Democratic Campaign Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2009
Contact: Fiona Conroy
717-238-1998
GERBER ANNOUNCES NEW HDCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FINANCE DIRECTOR
June 1, 2009—Harrisburg, PA: Rep. Mike Gerber (Montgomery), Chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee (HDCC), today announced that he and his fellow HDCC officers have hired HDCC's top two staffers for the 2010 cycle. Fiona Conroy will serve as HDCC’s new Executive Director and Vanessa Gervasi will serve as Finance Director.
“Fiona and Vanessa are smart, hard-working, experienced professionals who understand Pennsylvania politics," said Gerber. "I am excited HDCC could attract talent like this. It is a tribute to our caucus' political and legislative accomplishments," Gerber added.
Gerber hired Conroy following a national search HDCC's officers conducted over the past few months.
Conroy is a native of Williamsport, PA who comes to HDCC from Washington D.C., where she worked for the Mack/Crounse Group, one of the nation's most notable Democratic direct mail firms. During the last two election cycles while at Mack/Crounse, Conroy was a key member of the HDCC consulting team, running direct mail operations on targeted campaigns and providing strategic consulting to the committee. In addition to her HDCC involvement, Conroy worked on several key federal races in Pennsylvania over the last two cycles including Senator Bob Casey's 2006 race and the targeted re-elections of Congressmen John Murtha (PA-12) and Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) in 2008. Conroy earned her Master's degree in Political Management from The George Washington University.
Vanessa Gervasi is a top Democratic fundraiser who cut her teeth at EMILY’s List and as Finance Deputy for Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign in Michigan. Gervasi then served as Deputy Finance Director for Governor Rendell’s successful 2002 gubernatorial campaign that raised more than $44 million. Gervasi consulted for several Pennsylvania candidates through 2004, including Attorney General candidate Jim Eisenhower, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and Gerber. Gervasi has been raising Gerber's campaign money since 2004, when Gerber raised and spent more than $700,000 to become the first Democrat to represent his Montgomery County seat. Gervasi has continued to direct Gerber's fundraising for his two re-election campaigns and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), a national political committee where Gerber serves as Treasurer.
HDCC Vice Chair, Rep. Jennifer Mann (Lehigh), spoke highly of Conroy and Gervasi. "These two are stars who will help us further professionalize and modernize HDCC and meet our goal of expanding our majority."
Gerber was named Chairman of HDCC earlier this year. The other committee officers are Mann, Rep. Mark Longietti (Mercer), Secretary, Rep. Eugene DePasquale (York), Treasurer, and Rep. Joe Preston (Allegheny), Recruiting Chair.
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