The National Association of Manufacturers, the group headed by former Michigan Gov. John Engler (R), has lost key people in both its lobbying department and communications shop.

[IMGCAP(1)]Last week, Jason Straczewski, who had been NAM’s director of employment and labor policy, and J.P. Fielder, NAM’s senior director of media relations, left for jobs at different associations. Starting today, Straczewski is director of government relations for the International Franchise Association.

Fielder, meanwhile, has become associate director of media relations at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

NAM’s Greg Snapper, senior director of broadcast and multimedia strategies, has also left the group to become online project manager with Pacific Gas & Electric in San Francisco. In addition, Dallas Lawrence, who had been tasked with new media within the communications division, has shifted to political work, according to a NAM official.

NAM also recently added a top aide, Shaun Donnelly, the assistant U.S. trade representative, who is joining as senior director for international business policy. “Bringing Shaun on board will strengthen what is already the best trade team in Washington,” Engler said in a statement.

Recess Road Trip. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week will kick off a five-year grass-roots and lobbying effort to try to drive Members and other officials to improve the nation’s roads, ports, railroads and air traffic systems.

Chamber Chief Executive Officer Tom Donohue will launch the effort March 20 in a speech to small- and medium-business leaders in Lansing, Mich. In an interview, Donohue said the chamber plans to spend about $2 million per year on the effort, which will include advertising.

“Everything we do to be competitive depends on our infrastructure,” Donohue said. “If we don’t update it, our economy will come to a major slow-down.

“Nobody in politics wants to talk about most of this because there’s no immediate gratification from it. We’re going out to try and convince the Congress, the next president and the state legislators and the American people that we better damn well fix the infrastructure.”

K Street Moves. Jonathan Orr, a one-time aide to House Budget Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.), and Devon Seibert, a former aide to then-Rep. Marge Roukema (R-N.J.), have joined the health-care-focused Altarum Institute in Alexandria, Va. Orr will be director of public affairs, while Seibert signs on as a policy analyst.

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