Conaway announces House Ag staff
November 19, 2014 | 05:58 PM
Incoming House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, today announced the appointment of key senior staff on the committee for the 114th Congress.
Staff Director — Scott Graves. A native of Bronte, Texas, a rural town in Conaway's district, Graves serves as chief of staff in Conaway's personal office.
He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech University and a master's degree in strategic security studies from National Defense University.
Graves, who comes from a cattle ranching and farming family, began his 10-year stint on Capitol Hill as an intern for the House Agriculture Committee in 2005. Shortly thereafter he was hired by Conaway to handle agriculture issues and was legislative director before he became chief of staff.
Policy Director — Matt Schertz. A Robstown, Texas, native, Schertz serves as professional staff to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and staff director to Conaway on the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee.
Schertz came to Washington and the House Committee on Agriculture in 2002 to work for then-Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech University.
Chief Economist — Bart Fischer. Before joining the committee in June 2011, the native of Frederick, Okla., worked with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University as well as the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
He holds bachelor's degrees in agricultural economics and business administration from Oklahoma State University, a master's degree in environmental policy from Cambridge University, and is finishing a doctoral degree in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.
Chief Counsel — Jackie Barber. An Onida, S.D., native, Barber most recently served as counsel to Conaway in his role as chairman of the House Committee on Ethics.
Earlier Barber served as deputy general counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
She holds bachelor's degree in business management and chemistry and a law degree from the University of South Dakota.
Director of Coalitions and Outreach — Christine Heggem. The Winifred, Mont., native, most recently served as a senior federal government relations professional at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Before that, she served as a vice president at Capitol Management, on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and on the staff of former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Montana.
She holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture business administration and a master's degree in applied economics from Montana State University.
Communications Director —Ted Monoson. Born in New York City and raised in Newport News, Va., San Antonio and Connecticut, Monoson has been Conaway's communications director in his personal office since 2013.
He previously worked in federal government relations for the agriculture and energy industry and as a senior agricultural policy staff member for then-Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Earlier he was a reporter for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, for papers in Montana and Wyoming and for Congressional Quarterly covering agriculture, energy, and natural resource issues.
He holds a bachelor's degree in American studies and theater from Hamilton College, a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, and a master's degree in agribusiness from Kansas State University.
Staff Director — Scott Graves. A native of Bronte, Texas, a rural town in Conaway's district, Graves serves as chief of staff in Conaway's personal office.
He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech University and a master's degree in strategic security studies from National Defense University.
Graves, who comes from a cattle ranching and farming family, began his 10-year stint on Capitol Hill as an intern for the House Agriculture Committee in 2005. Shortly thereafter he was hired by Conaway to handle agriculture issues and was legislative director before he became chief of staff.
Policy Director — Matt Schertz. A Robstown, Texas, native, Schertz serves as professional staff to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and staff director to Conaway on the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee.
Schertz came to Washington and the House Committee on Agriculture in 2002 to work for then-Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech University.
Chief Economist — Bart Fischer. Before joining the committee in June 2011, the native of Frederick, Okla., worked with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University as well as the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
He holds bachelor's degrees in agricultural economics and business administration from Oklahoma State University, a master's degree in environmental policy from Cambridge University, and is finishing a doctoral degree in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.
Chief Counsel — Jackie Barber. An Onida, S.D., native, Barber most recently served as counsel to Conaway in his role as chairman of the House Committee on Ethics.
Earlier Barber served as deputy general counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
She holds bachelor's degree in business management and chemistry and a law degree from the University of South Dakota.
Director of Coalitions and Outreach — Christine Heggem. The Winifred, Mont., native, most recently served as a senior federal government relations professional at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Before that, she served as a vice president at Capitol Management, on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and on the staff of former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Montana.
She holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture business administration and a master's degree in applied economics from Montana State University.
Communications Director —Ted Monoson. Born in New York City and raised in Newport News, Va., San Antonio and Connecticut, Monoson has been Conaway's communications director in his personal office since 2013.
He previously worked in federal government relations for the agriculture and energy industry and as a senior agricultural policy staff member for then-Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Earlier he was a reporter for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, for papers in Montana and Wyoming and for Congressional Quarterly covering agriculture, energy, and natural resource issues.
He holds a bachelor's degree in American studies and theater from Hamilton College, a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, and a master's degree in agribusiness from Kansas State University.
