Around the Capitol / On the Move

Scott Jenkines has retired after 22 years as Chief of Staff to Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez. Cynthia Villarreal Carrillo will take over as the new Chief of Staff. She previously served as Legislative Director.

Terry Franks has left Rep. Carrie Isaac’s office, where he served as Chief of Staff, to become Executive Director of the Texas Deer Association. Kody Smith will take over as the new Chief of Staff.

Emily Krupa has started a new position as Committee Clerk for the Senate Select Committee on Veteran Affairs. Previously Krupa worked as a communications intern in the office of Sen. Brent Hagenbuch.

Fmr. Rep. Shawn Thierry has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as Judge of the 515th Judicial District Court in Harris County. Judge Thierry served in the Texas House of Representatives for four terms.

Faith Villarreal has started a new position as Legislative Director in Sen. Brett Ligon’s office. She previously served as Director of Government Affairs at the Texas Association of Business.

Stephanie Marcu, Chief of Staff to Rep. Mary Ann Perez, is the new co-chair of the Texas House Democratic Chiefs of Staff group. Marcu has worked in the capitol since 2018. Anneliese Vogel, Chief of Staff to Rep. Alma Allen, will continue serving as co-chair of the Texas House Democratic Chiefs of Staff group.

Kim Carmichael has been promoted to Director of Communications for Speaker Dustin Burrows. Carmichael previously served as Press Secretary for fmr. Speaker Dade Phelan and Deputy Press Secretary in the office of Governor Greg Abbott.

Haley Crow has joined the Office of Speaker Dustin Burrows as Press Secretary. Crow previously worked in the United States Senate.

Max Lars is now Chief of Staff to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. He previously served as Watson’s Senior Policy Advisor and has also worked in the Texas House.

Jacob Long is the new Senior Communications Adviser at the Texas Democratic Party. He previously worked at SKDK and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Julia Crusius has left Rep. James Frank’s office after four years. and will work part time with the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute.

Rep. Cody Harris, Chairman of the Innovation & Technology Caucus recently announced the hiring of a new executive director for the caucus, Daniel J. Mezza.

Texas Politics Today is produced and sponsored by Arnold Public Affairs, an Austin-based public affairs and lobby firm working with corporate and non-profit organizations for over 25 years.

Be sure to send us news of departures, promotions, births, marriages and other milestones, so we can share it with the Capitol community!

Information can be sent to jim@arnoldpublicaffairs.com or text at 512-431-5385

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Lobby/Association/Other

Katy Aldredge has launched Em Dash Strategies LLC, an Austin-based government affairs firm, Aldredge previously served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Director of the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.

Christina Gonzalez has been promoted to Director of Public Affairs at CenterPoint Energy.

Andrew Keefer has founded Steel Dust Partners, a government affairs firm. Recently he served as Regulatory Lead for ERCOT & SPP at Intersect.

Luciana Tiblier has started a new position as Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy Manager at Rowan Digital Infrastructure. Previously, Tiblier served in various positions in the Texas Senate.

Sydney De Vault has started a new position as Assistant Vice President for Government & Community Affairs at The University of Texas Permian Basin. Previously De Vault served in various positions within the Texas A&M University System.

Jennifer Carter has joined the Texas Association of Builders as Director of Membership and Workforce Development. Previously, Carter worked for 22 years in various leadership positions at Goodwills in Michigan, Georgia and Texas.

Kelly Keel is the new President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business after 25 years in state government. She most recently served as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Grace and McEwan has rebranded and now is Grey Havens Strategies. Andrea Chavez has been promoted to principal-in-charge of the Austin office Jay Williamson has been promoted to principal and Adnelis Perez has been promoted to associate. Jude Martin has joined the firm as a Lobby Assistant. He previously served as a Legislative Aide for Rep. Cody Harris and as a legislative intern for US Rep. Craig Goldman. 

Brooke Galindo has joined Davis Kaufman PLLC. Galindo previously worked in the Texas Legislature, including stints as COS for Reps. Ann Johnson and Donna Howard.

Avery Peck has joined Capitol Partners Consulting. She most recently served as a communications specialist in the Texas Senate, where she led media relations, messaging and social media strategy.

Christie Goodman is the new Vice President of Government Relations for the Fort Worth Chamber. She most recently served as Director of Targeted Attraction and State Affairs for Arlington EDC.

Jessica Lemann has been named Manager of Advocacy for AARP Texas, directing the organization’s federal, state and local advocacy efforts. Ms. Lemann has served in various leadership roles at AARP Texas for over 16 years.

Carsyn Collins has been promoted to Senior Director at The Mach 1 Group. Alice Claiborne has been promoted to Executive Vice President. Claiborne has served in various leadership roles at The Mach 1 Group for over 6 years. Kailey Saylor has joined the firm as a Communications Specialist. She previously worked for US Sen. John Cornyn.

