Trump 2016 General Election Campaign Organization, Florida
Donald J. Trump for President  |  Sarasota
FLORIDA  |  Trump Main Page

(page thoroughly upgraded April 7, 2018)
...for additions, corrections and other changes contact

National Senior Advisor, and Florida Chief Strategist  Karen Giorno

(expanded role announced July 1, 2016)  Southeast regional political director from March 2015 after serving as state director for the Florida primary campaign (announced Oct. 2, 2015).  Principal and founder (April 2005) of Kingston Public Affairs in New York.  25 years experience in public relations, communications, organizational management, and presidential advance operations.  Florida state director of American Commitment (group founded by Phil Karpen), Jan. 2012-Feb. 2013.  Director of external affairs in the Office of Gov. Rick Scott (FL), 2011-12.  Director of press advance and operations at Meg Whitman for Governor (CA), March-Nov. 2010.  Senior advance rep. for First Lady Laura Bush, Sept. 2003-Jan. 2009.  Senior advance rep., press advance and scheduler for the office of former President George H.W. Bush, Jan. 2001-March 2007.  B.A. in political science and communications from Marymount University, 1990.


Senior Advisor for Battleground Communications  Susie Wiles

(reported by The Washington Post's Sean Sulllivan on Aug. 29, 2016)  Managing partner of the Jacksonville office of Ballard Partners since 2011 and principal at Right Coast Strategies from 2011.   Initial campaign manager on Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign, started as executive director of H-PAC in late Jan. 2011; resigned July 21, 2011.  Campaign manager on Rick Scott's successful run for Governor of Florida, 2010.   Chief of communications and special initiatives under Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton for five years through June 2008.  Principal at Wiles Consulting, Inc. 2001-04.  Co-managing partner in the Florida office of APCO Worldwide, 2000-01.  Senior executive under Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney including as his chief of staff, 1995-99.   District director to U.S. Rep. Tillie K. Fowler (FL), 1992-95.  Deputy director of operations for the vice presidential campaign on Bush-Quayle '88.  Principal at Summerall, Smith & Wiles, 1984-86.  Special assistant to U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Donovan, 1982-83.  Special Assistant (scheduler) to President Reagan, 1980-81.  Deputy director of scheduling on Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign.  Staff assistant to U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp (NY), 1979-80.  B.A. in English from University of Maryland.

State Director  Jennifer Locetta

(announced July 18, 2016)  Deputy state director on Trump's Florida primary campaign, announced Nov. 2015.  Campaign manager on Richard DeNapoli's unsuccessful primary run for state representative in Sarasota County, 2014.  Florida data director on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, May-Nov. 2012.  Statewide data director for the Republican Party of Kentucky, June-Nov. 2011.  Human resources and office manager at Innoprise Software in Colorado, 2006-11.  B.A. in American studies from University of Notre Dame, 2006.


Senior Consultant of Operations  Mary Anne Carter

Has run a political research and public affairs consulting firm specializing in state and federal legislation, campaign and corporate communications, media surveys, issue tracking and public policy analysis.  Chief advisor to Gov. Rick Scott through June 2011; executive director of Gov.-elect Scott's transition team; oversaw all research and policy on the Scott For Florida campaign; executive director of Scott's Conservatives For Patients' Rights group.  Deputy campaign manager on Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential campaign.  Director of U.S. Senate relations at the Heritage Foundation.  Opposition research director on Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential primary effort.  Research director on Fred Thompson's 1994 campaign for U.S. Senate.

Chief of Staff  Darren Morris

Served as state director for Trump's Tennessee primary campaign, announced Sept. 22, 2015.  President of Morris Global Strategies, a public affairs and political consulting firm based in Nashville.  Has worked in each presidential campaign cycle since 1996.


Communications Director  Chad Tucker


Deputy Communications Director  Healy Nardone


Communications Coordinator  Dave Chiokadze

(July 2016)  Earlier served as chief state delegation whip at the Republican National Convention, as Rhode Island state director, and from Dec. 2015-March 2016 as a field consultant in NH, SC, TX, OH and WI.  Studied financial management and economics at Salve Regina University.  From Newport, RI.

Communications Coordinator  Tim Page

Bachelor's degree in business management from Appalachian State University, 2016.  Owner/operator of The Cutting Edge (landscaping) in Connelly Springs, NC.


Director of Grassroots  Debbie Cox-Roush

Independent contractor for Wizcraft International/IIFA Tampa Bay, 2013-14.  Volunteer coordinator for the Republican National Convention, April-Sept. 2012.  Florida director of county chairs on Friends of Herman Cain presidential campaign, 2011, then Florida grassroots director on Newt 2012.  General manager for Concessions by Cox of Florida, Oct. 2003-July 2011.  Bachelor's degree from Georgetown College (KY).

