Bob Van Wicklin, a native of Houghton, N.Y., and 1992 graduate of Houghton College, has continued in the path of all things Houghton after being tapped as chief of staff to Rep. Amo Houghton (R-N.Y.).

Van Wicklin will manage the Congressman’s Washington, Corning and Canandaigua staffs as well as maintain oversight of Houghton’s legislative program and direct office communications. Van Wicklin, who lives with his family

in Annapolis, Md., has worked for Houghton since interning for the Congressman in 1991.

He replaces Mac McKenney, who is leaving the office to join Capitol Tax Partners, an independent consulting firm specializing in legislative and regulatory tax matters.

McKenney began working on Capitol Hill in 1975 and joined Houghton’s staff in 2001. Over the years, he served several Members in roles from press secretary to legislative director and also worked at the Dutko Group lobbying firm. [IMGCAP(1)]

Promotion and Hire in Smith Policy Shop. Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) has filled two top spots in his legislative affairs shop by promoting Alan Knapp to legislative director and hiring Jenn Burg as senior legislative assistant.

Knapp, who has worked for Smith in his Battle Creek district office as a case worker since 1999, will handle judiciary and government reform issues and will also be the office Web administrator.

A former intern for Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Knapp, 29, is a native of St. Joseph, Mich. The 1998 graduate of Western Michigan University also holds a master’s in public policy administration from Michigan State University.

Burg, 26, will handle education, health, science, house administration, labor, homeland security and women’s issues for the Congressman as well as press matters.

Burg comes to Smith’s staff from Rep. John Sweeney’s (R-N.Y.) office, where she worked as a scheduler and legislative correspondent. She has also worked at a public relations firm in Beijing, China.

Burg, a native of Tampa, Fla., is a graduate of Southern Methodist University. She graduated in 2000 with degrees in international relations and journalism.