Potomac Flacks

SENATE FLACK JORDAN HEADS TO PINKSTON GROUP

The Pinkston Group, a strategic communications consultancy located in the D.C.-metro area, today announced that Darrell “D.J.” Jordan, will be joining the firm as its newest director.

Jordan brings significant experience to the table, having served as communications director for federal leaders and committees, as well as curated content for major news outlets.

As communications director for Senator James Lankford (Okla.) and the House Small Business Committee, and press secretary for House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Jordan has secured national and local coverage on key policy issues.

As an editor and producer for Fox and CNN, he helped develop coverage for major news outlets. While working on Capitol Hill, he completed a Masters of Public Management at The Johns Hopkins University and fine-tuned his understanding of public policy. As such, he is ideally positioned to lead and implement strategic public relations campaigns for Pinkston Group clients.

As director, Jordan will lead a team of experienced strategists, designers, and writers. Leveraging his extensive experience and network, he will expand the Pinkston Group’s reach to new industries and sectors through a dynamic, targeted approach. (PF tipster)

Veteran GOP Communicator Taylor Joins Forbes Tate Partners

Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) today announced that Ryan Taylor, who most recently served as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), has joined its strategic communications and public affairs practice as Vice President. Ryan joins FTP as the firm’s public affairs practice continues to expand rapidly, bringing over a decade of public sector and campaign experience with him.

In his new role as Vice President, Ryan will help lead the firm’s public affairs consulting teams and design winning strategies for advocacy campaigns in Washington, D.C. and across the country. Ryan brings more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill as a senior advisor and communications strategist for four U.S. Senators and a Member of Congress. Ryan also worked as a policy advisor on federal regulatory issues for Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) on the Senate Republican Policy Committee, handling regulatory matters related to Dodd-Frank, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation.

In addition to his time on Capitol Hill, Ryan has had significant success leading Republican campaign efforts. In 2012, he served as Senator Barrasso’s campaign manager, helping him garner an unprecedented 75.9 percent of the total statewide vote. In 2010, as Executive Director of the Wyoming Republican Party, he led the Party to the single largest election victory in 90 years.

Having worked for members of Congress from the Rocky Mountain West to the South – including Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY), Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY), and Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) – Ryan has a strong background on a wide range of issues, including national defense, telecommunications, infrastructure, energy, public lands, and healthcare. (PF tipster)

Cruz adds Slobodien to U.S. Senate Office as Communications Director, Watson as Media Booker

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced on Friday that he has named Rachael Slobodien as his new Communications Director and Heidi Watson as Media Booker and Press Assistant.

Slobodien previously worked at The Heritage Foundation as Manager of Media Affairs where she led the regional communications team and crafted messaging and strategy for Heritage’s Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity.

She has previously served as Press Secretary to then-U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY), as Senior Media Associate at Heritage in 2010 and as Communications Manager at the National Taxpayers Foundation.

A native of Little Rock, Slobodien holds a Bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University.  She is currently earning a Law Degree from The George Washington University.

Watson most recently worked as Press Assistant for the House Committee on Small Business, where she led social media efforts and contributed to graphic design and messaging under Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH).

Watson moved to Washington, D.C. from Oklahoma in January 2015, she first interned for U.S. Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA). Prior to working on the Hill, her experience includes serving as Constituent Services Manager and Assistant Appointments Director for former Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon. She also worked as Campaign Assistant during Shannon’s bid for the U.S. Senate in 2014.

Watson earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and is a native of Ardmore, OK. (PF tipster)

Remainders: Gleischman to GPG; Mason to Albright-Stonebridge; Haulsee to Senate HELP Cmte; Litman to Google

Here are some recent items that we missed:

• Max Gleischman has joined Glover Park Group as Vice President.  He was most recently Director of Communications and Spokesperson for U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power.  Previously, he served as Communications Director for then-Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and for former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).  (PF tipster)
• Julie Mason, currently the White House Director of Special Projects in the Office of Vice President Biden, has started working as Vice President for Communications at the Albright-Stonebridge Group.  Previously she was Communications Director for Dr. Jill Biden, spokesperson at AOL Time Warner and a communications staffer in the Clinton White House for five years.  (Politico “Playbook)
• Pinehurst, NC native Taylor Haulsee has been named Deputy Press Secretary for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN).  She previously worked at FP1 Strategies.  (PF tipster)
• Riva Litman has joined Google’s global communications and public affairs team in DC.  She was previously Communications Director for House GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).  (Politico “Influence”)

House aide Maloney Joins Sen. Murphy’s office as Press Secretary

Laura Maloney has joined the office of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) as Press Secretary.  She was previously Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Etsy (D-CT).

