Staff Members

Maya MacGuineas is the president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Her areas of expertise include budget, tax, and economic policy. As a leading budget expert and a political independent, she has worked closely with members of both parties and serves as a trusted resource on Capitol Hill. MacGuineas testifies regularly before Congress and has published broadly, including regularly in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Atlantic, and numerous other outlets. She also appears regularly as a commentator on television.

MacGuineas oversees a number of the Committee’s projects including the grassroots coalition Fix the Debt; the Committee’s Fiscal Institute; and FixUS, a project seeking to better understand the root causes of our nation’s growing divisions and deteriorating political system, and to work with others to bring attention to these issues and the need to fix them. Her most recent area of focus is on the future of the economy, technology, and capitalism.

Previously, MacGuineas worked at the Brookings Institution and on Wall Street, and in the spring of 2009 she did a stint on The Washington Post editorial board, covering economic and fiscal policy. MacGuineas serves on a number of boards and is a native Washingtonian. Contact her at MacGuineas@crfb.org and find her on Twitter @MayaMacGuineas.

Marc Goldwein is the Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he guides and conducts research on a wide array of topics related to fiscal policy and the federal budget. He is frequently quoted in a number of major media outlets and works regularly with Members of Congress and their staffs on budget-related issues. 

Previously, Marc served as Associate Director of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (The Fiscal Commission) and senior budget analyst on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (The Super Committee).  He also conducted research for the Government Accountability Office, the World Bank, the Historian's Office at the Social Security Administration, and the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley.  

In addition to his work at the Committee, Marc serves on Martha's Tables' Business Advisory Council and teaches economics at Johns Hopkins University and the University of California DC. Marc is the recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Excellence in Teaching award and was featured in the Forbes "30 Under 30" list for Law & Policy. He holds a BA and MA from Johns Hopkins University.  Contact Marc at goldwein@crfb.org and find him on Twitter at @MarcGoldwein.

Mike Murphy is Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he manages policy research and analysis on a variety of topics related to fiscal policy and the federal budget, as well as coordinates a wide array of projects related to advancing the Committee’s policy related initiatives. He is also the Director of FixUS, a special initiative of the Committee that through a number of efforts and partnerships seeks to better understand the root causes of our nation’s growing divisions and deteriorating political system, to work with others to bring attention to these issues and the need to fix them, and to build support for necessary changes. Prior to joining the Committee, Mike worked for the Comeback America Initiative, a non-profit founded by David Walker, Former Comptroller General of the United States, whose mission is to educate and engage the public about federal, state and local fiscal issues. Previously, Mike also worked as a Senior Transportation Program Analyst for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as in legislative affairs for the American Cancer Society and on Capitol Hill. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany, and a Masters of Public Administration and a Certificate of Health Services Management and Policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Contact him at murphy@crfb.org.

As Senior Advisor, Finance and Operations, Simone Frank is responsible for assisting the organization with its day-to-day business, legal, financial, human resources and administrative operations. Ms. Frank has over 25 years of financial management experience, including banking, investment banking, strategic planning and operating finance.

Prior to assisting the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Ms. Frank was the Vice President of Finance and Operations for the New America Foundation for 10 years. Ms. Frank also served as Chief Financial Officer for Best Doctors, Inc., as a Senior Director of Finance for Marriott International, and as Finance Director for various operating divisions of Tricon Global Restaurants and PepsiCo, Inc. In addition, Ms. Frank started her careeer in banking as an Associate in mergers and acquisitions for Manufacturers Hanover Trust and as an Assistant Vice President for Den Danske Bank.

Ms. Frank earned her bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Kate Campbell is the Special Projects Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. In this role, she oversees and executes high-impact projects related to a variety of issue areas. She also manages the Intern Program. Prior to joining the Committee, she worked as a Research Associate for Business Forward. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Theatre with a minor in History from the George Washington University in 2022. Contact her at campbell@crfb.org. 

