API Bolsters Advocacy Team with New Federal Relations and Communications Hires

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2020 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) today welcomed Jack Cramton, Bethany Aronhalt and Chris Carroll to its staff, bringing new talent to API’s federal relations and communications teams and continuing to implement the organization’s focus on integrated advocacy efforts. The news follows additions to API’s senior team last fall, as the organization continues to build out to achieve its broader strategic goals.   

“Bethany, Chris and Jack bring experience and expertise from both sides of the aisle to API during a critical time in our industry’s history,” API Senior Vice President of Communications Megan Bloomgren said. “As the natural gas and oil industry continues to address the dual challenge of meeting growing demand for affordable energy while driving environmental progress, these new hires will serve in key roles in telling our story, advancing our policy priorities and executing our legislative strategy in Washington.”

• Jack Cramton joins API’s federal relations team as a Director and will enhance outreach efforts in support of API advocacy objectives.
  
  
• Bethany Aronhalt joins API’s communications team as Spokesperson. In this role, Aronhalt manages API’s media relations team and develops issue advocacy campaigns. 
  
  
• Chris Carroll joins API’s communications team as Senior Writer. In this position, he handles speechwriting for President and CEO Mike Sommers and other API executives, manages writing staff and crafts published commentary to tell the industry’s story.

Cramton joins API after working at the Department of Energy, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining API, Cramton served as Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy under Secretaries Rick Perry and Dan Brouillette. Previously, Cramton served as a Policy Advisor for Senator Bill Cassidy (LA), where he handled the senator’s energy portfolio.

Aronhalt joins API with a decade of experience with business trade associations, on Capitol Hill and political campaigns, most recently as Senior Director of Media Relations at the National Retail Federation, where she led the organization’s media relations and policy communications. Previously, she served as Press Secretary for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in addition to roles on Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign and with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Carroll comes to API with a decade of communications experience, including four years in journalism and six years on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining API, Carroll served as Communications Director for Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) and Press Secretary for Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05). Carroll was a reporter and Washington correspondent for the Chattanooga Times Free Press before his time in government.

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Our more than 600 members produce, process and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In our first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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