Meet RGA Staff
Meet RGA Staff
Mike Adams – General Counsel
A graduate of the University of Louisville and Harvard Law School, Mike has served RGA as General Counsel since January 2007. In addition to law firm practice, Mike has served in a number of political and governmental positions, including Deputy General Counsel to a Republican governor, and Counsel to the U.S. Deputy Attorney General.
Nick Ayers – Executive Director
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Nick manages RGA operations, budget, and political strategy. Under Nick’s leadership, the RGA is executing a four-year plan to regain the majority of governorships for the GOP. In his first year, Nick guided the RGA to victory in two out of its three gubernatorial races. In 2008, the RGA saw all its incumbents re-elected, set new fundraising marks, and carried forward a record amount of cash on hand. Last year, the RGA won the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races and became the first GOP committee to make a net gain in members since the end of 2006. Before joining the RGA, Ayers managed Governor Perdue’s re-election campaign overseeing a staff of 25 and 15 million dollar budget. Governor Perdue was the first Republican re-elected to the state’s highest office in Georgia history and won in 130 of 159 counties with 58 percent of the vote, defeating his opponent by nearly 20 points.
Paul Bennecke – Deputy Executive Director and Political Director
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Paul is responsible for RGA’s political strategy, recruitment, independent expenditures and legal coordination with campaigns and committees. Since his time at RGA, Paul has been involved in 12 gubernatorial elections managing nearly $35 million in RGA political expenditures.
Before joining RGA, Paul served as Executive Director of the Georgia Republican Party. Under his guidance, the GA GOP successfully re-elected its first Republican Governor in state history and elected Georgia’s first Republican Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. The Party also won majorities in the State House (picking up 34 seats) and State Senate (picking up 8 seats). He managed a $14 million political budget including voter contact mail, voter id and registration, GOTV operations, recruitment, paid media and party/candidate training. Paul also was Political Director for Governor Sonny Perdue (GA) in 2002 when he defeated incumbent governor Roy Barnes.
Erin Berry – Deputy Counsel
Erin serves as Deputy Counsel for the RGA, where she assists in compliance with state campaign finance laws and research. Prior to joining RGA, she was the Associate General Counsel of the Republican State Leadership Committee. Erin worked at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel as a Legal Advisor and Deputy Director of Congressional Relations and also served as Legislative Counsel to U.S. Representative John Hostettler, focusing on immigration and border security. Erin received a B.A. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds both a Juris Doctor and Master’s in Public Policy from Regent University in Virginia.
Catherine Campbell – Political Assistant
Catherine works in the political department of RGA assisting the director and maintaining campaign communications. She worked as an intern in the White House Office of Public Liaison and also in the Sales and Marketing Department at Garden and Gun magazine in Charleston, SC. A native of Thomasville, GA, Catherine received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Georgia.
Dennise Casey – Political Field Diector
Dennise is responsible for Independent Expenditures in the northeast. She is a native of Starksboro, Vermont and a graduate of the University of Vermont. Dennise worked for Vermont Governor Jim Douglas for more than seven years managing his re-election campaign in ’06 and ’08. Most recently she served as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director.
Phil Cox- Political Field Diector
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, U.S. Senate 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 – Membership Coordinator
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 Campaign 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. She is currently part of the RGA’s finance team and assists the Executive Roundtable membership program.
Campbell Engle – Governors Board Director
Campbell is a member of RGA’s finance team and directs the Governors Board membership program. Prior to the RGA, she was the Southern Regional Finance Director for McCain-Palin 2008. Previously, she was the Finance Coordinator for Senator Trent Lott’s re-election campaign and the New Republican Majority Fund. Campbell received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Ole Miss.
Molly Flanagan – Governors Liaison
Molly completed two years of service in the White House; first, as an Executive Assistant to the Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and then as an Associate Director in the Office of Strategic Initiatives. In her most recent role, she was responsible for coordinating all the President’s domestic events as well as any briefing materials that supported them. Molly grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in political science.
DiAnne Graham – Executive Roundtable Director
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.
Greg Graves – Political Field Director
Greg Graves is a 33 year campaign professional. He has served as a Field Director for Reagan for President, the NRCC, the NRSC, Kemp for President and as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Republican Party.