Joey Garrand is a Policy Analyst for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on the policy team to conduct research and analysis on a variety of budgetary and economic issues. Prior to joining the Committee, Joey served as regional editor of Capital Analytics Associates’ northern U.S. markets, helping to produce in-depth business intelligence on metropolitan markets and regional economies. Joey holds a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University. Contact him at garrand@crfb.org.

Kate Generelli is a Policy Analyst for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where she works on the policy team to conduct research and analysis on economic and budgetary issues. She also provides support for the Committee's COVID Money Tracker. Prior to joining the Committee, Kate was a Tax and Financial Services Associate at the government relations firm, Venn Strategies. She holds a master's in public policy from George Mason University and a B.A. from the University of Mary Washington. Contact her at generelli@crfb.org. 

Sophie Gormley is a Senior Associate, Development and Events for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where she advances the Committee’s work via fundraising and events. She previously worked as an Executive Assistant and in campaigns in San Francisco. She graduated with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Peace and Justice from the University of San Francisco and is currently getting her Masters in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. Contact her at gormley@crfb.org.

Ragan (RG) Hall is the Engagement Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget where she leads engagement initiatives around education and interactive learning, in addition to collaborating on the development of coalitions of voters and thought leaders who support the bipartisan work of the Committee.

Prior to joining the Committee, Ragan served on multiple state and federal political campaigns, including Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 Presidential Bid and the 2020 Biden/Harris Inaugural Committee. In addition to her campaign work, Ragan served as Operations Manager for Unified For Progress, a progressive political start-up. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Ragan holds a B.S. in Political Science, Psychology, and Legal Studies from Dallas Baptist University. Contact her at hall@crfb.org.

Andrew Henry is a Senior Program Associate for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. He conducts research and provides logistical support for the FixUS initiative as well as the policy team, and he aids the Chief of staff in managing Committee projects. A Williamsburg, Virginia, native, he graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 after double-majoring in History and Religious Studies with a minor in Astronomy and completed a Master's in Public Policy at George Mason University in 2022. Contact him at henry@crfb.org.

Matt Hodge serves as the Legislative Director, where he maintains working relationships with key congressional offices and manages legislative campaigns to educate lawmakers and staff.  He previously worked on Capitol Hill for sixteen years, most recently as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff for Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), who is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He previously worked for Rep. Tom Graves (GA-14), handling his work on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08) as his Legislative Director. In addition, he worked for former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in both his personal and leadership offices. Matt earned his Master’s in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University and his BA in Business & Economics from Christopher Newport University. He has also completed graduate studies at the Army War College. In addition to working on Capitol Hill, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he graduated from the U.S. Navy Diving School.  Contact him at hodge@crfb.org.

Aaron Jones serves as the Director of Legislative Outreach and Strategic Initiatives.  Prior to joining the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, he served as the founding director of Congressional Relations at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars where he engaged Congress with briefings, podcast production, educational and travel programs for congressional staff.  He joined the Wilson Center after working on Capitol Hill, where he served for eight years in the office of Rep. Hal Rogers (KY).  While working for Congressman Rogers, he handled policy issues on an array of topics including health care, transportation, energy, and agriculture.  He was also deeply involved in the appropriations process, working on a daily basis on legislation with the Appropriations Committee.

Aaron attended Morehead State University in Kentucky (B.A.) and received his Masters from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.  His expertise is in federal budgeting, the appropriations process, bipartisanship, legislative history and U.S. politics.  He frequently speaks on these topics for college and university classes, as well as for business and civic groups.  He has also published many articles providing institutional and historical context to the workings of the legislative branch, appeared as a commentator on television on these topics, and has testified to Congress as an expert on the institution. Contact him at jones@crfb.org.

