Harper Announces Staff

Madison County Herald - Harper names staff members

Washington, D.C. Staff:

Michael Cravens, Chief of Staff
A native of Louisville, Cravens will serve as Congressman-elect Harper’s Chief of Staff from the Washington, D.C. office. An Eagle Scout, he has a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from the University of Mississippi. Michael has spent the last twenty-three years in communications and marketing and is owner and president of Eagle Communications, a communications, public relations and marketing firm. He directed the Mississippi Senate Campaign of Sen.Giles Ward in 2007, has volunteered in political campaigns since 1976, and most recently directed the campaign of Congressman-elect Harper.

Sharon Johnson, Deputy Chief of Staff
Originally from Louisville, she has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Jackson State University. She has worked for both of Mississippi's previous two Third Congressional District Representatives, serving the last 12 years as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Chip Pickering, and prior to that, served for nine years as the Office Manager for the late Congressman G. V. "Sonny" Montgomery. Previously she was the deputy city clerk for the City of Louisville.

Scot Malvaney, Policy Director
Most recently, he was policy director for Mississippi's Lt. Governor Phil Bryant. He was the Legislative Director to former Congressman Mike Parker for eight years, served as Parker’s Chief of Staff, was a federal lobbyist for two years, was a Special Assistant for the U.S. Department of the Army, and prior to that served as a Public Affairs Advisor for seven years. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the South.

Adam Buckalew, Communications Director and Legislative Assistant
A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Speech Communications, he most recently served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Mississippi's Lt. Governor Phil Bryant. He was also the Statewide Field Director for Bryant's campaign in 2007.

Jordan Downs, Special Assistant to the Congressman and Legislative Assistant
Jordan resides in Pearl, Mississippi. He obtained his Political Science degree from the University of Mississippi in May of 2008. He most recently served as the Communications Director for Congressman-elect Harper's political campaign. Jordan is an Eagle Scout.

Ty Mabry, Military Legislative Assistant
Ty currently resides in Washington D.C. where he most recently served as Congressman Chip Pickering's Military Legislative Assistant. He attended Mississippi State University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Emily Penn, Executive Assistant
Penn resides in Washington, D.C. and is originally from Jackson, Mississippi. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Mississippi. Emily most recently worked as a receptionist and staff assistant for the National Republican Congressional Committee and interned with the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2007.

Mississippi/District Office Staff:

Chip Reynolds, District Director
Reynolds will serve as Congressman-elect’s district director, overseeing all aspects of the District Offices and constituent services. With a bachelor of arts degree and master of arts degree from the University of Mississippi, Chip has an extensive background in education and politics. His previous work experience includes serving as an Instructor of Political Science for 25 years at Hinds Community College, periodic adjunct professor – Mississippi College, and Campaign Director for Senator Trent Lott’s re-election campaigns in 1994 and 2000. He also served for five years as field representative for Senator Lott’s official Senate staff. He is a former Political Director of the Mississippi Republican Party, Aide de Camp to Congressman Chip Pickering in his 2002 campaign, Campaign Director for Lt. Governor Amy Tuck in 2003, Campaign Director for Lt. Governor Phil Bryant’s campaign in 2007, and General Consultant for the Gregg Harper for Congress campaign in 2008. He lives in Clinton.

Stanley Shows, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
Serving as Rep. Chip Pickering’s district director for the past 11 years, Stanley holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University. He lives in Brandon, . Stanley will continue working throughout the Third Congressional District with an emphasis on assisting institutions of higher learning.

Marcy Thoms Scoggins, Director of Scheduling
A native of Richton, she has served over the past 10 years as director of scheduling for Rep. Chip Pickering. Prior to that, she served on the staff of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott as the Assistant Scheduler for two years. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Business degree. She currently lives in Madison.

Mary Margaret Myers, Director of Constituent Services
Myers worked for Rep. Chip Pickering in constituent services for the past four and a half years. She worked at Skytel in marketing for three years, at the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas in special events and fundraising for three years, and for the late Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery for three years. She has a bachelor of arts and a masters of arts in English from Mississippi State University, and is a resident of Jackson.

Keith Plunkett, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
The former editor and publisher of the Flora Harvester and Flora Harvester Online, Plunkett has experience as a business owner and is a freelance writer and photographer, his works appearing in local and regional publications. He lives in Flora.

Larry Wert, Special Assistant for Military & Veterans Affairs
A native of State College, Pa., Wert has a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Pennsylvania State University. He is a disabled Vietnam veteran, and a Naval aviator having served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. Most recently, he retired from L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Mississippi, where he was director of labor relations. He is a resident of Brandon.

Evan Gardner, District Field Representative & Constituent Services
A native and current resident of Brandon and an Eagle Scout, Gardner is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a minor in Political Science. Prior to joining Congressman-elect Harper’s Congressional Staff, Evan served as Deputy Campaign Director for the Gregg Harper for Congress campaign and on Congressman-elect Harper’s Transition Team.

Joe Phillips, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
A lifelong resident of Jackson, Phillips worked for Rep. Chip Pickering from 1997 to 2008. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, He has also worked in several political campaigns and in advertising sales in the Jackson area.

Steve Guyton, Military Academies and Youth Services
A native of Kosciusko, Mississippi, Guyton is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Journalism. He served with former Fourth District Rep. Mike Parker for 10 years working on Military Academy issues and assisting high school students with their admissions process to the United States military academies. He has also worked for Congressman Chip Pickering and Senator Roger Wicker on Military Academy issues and appointments.

Hank Moseley, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
Moseley has served for the past twelve years in Congressman Chip Pickering’s Starkville office. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1951 with a Business Degree. He lives in Starkville.

Lynn Compton, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
Compton has worked in constituent services for Congressman Chip Pickering for the past 12 years. She attended Mississippi State University, and currently lives in Meridian.

Sally Wilkinson, Special Assistant for Constituent Services
Wilkinson worked for Congressman Chip Pickering for the past year and a half in constituent services. She has previously worked for Internal Engine Parts Group, Barham Funeral Home, and Dr. Dan R. Thornton, III. She attended Meridian Community College and Mississippi State University. She lives in Meridian.

Kyle Jordan, Special Assistant & College Intern
Jordan is currently enrolled at Hinds Community College’s Rankin Campus as a Political Science major. He worked for Congressman-elect Gregg Harper’s campaign last year as well as Lt. Governor Phil Bryant’s campaign in 2007. He was also the Campaign Manager in 2006 for Judge Bill Skinner’s campaign for Hinds County Court Judge. He is a resident of Terry.