Katherine Haltiwanger – Governors Council Director
Katherine is a member of the RGA’s finance team and directs the Governors Council membership program. Before joining the RGA, Katherine was State Finance Director for McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign in South Carolina. A South Carolina native, Katherine is a 2004 graduate of Wofford College.
Kaylee Heathcott – Events Assistant
Prior to working at the RGA, Kaylee worked for the Texas House of Representatives for Representative Robert Talton and later for the Urban Affairs Committee. A 2009 graduate of Texas A&M University, Kaylee worked as an RGA Finance Intern before becoming the Events Assistant. She now assists all aspects of the RGA’s events.
Adam Kincaid – Director of Policy and Research
Adam leads the RGA’s policy and political research efforts and plays a major role in developing and implementing RGA’s campaign strategy. Before coming to Washington he served as Director of Voter Programs at the Republican Party of Georgia during the 2006 cycle. He holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and Bachelors in History and Religion from Florida State University.
Bill Klucas – Political Field Director
Bill Klucas, a longtime national GOP campaign manager and consultant, will serve as a regional political director in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. A native of Ohio and resident of Minnesota, Bill has been involved in several Presidential as well as state wide and federal campaigns – primarily in the Midwest.
Brice Kornegay is the Political Field Director responsible for several states, primarily in the Midwest. Prior to working for the RGA, Brice was a Field Representative at the National Republican Congressional Committee and before that served as Campaign Manager for Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma. Brice is originally from Beaumont, TX, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a B.B.A. in economics.
Lauren Lofstrom – Governors Roundtable and Governors Club Membership Director
Lauren is the Governors Roundtable and Club Membership Director at the RGA. Previously, she was the Finance Director for the Dino Rossi for Governor 2008 campaign and worked for United States Senator Gordon Smith. Lauren received a B.A. in Communications from Washington State University.
Sarah Lynch – Governors Statesmen and Governors Cabinet Director
Sarah is the Statesmen and Cabinet Membership Director at the RGA. Previously, she served as the Major Donor Director for McCain-Palin 2008 and spent four years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the fundraising department. Sarah received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Southern California.
Angela Meyers – Finance Director
As Finance Director, Angela oversees RGA’s entire fundraising operation. Before joining the RGA in 2005, Angela was responsible for many successful fundraising ventures in Michigan, including State Finance Director for George W. Bush’s 2004 Presidential campaign. She also was the Finance Director for Dick Posthumus’s 2002 Gubernatorial campaign and was Deputy Finance Director for Spencer Abraham’s 2000 U.S. Senate race.
Tim Murtaugh – Director of Political Communications
Tim handles messaging and relations with the media in each of the 37 states which are holding governors races in 2010. Prior to his service at the RGA, Tim led aggressive communications efforts out of the Republican Party of Virginia and was a key contributor to the election of new Governor Bob McDonnell in November 2009. A veteran of political press strategy, he has worked for Virginia leaders such as former Governor and Senator George Allen, former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and former Congresswoman Thelma Drake. Tim also has worked for the Republican National Committee and served in the administration of President George W. Bush. A graduate of Temple University and a former journalist, Tim lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Maggie Rauck – Finance Assistant
Maggie assists all aspects of the RGA’s finance operation. Maggie is originally from Roanoke, VA. She is a graduate from Clemson University where she studied Political Science and Journalism.
Mike Schrimpf – Communications Director
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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.
Alex Skatell – Director of New Media and Technology
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Alex joined the RGA from Charleston, SC where he founded the web consulting and development company Anu Media. Anu Media focused in mobile application development, web development, and new media marketing. As Director of New Media and Technology, Alex Skatell oversees the IT infrastructure, software implementation, web development, online advertising, social media, and video production.
Kiley Smith – Political Field Director
Kiley is the RGA Political Field Director for the western region: HI, AK, CA, CO and NV. Prior to joining the RGA, Kiley worked on the political team for two gubernatorial races including Dino Rossi for Governor in her home state of Washington and Bob McDonnell for Governor in Virginia. Kiley is a graduate of Washington State University, where she served as president of the College Republicans and was active in several state races.
Tim Whiting – Director of Compliance
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.