For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
March 7, 2007

Mrs. Bush Names Ms. Sally McDonough Niemiec as Communications Director and Press Secretary

Mrs. Laura Bush announced today that she has named Ms. Sally McDonough Niemiec as Communications Director and Press Secretary in the Office of the First Lady.

Currently, Ms. McDonough serves as vice president at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, where she manages a broad portfolio of media projects on issues of youth development and public health. These include campaigns in which Mrs. Bush has participated, among them the Jones New York In the Classroom initiative to support teachers, and the award-winning National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Heart Truth campaign, of which Mrs. Bush is national ambassador.

Prior to her tenure at Ogilvy, Ms. McDonough built and managed her own firm, McDonough Public Relations. There, she served as a communications consultant to several cultural and historical institutions, working with the White House Historical Association and the U.S. Capitol. She also managed the public-relations department at George Washington's Mount Vernon, America's most-visited historic home. Ms. McDonough has served as director of public relations for Noral Group International, and managed the Washington public-affairs portfolio of the Ad Council.

Ms. McDonough also brings knowledge of Capitol Hill to her new position. She served as the administrative director for the Small Business Committee under Senator Bob Kasten, and provided special event logistics and staff support to press and administrative departments in the office of the late Senator John Heinz.

Ms. McDonough's work has earned her several awards for excellence in advertising, public relations, and professional achievement. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a bachelor's degree in Social Science. Ms. McDonough lives in Alexandria, VA, with her husband John Niemiec and their daughter.

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