Press Release of Senator Cantwell

WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced several staff additions to her offices in Washington state and Washington, DC.  Katharine Lister has returned to serve as Cantwell’s Chief of Staff, Nancy Biery has been tapped as State Outreach Director, and Brian Willoughby has joined the team as Southwest Washington Outreach Director based in Vancouver, WA.

“Katharine, Nancy, and Brian will be great additions to our team and tremendous assets for the people of Washington state,” said Cantwell. “In the coming weeks, Congress will weigh critical choices to empower our families to get back on their feet, and make real investments in the American people and our  infrastructure and I’m glad to have them on board as we get to work. Their experiences will help us put Washington first.”

Lister has served several roles in Cantwell’s operation during her decade of experience with federal and state government. She is returning to run Cantwell’s office as Chief of Staff after an election year stint with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Independent Expenditure program.  Prior to that, she was Cantwell’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications Director and as Deputy Campaign Manager for her 2006 re-election campaign. Earlier in her career, Lister served as Communications Director for Congressman Adam Smith (D-09).

“I’m looking forward to working once again with Senator Cantwell and her staff,” said Lister. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of her team.  We have a real opportunity right now to take our state’s creativity and record of innovation and deliver national common-sense solutions for health care reform, energy independence, access to quality education and getting our economy back on track.  I’m very happy to be back .”

Biery, who will be based in Seattle as Cantwell’s State Outreach Director, has more than a decade of experience in local, state and national government. As principal of Nancy Biery Associates, LLC, she worked with a wide range of candidates across Washington state. Biery also served as an adviser to former Washington Governor Gary Locke and was a member of the advisory committee for America’s Opportunity Fund, which is chaired by both Locke and former Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta.

Willoughby spent 12 years as a reporter with The Columbian newspaper, where he covered social issues and wrote the “Slice of Life” column. After leaving The Columbian, he spent four years in Montgomery, Ala., where he was managing editor of Teaching Tolerance magazine at the Southern Poverty Law Center. He returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2006, serving as communications director for the ACLU of Oregon. 

"I'm very excited to be working for Senator Cantwell, whom I admire for her willingness to tackle the tough and complex issues we face," Brian said. “I’m also excited – after four years in Alabama and two years commuting to Portland – to be working in the state I call my home, where I can address issues that matter to Southwest Washington. I look forward to renewing many acquaintances with the people who make Southwest Washington such a wonderful place to live.”