Steve Holton, a former Capitol Hill aide, has joined the Washington-based National Potato Council as director of corporate and public relations.
He takes a slot being vacated by Mark Szymanski, the former US Chamber of Commerce staffer who joins the Afghanistan Veterans of America in New York as communications director.
The 66-year-old NPC represents the $4.3B US potato industry, including its DC push to get potatoes on the menu of the federal food assistance program for women, infants and children known as WIC.
Holton worked communications and aide posts to Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), the Bush-Cheney re-election in Michigan, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
He takes the reins on the NPC's media outreach, grassroots and social media, in addition to coordinating public policy PR.
Cornerstone Government Affairs has inked a $25K monthly pact with Qatar to advance the relationship of the Arab state and the US.
Former House speaker Kevin McCarthy has teamed up with a crew of Republican heavy hitters to launch Watchtower Strategy, a public affairs firm that will focus on advocacy, strategy and strategic communications.
The National Association of Manufacturers has named Alexa Lopez VP of communications & public affairs, a newly created position. She was at the Transportation Security Administration.
