Meet RGA Staff
Meet RGA Staff
Jane Batson – Corporate Events Director
jbatson (at) rga.org
Prior to joining RGA, Jane was Executive Meetings Manager, at the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). At the DMA Jane managed all C-level and Board of Directors Events throughout the United States. Prior to the DMA, she was Conference Services Manager at the Four Seasons where she oversaw State visits and delegations, including visits by the King of Jordan and Dali Lama. Jane began her career at the US Chamber of Commerce working for the National Chamber Foundation, followed by becoming the Manager of Corporate Programs. Jane is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.
Monica Block – Governors Liaison
mblock (at) rga.org
Monica is the Governors’ Liaison at the RGA. Previously, she was the Scheduler for Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. Monica is originally from Yorktown, Virginia and earned a B.A. in Communication and a B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University.
Ethan Breitling –Finance Assistant
ebreitling (at) rga.org
Ethan serves as the RGA’s Finance Assistant. Originally from Newtown, CT, he studied Political Science at Western Connecticut State University and Foreign Policy at American University. Prior to joining the RGA, Ethan interned at The Republican National Committee and The Connecticut General Assembly House Republicans Office.
Amy Burggraf – National Recruitment Coordinator
aburggraf (at) rga.org
Amy is the RGA’s National Recruitment Coordinator. Prior to joining the RGA, she worked on the Tim Pawlenty for President campaign. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, she received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Bethel University.
Phil Cox- Executive Director
Prior to joining RGA, Phil served as campaign manager for Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, helping to engineer an historic 18-point landslide victory in a state which had voted overwhelmingly for President Obama in 2008. Following the victory, Cox served as Governor-elect McDonnell’s transition director and now directs the Governor’s Opportunity Virginia PAC. Over the last decade and half, Phil has served as campaign manager or general consultant to more than one hundred campaigns from state legislature to Congress, to Attorney General, Lt. Governor, and Governor. He is a native of Hingham, MA, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and currently resides in Falls Church, VA.
Cara Edmundowicz – Executive Roundtable Deputy Director
carae (at) rga.org
Cara is the RGA’s Executive Roundtable Deputy Director. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri , Cara graduated from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs with a Bachelor’s in Political Communication and Journalism & Mass Communication, cum laude. She then went on to obtain a Master’s in Political Management with a focus in Electoral Politics from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. Prior to joining the RGA, Cara worked at a polling firm in DC.
Joanna Evans – Governors Council and Roundtable Membership Director
jevans (at) rga.org
Joanna currently serves as the Governors Council and Roundtable Membership Director at the RGA. Prior to joining the RGA, Joanna spent 7 years at the national headquarters of the American Red Cross where she managed corporate strategic partnerships. In addition to managing an extensive portfolio of corporate and association partners, she managed government relations and international affairs initiatives on Capitol Hill for the organization. Although originally from Virginia, she is a proud Sun Devil from Arizona State University.
Ed Frank -Director of Film and Visual Media
efrank (at) rga.org
Prior to joining the RGA, Ed served as the Vice President of Public Affairs for the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity. He has also served as the spokesman for former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, as press secretary for the small-business group NFIB, communications director for former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary and legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. He also runs his own consulting business, Frank Strategies LLC, specializing in film and video production for clients across America. Ed graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1994 with a double major in journalism and political science.
DiAnne Graham – Executive Roundtable Director
dgraham (at) rga.org
DiAnne is the RGA’s Executive Roundtable Membership Director. Prior to joining the RGA, she was Director of Outreach in the Office of the Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State. During her tenure at State, she also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. She has previously worked for Governor Haley Barbour in Washington, DC and in Mississippi, directed the International Program at the 2004 Republican National Convention and served as the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Ambassador to the 2005 World’s Fair in Nagoya, Japan. DiAnne is a graduate of The University of Mississippi where she serves on the national board of the Alumni Association.
Paige Hahn – Finance Director
phahn (at) rga.org
Paige is the RGA’s finance director and leads its fundraising department. Prior to joining the RGA, Paige oversaw the fundraising operations for Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s 2009 gubernatorial campaign, helping to raise a record-setting $24 million, and in 2010, she helped launch the Governor’s Opportunity Virginia PAC. Before her work with Governor McDonnell, Paige raised more than $75 million for issue advocacy and voter education projects at the US Chamber of Commerce, increasing the Chamber’s voter education program from $8 million to more than $50 million. In addition, Paige has served as Finance Director for American Solutions, Deputy Director for the RNC’s Team 100, and Southern Regional Director for the RNC Republican Eagles program.
Alex Harrison – Political Assistant
aharrison (at) rga.org
Alex serves as the RGA’s Political Assistant. Originally from Tucson, AZ, she graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. Prior to joining the RGA, Alex worked at Liberty Central, The Heritage Foundation and on the 2006 reelection campaign of Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.).
