Onward & Upward

Nathanael Ferguson, one of four newly promoted staffers in Rep. Bill Posey’s (R- Fla.) office, cultivated his passion for politics on the high seas.

Instead of “Julie and Julia,” it’s the “Julia and Julia” show in Rep. Phil Hare’s (D-Ill.) office.

Position: Senior counsel, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)

David Schuld, the new office manager for Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), made his first foray into the political realm in the third grade.

Position: Chief of staff, Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.)

Erin Gulick, the child of a military family, was born in Panama; raised in Virginia, California, Germany and Missouri; and schooled in Washington state and Illinois. Now in Washington, she’s a legislative aide for Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and her policy experience is nearly as diverse as the places she’s lived.

Position: Chief of staff, Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.)

Jessica Brinton was supposed to be a veterinarian. She loved horses as a young girl and competed nationally in English riding. She worked as a veterinary technician from age 14 through college, where she completed the prerequisite courses for veterinary school.

Position: Foreign relations legislative assistant and counsel to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)

When Kelsey Knight had the opportunity to meet then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in his Pentagon office, one of the questions she asked him was, “So, how do you get here? Do you take the Metro? It’s so convenient because it comes right underneath!”