RILA Names Director of Communications

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has hired Allie Brandenburger as its director of communications. She officially joined the Arlington, Va.-based organization on Feb. 7.

As part of the association’s communications team, Brandenburger will develop communications strategies to advance its public policy and operations priorities to external audiences. RILA’s recently released 2013 public policy agenda focuses on such industry priorities as tax reform, e-fairness, health care and trade.

Before coming to RILA, Brandenburger was regional press secretary for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. In this role, she handled day-to-day press operations for the presidential campaign in 16 states across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region, among them Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Prior to her work on the Romney campaign, Brandenburger was regional press secretary for the Republican National Committee, managing the communications operations in the Northeast region. Earlier, she was communications director for Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), in which capacity she developed and managed the communications strategy for his office. She also worked as deputy press secretary of Meg Whitman’s 2010 campaign for governor of California.

“Allie’s experience on Capitol Hill and in intense campaign environments ensures she will be a strong advocate for RILA, its members and priorities,” noted Brian Dodge, RILA SVP of communications and state affairs.