Ginny Clair Hitt – Executive Roundtable Assistant
ghitt (at) rga.org
Originally from Meridian, Mississippi, Ginny Clair graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a minor in History. Prior to joining the RGA, Ginny Clair worked in Congressman Gregg Harper’s Meridian office as a Case manager.
Daniel Huey -Deputy Political Director
dhuey (at) rga.org
Daniel Huey most recently worked as an Account Executive at CRAFT | Media / Digital, a political consulting and public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. Daniel was with the firm during its founding days and was the first non-partner on the team. He executed media, mail, and online campaigns for a wide variety of political and issue clients including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, NRCC, Joe Wilson for Congress, and Kevin Yoder for Congress. Prior to CRAFT, Daniel spent time with a variety of political campaigns and political organizations. Daniel is originally from Canton, Georgia and earned a degree in Business Economics and Public Policy from George Washington University.
Charlie O’Neill – Events Coordinator
coneill (at) rga.org
Charlie currently serves as the Events Coordinator for the RGA. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Charlie attended the Catholic University of America where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Prior to joining the RGA Charlie interned for Congressman Howard Coble.
Josh Robinson – Political Director
jrobinson (at) rga.org
Josh most recently served as Director of Political operations for Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and managed his 2010 campaign for Lt. Gov.
Over the years, Josh has served as campaign manager and consultant on a number of successful state and congressional campaigns. He worked on McCain’s presidential campaign where he served as the South Carolina Statewide Field Director in 2007. In the ‘08 cycle he served as a Regional Political Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee focusing on the South and Southwest. During that tough year for Republican candidates, Josh worked with four of the five Republican challenger campaigns that were successful in unseating incumbent Democrats. Following the election, Josh spent time on Capitol Hill serving as Chief of Staff for Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in 2009.
Josh earned a degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Mike Schrimpf – Communications Director
202.662.4147
Mike directs both media and member communications for the RGA and assists in developing and implementing RGA’s political strategy, including paid and earned media efforts in its targeted campaigns. Prior to joining the RGA, Mike was the communications director for an issue advocacy group and chief of staff for the president of the board of county commissioners in his hometown of Cincinnati. Mike graduated with a political science degree from Tufts University.
Zaina Shaath – Corporate Membership Coordinator
zhaath (at) rga.org
Zaina is the RGA’s Corporate Membership Coordinator. Originally from Findlay, Ohio, Zaina graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Communication. Prior to joining the RGA, Zaina worked at the United Service Organizations (USO) and in the Office of Presidential Correspondence during the Bush Administration.
Jon Thompson – Press Secretary
Jon serves as RGA’s press secretary, a position in which he focuses primarily on raising the national profiles of Republican governors and the RGA. Prior to joining RGA, Jon served as Director of Radio and Television for the National Republican Congressional Committee . In that position, Jon booked GOP Congressman, Congressional candidates, surrogates and spokesman on national and regional radio and television interviews.
Jodi Vaccarelli – Director of Events, Corporate
Jvaccarelli (at) rga.org
Prior to joining RGA, Jodi was Manager, Programs & Events at the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC). At SGAC, Jodi programmed and executed two Annual Conferences along with numerous other networking and educational events throughout the year. Prior to SGAC, Jodi was Senior Conference Manager at the Direct Marketing Association where she oversaw a portfolio of conferences. Jodi began her career at the US Chamber of Commerce working in the fundraising department. Jodi is a 2004 graduate of Clemson University in South Carolina where she majored in Marketing with a concentration in Communications.
Mary Ann Voigt – Statesmen, Cabinet and Board Director
mvoigt (at) rga.org
Mary Ann currently serves as the RGA Statesmen, Governors Cabinet and Board Membership Director. Prior to joining the RGA, she was the Major Donor Director at the National Republican Congressional Committee. She previously worked with the major donor programs at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee, and the Republican National Committee. She is a native Houstonian and received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University.
Tim Whiting – Chief Financial Officer
twhiting (at) rga.org
Tim was born and raised in Arizona and received a Masters Degree from Brigham Young University in Accounting. Before coming to the RGA, Tim worked as an auditor with Deloitte & Touché in the McLean, Virginia office. Prior to that, he worked as a business development analyst with the Clyde Companies in Orem Utah, and as an intern in the Washington, D.C. offices of Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona.
Alden Wood – Executive Roundtable Assistant
awood (at) rga.org
Alden is the RGA’s Executive Roundtable Assistant. Prior to joining the RGA, she worked at the Republican National Committee in the Member Services division. A native of Austin, Texas, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Government from the University of Virginia.
Larissa Ziemann – Executive Assistant
lziemann (at) rga.org
Larissa currently serves as the RGA’s Executive Assistant, working directly with the Executive Director along with coordinating the Internship Program and managing the office’s daily activities. She joined the RGA in March 2010 as a Political Assistant. Prior to joining the RGA, Larissa worked at the Republican Party of Florida. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminology and received a Master’s in Applied American Politics & Policy.