Matt Klucher is the Assistant Director for Media Relations for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he supports the communications team in promoting and advancing the Committee’s work. He previously coordinated research and communications for a D.C. nonprofit think tank, where he worked to promote economic mobility for poor and working Americans. He graduated with a B.A. in Public Relations and Strategic Communications and a minor in Political Science from American University in 2019. Contact him at klucher@crfb.org

Hannah Majchrzak is a Program Associate for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget where she assists the organization through administrative, research, and procedural support.  Formerly from Georgia, Hannah attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received a B.S. in Global Leadership Studies and Political Science. Contact her at majchrzak@crfb.org.

Frank Micciche is a Senior Advisor to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget working on state and national engagement campaigns.  Before rejoining CRFB, he was vice president of public policy and external relations for the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the nation’s leading health care accreditation organization, where he led NCQA’s engagement with Congress, federal agencies, and the states.

Micciche was formerly the vice president for partnerships and coalitions at the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan effort by CRFB to bring together prominent public and private sector leaders and more than 350,000 grassroots supporters to address the nation’s fiscal imbalance.  Prior to this position, he was a senior advisor on health reform at McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP and worked for the New America Foundation think tank.  Earlier in his career, he held numerous positions in state government, including as the director of state-federal relations for Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA).  Micciche has a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tufts University.  Contact him at micciche@crfb.org.

Emily Moore is a Policy Analyst for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. With over half a decade of policy experience, Emily contributes to the team's research and analysis of budgetary, economic, retirement, and tax policies.

Before joining the Committee, Emily served as a Senior Legislative Correspondent to Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), covering appropriations, economic, and judiciary policy. On Capitol Hill, Emily staffed the Senator before the Senate Finance Committee, including his role as Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness.

Emily holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Public Policy from the University of Delaware. She continued her studies with a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration. You can contact Emily at moore@crfb.org.
 

Diana Muia is a Communications Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where she supports the communications team in promoting the Committee's work. Previously, she worked in communication and media coordination for Old Dominion University’s Athletic Department. She has also held various leadership roles within the Public Relations Students Society of America at Old Dominion. Diana graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Strategic Communications and Public Relations and a minor in Marketing from Old Dominion University in 2022. Contact her at muia@crfb.org.

Chris Rotella is the Vice President of Development and Events for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he manages and coordinates all fundraising activities. This work includes leading the discovery, cultivation, and solicitation of major donors, foundations, and annual fund contributors. Additionally, he leads the events team at the Committee, which plans and executes all public events and speaking engagements.

He came to the Committee from The George Washington University, where he spent ten years in a variety of roles covering all aspects of development, alumni relations, and event management. Most recently, he was Director of Development for the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), where he helped oversee the largest campaign in the school’s history. He received his B.A. in political science in 2008 from The George Washington University, where he also received an MBA, with a finance focus, in 2012. Contact him at rotella@crfb.org.

John Schuler is the Assistant Director of Research for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on the policy team to conduct analysis on a wide variety of budgetary and economic issues. John came to the Committee from Capitol Hill, where he served for more than four years as a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, and Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina. Prior to his time on the Hill, John worked for Heritage Action for America as a Government Relations and Executive Assistant. A native of Kansas City, John first came to Washington to attend the American University School of International Service, where he graduated with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Political Science in 2011. Contact him at schuler@crfb.org.

Adam Shifriss is the Senior Director of Legislative Strategy for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he guides interactions with policymakers and staff on a wide range of issues. Adam previously worked in the U.S. House of Representatives where he handled a broad variety of issues including Energy and Commerce and Appropriations Committee work. In 2007, he contributed to a Government Accountability Office review of public infrastructure reconstruction efforts by FEMA after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Adam also has experience in health advocacy, database management, and political campaigns. He studied Public Policy Analysis at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, where he received his bachelor's degree and the Hutton Honors notation. In addition to his work at the Committee, Adam is an active member of the board of the DC Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Contact him at shifriss@crfb.org.