Maloney is a native of Wolcott, CT and a 2012 graduate of Colby College.  (PF tipster)

Phalen Named Communications Director for House Homeland Security Committee

House Homeland Security Committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) named Susan Phalen as the new Communications Director for the committee.

From 2011-2015, Phalen served as Communications Director for the House Intelligence Committee.

Before that she headed communications for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and spent eight years at the U.S. Department of State as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.  During that time, she deployed to Iraq nine times.

Before that she was Communications Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the OECD in Paris.  She also worked in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House early in her career.

She got her start in radio on the island of Guam.

She is a 1992 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  (PF tipster)

Sen. Thune Announces Staff Changes

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the 3^rd ranking leader in the incoming U.S. Senate majority as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, announced several staff changes for the new Congress:

Brendon Plack, who has been serving as Sen. Thune’s Deputy Chief of Sstaff, has been named Staff Director of the Senate Republican Conference. Plack will also continue to oversee operations in Thune’s DC-based personal office. Plack, a South Dakota native, has served on Thune’s team in various capacities for the past 10 years, including Thune’s Legislative Director, Policy Director for the Senate Republican Conference, and energy analyst at the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

Ann Marie Hauser has been named Deputy Sstaff Director of the Senate Republican Conference. Most recently, Hauser handled public affairs strategy for the financial regulatory consulting firm Patomak Global Partners. Prior to that, she served as managing vice president at JDA Frontline, Communications Director for Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s presidential bid, Vice President of Corporate Communications at JPMorgan Chase, Communications Director for U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce and spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Treasury in the George W. Bush administration.

AshLee Strong, Sen. Thune’s national Communications Director, has been promoted to Senior Communications Director. She will continue to serve as Thune’s chief spokesperson and will coordinate Thune’s national message in his leadership office and across his committee assignments. Previously, Strong served as Press Secretary for Sen. Thune, Press Secretary for Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), communications aide for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and as an aide at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the George W. Bush administration.

Frederick Hill has been named Sen. Thune’s Communications Director for the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Hill most recently served as Deputy Staff Director for Communications to Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hill has worked for Issa for the past 13 years.

In addition, Rachel Millard will continue to serve as Thune’s Communications Director for state press. Millard, a native of Chamberlain, SD, and graduate of Creighton University, has served on Sen. Thune’s personal staff for over five years and previously served as press secretary for Sen. Thune, internal communications adviser at the Senate Republican Conference, and legislative correspondent for Thune.  (PF tipster)

Jordan Departs House Small Business Cmte for U.S. Sen.-elect Lankford

Politico’s “Playbook” reports that D.J. Jordan is leaving the House Small Business Committee, under chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and has been named Communications Director for U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK).

Jordan previously served as a press aide for U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), as well as working for CNN and Fox News.

He is has a B.S. degree from Liberty University and a Master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

He is a native of Chesapeake, VA. (Politico “Playbook” and PF reporting)

Doheny Moves from House to Senate

Politico’s “Playbook” reports that Tom Doheny has been named Communications Director for U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE).

Doheny has been Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Renee Elmers (R-NC) since 2011.  Doheny took leave in 2014 to serve as Colorado Victory Communications Director for the RNC.  Before that he was Communications Director for the Delaware Republican Party.

He is a 2007 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and a native of Fairfax Station, Virginia.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

Speaker Boehner Moves Fritz from Political Role to Speaker’s Office

Cory Fritz, a longtime aide to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), has been named Press Secretary in the speaker’s office, with special responsibility for dealing with White House media.

Fritz has led communications for Boehner’s political committee for the past four years, serving as Ohio Press Secretary for Boehner before that.  Earlier he was Speechwriter for former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH).  (PF tipster)