Donalds Names Transition Team Led by Business and Policy Figures
The appointments signal a private-sector and conservative policy tilt as the team prepares staffing, cabinet recommendations and early legislative priorities before the Jan. 5 inauguration.
Overview
- Gov.-elect Byron Donalds tapped Manny Kadre as transition chair, Ryan Smith as executive director, Tarren Bragdon to lead policy and Teresa Ressel as senior adviser.
- As chair, Kadre will organize administration staffing, vet cabinet candidates and set legislative priorities, drawing on his roles with Republic Services, The Kollective and the University of Miami.
- Smith brings campaign operations and fundraising muscle to the transition after overseeing a campaign that raised a record-setting $174 million for a non-incumbent gubernatorial bid.
- Bragdon’s policy role will reflect his leadership of the Foundation for Government Accountability and past service on the state Government Efficiency Task Force while Ressel contributes federal finance experience as a former U.S. Treasury assistant secretary and UBS executive.
- The team will work through December to assemble senior staff and formal recommendations that could shape the new administration’s agenda and staffing when Donalds is sworn in on Jan. 5.