Rachel Skeirik is a Legislative Associate with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. At the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Rachel assists in tracking legislative developments, coordinating events, disseminating policy materials, and providing administrative support to the legislative team.

Originally from New York state, Rachel graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a dual bachelor's degree in communication studies and political science. Rachel comes from Capitol Hill where she served as a Scheduling/Executive Assistant for Senator Patty Murray’s office. Contact her at skeirik@crfb.org.

Sheena is a Health Policy Analyst and Legislative Liaison for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where she researches the effects of federal policies on health care and medical financing systems. She previously worked as a registered health care lobbyist in Maryland and Washington State and has held senior legislative and government affairs roles advocating on behalf of hospital systems and unionized home caregivers serving the Medicaid population. 

A native Californian, Sheena holds a B.S.F.S. in International Culture & Politics from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a J.D. with a Health Law & Policy Certificate from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. She is currently barred in Maryland. Contact her at tomar@crfb.org.

Ben Tomchik is the Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he handles a wide variety of issues, including engagement and VIP communications. Prior to joining the Committee, he worked in public affairs for the American Insurance Association, managed the George Washington University School of Business philanthropic advisory board, and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. Originally from Pittsburgh, Ben received a bachelor’s degree in Government and International Politics from George Mason University, and a master's degree in Strategic Public Relations from the Graduate School for Political Management at the George Washington University. Contact him at tomchik@crfb.org.

Chris Towner is the Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he analyzes budget, tax, health, and retirement policy. As policy director, Chris manages the day-to-day workflow of the policy team and oversees many of the policy projects the Committee undertakes. He frequently briefs Congressional staff and helps members of the media, educators, and the general public grasp the complex concepts of federal budget policy.

Prior to this, Chris advocated for children in federal budget issues at First Focus on Children, leading the annual production of First Focus's Children's Budget. Before becoming policy director, Chris was an analyst on the Committee's policy team, with a focus on Social Security and disability policy. He was the lead analyst for the McCrery-Pomeroy SSDI Solutions Initiative, where he managed the production and publication of two volumes on improving the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Chris was elected as a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2022. Originally hailing from just outside Chicago, Illinois, Chris holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Political Science from Boston University. His pronouns are he/him/his. Contact him at towner@crfb.org.

Naomi Valentin is the Database Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. She is responsible for maintaining and developing the Committee's database and overseeing all email communication. Prior to joining the Committee, Naomi was a Database Admin for a government contracting firm, where she managed the world's largest database in government contracting. She holds a B.A. in Marketing from UMUC and an AAS in Computer Engineering Technology from Capital Technology University. Contact her at valentin@crfb.org.

Pavan Venkatakrishnan is a Legislative Assistant at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Pavan works to analyze Congress and support the Committee in building strong relationships with lawmakers. He first joined the Committee as a Legislative and Policy Intern during his junior year of high school. Previously, Pavan served as the Western Washington Student Representative on the Washington State Board of Education, where he helped pass legislation that granted student board members full voting rights and expanded graduation pathways.

Pavan graduated from Interlake High School in 2023 and is currently a student at the George Washington University. Contact him at venkatakrishnan@crfb.org.

Gavin Wolf is a Legislative Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. In this role, he assists the legislative team in conducting outreach to lawmakers and provides operational support to the Committee. Originally from New York state, Gavin attended Loyola University Maryland, where he majored in history and minored in political science. After completing his degree, he spent three years working for Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY). Contact him at wolf@crfb.org.

Tess Woosley is a Program Associate for the Committee for Responsible Federal Budget. In this role she provides logistical, operational, and research support for the organization’s activities. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the George Washington University in 2023. Contact her at woosley@crfb.org.

Jay Zaleski is a Policy Analyst at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he helps analyze the impact of current and proposed policies on the deficit and national debt. Prior to joining the Committee, Jay was a consultant for state and local governments on grant management and data analysis projects. Jay received a B.S. in Economics from West Virginia University, and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Contact him at zaleski@crfb.org.