Skiffington Holderness has been named staff director for the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. He was a legislative assistant and legislative correspondent to Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho. He also has worked as a deputy campaign manager for Risch.

The following people have been promoted or hired for Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.:

Bruce Evans has been named chief of staff. Evans was the director for the Republican staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also worked as a clerk for the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. He also served as staff director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He was a legislative assistant to former Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash.

Adam Telle has been named legislative director. Telle was a legislative assistant. He also has served as deputy press secretary to Cochran. He also worked as a legislative correspondent for Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala.

Will Todd has been named deputy legislative director. He was a legislative assistant. He also has served as a congressional fellow for the Partnership for a Secure America.

David P. Cleary has been hired as the Republican staff director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Cleary is the legislative director for Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. He has worked as the Republican staff director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Children and Families Subcommittee. He also has worked as a legislative analyst for the Education Department.

Mary-Sumpter Lapinski has been hired as health policy director for the Republican staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Lapinski was a health policy adviser for Alexander. She has worked as manager of policy and government affairs for Bristol-Myers Squibb in Europe and manager of federal government affairs for the company in Washington. She also has worked as director of government affairs for lobbying firm Jeffery J. Kimbell & Associates.

Karyn Temple Claggett has been promoted to associate register of copyrights and director of policy and international affairs at the U.S. Copyright Office. Temple Claggett was senior counsel for policy and international affairs. She has served at the Justice Department as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general. She has also worked as vice president of litigation and legal affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group.

Jeff Patrick has been hired as vice president of strategy in the nonprofit practice at Merkle, a marketing firm. Patrick is the president of Common Knowledge, a fundraising and marketing company. He has worked as a consultant partner at marketing company Kintera. He also has worked as vice president of product marketing at Local Voice.

Jeff Gordon has been hired as a principal at Miles & Stockbridge. Gordon was a partner in the litigation, arbitration and employment practice at law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells. He has also worked as a partner in the white collar and health care practices at Jones Day.