Republican State Leadership Committee – 2017

2017 | 2013-14 edition | 2011 edition | 2010 edition
(page revised and corrected Nov. 21, 2017) disclaimer

Chairman Bill McCollum

(elected Jan. 15, 2014; had been serving as RSLC vice chairman) Partner in Dentons' Public Policy and Regulation practice since 2011. Candidate for the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination, losing the primary to Rick Scott. Attorney general of Florida from 2007-11. Candidate for the 2004 Republican U.S. Senate nomination, losing to Mel Martinez. Partner at Baker & Hostetler from April 2001. Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2000, losing to Bill Nelson. Elected to Congress in 1980 and served ten terms (Jan. 1981-Jan. 2001). Practiced law in Orlando. J.D. from University of Florida, 1968; B.A. from University of Florida, 1965. Native of Brooksville in central Florida. twitter

Vice Chairman Christopher Rants

(Jan. 15, 2014) President of inSight Communications, a lobbying and public affairs firm in the Sioux City area, from April 2010. Partner at Rauschenberger Partners from March 2010. President of The Legacy Foundation from Jan. 2009. Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from Nov. 1992-Dec. 2010, including as Majority Leader, 1999-2003; Speaker of the House, Jan. 2003-Dec. 2006; and Republican Leader, Jan. 2007-Nov. 2008. Environmental compliance director at Metz Baking Company, 1992-99.

Board of Directors: Chairman Bill McCollum - Vice Chairman Christopher Rants - Chairman of Prime Policy Group Charlie Black - former Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño - Former Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut Jodi Rell - Women Lead PAC founder Christine Toretti - former Florida Speaker Will Weatherford

EXECUTIVE

President Matt Walter

(from Jan. 2014, succeeded Chris Jankowski; at the RSLC since 2010) Previously RSLC managing director of communications and political affairs, announced March 11, 2013; RSLC political director in 2012 cycle, announced June 2011; and RSLC's New York in-state independent expenditure coordinator in 2010. Executive director from June 2008, director of strategic planning and communications director at the New York State Republican Party for four years starting in 2007; he also took a leave of absense in mid-2010 to run Rick Lazio's gubernatorial campaign. Various positions in the New York State Senate Majority communications department for eleven years. M.A. in American political history from the College of Saint Rose, 1995; B.A. degrees in political science and French from SUNY College at Geneseo, 1994. twitter

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer Staci (Swanson) Goede

(with the RSLC since its beginning in 2002) Experience includes field representative for the College Republican National Committee focusing on the Southwest and Midwest. B.A. in political science and political communications from Valparaiso University, 2001.

POLITICAL Affairs and Communications

Vice President for Political Affairs and Communications Justin Richards

(announced Dec. 12, 2013 as political director) Executive director of the New Jersey Senate Republican Majority in both the 2011 and 2013 cycles. Campaign manager for freshman Congressman Sean Duffy (WI)’s 2012 re-election. Campaign manager for Tom Kean’s 2007 re-election to the New Jersey State Senate and worked on Kean's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign. Degree in political science from The College of New Jersey. New Jersey native.

Strategic Planning

Vice President of Strategic Planning Erin Veltman

(Jan. 2017) RSLC deputy executive director, Jan. 2015-Dec. 2016; executive director of the RLCC, Jan. 2011-Dec. 2014. Finance director on Michael Grimm for Congress, Sept.-Nov. 2010. Finance director on Frank Scaturro for Congress, July 2009-Sept. 2010. Fundraiser for the RNC/Captel, Sept. 2008-Aug. 2009. Staff assistant to Sen Arlen Specter, March-May 2009. Finance assistant on Citizens for Arlen Pecter, Aug. 2008-Jan. 2009. B.B.A. in legal studies in business from Hofstra University, 2008.

