Democrat Dan Mica and Republican Kelly Johnston to Govern 34-Year Old Nonprofit
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) Board of Directors has unanimously elected former Congressman Dan Mica and former Secretary of the Senate Kelly Johnston as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board. Congressman Mica, a Democrat, served in the House of Representatives from 1979-1989; Kelly Johnston, a Republican, served as Secretary of the Senate from 1995-1996.
“The Congressional Management Foundation has served as an invaluable resource to Congress for more than three decades and I’m honored to support the institution,” Mica said. “CMF has maintained a strict adherence and tradition of nonpartisanship, only focused on the efficient and effective operations of the Congress. Having bipartisan leadership at CMF continues that model,” he said.
CMF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1977, dedicated to helping Congress, Members, and staff meet the evolving needs and expectations of an engaged and informed 21st century citizenry. CMF has pursued this mission for 34 years by working internally with Member offices, committees, leadership, and institutional offices in the House and Senate to identify and disseminate best practices in office management, communications, and citizen engagement through research, publication, training, consulting, and facilitation activities. CMF created and produced the House and Senate Salary Studies, publishes Setting Course (a handbook on congressional management), and conducts a biannual review of congressional websites through its Congressional Gold Mouse awards.
“CMF is helping to build trust and effectiveness in Congress,” Johnston said. “We’re planning to grow the organization in the months and years to come, seeking to serve Congress as it wrestles with the challenges created by the increased demands of constituents,” he said.
Congressman Mica began his relationship with CMF as a Chief of Staff to Congressman Paul Rogers (D-FL). He succeeded Rogers in 1979 and served in the House of Representatives for 10 years. He served as the Executive Vice President of the American Council of Life Insurance from 1989 to 1996; appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve on the Board of International Broadcasting in 1991; and appointed by President Bill Clinton as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 1993. He recently retired as President and CEO of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), where he served from 1996 to 2010.
Kelly Johnston served as Secretary of the Senate from 1995 to 1996 under Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS). Johnston has also served as Staff Director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee; as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs in the U.S. Department of Transportation; and in various senatorial and congressional committee functions, including Deputy Political Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 1989 to 1991. He served as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications of the National Food Products Association from 1996 to 2002. Since 2002 Johnston has been Vice President of Government Affairs of the Campbell Soup Company. Johnston has been a member of the CMF Board of Directors since 1997.
CMF’s outgoing Chairman, Ira Chaleff, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors and welcomed the transition. “After nearly 20 years as Chairman it is best to bring in some new blood and ideas, and CMF could not have a better leadership team in Dan and Kelly,” Chaleff said.
The vote by the Board follows a move in July 2010 to appoint Bradford Fitch, CMF’s former Deputy Director (2001-2005), as President and CEO.
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