| 2008
Republican National Convention
RNC Committee on
Arrangements
Headquarters: St. Paul, MN ...opened in May 2007
updated July 2, 2009
Note: This is by no means a complete listing and the department groupings are
approximate.
|
 |
100
Days Out press
release
see also: officers and other Convention-related
committees below > |
www.gopconvention2008.com
August
30, 2007 grab
(day
launched) |
(appointed by Ken Mehlman
and
unanimously approved in Jan. 2007) Co-Chairman of the Republican
National Committee; elected in 2005 and re-elected on January 19,
2007.
Chaired the RNC's Site Selection Committee (appointed by Ken Mehlman in
Jan. 2006). Bush-Cheney ’04 Ohio Valley Regional Campaign
Chair.
A member of the Ohio House of Representatives for 20 years and served
as
Speaker of the House from 1995-2000. Chairman of the Franklin
County
Republican Party Central Committee for 25 years. As Chairman of
the
Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee from 1986-2000, leading the
effort
to return the Republicans to the majority in the Ohio House of
Representatives
in 1994, for the first time in 22 years. Resident of
Reynoldsburg,
Ohio.
|
Deputy to the COA
Chairman/COA
Liaison |
Gabi Plumlee |
Plumlee joined the RNC
staff
in March 2005 as deputy director of member events and relations.
Prior to joining the RNC, she served as events coordinator for Nevada
Victory
2004 where she was the ground contact handling all Presidential, Vice
Presidential,
and surrogate visits in the state of Nevada during the 2004 Bush/Cheney
campaign. Previously an account executive at Cooley Advertising
in
Phoenix, Arizona. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and is a
graduate
of Arizona State University with a degree in broadcasting.
| President and CEO |
Maria Cino |
(announced March 6,
2007)
Deputy Secretary of Transportation (nominated by President George W.
Bush
on April 6, 2005, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate a month later;
served
as the Acting Secretary of Transportation from July 7, 2006-Oct. 4,
2006,
following the resignation of Norman Mineta). Deputy chairman at
the
RNC during the 2004 cycle, appointed June 2003. Assistant
Secretary
and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial
Service
at the U.S. Department of Commerce, appointed in May 2001. Deputy
Chairman for Political and Congressional Relations at the RNC.
National
Political Director for Bush for President in Austin, TX, responsible
for
hiring and supervising the national field operation, organizing the
campaign's
leadership in the 50 states and territories, and establishing staffed
headquarters
in 22 early primary states. Public policy and government affairs
consultant for Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington, DC.
Executive
Director and Chief Operating Officer of the National Republican
Congressional
Committee (NRCC), 1993-97. Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Bill
Paxon.
Graduate of St. John Fisher College in Rochester. Native of
Buffalo,
New York. [interview]
Executive Assistant to the
President & CEO: Amy
Grangeia
(started in March 2007)
Previously confidential assistant to Maria Cino when she was Deputy
Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation. B.A. in
communications and business from Villanova University, 2005.
Staff
Assistant to the President & CEO: Elizabeth
Ankney
From Ottawa Hill, OH.
| Vice President |
Mel Raines |
(announced June 22,
2007)
Most recently, Raines served as Assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney
for Political Affairs. Previously, Raines served as the Director,
Government Affairs Outreach and Communications, for Altria Corporate
Services,
Inc. She also held positions at the 2000 and 2004 Republican
National
Conventions, the Republican National Committee (RNC), and in the office
of United States Senator Daniel Coats (R-IN). B.A. degree from
Indiana
University-Bloomington.
Assistant to
the Vice President: Maggie Boyd
Government relations analyst for the DC office of the
Blank Rome law firm. Native of St. Louis.
CFO
| Chief Financial
Officer |
Dan Puhl |
(announced June 22,
2007)
A licensed Certified Public Accountant, Puhl will be joining the
convention
from Fairview Health Services, a Minneapolis-based corporation. He also
serves as an Adjunct Instructor in accounting, finance and business at
Academy College in Bloomington, Minn. An Army reservist, Puhl
previously
held positions as Controller for Highland Electric and Fairview
Press.
B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota; master’s degrees from
Metropolitan
State University and U.S. Army War College. Puhl is a native of
Saint
Paul, Minn.
Director of
Financial Services and Administration
|
Jan McBride Sumrall
|
(announced June 22,
2007)
Most recently, McBride served as Director of Financial and
Administrative
Services for the Big Buddy Program; Baton Rouge, La.
