Lobbying world

Delta Air Lines hired Skiffington Holderness as director of government relations. Holderness most recently served as director of special projects for Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and previously served as staff director of the Senate Small Business Committee. 

Richard Hoar joined LobbyIt as executive vice president. Hoar most recently was senior vice president at Banner Public Affairs and previously served as deputy chief of staff for Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.).

Tracey Schmitt joined CGCN Group as a senior partner. Schmitt most recently founded public affairs firm Matador, which is merging with CGCN Group. She previously led public affairs at Emergent Biosolutions and was press secretary at the Republican National Committee. 

The German Marshall Fund of the United States named Heather A. Conley as its next president. Conley most recently was senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and previously was a senior State Department aide in the George W. Bush administration.

The American Forest and Paper Association promoted Elizabeth VanDersarl to vice president for strategy and operations. VanDersarl joined the trade group in 2005 as director of congressional affairs after serving as a senior Office of Management and Budget aide in the George W. Bush administration. 

Kris Fetterman joined Seven Letter as a director. Fetterman most recently was a writer at Pivotal Ventures and previously served as speechwriter for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). 

The Public Affairs Council elected Karen Himle as its board chair for the upcoming year. Himle is currently senior vice president of corporate and government affairs for Thrivent Financial.