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Resourceful Climbers

The House Resources Committee recently picked up two new staff members, Jay Cranford and Jon Haubert, and promoted Ryan Yates from staff assistant to clerk for the subcommittee on forests and forest health.

Cranford has been named staff director for the subcommittee on energy and mineral resources. Prior to joining the subcommittee, Cranford was the director of Congressional affairs for the National Ocean Industries Association and the federal government affairs director for El Paso Corp. Cranford, 34, is also a veteran Capitol Hill staffer, having worked for now-Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.). The 34-year-old graduated from the University of Georgia at Athens, and holds a bachelor’s in environmental health.

Haubert, a former intern for Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), is now a staff assistant for the committee. The former associate with the Cornerstone Government Affairs lobbying firm is a native of Carlsbad, Calif. Haubert, 23, graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a degree in political science.

Prior to joining the committee, Yates, 23, worked as a research assistant for STMJ Real Estate Appraisal in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Porterville, Calif., native is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University and holds a degree in agricultural business. [IMGCAP(1)]

Big Changes for Small Business. With five recent office changes, the House Small Business Committee has seen a lot of movement in the past few weeks.

Stepping up to director of operations for the committee is Christy Markva. A committee staffer since 2001, Markva

most recently worked as a finance clerk/special assistant to the chief of staff. The Springfield, Va., native graduated from James Madison University in 2000.

Tom Loo joins the committee as a chief economist. Loo is a longtime Capitol Hill staffer who worked as a senior economist for the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee for nine years and has also worked on the House Budget Committee and at the Congressional Budget Office. Loo holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree from Duke University and attended the City College of New York as an undergrad.

Moving up to committee chief clerk and deputy communications director is Mike Arlinsky. A committee staffer since 2001, Arlinsky has also worked on the House Science Committee, as a legislative assistant for former Rep. Bill Archer (R-Texas), as a staffer for the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee and as a financial planner for the First Financial Group. The Salisbury University graduate holds a bachelor’s in business administration.

Stepping up from oversight counsel to chief counsel is Bradley Knox. A former Air Force JAG officer, Knox has been with the Committee since 2003. He has also taught at the Air Force JAG School and co-founded DigiTech Systems Solutions, an info-tech services company, and Knox Global Network, an e-commerce franchise. The Carson, Calif., native began his professional career with Shell Oil as a computer programmer/analyst. Knox holds a law degree from Regent University School of Law and a bachelor’s in information systems from Oral Roberts University.

Rounding out the committee changes is Phil Eskeland, who has moved up from his role as policy director for the committee to deputy chief of staff/policy director. A Hill staffer since 1988, Eskeland has worked with small-business issues since 1995, as a legislative director for both Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) and former Rep. Ron Marlenee (R-Mont.) and as a writer for the White House Office of Correspondence from 1986 to 1988. The Staten Island, N.Y., native holds a master’s from American University and a bachelor’s from Wheaton College.

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