Previously,
McBride served as Deputy Director for Operations, Budget and
Administration
at the 2004 Republican National Convention. She was raised in
Baton
Rouge and holds a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University.
Deputy Director
of Administration
|
Ryan Graham
|
Deputy Director
of Financial Services
|
Thomas Maxwell
|
| Chief Information
Officer |
Max Everett |
(announced June 22,
2007)
Previously, Everett served as Branch Chief of Travel and Remote Support
in the Executive Office of the President. He also served as
Managing
Director of Information Technology at the 2005 Presidential Inaugural
Committee,
and as Director of Information Technology at the 2004 Republican
National
Convention. B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin; law
degree
from the University of Houston.
Network
Administrator
|
Timothy
Masterson |
Systems administrator at The Fresh
Connection, Inc. and flooring expeditor/installation coordinator at
Home Depot. A.A.S. in network administration from Academy College, 2007,
A.A.S. in security administration from Academy College, 2008 and B.S.
in computer science from Academy College, 2008.
Supervised the operation of
Helpdesk and Multi-Vendor technical specialists. Planned,
coordinated and supervised deployment of 400 Blackberry devices to
Blackberry Enterprise Server users and Google Application users.
Planned, implemented and supervised the RNC network and IP
telecommunications infrastructure to four locations in the Saint Paul
metropolitan area. Completed requirements analysis of desktops
and laptops for all departments. Coordinated the ordering,
delivery and installation of all desktops and laptops used for the
convention. Responsible for the configuration and deployment of
125 network and end user printers.
Travel Coordinator
|
Katherine
Heinemann |
Intern Coordinator
|
Julie Ann Schmidt
|
Experience includes a bit less than
5 years work on Capitol Hill,
starting in 2002 as an intern in Rep. John Linder's office, then
working as a legislative correspondent, legislative assistant, and as
professional staff on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Former counsel to the
Committee
on House Administration.
OPERATIONS
| Director of
Operations,
Media Operations, Production and Official Proceedings |
Mike Miller |
From Knoxville, TN.
Miller
has directed media operations for every Republican Convention since
1972.
He covered the 1964 and 1968 conventions as a correspondent for the
Scripps-Howard
newspaper chain. Miller also operated Elkmont Productions, a
public
affairs consulting firm.
Deputy Director
of Operations and Logistics
|
Paul Sorenson
|
Legislative assistant
House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Graduate of Manchester
College. Native of Greentown, IN.
Credentials
Manager
|
Logan
Dryden
|
(started at the Committee in July
2007) Worked for the deputy director of the Office of Management and
Budget Joel Kaplan in Washington, DC. Graduate of the University
of Texas in Austin, 2005. Native of Amarillo, TX.
Senior Events
Manager
|
Nancy Peele
|
(March 2008) Director of
special projects for the DC office of the Jones Walker law firm for
over 10 years. Worked for a year on Capitol Hill. Graduate
of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College,
1994. Native of Baton Rouge, LA.
| Deputy Director
of Media
Operations |
Gordon Pennoyer |
(effective October 1,
2007)
Most recently worked in the Alumni & Development office at the
Millbrook
School in Millbrook, NY. In the 2004 cycle Pennoyer worked as
associate
director for operations for the 2004 Republican National Convention in
New York City, absentee ballot coordinator for Victory NH (the fall
Republican
campaign in New Hampshire), and then oversaw the Republican Party's
efforts
to recruit and coordinate more than 5,000 volunteers for the 2005
Presidential
Inaugural Committee. B.A. in political science from Kenyon
College,
2003.
Assistant: Hayden Pruett
Previously worked on Capitol Hill as an office manager for Rep. John
Boozman (R-AR). Graduate of the University of Alabama, 2006. From
Huntsville, AL.
Media
Operations Manager/Associate
Deputy of Media Operations: Branda
Napper
Media
Operations Coordinators (3) including Robert Todd
Senior Advisor
for Official Proceedings
|
Aimee Strudwick
|
(Rachel Card
Kahler left in July 2008) Served
as chief of staff to Deputy Secretary of
Commerce David A. Sampson.
Deputy Director
of Official Proceedings
|
Kim Mosser
|
Mosser worked as an
assistant to Mike Miller on the 2004 Republican National Convention
after graduating from Northwestern. From Fairfield, NJ.
