Ira Chaleff, CMF’s Chairman of the Board and himself a former CMF executive director, welcomed the new president and CEO. “We are very excited to have Brad Fitch return to CMF after five years in the private sector. He returns brimming with ideas on how to build on CMF’s stellar track record for providing congressional offices with the research, tools and training to do their critical work in the hectic environment in which they operate.”

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Beverly Bell for her dedicated service. She has been a steady hand on the tiller since taking over the position from her predecessor. In an economy that has proven challenging for nonprofits, she has maintained the range and quality of services Hill offices have come to expect from CMF. The entire Board wishes her well on her return to the private sector,” he added.

CMF recently launched the Partnership for a More Perfect Union, a center within the foundation to focus on building stronger and more effective engagement between Congress and the US citizenry – a critical requirement for the healthy national dialogue needed across a range of difficult issues.

Additional accomplishments include CMF’s first award ceremony in 2010 for congressional offices receiving the coveted Gold Mouse Awards for the best websites on Capitol Hill; release of the first new edition of CMF’s guidebook for district and state offices in over a decade, Keeping it Local; and building on the groundbreaking Communicating with Congress project through conferences and symposia.

“I feel as though I’ve accomplished what I hoped to achieve,” said Ms. Bell. “I’m confident CMF is in great shape to continue its mission and move to new areas to assist the Congress under Brad’s leadership.”

The new President and CEO, Bradford Fitch, worked for 13 years on Capitol Hill in the House and Senate as press secretary, legislative director, and chief of staff. He previously served five years as the Deputy Director of the Congressional Management Foundation, before co-founding an Internet start-up, Knowlegis in 2005. Knowlegis was sold to CQ-Roll Call Group in 2008, and since then he has served as Vice President of Client Services CQ-Roll Call Group. Fitch is also the author of Media Relations Handbook for Agencies, Associations, Nonprofits, and Congress and worked as an adjunct associate professor of communications at American University.

“I appreciate the support of the Board and know we can advance the goals of the Foundation,” Fitch said. “In the coming months we will be exploring new ways to assist the Congress and its staff.”

CMF was founded in 1977 and has provided support for the Congress through training programs to staff and offices; producing publications, such as Setting Course for freshman legislators; and conducting research on ways to improve congressional office operations and communications.