Weekly Newsletter

CTIA, telecom powerhouse, picks up W.V. GOP staffer

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Dec. 6, 2021

After working for West Virginia members in both chambers, a GOP aide has landed at the telecom industry's biggest Washington advocate.

Sydney Pettit is now government-affairs director at CTIA - The Wireless Association. The trade group is on track to spend more than $11.1 million on federal lobbying this year and, according to OpenSecrets, is the highest-spending telecommunications lobbying group.

Pettit comes from the office of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), where she was a legislative assistant. Before that, the West Virginia native worked for Rep. David McKinley (R-W.V.).

Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:

Trending Staffers› learn more

Mara Mellstrom, Chief of Staff, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) (former staffer) – Bravo!
Out of the frying pan
Emily Newman, Republican Counsel, Senate Indian Affairs Committee (former staffer) – Uh oh!
Into the fire
Buckley Carlson, Communications Director, Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) (current staffer) – So-So
Caught in the middle

Hill Hires

Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Professional Staff Member
Scott Knittle, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Legislative Director/Counsel
Trevor Whetstone, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Chief of Staff

Hill Departures

Tamlyn Sheng, formerly Digital Director to Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
(now Digital Content Manager at Athos PR)
Rich Trumka, formerly Democratic Staff Director and General Counsel to House Oversight and Reform Committee's Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee
(now Commissioner at U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Sandra Alcalá, formerly Chief of Staff to Rep. Filemón Bartolomé Vela (D-TX)
(now Government Relations Professional at Subject Matter)
Christian McMullen, formerly Communications Director to Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
(now Public Affairs Director at TAG Strategies)

Hill Moves and Promotions

Alex Sarabia, now Communications Director for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
(formerly Communications Director/Senior Adviser to Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX))
Lauren Billman, now Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV)
(formerly Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director)
Afton Cissell, now Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
(formerly Senior Counsel)
Kiersten Pels, now Research Director for Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
(formerly Deputy Press Secretary to Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT))

Top hashtags of the week

#buildbackbetter – (355 mentions)
#worldaidsday – (129 mentions)
#scotus – (124 mentions)
#covid19 – (89 mentions)
#givingtuesday – (71 mentions)
#roevwade – (69 mentions)
#buildbackbetteract – (65 mentions)
#childtaxcredit – (51 mentions)
#spotifywrapped – (50 mentions)