would die.”  (Washington Post)

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”)

JOB OF THE WEEK: C2ES, Communications Manager

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, seeks a highly qualified and experienced Communications Manager to manage key communications functions, including media relations and in-house writing.

The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate a commitment to C2ES’s mission and have at least 5-6 years’ communications experience, preferably in Washington and/or on environmental/energy issues.

TO APPLY: Visit -- http://www.c2es.org/about/career-opportunities/communications-manager (PF tipster)