Suite Talk August 5, 2008
By: Politico
McHenry hires McCleary
Talk about a backward move. Brock McCleary has traded in his high-paying gig as vice president of Revolution Media Group to become a Hill rat — communications director for Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.).
“No, I am not making this move for financial gain,” McCleary laughed, admitting that he’s “working backwards.”
After nearly three years at Revolution, he was ready for a more partisan pace.
“I recognize this is a time when the congressional GOP needs to re-establish itself and put hard-working, middle-class people first,” McCleary said. “This is a time when Republicans could use more hands on deck.”
In McHenry’s office, where he started working in early July, McCleary oversees the communications staff.
D.C. goes green with new clean energy group
Take a drive down Route 50 toward Mount Storm, W.Va., and you’ll notice the nearly 80 wind turbines generating renewable energy.
And you might want to credit Phil “PJ” Dougherty. For the past 17 years, he’s lobbied clean energy technologies as national director of Wind Powering America for the U.S. Energy Department.
Now he’s moving to Strategic Marketing Innovations to help launch its energy policy division, Helios Strategies, which will focus on new energy research and development.
“I’ve run in some of the big circles working for DOE, so it was sort of how I was introduced to Helios,” Dougherty told Politico. “I’m looking forward to this great opportunity in continuing renewable energy efforts.”
Widmeyer + 2
Every week it seems like there’s another staff change at Widmeyer Communications. But don’t worry, Suite Talk is watching the revolving door.
Most recently, the firm has bulked up its media services by hiring higher education expert Robert C. Dickeson and welcoming back senior media strategist Andrew Weinstein, both as senior counsels.
A former president of the University of Northern Colorado, Dickeson most recently was senior vice president for policy and organizational learning at the Lumina Foundation for Education.
Weinstein, meanwhile, comes back to Widmeyer after a decade-long hiatus. Most recently, he was vice president and chief spokesman at AOL during what Weinstein calls a “transformational” period.
He also did a few political stints, serving as director of media relations for former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) during his 1976 vice presidential campaign and as deputy press secretary for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).
Back to his old Kentucky home
Blake Brickman, chief of staff to Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), is leaving the Hill — and Washington — this week to finish law school in Lexington, Ky. He had been running the senator’s office for 2½ years.
Picking up the reins is Kim Dean, Bunning’s legislative director for the past five years — and his energy legislative assistant for four years before that.
William Henderson completes the shuffle by taking over as legislative director. He has been the Republican staff director and counsel of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s economic policy subcommittee. But since Bunning is the committee’s ranking Republican, Henderson will continue serving in his old role as well.
Boost in fight against cancer
Another advocate has joined the fight for finding a cancer cure. Andrew Whitman is the new vice president of government affairs for Varian Medical Systems, the world’s largest manufacturer of radiotherapy and radiosurgical devices.
The newly created position places Whitman in the heart of the fight in Washington as he assists Varian in implementing the company’s global government affairs and public policy strategies.
“I am very excited about the creation of this new position at Varian and to have a bigger role in the common cause of beating cancer,” Whitman said. “In addition to representing the company, I expect to be a strong advocate for medical clinicians and cancer patients around the world.”
Whitman was vice president of the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance, a division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It was there that he played large roles in regulatory issues involving the group’s clients in Europe, Latin America and China.
Troutman modifies its moniker
Should you be trolling the Yellow Pages or its online counterpart for Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group, heads up — it doesn’t exist anymore. The governmental affairs firm has made a subtle change and now goes by Troutman Sanders Strategies.
“The name change reflects the firm’s substantial growth since its founding in 2002,” said Chairman Pete Robinson.
— Ariel Alexovich and Jacqueline Klingebiel
Suite Talk is a regular Politico feature that follows career changes, client developments and other movements in the public affairs sector. Please send news items and photos to suitetalk@politico.com.