DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds announced that Dax Oberreuter will join her administration as policy advisor for health care and veteran’s affairs. Oberreuter most recently served as legislative liaison at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He previously held the same position for the Iowa Department on Aging and served as the agency’s public information officer and planning and innovation administrator. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa. The position was previously held by Clare Kelly who is leaving the Office of the Governor to become the chief advocacy officer for the Iowa Hospital Association.
“Dax’s experience at Health and Human Services and the Department on Aging, and the well-established relationships he has across state government and with key stakeholders make him a tremendous asset to my team, and I look forward to working with him,” stated Gov. Reynolds. “I also want to express my gratitude to Clare for her incredible work over the last two years. I wish her the very best in her new role.”
The governor has also hired Kate Schreier to serve as constituent services liaison. Schreier graduated from Iowa State University in May 2023, and previously served in the governor’s office as a constituent services intern.
Position changes are also occurring among current staff members: Megan Hall, previously boards and commissions director, is now paralegal; and Townsand Ayers, previously constituent services liaison, is now boards and commissions director.
A complete list of Governor’s Office staff is listed below:
Taryn Frideres – Chief of Staff
Jacob Nicholson – Chief Operating Officer
Molly Severn – Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Liaison
Steven Blankinship – Senior Legal Counsel
Heather Nahas – Communications Director
Nate Ristow – Administrative Rules Coordinator
Patrick Tomka – Senior Tax & Economic Policy Advisor
Jane Dufoe – Education Policy Advisor
Dax Oberreuter – Health Care & Veteran’s Affairs Policy Advisor
Laura Book – Workforce & Public Safety Policy Advisor
Lillie Brady – Agriculture & Energy Policy Advisor
Ryan Capps – Senior Advisor
Megan Hall – Paralegal
Kollin Crompton – Deputy Communications Director
Damian Bell – Chief Speechwriter & Communications Advisor
Eric Baker – Director of Strategic Operations & Director of the Office for State-Federal Relations
Townsand Ayers – Boards & Commissions Director
Morgan Fritz – Special Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor
Annie Hayes – Executive Assistant to the Governor
Anna Hartzog – Constituent Services Director
Kate Schreier – Constituent Services Liaison