Official Proceedings Coordinator:
Kathryn Webb
| Executive Producer |
David J. Nash |
(announced March 13,
2008)
Fifth straight convention for Nash, a veteran television and stage
producer.
Nash started on Broadway as a stagehand and has worked on more than 200
shows.
Program Director
|
Ed Goeas
|
President and C.E.O. of The
Tarrance Group. More than thirty years of working professionally
in politics; he has served as political director of the NRCC, a field
operative for the RNC, campaign manager in several campaigns, and chief
of staff to a congressman.
Assistant: Katie Handel
Program Director
|
William I. (Bill) Greener
|
Greener worked on program planning
and execution on the 2000 Republican National Convention and served as
convention manager for the 1996 Republican National Convention.
He is a founding partner of the firm, Greener and Hook, LLC (1998);
also serves on the faculty of The George Washington University's
Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM). Previously
partner at the firm of Smith & Harroff for seven and a half
years. Vice president for public affairs for Wheelbrator
Technologies, Inc. in 1990; vice president for corporate communications
and state affairs at the International Paper for three years; deputy
chief of staff for political operations at the Republican National
Committee; communications director for the RNC; director of public
affairs at the Department of Energy during the Reagan Administration;
director of media operations for the NRCC; communications director for
the Illinois Republican Party; communications director for the 1980
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois; served in the
communications offices of the Treasury Department and the Ford White
House. Graduate of Washington and Lee University, 1972 and
pursued graduate-level studies in psychology at Miami of Ohio
University.
General Contractor
|
Freeman - Greg Lane |
CAUCUS OPERATIONS
Convention
Manager for Caucus Operations
|
William D. (Bill) Harris |
(started
as a senior advisor) Partner
at the MITA Group and president of William D. Harris and
Associates.
Served as convention manager and CEO for the 2004 Republican National
Convention in New York City and has been involved in the planning and
management of RNC conventions since 1984,
when he served as Sergeant at Arms. First convention attended was
in 1972. Executive director of the NRSC in the 1994 cycle. B.A. from the University
of Alabama.
Deputy to
the Convention Manager for Caucus Operations
|
Manning McPhillips, Jr. |
An account manager and
support specialist for the MITA Group. Served as the 72-Hour
coordinator for the RNC in North Carolina in the 2004 campaign.
Principal aide to William D. Harris, the CEO of the 2004 Republican
National Convention in New York City. Worked in the Office of
Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL)
and earlier on his 2002 re-election campaign. Degree in
international business from the University of Mississippi.
Caucus
Operations Staff: Andrew Plehal
COMMUNICATIONS
| Director of
Communications
and Spokesman |
Matt Burns |
(announced June 22,
2007)
Prior to joining the COA, Burns served as press secretary at the U.S.
Department
of Veterans Affairs. He previously served in New York Gov. George
Pataki’s
Administration, and at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Burns,
a northern New York native, holds a B.A. degree from Monmouth
University
(NJ).
| Deputy Director
of
Communications |
(Kenneth) Ryan James
|
(started at the Committee in Feb.
2008) Previously communications director in the Office of
Congressman John Boozman; started there in Aug. 2006. Executive
producer at KRGV-TV; assistant news director at KAIT-TV. Arkansas
State University.
| Press Secretary |
Joanna
R. Burgos |
(started June 2008) 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,
2004. Also serves as communications director for Roots of Hope,
Inc.
(focuses on Cuban youth).
| Deputy Press Secretary |
Melissa
Subbotin
|
Press secretary to Gov. Jim Gibbons
(NV) through Feb. 2008; started working for Gibbons in his
congressional office as a press assistant in Feb. 2005. Staff
assistant to Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Bachelor's degree in
political science from San Diego State University, 2004. From
Fair Oaks, CA.
| Deputy Press Secretary for Specialty Media |
Yohana
de la Torre |
(announced July 9,
2008)
Currently owner and managing editor of the Gulf Coast Times
in Fort Myers, FL. She previously served as a communications specialist
for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and at the Republican National
Committee. Fluent Spanish speaker and native of Miami.
Senior Writer
|
Lindsay
Hayes
|
Senior associate at Nahigian
Strategies in Alexandria, VA. Worked for over four years as
primary speechwriter for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).
Television Liaison
|
Lindsey
Mask
|
Press secretary for Rep.
Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Republican staffer for the House Education and
Labor Committee. Press secretary for Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ),
2005-06. Speechwriter for the Texas commissioner of
education. TV anchor and reporter for an ABC affiliate in
Michigan. Degree in mass communications and speech communications
from Texas State University.
Regional Media
|
James
Davis
|
(started working for the
Convention as communications coordinator in Jan. 2008) Public
affairs analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Public Affairs, 2006-07. Director of congressional
research/legislative liaison in the Office of the Secretary of Defense,
2003-05.
M.P.A. (2008) and undergraduate degree (2003) from Georgia College and
State University.
| Web Team |
Campaign
Solutions-Chris Brooks |
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
| Director of
External Affairs |
Anthony Foti |
(announced Oct. 10, 2007;
starting
in Fall 2007..."duties will include outreach to the business community;
federal, state, and local government offices; interest groups; and
members
of the general public." includes coordination of the volunteer
program) A senior policy advisor at Akin Gump
Strauss
Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, DC, representing clients before
Congress
on a broad range of issues, including transportation, appropriations
and
international trade. In 2004, Foti served as the director of the RNC's
72 Hour Task Force Legal Volunteer Program. In 2000, he was an
assistant
to the RNC’s advisory committee for the 2000 Republican National
Convention
in Philadelphia, where he managed surrogate media activities and
assisted
with floor operations, and he was appointed by the Bush-Cheney 2000
transition
office as coordinator of the Transition Advisory Committees, where he
directed
the operations of the committees that advised the president-elect on
policy
and management matters. District director to Congressman Bill
Paxon
(R-NY) from 1994-98 and Western New York regional director for New York
State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso. B.A. from the State
University
of New York at Buffalo.
| Deputy Director
of
External Affairs |
Leah Harrelson
|
Assistant scheduler in the Office of
the Majority Whip, U.S. House of Representatives, 2000-01.
Attended Baylor University.
| Deputy Director
of
External Affairs |
Robyn Knecht
|
Previously served as Director of
Governors Office Relations & Events at the Republican Governors
Association.
DELEGATE SERVICES
Director
of Delegate Services
|
Shannon Boozman |
(announced June 22,
2007 as Deputy
Director
of Hotels,
Venues and Master Calendar)
Prior to joining the convention, Boozman served as Director of
Association
Outreach for the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
She previously served as the Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Department
of Commerce. Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Boozman held
positions
in special services with the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee and
as associate director of hotels and function space at the 2004
Republican
National Convention. Worked in the finance department at the RNC,
2001-03. B.S. degree from the University of
Arkansas.
Native of Rogers, Ark.
| Deputy Director
of Hotels,
Venues and Master Calendar |
Anne Stewart |
(started at the Committee in
May 2007 as hotels and venues manager) Special assistant at the White
House Project, 2005-07. Managing director of special services on
the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Worked at the Republican
National Committee from July 2003-Nov. 2004, starting as a staff
assistant, then scheduler in the chairman's office, and deputy events
director for the Northeast on Victory 2004. Degree in business
administration from Meredith College, 2003. From Fayetteville, NC.
Hotel Manager for
Delegate Services
|
Taylor
Curilla |
Management analyst at the Republican
National Committee. Volunteer deployment coordinator for the
Nevada Republican Party during the 2006 election. Graduate of the
University of Dayton, 2005. Native of Fox Chapel, PA.
Venue Coordinator
|
Emily
Dahl
|
Previously group sales and
marketing manager for The Melting Pot in Chicago. Graduate of
Augustana College. Lincolnshire, IL native.
TRANSPORTATION
| Director of
Transportation |
Dana Sullivan |
(announced June 22,
2007 as Director of
Administration
and Human Resources)
Prior to joining the convention staff, Sullivan served at the State
Department
as Special Assistant and Chief of Staff to Ambassador to Ireland James
C. Kenney. She previously held other positions at the State
Department,
including service in the offices of the Deputy Secretary and White
House
Liaison. Sullivan also worked for Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and the
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Andover,
Mass.
native holds a B.A. from Gettysburg (Pa.) College.
Transportation Assistant
|
Shelley Capito
|
Transportation
Coordinator
|
John
Borja |
SECURITY
| Director of
Security |
Frank Spicka |
(announced Oct. 10,
2007..."will
work in close partnership with local, state, and federal law
enforcement
in planning, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive security
plan
for the convention.") Previously, Spicka was a senior-level law
enforcement
professional with the United States Secret Service (USSS) for more than
24 years. Bachelor's degree in political science from Stanford
University.