Grassroots Coordinator  Samantha Hebert



Coalitions Director  Bibi Ramos

(Aug. 2016)  Has "been on staff in the Florida Governor's office, Florida State House, the Florida Senate, as well as various State agencies... also worked on Congressional as well as Statewide races and in the private sector for family owned companies, and large corporations."  Graduate of Florida State University.  Born and raised in Orlando, daughter of Cuban immigrants.

Coalitions Coordnator  Alex Coffey

Commercial real estate brokerage, consulting and management with NAI Global in Fort Lauderdale from April 2016.  Worked as a political consultant from March 2009-April 2016 and as an associate in family business from July 2013.  B.A. degree from University of Florida.

Coalitions Coordinator  Paul Janiczek 

Risk management consultant from Nov. 2014.  Florida state director and Mid-Atlantic field rep. for Concerned Veterans for America, Jan. 2013-Nov. 2014.  Director of government operations at Genufi Cyber Intelligence, Nov. 2009-June 2012.  Subcontractor/subject matter expert with IDS International, Sept. 2008-Nov. 2009.  Deputy Assistant Inspector General with the Special Inspector for Iraq Reconstruction, Jan.-Oct. 2007.  Special advisor at the U.S. Department of State, Sept. 2002-March 2006.  Foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State, Jan. 2001-Sept. 2002.  Staff assistant in the U.S. House, Feb. 1999-Jan. 2001.  M.S. in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, 2004; B.S. in history from Frostburg State University, 1997.  Served in the US Navy Reserve, June 1992-March 2004.

Coalitions Coordinator (Women for Trump)  Ashley Byers



Social Media Director  Christina Minna



Regional Political Directors 
SE   John Pughe
SW   Richard Kingan
NE   Earl Tony Ledbetter
NW   Zach Michael
Central South  Barry Plans
Central  Nick Corvino



Special Projects and Events Director  Monica Varner

(Aug. 2016)  Owner and event planner at Elan Event Studio from 2005.  VP of events and marketing at CinZEN USA, 2010-12.  Studio/production manager at The Artist Group Lifestyle Photography, 2003-05.  B.A.Sc. in forensic psychology from CUNY-John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1997.


Senior Consultant/Field  Matt Parker

Campaign manager on Carlos Beruff for Senate (FL), Jan.-July 2016.  National field director on Jindal for President (based in Des Moines), Mar.-Dec. 2015.  Legislative affairs director in the Governor's office from Oct. 2012, resignation announced March 31; previously intergovernmental affairs director  Campaign manager for Gov. Jindal's re-election campaign in 2011.  Field director for Rick Scott's campaign for Governor of Florida in 2010.  Executive director of the Republican Party of Louisiana, Dec. 2007-April 2010.  Worked on Jindal's 2007 campaign for Governor and his 2004 congressional campaign.


Election Day Operations Coordinator  Kayla Hensley

Started on the campaign in late 2015 as Houston-area field director.  Operations manager for Abby Executive Suites, Oct. 2013-June 2015.  Bachelor's degree in marketing from Eastern Illinois University, 2002; earlier studied agriculture at Tarleton State University.


Operations Administrative Director  Alva Johnson

Started on the campaign as Alabama director of outreach and coalitions, Oct. 2015-March 2016, then part of the National Strike Team, March-July 2016.  Event producer and project manager for Heaven on Earth Foundation, Inc. Feb. 2005-Nov. 2015.  Senior recruiter for Celebrity Personal Assistants, Inc., Dec. 2001-Feb. 2005.  B.A. in mass communication/media studies from University of Alabama at Birmingham.


RV Teams ("mobile field offices") - from late Aug. 2016
North  Jamie Peavy
South  Miguel Rego
Central  Mitch Tyner
South  Jason Funes
North  Michael Herrmann



HQ Administrative Director  Ryan Leppert

Son of former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.