DIGITAL

Digital Director Robert Sechrist ...and president at Acquire Digital LLC since Dec. 2013

(digital director since 2009; joined the RSLC in 2007 as a research analyst) Deputy campaign manager on Jack Johnson for State Senate (TN), Aug.-Nov. 2006. East TN field director on Van Hilleary for U.S. Senate, Feb.-Aug. 2006. B.A. in political science from the University of Tennessee, 2005.

Vice President, Sales and Marketing, .GOP Will Martinez

(from Jan. 2013; announced March 11, 2013) Advance on Romney for President, May-Nov. 2012. East Coast regional manager (Jan. 2011-April 2012) and business development (July 2010-Jan. 2011) for Savored, Inc., company acquired by Groupon. Analyst for Goldman Sachs, July 2008-April 2010.

Vice President, Operations, .gop Patrick Finnegan

(Dec. 2013) Special assistant to the Speaker, Office of the Speaker, John Boehner, 2008-2013. B.B.A from Ohio University, 2008.

LEGAL

Vice President and General Counsel Matt Raymer

(announced Feb. 23, 2017) General counsel at the NRSC, March 2015-Dec. 2016. Associate attorney at Baker & Hostetler LLP, Sept. 2008-March 2015. Assistant manager at Jefferson Consulting Group, July 2003-July 2005. J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, 2008; A.B in history and government from Dartmouth College, 2003.

FINANCE

Finance Director Catherine (Campbell) Onnen

(announced Feb. 23, 2017) President at C.C. Onnen, LLC, from March 2016. Director of fundraising strategies fro Freedom Partners Chamber, July 2016-Feb. 2017. Deputy finance director on Marco Rubio for President, Sept. 2015-March 2016. Deputy finance director at the NRSC, Oct. 2013-Sept. 2015. Community development manager at First Book, Nov. 2012-Oct. 2013. Outreach and development officer at Hospice Foundation of America, Feb. 2011-Nov. 2012. Political assistant at the Republican Governors Association, Feb. 2009-Feb. 2011. B.B.A. in marketing from The University of Georgia, 2008.

Director of Events Devon Gallagher

(Nov. 2015) Director of operations-strategy and communications at General Dynamics Mission Systems, July 2012-May 2015. Scheduler/office manager in the U.S. House, March 2011-April 2012. Scheduler/office manager to U.S. Sen Sam Brownback, Nov. 2007-Jan. 2011. Iowa field director/national ballot access director/campaign scheduler on Brownback for President, May-Oct. 2007. Deputy director of scheduling at the U.S. Department of Education, May 2005-May 2007. Catholic outreach field coordinator at the RNC, Aug.-Nov. 2004. Marketing and events director for Generation Life, May 2002-Aug. 2004. B.A. in journalism from Temple University, 2003.

RLCC

Republican Legislative Campaign Committee

Chairman Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mike Turzai

Vice Chairman Iowa Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer

RSCC

Republican Secretaries of State Committee

Chair Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske
Contact Catherine Onnen

RLGA

Republican Lieutenant Governors Association

Chairman Nevada Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison

Vice Chairman North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest
Contact Natalie Oliver

Future Majority Project

Chairman Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon

Director, Future Majority Project Neri Martinez

(announced March 11, 2013) Hispanic coalition director for North Carolina Victory, announced April 2012. Legislative department of Associated Builders and Contractors. Business development manager at KONE Elevators. President of the Free Cuba Foundation. Graduate of Florida International University, 2005. Cuban-American; native of Miami, FL.

Right Women Right Now Initiative
Co-Chair Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan
Co-Chair Tennessee Speaker Beth Harwell
Contact Catherine Onnen

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also note:
The State Government Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(4) shares office space with and is a strategic partner of the RSLC. The SGLF "spotlights hotbed issues and conservative policies that state government officials wrestle with most..." The SGLF "is taking the lead on educating elected and appointed state government officials, providing support to local officeholders, and highlighting meaningful, conservative solutions."

FORMER...