Saint Paul, Minn. native.
| Deputy Director
of Security |
Don Winger |
(announced Dec. 19,
2007)
More than 30 years of law enforcement experience. Currently dean
of the School of Professional Programs and director for the Police
Science
program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Maplewood Police
Chief from 1998-2002 and previously worked for 27 years at the City of
Saint Paul Police Department including as District Commander.
Bachelor's
degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, master's degree
from
the University of Saint Thomas (Minn.), and is a graduate of the
Federal
Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Academy. He is also a
Vietnam
veteran.
former
|
Deputy Director
of Operations and Logistics
|
Joby Boland |
(announced Oct.
2007) Most recently served as
Vice
President of Operations for Quinn Consulting, Inc. in the DC
area.
Boland worked for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, including three
years
as Director of Advance, 2000-06. In 2004, he directed scheduling,
Congressional relations, media affairs, corporate sponsor
relationships,
and state delegation communication for the Speaker in his role as
Permanent
Chairman of the 2004 Republican National Convention. Graduate of
the University of Notre Dame.
Director of
Official Proceedings
|
Rachel Card Kahler
|
(announced
May 29, 2008; to July 2008) The fifth GOP convention Kahler has worked
on. Worked on Capitol Hill for
former U.S. Rep. Peter Blute. Began her career in politics at the
age of four, gathering signatures for her father, former White House
Chief of Staff Andrew Card, in his run for the Massachusetts State
House of Representatives.
Officers
and Committees >
Permanent
Chairman - U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner of
Ohio
Temporary Chairman - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
of Kentucky
Deputy Permanent Co-Chairs
- Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer; former New Hampshire State
Chairman Steve Duprey; David Roederer of Iowa; U.S. Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen of Florida; Kathleen Shanahan of Florida; and Michigan
National Committeeman Chuck Yob
Parliamentarian - U.S. Rep. David Dreier of California
Chief Sargeant at Arms -
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster
Secretary - former Massachusetts Republican State
Chairwoman Jean Inman
Treasurer - Tim Morgan, National
Committeeman for California
General Counsel - Blake Hall,
National
Committeeman for Idaho
Chief Page - James S.
Bookwalter of Connecticut
Convention Credentials Committee
| Chairman |
Jim Herring (MS)
|
Convention Rules Committee
| Chairman |
Alec Poitevint (GA)
|
Committee on Permanent Organization
| Chairman |
Jayne
Millerick (NH)
|
Convention Committee on Resolutions
(“Platform Committee”)
| Chairman |
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
(CA-22)
Senator Richard Burr
(NC)
|
Platform
Committee
one man and one woman from
each state and territory
| Chairman |
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
(CA-22)
|
(announced
May 1, 2008)
| Co-Chairman |
Senator Richard Burr (NC)
|
(announced June 5, 2008)
Executive Director
|
Steven Duffield
|
(announced
May 1, 2008) Policy director and chief
counsel at the Senate Republican Conference under Sen. Jon Kyl starting
in Jan. 2007; previously deputy policy director and
chief counsel for the Senate Republican Policy Committee starting in
June 2006 and a judiciary policy analyst and counsel for the Committee
starting in
2003. Practiced constitutional law for Mayer, Brown,
Rowe & Maw, 2001-03. Judicial clerk for the Alaska Supreme
Court
from 1999-2000. Undergraduate degree from Georgetown
University, 1992; J.D. from the University of Chicago,1999.
Native of Vista, CA.
-On
July 11, 2008 the RNC announced the
Platform Committee website.
-On Aug. 9, 2008 the RNC announced
six Platform Subcommittees and their leadership.
RNC Committee on Arrangements
see above
| Vice
Chairman |
Bob Kjellander
|
National Committeeman for Illinois.
RNC Committee on the
Call
"formally announce the
site
and dates of the Convention as well as the number of delegates
authorized
to attend."
| Chairman |
Robert T. Bennett |
(announced
Oct. 9, 2007) Longtime chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.
RNC Committee on Contests
"resolving issues related
to states’ delegate selection processes prior to the 2008 Republican
National
Convention."
(announced
Dec. 19, 2007) Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party and
the
RNC’s Chairman of the State Chairmen. A partner at Herring, Long
and Crews, P.C., Herring served as a judge on the Mississippi
Court
of Appeals and was a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve JAG Corps for 25
years.
| Copyright
© 2007, 2008 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action |
|