ABOUT SPSA
In the 1970s, the Senate Press Secretaries Association was a pretty dismal group—great people but lousy cheddar cheese and jug wine receptions. In the 30-plus years since I was a member, the Association has really blossomed. There is attention to professional development, consideration of workplace issues of real relevance and, of course, a lot more fun. Bravo to those who built the bridge to the 21st century for the SPSA!
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Mike McCurry
SPSA Alumni & White House Press Secretary for President Clinton
Exclusive Events
SPSA-sponsored events are held on and off the Hill, providing members unique opportunities to meet and learn from one another and to connect with reporters and media professionals. Events include a monthly speaker series, Washington bureau tours, happy hours, and more.
Career Opportunities
Our strong network across the Hill, Administration, and public relations firms means SPSA members have access to job postings and career development events that are not available anywhere else. Members receive a regular newsletter with exclusive job postings and upcoming networking events.
Annual New York City Trip
At the beginning of each year, SPSA organizes a two-day trip to New York City, where members meet with news and media organizations to expand their network, share best practices, and learn about careers in other communications fields. Site visits have included ABC with George Stephanopoulos, CBS This Morning with Gayle King and John Dickerson, CNN, MSNBC, New York Times, Comedy Central, Viacom, Buzzfeed, Snapchat, NFL, MLB, HBO, and more.
MEET THE BOARD
Stacey Daniels
President
Communications Director, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Stacey Daniels currently serves as Communications Director for Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). Stacey previously served in senior level communications roles in the House, Senate and administration. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. she worked as a television reporter in Eugene, Oregon and Columbia, Missouri. Stacey is originally from Lombard, Illinois and graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism.
Rachel Skaar
Vice President
Press Secretary, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Rachel currently serves as Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s Press Secretary. Previously, she worked on Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s successful 2018 reelection campaign.
Rachel is a native Montanan and holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University.
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David Bader
Secretary
Press Secretary, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)
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David Bader currently serves as the Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). Prior to joining Senator Fischer’s office, David served as the Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and the Deputy Press Secretary for the Missouri Republican Party. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., he worked as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Representative Ann Wagner (MO-02). David is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri with a double major in Journalism and Political Science.
Rachel Dumke
Events
Deputy Communications Director, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT)
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Rachel Dumke currently serves as Deputy Communications Director for Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Previously, Rachel served on Senator Daines’ team as press secretary and deputy press secretary, and before coming to Washington, D.C. she worked on Daines’ reelection campaign in Montana. Rachel is originally from Franklin, Tennessee, and is a proud Mississippi State Bulldog.
Ryann DuRant
Events
Senior Communications Advisor, U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee (Minority)
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​Ryann DuRant is the Senior Communications Advisor on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Prior to her time on the committee, Ryann spent over a decade serving in communications roles in the executive branch, Senate leadership, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Phoebe Ferraiolo
Treasurer
Deputy Communications Director, Appropriations Committee (Minority)​
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Phoebe Ferraiolo serves as the Deputy Communications Director for the Senate Appropriations Committee under Vice Chair Susan Collins. She previously held several positions on Senator Collins’ press team and was a Vice President at Cogent Strategies. Before moving to Washington, Phoebe worked as a Production Assistant for ABC and FOX News, as well as on Senator Kelly Ayotte’s 2016 Campaign. Born and raised in Maine, Phoebe studied politics and communication at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Gabriela Garcia-Ugalde
Events
Deputy Press Secretary, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV)
Gabriela “Gabi” Garcia-Ugalde currently serves as the Deputy Press Secretary for Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Prior to this role, she worked for Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), after completing her time as a Public Policy Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). She is originally from Miami, Florida, and is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University.
Amy Hasenberg
Events
Senior Communications Advisor, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
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Amy Hasenberg currently serves as the senior communications advisor for Senator Jim Risch of Idaho. Amy has nearly a decade of diverse strategic communications experience, including serving as communications director for Senator Pat Toomey, communications director for U.S. Representative Will Hurd, deputy communications director for the House Judiciary Committee and House Oversight Committee, and press secretary for Governor Scott Walker. Amy is a Wisconsin native and University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna—as such, her true passions include cheese, the Badgers, Packers, and Brewers.
Josh Sorbe
Digital Director
Press Secretary, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (Majority)
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Josh Sorbe is the Press Secretary for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Prior to the Judiciary Committee, he was the digital manager for U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) through her re-election and was the Development & Communications Officer at the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Raised in Brookings, South Dakota, Josh is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with degrees in economics and political science, where he served as Student Body President and was team captain of the Division I swim team. In his free time, Josh coaches cardio-strength training classes at VIDA Fitness and is training for a marathon.
Valeria Rivadeneira
Membership
Press Secretary, U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
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Valeria Rivadeneira is the press secretary for U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. In her role, Valeria travels alongside the Senator and serves as a spokesperson and primary point of contact for Virginia-based press. Valeria graduated from the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree in Rhetoric & Political Culture. She was born in Bogotá, Colombia and immigrated to South Florida with her family.
Natalie Yezbick
Membership
Communications Director, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
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Natalie Yezbick serves as Communications Director for Sen. John Cornyn and has held multiple positions on his press team since 2015. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she wasn’t born in Texas, but – like so many others – she got there as fast as she could. Natalie earned her B.A. in journalism, communication studies, and public relations from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.