On Nov. 13, Carmel resident and U.S. Representative-elect Susan Brooks named Mel Raines as chief of staff for her Congressional offices, effective Jan. 3, 2013. Raines will also assist in the transition from campaign to Congressional operations.
“Mel Raines is a seasoned leader in government management, operations and public affairs and strategic grassroots outreach both in Washington, DC and Indiana,” said Brooks. “Her diverse leadership experiences in Washington and Indiana, along with her skills in managing high-performing teams, make her an excellent fit for this important role.”
Raines has served leadership roles in five Republican national conventions, most recently as a senior advisor to the convention CEO in Tampa. Prior to that, she served as vice president of event operations for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee leading host committee planning and budgets for transportation and parking, weather preparedness, clean zone implementation, government relations, state and city services, public safety, aviation services, ADA accessibility, and risk management.
Raines also served on the White House staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, the Washington staff of Indiana Senator Dan Coats and in government relations and strategic communications roles at Navigators Global, Altria Corporate Services, and Phillip Morris Management Group.
Raines is a native of South Bend, Ind., and received a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University.