2008 Republican National Convention - RNC Committee on Arrangements

2008 Republican National Convention RNC Committee on Arrangements Headquarters: St. Paul, MN ...officially opened on Sept. 12, 2007 updated July 13, 2008
100 Days Out press release also, other Convention-related committees below >	www.gopconvention2008.com August 30, 2007 grab (day launched)

Chairman

Jo Ann Davidson

(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.

More officers (elected at 2007 State Chairmen's meeting May 2007 in Columbia, SC):
Vice Chairman - Bob Kjellander, National Committeeman for Illinois.
Secretary - Sara Gear Boyd, National Committeewoman for Vermont.
Treasurer - Tim Morgan, National Committeeman for California.
General Counsel - Blake Hall, National Committeeman for Idaho.

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.

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.

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.

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 Administration and Human Resources Dana Sullivan

(announced June 22, 2007) 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.

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.

101 hotels with 16,000 hotel rooms...

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.

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 Joby Boland

Most recently served as Vice President of Operations for Quinn Consulting, Inc. in the DC area. Boland worked for House Speaker J. 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.

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.

Director of Official Proceedings

Rachel Card Kahler

(announced May 29, 2008)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Director of Financial Services Jan McBride

(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.

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.") 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.

Counsel Paul Vinovich

Former counsel to the Committee on House Administration.

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."

Chairman Jim Herring

(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.

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.