RPOF Chairman Announces Staff Departures and Arrivals
Tallahassee -- Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry today announced key staff departures and arrivals.
After leading the Republican Party of Florida since October 2011, Mike Grissom, the party's Executive Director will become Senior Director of Political Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure as Executive Director, Grissom was instrumental in helping Curry continue reforms at the RPOF after the untimely passing of Chairman Dave Bitner.
"Mike Grissom is not only my friend, but he is one of Florida's most respected political campaign operatives," said Curry. "Through triumphs and challenges, Mike has been a steady leader for our party, we are sorry to see him go. The Florida Chamber has made an excellent choice, and I know he will be an invaluable asset to their mission of creating economic growth and opportunity for Florida."
Grissom has more than a decade of experience working with Republican candidates and campaigns across 11 states. During the election of 2010, he served as a political strategist for Governor Rick Scott's campaign. Before serving as RPOF's Executive Director, Grissom had been Deputy Executive Director under Chairman Dave Bitner and helped implement a number of reform initiatives in both positions.
"Mike Grissom has been an important part of growing our party, and he's been a champion for the cause of Florida's families," said Florida Governor Rick Scott. "The Florida Chamber is gaining a great new member for their team."
Chairman Curry will begin the search for a new Executive Director immediately.
Curry has selected Matt Moon to serve as the new Communications Director. Moon will be departing the office of United States Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) where he served as Senior Advisor. He was also Deputy Research Director at the Republican National Committee. In Washington, Moon has also served in senior public relations roles in the private and think tank sectors.
Brett Prater, who was RPOF's Director of Party Development, has joined the Florida House of Representatives as Staff Director for Speaker Designate Steve Crisafulli.
"Brett is widely respected by me and the party's local and grassroots leaders," said Curry. "Speaker Designate Crisafulli will be well-served by Brett's leadership and policy expertise."
Curry has selected George Riley to serve as the new Director of Party Development. Riley is the longest serving member of the RPOF field team. He has held a number of important staff positions on numerous races locally in Tampa and statewide. Most recently, during the 2012 elections, he managed field teams in the Tampa Bay and Orlando regions.
Jordan Dyer, with the party since late 2012, will serve as New Media Director. She combines her knowledge of web design, graphic design, and social media, with current events to assist RPOF's communications team. She was very involved in College Republicans during school, and interned for the Party prior to her current position.
In addition to Moon, Riley and Dyer, Chairman Curry also unveiled the roster for the RPOF's Regional Field Team for the 2014 election cycle. This deeply talented and diverse field team has been tasked with implementing the chairman's 2014 plan to appeal to a broader and more diverse electorate than ever before.
"I encourage Republicans to get to know these new faces," said Curry. "They have a very important job to do, and I am very proud of this talented and diverse group of men and women, who will represent and help communicate Republican Party values to the families in the communities in which they live."
They are:
Will Torres - Special Assistant to Chairman Curry
Torres most recently worked as the Finance Director for the Duval Republican Party. He was born in Puerto Rico, moved to Jacksonville in 1991, and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Political Science. As the Chairman's assistant Torres is a liaison for Curry, helping manage scheduling and travel.
Luke Strickland - Field Director, Florida Panhandle
Strickland started out at the party as an intern and rose through the ranks to his current position where he will oversee field operations and manage key staff in the area.
Gary Hollis - Field Director for Northeast Florida
Hollis has been engaged in various elections across the state and country. In the 2010 cycle he worked for Pam Bondi, and later ran field operations in Duval County before being tapped for his current role.
Robert Iglesias - Field Director for the Orlando Region
Iglesias started working for the RPOF as a voter registration specialist in Miami-Dade where he did a standout job and was later given the task of managing another field office before being tapped to lead the Orlando region.
Melody Selis - Field Director for the Tampa Region
Selis was a top performer during field operations in the 2012 cycle and gained additional experience after being hired to run a regional field/advance operation for Connie Mack's senate race under the RPOF umbrella. Selis is a experienced political veteran of the I-4 corridor and Southwest Florida.
Diana De La Rosa - Field Director of Broward/Palm Beach Region De La Rosa was a top performing field operative during the 2012 campaign. She was later tapped to run the Miami-Dade field office before taking her current role.
Danielle Alvarez - Field Director for the Miami-Dade Region Alvarez has experience running a field office and advance operation for both the RPOF and other Republican campaigns during the 2012 election cycle.
Ehren Oates - RPOF Southwest Region Field Director Oates proved his abilities during the 2012 campaign cycle, where he worked in the Florida Panhandle overseeing Okaloosa County. Prior to that he was engaged in advocacy work on behalf of American's for Prosperity.
