CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 30-Aug-2010

The State Chamber of Oklahoma announced two new staff additions today (Monday, August 30). The group says the new hires will enhance the Chamber’s ability to advance its “core legislative mission and presence” at the Capitol.

The new staff members will be Jennifer Monies, who will serve as the vice president of communications, and Chad Warmington, who will serve as executive vice president.

“Our core mission is to serve as the voice for business at the Capitol, and it is critical that we remain steadfastly dedicated to that duty,” said State Chamber President and CEO Fred Morgan. “Our new hires bring a wealth of political and press experience to our staff that will be utilized as we continue to push a pro-jobs, pro-economic growth message at the state Capitol and across our state.”

Jennifer Monies began her legislative service as the director of communications for the Office of the Speaker and most recently served three legislative sessions for Benge.

Prior to her job with the House of Representatives, Monies was a Capitol reporter at The Oklahoman, where she reported on a variety of legislative issues for three sessions.

She served as a political reporter in Washington, D.C. for Congressional Quarterly during the 2004 election cycle. While at Congressional Quarterly, Monies wrote for several publications, including CQ Weekly, CQ Today, CQ Politics Daily and CQ.com. She also exclusively covered Texas’ mid-decade redistricting, including five of the most competitive House races in 2004 and rewrote 32 district profiles to match the new district lines for CQ’s “Politics in America” book.

Monies is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a journalism degree and is currently seeking a master’s degree in education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She is married and lives in Oklahoma City.

Chad Warmington has served as the chief of staff for the House of Representatives for three sitting speakers, most recently House Speaker Chris Benge. His duties included serving as the chief negotiator with the Senate and governor on behalf of the speaker, along with managing the $19 million House of Representatives budget and a 200-member staff.

Prior to his legislative experience, Warmington served in a number of political roles, including as a field representative for former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles and a campaign manager for the Corporation Commission races of Dana Murphy and Denise Bode.

Warmington is a graduate of Hope College in Michigan with a degree in Business Administration. He is married with three children and lives in Edmond.

 “It has never been more important for business leaders to be actively involved in the political process,” Morgan said. “Their job is to create jobs, expand opportunity, encourage and utilize a skilled and educated workforce and generate wealth in our state. Our job is to work directly with the Legislature to create a pro-growth business climate in Oklahoma that fosters economic activity and promotes free-market enterprise. Chad and Jennifer will help us achieve those goals and build on past successes with an eye toward the future for our organization.”

Morgan, who formerly worked at the Legislature and was a Republican leader late in the Grand Old Party’s era as the minority legislative party, assumed command of the State Chamber early this year, after the retirement of Dick Rush.

The State Chamber of Oklahoma represents more than 1,200 Oklahoma businesses and 400,000 employees. The group has been a leading advocate for business since 1926.