Chris Carr is responsible for the largest ground game in presidential history. He manages more than 1,500 staff across 23+ states. In 2016, he served as the Republican National Committee’s political director, managing the ground game’s historic effort to elect President Donald Trump. Previously, he worked as a regional political director for the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he played a key role when Republicans took back the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the largest turnover since 1948.
Elliott Echols manages the Trump Victory field operation at the Republican National Committee. He was the deputy national field director for the RNC in 2018, where he assisted in managing the RNC’s 29-state operation. Previously, Echols managed the RNC’s operation in Virginia for the Ed Gillespie for Governor Campaign, the largest staff and voter contact operation in the history of the Commonwealth, and directed the RNC’s successful independent expenditure operation in Georgia, maintaining a Republican seat to replace former Rep. Dr. Tom Price in the most expensive congressional election in history.
Melanie Pfeiffenberger is ABC’s director of political affairs. Prior to joining ABC, she served as the executive director of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, the premiere national organization dedicated exclusively to electing more Republicans to state legislatures. She has experience working in fundraising, grassroots advocacy and local government. Melanie is a native Pennsylvanian and resides in Northern Virginia.
Brandon Ray is ABC’s senior manager of state and local affairs. Previously, he worked on regulatory analysis and research solutions spanning environmental safety, health care, labor and employment, transportation and occupational safety and health issues at Bloomberg BNA. He was part of the finance team for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2010 election cycle, followed by serving as Rep. Robert Hurt’s (R-Va.) district and state fundraiser during Hurt’s freshman cycle in Congress.
Kristen Swearingen serves as vice president of legislative and political affairs at ABC National. She leads the association’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and coalition efforts in the business community. Prior to joining ABC, Swearingen served as a staffer in the office of former Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). Ms. Swearingen is a graduate of the College of Charleston.
Vance Walter manages ABC’s small business, transportation and infrastructure, energy, environment and natural resources federal legislative portfolio. He also helps manage ABC PAC with ABC’s political affairs team. Prior to joining ABC, Vance worked in the polling industry for Public Opinion Strategies. He is a native of Virginia and a graduate of the University of Arizona.
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For information about sponsorship opportunities during the 2024 ABC Legislative Conference, contact Madeleine Dashiell at [email protected] or (202 595-1775).