Lobby / Associations / Non-Profits/ Other News
Correction: Eric Knustrom has not left Texas Star Alliance but has formed his own firm, 1883 Public Affairs.
Ross Ramsey, executive editor and co-founder of the Texas Tribune, announced his retirement, effective May 1st.
Former General Land Office and House staffer, Sarah Douglas has started as a Government Relations Specialist at the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs .
Former Rep. Chris Paddie recently launched his lobby shop, Capitol Vision, LLC.
Rachael Schreiber has joined CATALYST, a government relations firm, and will lead the firm’s Austin office. Schreiber's stint in the Capitol included working for former Rep. Joe Driver and former Speaker Tom Craddick.
Former House Democratic Caucus staffer Phillip Martin is now the Manager for the Zero-Emission Truck Initiative for Environmental Defense Fund's Texas Office.
Brandon Garcia, previously a policy analyst for former Sen. Kirk Watson, is changing roles at the Texas Public Charter Schools Association to become the new Director of Legislative Affairs. (h/t The Quorum Report)
Andy Teas is retiring as Vice President of Public Affairs for the Houston Apartment Association to teach government at Houston Community College. Bradley Pepper, formerly Director of Government Affairs for the Greater Houston Builders Association, will fill that role for HAA. (h/t The Quorum Report)
Tim Schauer, formerly a Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, is the new executive director for the Houston Firefighter’s Relief and Retirement Fund.
After four years working as ED of Annie's List, Royce Brooks recently left the organization. Ana Ramón takes over as interim Executive Director.
Joe Garcia is the newest addition at Texas Star Alliance. He's worked in both the House and Senate and was COS for seven years for Sen. Eddie Lucio.
Jordan Watson, who most recently worked as Senior Advisor to the Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer at HHSC, is now VP of Policy and Government Affairs for TexProtects. (h/t The Quorum Report)
Angela Dowell, has joined the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) as its director of membership and marketing. Dowell joins TTARA after a brief stint with the Community Care Health Center of Austin. Dowell replaces Cindy Ferguson who is retiring.
Ken Whalen, most recently with Sen. Judith Zaffirini as her communications coordinator is now on his own as a public affairs and communications consultant.
The Texas Association of School Boards announced the promotion of Carolyn Counce will now serve as associate executive director of Member Services. Counce had previously served as division director of Policy Service. Joy Baskin will now serve as education counsel overseeing Policy Service and Legal Services for TASB. She previously served as division director of Legal Services.
Eiman Siddiqui, COS to Rep. Tom Oliverson, has joined Davis Kaufman. Siddiqui served as COS for five years. Molly Wilson, who most recently served as Rep. Ed Thompson’s COS is the new COS for Oliverson.
Matt Dowling has joined the Texas Medical Association as Director of Public Affairs. He was most recently Sen. Charles Perry’s COS.
Texans Care for Children has added two new staff people as well as a couple of promotions:
Diana Forester is the new Director of Health Policy. She spent over a decade in senior roles at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and worked at the Legislature in 2013 for then House Public Health Chair Lois Kolkhorst;
Brianna Rodriguez is the new Communications Associate. She previously worked in communications for the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH) and Rep. Donna Howard;
Lindsey Lemmons is now serving as the Finance and Operations Manager, and David Feigen is now the Senior Policy Associate for Early Childhood.
Rachel Pearl Piotrzkowski has a new job as the Texas State Deputy Director for the Council for a Strong America. She has worked as the LD for Rep. Armando Walle, and as COS for Rep. Nicole Collier.
Anumeha Kumar, Executive Director of the Texas Pension Review Board is leaving the PRB to be the Fund Administrator for the Austin Fire Fighters Relief & Retirement Fund. (h/t The Quorum Report)
Former COS to Sen. Jose Menendez, Tomas Larralde has started a new position as a Financial Services Professional at NYLIFE Securities LLC.
Dr. Jodi Duron, retiring Superintendent of the Elgin ISD, will join the Texas Association of Midsize Schools as Associate Executive Director.
Robert W. Jones is joining Mercury, a public strategy firm, as Managing Director. Jones was previously with Pfizer in a number of roles, including most recently Senior Vice President.
Danny Smith, former internal GR director for UPS, has started a new consulting firm, The Oarsman Group.
Katy von Rosenberg is now a Government Relations Specialist for Samsung Austin Semiconductor. She previously worked as the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Texas Advocacy Project.
Ashley Brooks, who was Sen. Joan Huffman's Legislative Director, has joined the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault as its Senior Policy Advisor.
Houston Tower, who previously served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Alex Dominguez, is now General Counsel for the Austin EMS Association.
Max Lars left Rep. John Bucy's office to become former Sen. Kirk Watson's campaign manager for Austin Mayor.
Longbow Partners hired Jennifer Perkins as the firm also announced the retirement of Julie Scott.
Carolyn Merchan Saegert has recently moved to Ancira Strategies as a Partner. She previously was doing GR for Stalwart Strategies.
Former DSHS Tobacco Prevention and Control Manager, Barry Sharp, is now a Family and Consumer Science Teacher at Belton High School in Belton, Texas.
Mary Lynn Pruneda is now with Texas 2036 as a Senior Policy Advisor. Hope Osborn has been promoted to Manager, Policy and Advocacy.
Andrea Sparks is the new director of government relations for the nonprofit organization Buckner International. She
comes to Buckner from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, where she led the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team.
Ben Wright, formerly Legislative Director (LD) for Sen. Beverly Powell is the Texas Medical Association's new Director of Public Affairs.
Eleanor D’Ambrosio has recently joined Spencer Fane LLP in the firm’s Austin office.
Nathan Gauldin is the City of Austin's newest Senior Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator. He was previously a staffer for Sen. Eddie Lucio and the Legislative Council.
The Texas Deer Association has hired Kevin Davis as its new Executive Director. He began his career at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Deer Breeders Corporation.
Jay Propes has been promoted to Partner at Mercury Public Affairs.
Brody Burks is the new Director Of Government Relations for Hydron. He most recently was a Senior Advisor for Commissioner Bobby Janecka at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Michelle Castillo, former Chief of Staff for Rep. James Talarico, has joined the Intercultural Development Research Association as the Deputy Director of Advocacy.
Jennifer Woodard has been promoted to CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Texas, from her previous position as Executive Vice President.
Shannon Noble has started a new position as Lead Attorney for the Austin office of the Lyda Law Firm.
Jillian Bliss recently accepted a real estate attorney position at the law firm of Greer Herz & Adams. Her previous stints around the Capitol include the General Land Office and general counsel for former Sen. Konni Burton. (h/t The Quorum Report)
Jessica (Magee) Lynch has began a new position as Director of Policy, Government Programs at the Texas Association of Health Plans. She most recently was ED of the Texas Psychological Association.
Kerrie Judice is the new Child Protection Policy Manager at TexProtects. She previously worked in former Sen. Kirk Watson's office.