These field team members will report to RPOF Political Director Brian Swensen.
Tallahassee -- Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry today announced key staff departures and arrivals.
After leading the Republican Party of Florida since October 2011, Mike Grissom, the party's Executive Director will become Senior Director of Political Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure as Executive Director, Grissom was instrumental in helping Curry continue reforms at the RPOF after the untimely passing of Chairman Dave Bitner.
"Mike Grissom is not only my friend, but he is one of Florida's most respected political campaign operatives," said Curry. "Through triumphs and challenges, Mike has been a steady leader for our party, we are sorry to see him go. The Florida Chamber has made an excellent choice, and I know he will be an invaluable asset to their mission of creating economic growth and opportunity for Florida."
Grissom has more than a decade of experience working with Republican candidates and campaigns across 11 states. During the election of 2010, he served as a political strategist for Governor Rick Scott's campaign. Before serving as RPOF's Executive Director, Grissom had been Deputy Executive Director under Chairman Dave Bitner and helped implement a number of reform initiatives in both positions.
"Mike Grissom has been an important part of growing our party, and he's been a champion for the cause of Florida's families," said Florida Governor Rick Scott. "The Florida Chamber is gaining a great new member for their team."
Chairman Curry will begin the search for a new Executive Director immediately.
Curry has selected Matt Moon to serve as the new Communications Director. Moon will be departing the office of United States Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) where he served as Senior Advisor. He was also Deputy Research Director at the Republican National Committee. In Washington, Moon has also served in senior public relations roles in the private and think tank sectors.
Brett Prater, who was RPOF's Director of Party Development, has joined the Florida House of Representatives as Staff Director for Speaker Designate Steve Crisafulli.
"Brett is widely respected by me and the party's local and grassroots leaders," said Curry. "Speaker Designate Crisafulli will be well-served by Brett's leadership and policy expertise."
Curry has selected George Riley to serve as the new Director of Party Development. Riley is the longest serving member of the RPOF field team. He has held a number of important staff positions on numerous races locally in Tampa and statewide. Most recently, during the 2012 elections, he managed field teams in the Tampa Bay and Orlando regions.
Jordan Dyer, with the party since late 2012, will serve as New Media Director. She combines her knowledge of web design, graphic design, and social media, with current events to assist RPOF's communications team. She was very involved in College Republicans during school, and interned for the Party prior to her current position.
In addition to Moon, Riley and Dyer, Chairman Curry also unveiled the roster for the RPOF's Regional Field Team for the 2014 election cycle. This deeply talented and diverse field team has been tasked with implementing the chairman's 2014 plan to appeal to a broader and more diverse electorate than ever before.
"I encourage Republicans to get to know these new faces," said Curry. "They have a very important job to do, and I am very proud of this talented and diverse group of men and women, who will represent and help communicate Republican Party values to the families in the communities in which they live."
They are:
Will Torres - Special Assistant to Chairman Curry
Torres most recently worked as the Finance Director for the Duval Republican Party. He was born in Puerto Rico, moved to Jacksonville in 1991, and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Political Science. As the Chairman's assistant Torres is a liaison for Curry, helping manage scheduling and travel.
Luke Strickland - Field Director, Florida Panhandle
Strickland started out at the party as an intern and rose through the ranks to his current position where he will oversee field operations and manage key staff in the area.
Gary Hollis - Field Director for Northeast Florida
Hollis has been engaged in various elections across the state and country. In the 2010 cycle he worked for Pam Bondi, and later ran field operations in Duval County before being tapped for his current role.
Robert Iglesias - Field Director for the Orlando Region
Iglesias started working for the RPOF as a voter registration specialist in Miami-Dade where he did a standout job and was later given the task of managing another field office before being tapped to lead the Orlando region.
Melody Selis - Field Director for the Tampa Region
Selis was a top performer during field operations in the 2012 cycle and gained additional experience after being hired to run a regional field/advance operation for Connie Mack's senate race under the RPOF umbrella. Selis is a experienced political veteran of the I-4 corridor and Southwest Florida.
Diana De La Rosa - Field Director of Broward/Palm Beach Region De La Rosa was a top performing field operative during the 2012 campaign. She was later tapped to run the Miami-Dade field office before taking her current role.
Danielle Alvarez - Field Director for the Miami-Dade Region Alvarez has experience running a field office and advance operation for both the RPOF and other Republican campaigns during the 2012 election cycle.
Ehren Oates - RPOF Southwest Region Field Director Oates proved his abilities during the 2012 campaign cycle, where he worked in the Florida Panhandle overseeing Okaloosa County. Prior to that he was engaged in advocacy work on behalf of American's for Prosperity.
These field team members will report to RPOF Political Director Brian Swensen.