Katy Von Rosenberg is now Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations at the Texas A&M University System. She previously worked in government relations for Samsung Austin Semiconductor and served on US Sen. John Cornyn’s staff.

Alana Garrett has joined Kalshi as Director of State Governmental Affairs. She previously worked for Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and the Texas Association of Business.

Annie Spilman is now Regional Administrator for the South Central Region at the U. S. Small Business Administration.

Ashika Ganguly has joined Texas Star Alliance as Principal. She most recently served as Executive Director of Transit Forward, where she led government affairs, external relations and advocacy efforts focused on transportation and infrastructure in Central Texas.

Hans Klingler is the new ED of the Ya'll Street Alliance, in addition to his ongoing role as Partner at Black Diamond Strategies.

Anagha Uppal, formerly Program Director of PowerHouse Texas has joined TAAHP (Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers) as their Government Affairs Director. 

Fmr. Texas PTA ED, Kyle Ward, is the new ED of the Little Elm Area Food Bank.

The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) has named Wroe Jackson, the association's executive vice president and general counsel, as its next president and CEO. Jackson will succeed Tony Bennett, a founding member of TAM who is retiring after leading the organization for 14 years, effective Nov. 1, 2026.

Fmr. Texas Insurance Commissioner Cassie Brown has launched her own public affairs firm, Brown Public Affairs.

At the Lower Colorado River Authority, Kenan Ogelman is moving from Wholesale Power to External Affairs and is being promoted to senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs. Kennedy Calvo joined LCRA as a Senior Governmental Affairs Representative. She previously worked in the Comptroller's Office and as Dep. COS to fmr. Sen. Kelly Hancock. Allan Koenig is now SVP of Communications and Chief Communications Officer at LCRA.

Longbow Partners recently announced the addition of Lauren Spreen as an owner and partner. She previously worked for Railroad Comm. Christi Craddick and as a Capitol staffer.

Cory Fish, Policy Director for Governor Greg Abbott, has recently joined Erben and Yarborough. Danny Mittnacht, currently deputy policy director in the Governor's Office, is being promoted to policy director.

Chandler Ludwick recently left his position with Waymo to join Anthropic as their government affairs lead in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Kate Carpenter is leaving Educate Texas to  join the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) as Associate Director of Policy & Advocacy.

State Agencies

Worth Farabee is the new Government Relations Director at the Texas Railroad Commission. Previously Farabee served for four years as Assistant Vice Chancellor for State Relations at the Texas Tech University System.

Kate Blifford is the new Executive Director of the Commission on State Emergency Communications. Previously she was the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Gretchen Grigsby is the new Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after 12 years as Government Relations Director for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Logan Harrison has joined the Public Utility Commission of Texas as Chief of External Affairs. Harrison served in various roles in the Texas Legislature for more than nine years.

Ashley Brooks has joined the Government Relations team at the Texas Facilities Commission. She previously worked at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.

Emily Runnels recently joined the Texas Facilities Commission as a Government Relations Specialist. She previously worked for several House members.

Nar Dorrycott is now a Government Affairs Specialist at the Texas Department of Insurance.

Kate Sidora is now Director of Government Relations and Communications at the State Office of Risk Management after spending 12 years at the Texas Department of Insurance.

Phillip Ashley is the new Executive Director of the Legislative Budget Board after previously serving as a top

staffer in the Comptroller’s office.

Shandra Carter has stepped down as the ED of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Birthdays

Note: If you'd like your birthday listed and we aren't friends on FB, email me and I'll make sure it's included.

October

25- Rep. Gary VanDeaver, Jason Smith, Lisa Lucero, Fmr. Rep. Debra Danburg, Taylor Dewitt, Rep. Donna Howard, Rep. Carl Tepper

26- Stacy Toomey, RR Comm Wayne Christian, Rep. Rafael Anchia, Sen. Royce West, Sandy Hoy, Sen. Carol Alvarado

27- Jacob Cottingham, Rep. Jarvis Johnson, Rep. Lulu Flores, Adrianne Emr Evans, Chuck Bailey, Madison Yandell, Marisa Marquez, Rep. Ryan Guillen, Rep. Richard Pena, Fmr. Sen. Drew Springer, Celeste Hubert

28- Josh Houston, Joe Dyer, Liz Fazio Hale, Kathy Green, Rep. Joanne Shofner, Jeremy Warren

29- Fmr. Rep. Terral Smith, Rudy England, Angelica Flores Granado, Addison Elise Reagan, Rudy England, Fmr. Rep. Joe Driver, Amber Shaw, Sen. Boris Miles, Jennifer Harris, John Kroll, Clarisa Darby, Dustin Lanier

