RISCH ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT TEAM, INAUGURAL PLANS

(BOISE) Governor Jim Risch today announced his senior management team for the executive office. The team will help develop and implement the Governor’s policies.

John Sandy will serve as Risch’s Chief of Staff. Sandy is a former Magic Valley State Senator and served as Assistant Majority Leader in the Idaho Senate. He also served on the Executive Board of the National Council of State Governments and as Vice Chair of the Western States Council of State Government. He currently serves as Chair of the Idaho Bond Bank. His background is in agriculture and business development. He previously served as Chair of the Idaho Republican Party.

Brad Hoaglun, previously the State Director of Government Relations for the American Cancer Society, will serve as the Senior Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications. Hoaglun previously served as Director of Communications and Constituent Service for the Idaho State Senate.

Matt Ellsworth will serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff. Ellsworth was vice president of Centra, an Idaho government affairs company. He worked for Senator Mike Crapo as his regional director in North Idaho and Southwestern Idaho in prior years.

Barbara Strickfaden will serve the Governor as a Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Constituent Services. She also has oversight of the Office on Families and Children. Strickfaden served as the President/CEO of the Idaho Bankers Association for 12 years before retiring in 2003. In 1998-1999 she served as the chair of the State Associations Division of the American Bankers Association, the first woman to serve in that capacity in the 125 years of the association. Her husband, Colonel Ed Strickfaden, was head of the Idaho State Police before retiring in 2002 after 35 years of service.

Ryan White returns from Senator Mike Crapo’s Washington, D.C. office to serve the Governor as a Deputy Chief of Staff. White, a north Idaho native, was a Legislative Assistant to Senator Crapo. Previously, White had worked for Governor Risch in the Lt. Governor’s office.

Bibiana Nertney will move from the Lieutenant Governor’s office to serve as the Executive Assistant to the Governor. Nertney had previously worked in the Idaho State Senate as a secretary to the Local Government and Taxation Committee.

“I am very pleased that these talented and dedicated individuals have agreed to join me in serving the citizens of this great state. We have numerous important issues to address and with this capable staff we can move them forward towards a final resolution. I am very excited about this team,” said Risch.

Governor Risch also announced plans for a public inauguration to be held Friday, June 2, at Noon. The 44th inauguration ceremony will take place on the south steps of the State Capitol.

Following the inauguration ceremony the public is invited to meet the Governor and First Lady Vicki Risch. A reception for the public will be held at the former J.R. Simplot home, which will be the residence for future governors, at 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Free tickets for the public reception will be available for pickup starting at 5 p.m. Thursday in the 1st floor of the State Capitol. Additional tickets will be available following the inauguration ceremony.

Governor Risch will also participate in Republican Party inaugural celebrations in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Idaho Falls in the coming days.

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Office of Governor Jim Risch
Staff

John Sandy, Chief of Staff

Brad Hoaglun, Senior Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications

Matt Ellsworth, Deputy Chief of Staff

Barbara Strickfaden, Deputy Chief of Staff

Bibiana Nertney, Executive Assistant to the Governor

Ryan White, Deputy Chief of Staff

Jim Yost, Natural Resources Specialist

David Hensley, Counsel to the Governor

Bill Punkoney, Assistant to the Counsel to the Governor

Jennifer Andrews, Executive Assistant to the 1^st Lady and Constituent Service Specialist

Joy Dombrowski, Governor’s Scheduler

Pat Nelson, Director of Boards and Commissions

Jeff Storti, Deputy Press Secretary

Danielle Larson, Staff Assistant

Claudia Simplot-Nally, Special Assistant to the Governor

Colby Cameron, Constituent Service Specialist

Jan Cook, Constituent Service Specialist

Rebecca Davis, Constituent Service Specialist