Senate President Karen Fann announces staff changes

Friday, July 30, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senate President Karen Fann announces

staff changes

"I would like to take this opportunity to officially wish Wendy Baldo all the best in her retirement and thank her for the many years of service and leadership she gave to the Senate. I know you share with me a heartfelt appreciation for the institutional knowledge and dedication she brought to the Senate and staff. She will be dearly missed. We will have an opportunity in the near future to collectively wish her well.

On our Majority team, we are fortunate to have committed staff to uphold and further the Senate's legacy of excellence in public service. In her appointment to Senate Chief of Staff, Melissa Taylor brings with her 13 years of service in the Deputy Chief of Staff role, as well five years of experience at the Arizona State Legislature as a Committee Analyst and Policy Advisor in the House of Representatives.

Melissa is a graduate of Arizona State University and has served in various policymaking positions in and around the Arizona Capitol since 1995. Prior to her time at the Legislature, she worked as a liaison for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, worked on congressional staff in Washington, D.C. as well as managed coalition activities for a national trade association.

With earned trust amongst Senators and staff, Melissa brings the highest standards for member service and a history of public policy execution in leading our Senate staff. In advancing the Majority's policy agenda, the staff leadership team will also include Grant Hanna as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Grant graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication Studies. He began his legislative career in Arizona’s private sector, first with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and later serving as a Government Relations Associate for R&R Partners and Public Policy Partners.

Grant has served in the Senate for six years. In his first three years, he was a Research Analyst covering Commerce, Workforce Development, and Public Safety. Since joining Majority Staff in 2018, Grant has served as a Senior Policy Advisor covering the Commerce, Government and Natural Resources Committees. Grant will apply his experience in diverse private and public sector roles to his new position as the Senate Deputy Chief of Staff.

Please join me in congratulating Melissa and Grant on their new roles on Majority Staff. These changes are effective August 2nd. We have a wonderful team."

Senate President Karen Fann

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