Chairman Laura Chambers
Laura Chambers grew up in small-town North Alabama near the famed Rocket City of Huntsville, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and the most Ph.D’s per capita in the nation.
After working for a small defense contractor and graduating from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in 2008, Laura took her first political job as press secretary for a top-tier congressional race in her home district of AL-5. Although this traditionally “Dixiecrat” stronghold would not produce a Republican congressman until 2010, Laura made her way to the District of Columbia in December 2008 where she landed in a Republican office on Capitol Hill.
Since that time, she has remained a conservative and GOP activist as a Heritage Foundation Congressional Fellow and Vice-Chair of Events for the DC Young Republicans over the last year. She has volunteered on numerous campaigns, including the memorable Scott Brown special election and the DCYR’s on Tour deployments.
Executive Vice Chair Dave McCormack
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and developed a political consciousness at an early age, while hearing my parents complain about high taxes. I joined the Navy after high school to serve my country, earn money for college, and see the world. I was stationed on the USS John S. McCain, home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. I was deployed to Iraq in 2003, during the “shock and awe” phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After the Navy, I attended the University of Illinois, where I earned a B.A. in History. While in college I got involved with the Chicago Young Republicans, and volunteered on campaigns. I learned a lot from watching the Chicago club grow into a political power house with over 800 paid members. After undergrad, I went straight to grad school, at the University of Chicago, and earned an M.A. in International Relations. I currently work for the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce.
National Committeewoman Cherie Short
National Committeewoman Cherie Short graduated from the University of Missouri in 2003 with a degree in finance. In addition to her role as National Committeewoman, Cherie is also the National Finance Director for the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF), where she has developed a formidable national fundraising plan for the organization, which has drawn the support of Republican leaders such as Rick Perry, Sean Hannity, and Michael Steele.
In addition, Cherie has become one of the Republican Party’s most experienced young fundraisers having worked as the Victory Finance Coordinator for Carly Fiorna, the AALU, and Mike Huckabee for President. She is a member of the Republican Womens Federal Forum. Cherie is currently the Director of Major Donor Relations at Concerned Women for America.
If the Republican Party were a flavor of ice cream, what would it be?
“A consistently blue-ribbon winning homemade family recipe. We are the party of good solid principles, we are not the trendy ‘hot new flavor’ that constantly changes to win the vote of day. I believe if we are grounded, and lead by our conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense we will win the 1st place ribbon every time.”
National Committeeman Samuel Moore
National Committeeman Sam Moore is a 2008 graduate of Drury University in Springfield, MO, holding dual degrees in Accounting and Management. Before his election as National Committeeman, Sam served as Co-chair of the DCYRs Membership Committee. In addition to his role as National Committeeman, Sam also serves on the Young Republican National Federation’s (YRNF) Rules and Bylaws committee. He is the DCYRs Parliamentarian.
Sam is a member of the DC Republican Committee (DCRC) and the DC Republican Committee Advisory Council. He is also Treasurer for the Marc Morgan for City Council Campaign. In March of 2010 Sam was named one of the DCRC’s Rising Stars, an award given by the DC Republican party to the young Republican activists of the year.
If you could pick one reason you call yourself a Republican, what would it be?
“Personal responsibility.”
What made you decide to get involved in DCYR leadership?
“All politics are local, might as well start here.”
Vice Chair of Membership Andrew Lee
Andrew has been a staffer in the U.S. House for nearly two years, working on Foreign affairs and education issues.
Andrew also has worked at the Republican National Committee (RNC) in the War Room and was active in Volunteer Outreach, being in the top-5 callers several weeks in a row.
As an active DC Young Republican, Andrew had the opportunity to be highly involved in the 2010 Mid-term elections, traveling to four states in six trips across the country on behalf of Republican House, Senate, and Gubernatorial candidates.
