WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chair of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, announced the RGA’s senior staff – an impressive group that brings extensive experience in gubernatorial races and national politics.
“The senior staff joining our team stand ready to defend our incumbents and expand the map of Republican-led states. Their dedication to ensuring more Americans are governed by common sense principles and freedom will lead to more electoral success,” said Governor Reynolds. “Under the leadership of Executive Director Sara Craig, our staff will serve our Governors, candidates, and organization well as the RGA reaches new heights.”
Mark Morgan, Political Director
Mark Morgan will join the RGA as Political Director after serving as Campaign Manager and Senior Political Advisor for Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s successful 2022 re-election campaign. Mark was previously the Deputy Political Director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2019-20 and held a variety of roles with the Wisconsin GOP working closely with Governor Scott Walker’s 2014 and 2018 campaigns, and Senator Ron Johnson’s 2016 re-election campaign.
Daniel Scarpinato, Senior Communications Advisor
Daniel Scarpinato has decades of experience on the nexus of politics, governance, and communications. From 2015 to 2021, Daniel served as Chief of Staff and Director of Communications to former RGA Chairman, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. Previously, Daniel served as National Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in the 2014 cycle as Republicans won their largest House majority since 1928. Daniel is a graduate of the University of Arizona and began his career as a newspaper reporter and editor.
Laura Ciciarelli, Chief Operating Officer
Laura Ciciarelli will continue her role as Chief Operating Officer, where she will support the work of our Republican Governors and remain a critical leader in the operations of the RGA. She spent the last four years as both the Chief Operating Officer and the Governors Liaison where she served as the main point of contact for all governors and their staff. From 2014-2018, Laura worked as the RGA’s Director of Operations where she managed human resources, tracked and managed multiple budgets, and provided comprehensive support to the Governors and staff. Laura is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish.
Caitlin Mackintosh Schroder, Finance Director & Executive Roundtable Director
Caitlin Mackintosh Schroder, who first joined the RGA team in 1998, leads the RGA’s finance department. She is also the Executive Roundtable Director, a membership program that brings together governors with business owners and executives. Prior to this role, Caitlin served as the RGA’s Director of Recruitment from 2012-2015, RGA Finance Director from 2002-2008 and RGA Deputy Finance Director from 1999-2002. Prior to her time at the RGA, she worked on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee joint fundraising dinners as well as in the finance department of the Republican National Committee. Caitlin attended the Catholic University of America, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics.
Erim Canligil, Chief Finance Officer
Erim began his professional career at the National Republican Congressional Committee (2008-2015) as a Compliance Analyst. From 2016 to mid-2017, he worked as a solo-practicing attorney. Erim began his current role at the RGA as Chief Financial Officer in August 2017. He graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in 2008 and earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in 2015.
Jessica Furst Johnson, General Counsel
Jessica Furst Johnson, Of Counsel at Holtzman Vogel – focusing her practice on political committees, campaign finance and election law – will return to the RGA as General Counsel. Previously, Jessica served as General Counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director to the National Republican Congressional Committee, and as NRCC Independent Expenditure Director during the 2016 cycle. Jessica received her J.D. from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and earned her undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a Member of the Florida Bar, the Virginia Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America Bar.
Yaron Eisenberg, Research Director
Yaron Eisenberg has served as the RGA Research Director since 2019. He joined the RGA in 2017 from Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce. Yaron also worked on a U.S. Senate campaign and at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis. He holds degrees from Bowdoin College, University of St. Andrews, and University of Connecticut School of Law.
Carey Turner, Governors Liaison
Carey Turner is the RGA’s Governors Liaison. In this role, she will spearhead the communication, operations, and logistics with all Republican governors’ offices on behalf of the organization. She began her career as RGA’s Corporate Coordinator and Finance Assistant in summer 2019. In 2021, she became the Director of Corporate Recruitment where she led the prospecting, recruiting, and onboarding efforts of new corporate members. In 2022, she transitioned to the Executive Department as the Deputy Governors Liaison. Turner is a graduate of Clemson University and a native of Greenville, South Carolina.
Libby Savage, Director of Events & Programming
Libby Savage is the Director of Events & Programming at the RGA. Prior to re-joining the RGA, Libby worked as a meeting planner for Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, managing multi-million dollar international and domestic events focusing on corporate incentive trips and corporate leadership experiences. Prior to that, Libby worked as the Events Manager at the RGA from 2017 – 2022 planning and executing annual conferences and recruitment events. Libby has also worked as a Paralegal for Venable LLP in the Corporate M&A division. Libby holds a B.A. from the College of Charleston in International Relations.