"senior Trump campaign officials and the RNC agreed to open 25 Florida field offices and install more than 200 paid staff on the ground in the state by Labor Day"  See: Johnathan Swan.  "Trump campaign plans rapid Florida expansion."  The Hill, Aug. 13, 2016.


fb "Florida for Donald Trump 2016"


Republican National Committee

State Director  Brian Barrett

(July 2015)  RNC Victory director for Georgia in 2014.  Chief of staff to the Montana Senate President during the 2013 session.  Deputy chief of staff at Montanans for Rehberg, Jan. 20011-Dec. 2012.  Campaign manager on Jeff Miller for Congress, Feb.-Dec. 2010.  Absentee ballot director for the Republican Party of Virginia, 2009.  B.S. in political science and government from Rollins College, 2007.  twitter

Deputy State Director and Director of Hispanic Initiatives  Alex Garcia

(July 2015; director of Hispanic Initiatives from Oct. 2013)  Legislative aide to state Rep. Michael Bileca, Jan. 2011-Sept. 2013.  Campaign manager on Michael Bileca for State Rep., May-Nov. 2012.  Legislative aide (Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011) and district aide (Jan.-Nov. 2010) to state Sen. Anitere Flores.  Deputy campaign manager on Anitere Flores for State Senate in 2010.  B.S. in health science from Florida International University, 2008.  twitter

Deputy State Director  Lexi R. Pursley

(Aug. 2016)  Deputy director of delegate experience (April-July 2016) and manager of delegate experience (Jan.-April 2016) for the 2016 Republican National Convention.  Director of operations/press assistant to U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (FL) Sept. 2014-Jan. 2016.  Director of operations (July-Sept. 2014) and staff assistant (May-July 2014) to U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (GA).  Bachlelor's degree in communication studies from The University of Georgia, 2014.  twitter

Data Director  Ben Shankle

(July 2015)  Consultant with the Enwright Consulting Group from Jan. 2014.  Attorney in the Florida Senate, 2011-14.  Director of research on Bill McCollum for Governor, 2009-10.  Election Day operations director for the Republican Party of Florida, 2008-09.  Attorney on John McCain 2008.  J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, 2007; B.A. in history, political science from University of Pittsuburgh, 2004.

Communications Director  Ninio Fetalvo

(Aug. 2016)  Fetalvo also serves as the RNC's Asian Pacific American press secretary, from Jan. 2015.  He served as deputy director of media affairs for the 2016 Republican National Convention, May-July 2016.  Earlier at the RNC he was also deputy press secretary for California media (from Jan. 2015), APA press assistant (May 2014-Jan. 2015) and intern (Nov. 2013-May 2014) at the RNC.  B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University, 2014.  twitter


Republican Party of Florida  |  420 East Jefferson Street  |  Tallahassee, FL  32301 
www.florida.gop  |  fb/FloridaGOP  |  @FloridaGOP

Chairman  Rep. Blaise Ingoglia

(elected Jan. 17, 2015)  Elected to the Florida House of Representatives representing District 25 (most of Hernando County) in 2014.  Businessman.  Founded and produced "Government Gone Wild" seminars in 2007.  Tournament poker player.  Founded Hartland Homes, a home building company in 2001.  Founded America One Mortgage in 1998.

Vice Chairman  Joe Gruters
(announced as chairman of Trump's Florida primary campaign on Oct. 25-2015)  Vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from Dec. 2008 and chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota from Dec. 2008.  Owner of Gruters CPA in Sarasota since Aug. 2015.  CPA and tax manager at Shinn & Company LLC, Jan. 2010-July 2015.  Campaign manager, political director and director of government relations for Buchanan Enterprises and Vern Buchanan for Congress, 2000-09.  Vice president and project manager for Yacht Clubs of the Americas, Dec. 2006-May 2008.  Project manager for Githier Development, Sept. 2004-April 2006.  M.B.A. from University of South Florida's College of Business, 2002; B.S. from Florida State University's College of Business, 1999.  Fourth generation Sarasotan.  twitter

Secretary  Kristy Banks

Treasurer  Jeff Howell

Executive Director  George Riley

(announced Jan. 3, 2016 as acting ex. dir., succeeding Brad Herold)  Various roles at the Party since 2008 including director of party affairs, political director in 2014, member relations director, and Victory director in Central Florida in 2012. Worked on the Jeff Brandes for HD 52 and Jack Latvala for SD 16 races in 2010.  Field director for the Tampa Victory Office in 2008.  B.A. in history from Gettysburg College.

Press Secretary  Mallory Deason
(May 2015)  Most recently served as the manager of public relations for Enterprise Florida, Inc.  Deputy press secretary to Gov. Rick Scott.


Florida Leadership Victory Committee

(announced Aug. 19, 2016)


Former
RPOF Communications Director  Wadi Gaitan
(May 2015; resignation reported by BuzzFeed's Adrian Carrasquillo on Aug. 8, 2016)  Press secretary fo the U.S. Houser Republican Conference, Feb. 2013-May 2015.  Communications director on Carlos Curbelo for Congress, Aug.-Nov. 2014.  Press assistant on Romney for President, Aug.-Nov. 2012.  Victory Center director in Modesto, California, May-July 2012.  B.A. in communications from University of Maryland College Park, 2011.  Gaitan's parents are from Honduras.