Prior to his work in the House, Andrew has been heavily involved in grassroots politics, helping to found CSBT (Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow furmancsbt.org), a student group which regularly brings notable speakers to campus to hold lectures and seminars for young conservatives. High-profile speakers include Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Star Parker, Activist and author Ann Coulter, Dr. Daniel Pipes, and Former Lt. Governor of Maryland Michael Steele.
Andrew graduated from Furman University with degrees in Political Science and Music, where he performed in Carnegie Hall in 2008, mentored urban youth, and was elected Secretary of his class three years in a row.
Vice Chair of Finance Dustin Deberry
Dustin DeBerry has served as the Vice Chair of Finance for the DCYRs since October 2010. Since becoming Vice Char of Finance, Dustin has worked with the DCYR Executive Board to develop monthly financial reports. These reports, produced for the first time in DCYR history, allow the board to ensure funds from membership dues, events, etc. are being used in the most effective manner possible.
He has been a member of the DCYRs since 2007.
Dustin grew up in rural North Carolina. In 2008, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a B.A. in Public and International Affairs as well as a B.S. in Business Administration, concentration accounting.
Dustin is currently the Director of Donor Relations at the Institute for Energy Research. In this role he helps oversee communications and outreach to IER’s growing base of donors. He also assists in managing the financial and day-to-day activities of IER.
Vice Chair of Communications Kimberly Hudson
I have lived in DC since 2003. I received my BA, Magna Cum Laude, in International Relations (East Asia and Int.’l Economics) from American University. A semester abroad in Beijing taught me the harsh reality that freedom is not universal.
Vice Chair of Events Katie Todd
Katie Todd grew up outside of Chicago, in Oak Park, Illinois. She studied biology at Colby College in Waterville, Maine where she was a Student Government representative, member of the Field Hockey team and member of College Republicans. During college, Katie had the opportunity to study abroad in Botswana, an amazing experience which left her with a passion for global health issues and a greater understanding of and appreciation for America’s leadership role in the world. Katie currently works for a global health advocacy organization, a bipartisan group which urges support for U.S. leadership and support in the fight against malaria.
Field Director Francesca Chambers
Francesca is the Editor of Red Alert Politics, a new online-only publication written by young conservatives for young conservatives from the parent company of The Washington Examiner and The Weekly Standard. She is also a contributor to The Examiner’s Campaign 2012 coverage and it’s Beltway Confidential Blog.
Francesca has previously worked on numerous campaigns, most recently serving as campaign manager on a state senate race in Northern Virginia. She has also worked in new media at The Leadership Institute, and continues to serve as a new media trainer.
In 2010, Francesca worked at the Republican National Committee (RNC), first on Healthcare and Education issues in the Research and Communications Department, and later in the Political Department as the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, where she headed up the public relations and marketing of the RNC’s DC metro area Get Out the Vote (GOTV) programs, including the 72-Hour Kick Off event. She has also worked on Capitol Hill.
Francesca graduated from the University of Kansas (KU) with BAs in Political Science and Journalism. At KU she was an editor of the University Daily Kansan and was an active member of Student Senate.
Director of GOPRockstars.com Deborah Corey
Deborah Corey is the writer, of www.deborahcorey.com, a blog that receives 376,000 hits a month! She has been published in The Washington Times, Human Events, National Review Online, The Washington Examiner and internationally as a columnist for All Voices. She has made an appearance on CNN and online sites like HerExchange.
Coalitions Director Stephen Jackson
Politicking from an early age, Stephen Jackson handed out sample ballots, stuffed envelopes, and pounded in yard signs for Republican candidates before entering elementary school. In more recent times, he worked in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, and volunteered for national and local candidates. Currently, Stephen is Director of Special Projects for The Ripon Society, a centrist Republican public policy organization.
Originally from Fairfax, VA, Stephen knows the capital area summer well enough to make an annual exodus to Bailey Island, ME. In a former life, he studied to be an orchestral double bassist and graduated with a degree in music performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
