SENIOR HOUSE AIDE JOINS CRD ASSOCIATES

November 18, 2005

Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis (CRD) Associates, LLC is pleased to announce that Don DeArmon has joined the firm as Senior Vice President. A 28-year veteran of Capitol Hill, Mr. DeArmon spent 15 of those years working for members of the House Appropriations Committee. Most recently, he was legislative director for Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), where he managed an extensive portfolio that included health, budget and taxes, agriculture, small business, trade, water, energy and the environment. During his seven-year tenure with Rep. Roybal-Allard, he helped to craft the bipartisan STOP Underage Drinking bill, establishing a national plan to combat underage drinking. He also handled successful passage of the Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act, and was responsible for a legislative provision which, for the first time, provided federal protection for breastfeeding. Prior to joining Rep. Roybal-Allard, Mr. DeArmon was legislative director to former Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA), where he specialized in agriculture and energy and water projects. DeArmon drafted the Safe Food Act, to establish an independent food safety agency, and was responsible for crafting a legislative provision which extended the phase-out of methyl bromide, a key agricultural fumigant. After extensive flooding in northern California in 1997, DeArmon negotiated a successful waiver of provisions of the Endangered Species Act so that levee repairs could be completed expeditiously. DeArmon also spent four years as an appropriations aide to Rep. David Price (D-NC), where his portfolio included health, small business and commerce, trade, justice, and the Food and Drug Administration. He was responsible for a legislative provision which solved a long-standing water supply problem at Falls Lake, NC, and he helped N.C. State University obtain federal support for research on recycling agricultural waste, and research assisting the textile and wood products manufacturing industries. In October, the firm added Brent Jaquet to its roster. Jaquet, who is also a senior vice president, spent the past seven years as senior appropriations advisor to Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL) during his tenure as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. In July, the firm announced plans to grow its government relations and client services practice with the addition of Erika Miller, Esq. and Janet Schmautz. Ms. Miller, a former Capitol Hill aide, specializes in hospital and nursing home coverage issues, immigration policy and antitrust legislation. Ms. Schmautz, also a former Capitol Hill aide, was a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee, and previously served as confidential assistant to Kay Coles James, former head of the Office of Personnel Management.