Senator Murkowski and Chairman Goodlatte turn out to help recognize the Top 10 Schedulers in Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – The Ripon Society and Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange held their annual bipartisan luncheon yesterday afternoon honoring “The Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill,” the Schedulers and Executive Assistants in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate who, in the words of Ripon and Franklin President & CEO Jim Conzelman, “make a difference in the life of Congress and our nation.”

“This is the fifth year we’ve held this lunch for the Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill,” Conzelman stated in remarks to open the event.  “I think it’s safe to say this has been a year like no other.   From the excitement of the presidential campaign to the demands of the State and District back home, the past 12 months have been filled with ups and downs and twists and turns that have no doubt tested the patience and resolve of everyone in this room.  On behalf of The Ripon Society and the Franklin Center, I’m here today to say, ‘Thank you.’  Thank you for your hard work.  Thank you for your dedication.  And, perhaps most importantly, thank you for serving your country during this pivotal time in history.

“Just over 70 years ago, a woman named Elizabeth Nel had a job very similar to yours during another pivotal time.  She served as Winston’s Churchill’s personal secretary during World War II.  She later wrote a memoir about her experience on his staff, in which she described not only the joys, but the challenges of working for him.  She wrote:

“‘That great man – who could at any time be impatient… kind…irritable…crushing…generous…inspiring…difficult…alarming…amusing…unpredictable… considerate… seemingly impossible to please…charming…demanding… inconsiderate…quick to anger and quick to forgive – was unforgettable.  One loved him with a deep devotion.  Difficult to work for? Yes…mostly. Loveable? Always. Amusing? Without fail.’

“In May of 1945,” Conzelman continued, “when she showed up for work the night before the war ended on VE Day, Churchill greeted her by simply saying:  ‘The war is over.  You have played your part.’  Like Elizabeth Nel working at 10 Downing Street, you all have played your part working on Capitol Hill.  And by doing that, you have not only made a difference in the life of your boss and coworkers.  You’ve also made a difference in the life of Congress and our nation.  That’s why we are honoring you today.

“To that end, we recently sent a poll out to our members, and we polled the offices we work with on Capitol Hill, as well. We asked them to name the Scheduler or Executive Assistant who demonstrates the highest level of professionalism in what is arguably one of the most challenging jobs on a Congressional staff.  The response was overwhelming.  In total, we received several hundred responses, which yielded a list of 81 names.  We received so many wonderful comments, and had such a terrific response, that it was – as you might imagine – very, very difficult to narrow down the list.  So, in addition to selecting the Top 10 Schedulers and Executive Assistants, we have also selected nine Honorable Mention winners.”

According to Conzelman, the Honorable Mention winners included: Josie Beecher, with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA); Amy Berrera, with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO); Chelsea Caulfield, with Rep. Bob Dold (R-10th/IL); Laura Engquist, with Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-12th/OH); Jenny Forrest, with Rep. Greg Walden (R-2nd/OR); Cara Pavlock, with Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th/CT); Rachel Provost, with Rep. Mark Amodei (R-2nd/NV); Brittany Randall, with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-13th/IL); Daffnei Riedel, with Sen. John Thune (R-SD); Michelle Runk, with Rep. Jim Renacci (R-16th/OH); Lauren Russell, with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV); Lindsey Shackelford, with Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10th/NC); and, Angela Schulze, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).

The Top 10 Schedulers and Executive Assistants of 2016 included:

• Kristen Daimler-Nothdurft – with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK);
• Kim Fuller – with Rep. Greg Meeks (D-5th/NY);
• Colleen Gallagher — with Rep. Pat Meehan (R-7th/PA);
• Jen Jett — with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-8th/TX);
• Drew McDowell – with Rep. Billy Long (R-7th/MO);
• Mary Pritschau – with Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-6th/VA);
• Heather Smith – with Rep. Charlie Dent (R-15th/PA);
• Brittany Smith – with Rep. Bill Shuster (R-9th/PA);
• Gabriela Sterling – with Rep. Mimi Walters (R-45th/CA); and,
• Amanda Walsh – with Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-4th/NY).

Conzelman – who spent 25 years as the Chief of Staff for former Congressman Mike Oxley (R-OH) prior to joining The Ripon Society and the Franklin Center – said that yesterday’s luncheon was attended by a group of just under 90 Schedulers and Executive Assistants.  Also attending the event were House Judiciary Committee Chairman Goodlatte (VA-6) and Sen. Murkowski (AK).  Both were in attendance to help honor their own Schedulers, and both delivered brief remarks paying tribute to the service of all of the Schedulers and Executive Assistants in the room.

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.

Founded in 1978, The Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to enhancing global understanding of important international issues.  The Franklin Center brings together Members of the U.S. Congress and their international parliamentary counterparts as well as experts from the Diplomatic corps, foreign officials, senior private sector representatives, scholars, and other public policy experts.  Through regular conferences and events where leading international opinion leaders share ideas, the Franklin Center promotes enlightened, balanced, and unbiased international policy discussion on major international issues.