James Mazzarella

Managing Director, Congressional Affairs

James Mazzarella is Managing Director in Congressional and Public Affairs Department at the Millennium Challenge Corporation and focuses on the organization’s relationship with Congress and others concerned with MCC’s mission such as NGOs, opinion leaders and think tanks.

Jim has over 15 years experience in public policy, government affairs and communications on the state, federal and international levels. Before joining MCC, he was Director of New York State’s Office of Federal Affairs, where he acted as the governor’s chief liaison to Congress, the executive branch, other governors and the Washington, DC based news media. Previously, Jim served as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Susan Molinari, as well as her press secretary.

From 1991 to 1993, he was a senior public relations account executive working with a number of international clients on their government affairs and media relations efforts, including the Balkan Republics of Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo, as each tried to win its independence from the former Yugoslavia. From 1989 to 1991 Jim was the executive director of the American Association of Political Consultants.

Jim has conducted training seminars on media relations for Iraqi press officers through the International Republican Institute, and is an alum of ACYPL, the international exchange program for young political leaders. He has been a frequent guest lecturer on how states lobby Congress for college and graduate students and is himself a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in International Relations.