INDIANAPOLIS – Five more internal posts have been filled in Gov.-elect Mike Pence’s administration.
Bill Smith will be his chief of staff. He is currently handling the transition efforts and has been Pence’s chief of staff in Congress for 12 years. He is a resident of Madison County and a lifelong Hoosier.
Four other senior staff have also been tapped.
Heather Neal will be Pence’s legislative liaison and director. She most recently was chief of staff at the Indiana Department of Education, where she directed operations of the agency. Neal also was Gov. Mitch Daniels’ first appointee as the state’s public access counselor and was chief of staff for then-Secretary of State Todd Rokita.
Chris Crabtree will be deputy chief of staff for external operations, overseeing administration outreach and community relations in the governor’s office. Crabtree, who previously was political director for Pence’s gubernatorial campaign, has nearly 20 years of government experience.
Marilee Springer will join Pence’s team as senior policy director. Springer, a partner at Ice Miller with the firm’s tax group, where she represents tax-exempt and governmental entities, with a focus on private foundations and donors, colleges and universities and health care providers.
Jennifer Pavlik will be director of operations for Pence. She has worked in his congressional office for 12 years, first as executive assistant and then as staff director. Pavlik previously worked for U.S. Rep. Mark Souder. She will be responsible for running the governor’s office and managing his schedule.
