Sen. Cruz Announces New Communications Staff

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today announced new staff roles and hires in his U.S. Senate D.C. press office. He has named Phil Novack deputy press secretary and Jack Minor deputy digital director. He recently promoted Amanda Carpenter to communications director. Following is brief background of Sen. Cruz’s communications staff.
 
Amanda Carpenter, Communications Director: Carpenter joined Sen. Cruz’s office in January 2013 as senior communications adviser and speechwriter, and was recently promoted to communications director. She previously served as senior communications advisor and speechwriter to U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). In 2011, The Washington Post named her one of the “Top 10 Capitol Hill Staffers to watch.” In 2009, Politico named her as one of the top five "best new TV pundits." She is formerly a columnist, reporter and blogger for the Washington Times. Carpenter has also worked as national political reporter for Townhall.com and as a Capitol Hill reporter for Human Events. She received a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Ball State University and is a native of Montrose, Michigan.
 
Catherine Frazier, Press Secretary: Frazier joined Sen. Cruz’s staff in January 2013. Prior to that, she served as press secretary to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, for whom she worked since 2007. She was also deputy press secretary to his presidential primary campaign and in the Governor's Office during Texas' 2011 legislative session. Prior to that, she was deputy communications director to Gov. Perry's 2010 general re-election campaign and deputy press secretary to the 2010 primary campaign. Frazier received bachelor’s degrees in government and public relations from the University of Texas at Austin and is a native of Houston, Texas.
 
Phil Novack, Deputy Press Secretary: Novack most recently worked at Salesforce in San Francisco, where he led communications for the company’s public sector business and several of its fastest-growing apps. He previously led global communications for Mindjet and began his Silicon Valley career at Sparkpr. Novack served on the communications staff of 2006 Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and began his political career working for former Michigan Gov. John Engler. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and is a native of Warren, Michigan.
 
Josh Perry, Digital Director: Perry most recently served as digital director for the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign. Prior to joining the campaign he worked at Harris Media and the Republican Party of Texas. Perry is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and native of Port Arthur, Texas.
 
Jack Minor, Deputy Digital Director: Minor most recently served as a digital associate at Heritage Action for America. He has also served as a digital and creative consultant to multiple congressional campaigns. Minor received bachelor's degrees in political science and broadcast journalism from Elon University and is a native of Conover, North Carolina.
 
Brittany Baldwin, Deputy Speechwriter: Baldwin was recently promoted to deputy speechwriter after previously serving as press assistant for Sen. Cruz. She received a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Hillsdale College and is a native of Houston, Texas.
 
Alexa Henning, Media Booker and Press Assistant: Henning previously served as staff assistant for Sen. Cruz before being promoted to press assistant and media booker. She received a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from the University of Missouri’s Journalism School and is a native of Dallas, Texas.

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