30- Gerardo Interiano, Michael Kelley, Glenn Smith, Georgeanne Palmer, Rep. Mary Gonzalez, Rep. Stan Kitzman

31- Fmr. Rep. Burt Solomons, Morris Wilkes, Emily Kennedy Deardorff, Richard Kouri, Jamie Dudensing

November

1 Kim Carmichael, Kristen Fuchs

2 Michael Vallee, Ashley Walter

3 Fmr. Sen. Brian Birdwell, Massey Villarreal, Mindy Meadows Carr, Brigette Dechant

4 Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Tiffany Holmes White, Jeff Carlson, Lorena Robledo, David Reynolds, Jennie Kennedy, Landon Self, Jennifer Jackson

5 Rep. Ben Bumgarner, Kristen Harmon, Laura Sorrell Stewart, Cassie Daniel, Stephanie Hale Matthews

6 Hunter Duncan, James Russell, Rep. Jolanda Jones

8 Fmr. Rep. Paul Workman, David Bales

9 Fmr.Rep. Tracy King, Jeff Crosby, Susan Turner Nold, Kathy Grant, Michael O'Quinn, Shannon Harmon

10 Kyle Bush, Jim Campbell, Paige Holzheauser

11 JW Galloway, Ian Randolph, Jennifer Ransom

12 Fmr. Rep. John Turner, Jay Maguire, Andrew Parks, Mandi Villarreal Salvo, Ben Bius

13 Rep. Cole Hefner, Rep. Ramon Romero, Gov. Greg Abbott, First Lady Cecelia Abbott, Patricia Harless

14 Speaker Dustin Burrows, Robert Wood, Zach Brady, Rep. Daniel Alders

15 Lauren Sheer, Margot Garza Villagran, Emily Schmidt, Dana Harris Pate, Obie Salinas, Karen Mayfield Price, Fmr. Comm. Jerry Patterson

16 Sushma Jasti Smith, Ted Siff, Fmr. Rep. Jessica Farrar, Jared Scruggs, Spencer Ward

17 Brooke Crum Paup, John Philip Donisi, Julie Freeman Haney

18 Mari De Leon, Andrea Stingley, Burwell Thompson

19 Christina Cabral, Amy Reiner, Mary Tipps, David Kelly, Rep. Nate Schatzline

20 Shannon Johnson, Will Orr, Raul Alvarez

21 Servando Esparza Jr., Courtney Bailes, Seth Winick

22 Ryan Skrobarczyk, Caitriana Corkill, Bogan Lindsay Pollock, Beau Rothschild, Rep. Jeff Barry, Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez

23 Rep. James Frank, Michelle Watts, Rep. Caroline Harris Davila

24 Fmr. Rep. Ed Thompson, Emily Amps Mora, Michelle Romero

25 Sen. Robert Nichols, Dick Lavine, Bonnie Bruce, Robert Harris

26 Jared Staples, Josh Hinkle, Scott Braddock, Elyse Yates, John Wittman, Robert Moncada, Rep. Vince Perez

27 Scott MacNaughton, James Bernsen

28 Fmr. Rep. Michelle Beckley, Kaleb Bennett, Jay Brown

29 Rep. Steve Toth, John McCord, Jennifer Perkins, Homero Lucero, Jacob Limon, Ian McPhearson

30 Ben Maddox,Tony Flores

Shout Outs

Congratulations to Mark Homer on being recognized by Paris ISD as a 2026 Distinguished Graduate!

Congratulations to Patsy Spaw on receiving the Pink Granite Foundation’s 2026 Legacy Award!

Congratulations to Cristina Masters on receiving the Pink Granite Foundation’s 2026 Rising Star Award!

Congratulations to Carmen Tilton on being named the Pink Granite Foundation’s 2026 Mentor of the Year!

Congratulations to Rep. Venton Jones on his recent marriage to Gregory Scott.

Our thoughts are with fmr. Rep. DeWayne Burns and his brother, Jeffrey Burns, who is recovering from a recent heart attack.

Condolences

Our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of those who have passed recently, including:

Larry Meyers, D.C. office of Hance Scarborough LLP who worked with numerous Texas clients.

Raul Espinoza, Jr., former Deputy State Director at Americans for Prosperity in Texas.

Garnet Coleman, fmr. Rep.

Ken Yarbrough, fmr. Rep.

Clint Hackney, fmr. Rep.

Sydney Campbell Leonard, spouse of fmr. Rep. Bob Leonard.

Bunny Oliver, wife of fmr. LBB ED Jim Oliver.

Gary Johnson, Owner of Bert's Bar-B-Q -- during the course of the Perry for Lt. Governor campaign in 1998, Gary catered lunch once a week for the campaign staff. RIP, Gary.

For inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities for this newsletter, please reach out to Jim Arnold at jim@arnoldpublicaffairs.com.