Lobbying World: RNC alum joins BGR

Emma Vaughn is joining BGR Public Relations as a vice president. She most recently served as deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee and is a Trump Victory alum.

Catherine “Cat” Hill has joined Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America as deputy vice president of public affairs. Hill was previously a spokesperson on the corporate communications team at Twitter, now X.

Dustin Brighton will lead Husch Blackwell Strategies’s new Arkansas office as a managing principal. He was previously managing director at Brightstone Bridge and is an eBay, Microsoft and Walmart government relations alum.

Chris Cillizza has joined Dentons Global Advisors as a senior adviser. A longtime political journalist, he has worked for Cook Political Report, Roll Call, the Washington Post and CNN.

Seven Letter has hired Casey Hernandez as a partner. Hernandez was most recently senior vice president for global corporate communications at Herbalife, and she previously served in senior communications roles for the Treasury Department and the Transportation Department during the Obama administration.

The strategic communications firm is also adding Anthony Nerantzis as a director; Abbey Fitzpatrick, Georgia Shanker and Radeeyah Khan as content specialists; Annie Phifer as a manager for Seven Letter Insight; and Hedi Haleem as director of administration.

BWX Technologies has hired John Lucio as senior director of government relations. He previously worked for Graves Strategy Group and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and is a retired commissioned officer of the U.S. Navy.

Signal Group announced five promotions: Julian Graham to director, Vinny Sheu to director of creative content, Sharky Thomas to senior manager of digital campaigns, Meg Fosha to manager and Jenna Kent to executive associate.

Public Policy Holding Company, the umbrella group that nests firms including Forbes Tate, Seven Letter and Alpine Group, has acquired the California-based public affairs firm Lucas Public Affairs.

Brendan Dunn, most recently a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, has launched PhrónēsisDC. Dunn was previously a policy adviser and counsel to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and general counsel to the Senate Finance Committee.