Officers

Alex Smith

National Chair

Alex Smith is serving as National Chair. Alex, a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, is a recent graduate of The Catholic University of America, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Politics. Prior to being elected as National Co-Chairman, Alex served as Chairman of the D.C. Federation of College Republicans. During her tenure as State Chairman, Alex organized multiple deployments for candidates along the east coast, including a joint federation effort with the New Jersey College Republicans that produced tens of thousands of voter contacts for Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-3). Before becoming the D.C. Federation Chairman, Alex also served her home chapter in the capacity as a Freshman Representative, Executive Director and, eventually, Chairman. Throughout her time in Washington, Alex has gained experience through a number of different internships in media, lobbying, Congress and the Republican Party. In the summer of 2010, Alex returned to Pennsylvania in order to campaign for Congressman Lou Barletta, during which time she assisted the campaign with volunteer coordination, fundraising events and social media efforts. Alex is a proud graduate both of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for International Studies and Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, a member of the international network of Sacred Heart schools. She is currently pursuing a career in law, attending Seton Hall Law School in Newark, NJ. During her free time, Alex enjoys cheering for her beloved Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles.

Nick Maddux

National Secretary

Nick Maddux is serving as National Secretary. Nick is a native of the small southwest Missouri town of Lebanon. Shortly after beginning his undergraduate studies at Missouri State University, Nick joined the MSU College Republicans chapter, and was elected Chairman shortly after the 2008 elections. The energy that he put forth into improving the chapter earned Nick enough respect to be elected a few short months later as the Missouri Federation Vice-Chairman. Nick would serve in that role for a year and half before becoming Chairman of the Missouri Federation in late 2010. Outside of his roles in College Republicans, Nick is a well-seasoned Missouri political operative. He managed his first U.S. Congressional campaign at age 21 in a nationally targeted race. He later served as Political Director to newly elected Congressman Billy Long (MO-7). Nick served as Congressman Long’s political director for the first 6 months of Congressman Long’s first term in office. Nick recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Missouri State University with two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Economics. His is currently attending law school at Saint Louis University. In his free time, Nick enjoys Saint Louis Cardinals baseball and a round of golf on Sunday.

Andrew Laarhoven

Southern Regional Vice-Chairman

Andrew Laarhoven is serving as Southern Regional Vice Chairman. Andrew is a native of Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburban town 25 miles north of Atlanta. He has had an interest in politics for as long as he can remember. During high school, he wrote about politics as Editor of his school newspaper and attended the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) for social sciences & communicative arts. He volunteered on his first campaign after graduating, putting up yard signs for his Congressman, Tom Price (GA-6). Andrew became involved in the College Republicans during the end of his freshman year, at the University of Georgia, the nation’s largest CR chapter. He served in a variety of appointed positions and rose to the rank of Vice Chairman. While a UGACR, he met his fiancée Kristin on a campaign deployment trip in 2008. Andrew was elected to statewide leadership in 2009, serving as Vice Chairman of the GACRs. Elected to State Chairman in 2010, Andrew chartered over a dozen new chapters, reintroduced the Regional Director & Outreach programs, and placed GACRs first in the nation with nearly 8,000 hours in 2010 campaign and recruitment hours. Besides his experience in College Republicans, Andrew is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he served on his chapter’s Executive Committee. On campus, he was also a Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He has interned at a variety of public and private sector firms, including the Georgia Governor’s Office and the Stoneridge Group. Recently, he served as Deputy Campaign Manager for a State Party Chairman’s race. Andrew double-majored at the University of Georgia earning degrees in Economics and Political Science. He is planning to attend business school to earn an MBA.

Gus Portela

Midwestern Regional Vice-Chairman

Gus Portela is serving as Midwestern Regional Vice Chairman. Gus was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and has been active in Michigan politics since his sophomore year in high school. Heavily involved in several campaigns at both the local and statewide level, Gus volunteered for the Bush Re-election campaign in ’04, the Dick DeVos campaign of ’06, and he interned for McCain in ’08. Gus worked his way up from being a member of the College Republicans his freshman year at his college, to becoming the first Hispanic Chairman of the Michigan Federation of college Republicans for the 2010-2011 cycle. As Chairman of the College Republicans, Gus greatly expanded the federation by breaking fundraising goals and helping to bring more than 100 College Republicans to Washington D.C. Under his leadership, the Michigan College Republicans helped to bring a new Republican Governor to Michigan, a majority in the state house, and a super majority in the state senate. Gus’ work aided in the capture of two congressional seats, as well as, abetting the election of a new Republican Attorney General and Secretary of State. Gus brings his experience and his work ethic to the position of Midwest Vice Chairman where he will work to help train, and equip College Republicans with the best tools to turn the tide in College campuses in the Midwest.

John Granat

Western Regional Vice-Chairman

John Granat is serving as Western Regional Vice Chairman. John, a native of Salem, Oregon, has worked tirelessly on various local, state and federal political campaigns. In 2008, he was elected as one of four Oregon At-Large Alternate Delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention. The following year, he was unanimously elected as the State Chairman of the Oregon Federation of College Republicans, and a few months later to the College Republican National Committee National Board. As State Chair, John grew the number of active chapters across the state, coordinated the record attendance of college-aged students at the Dorchester Conference, America’s oldest annual political conference, and executed a targeted 2010 election strategy. John also served on the Oregon Republican Party Communications Committee. In the spring of 2011, John graduated from Oregon State University with a major in Business Information Systems.

Evan Lazerowitz

Comptroller

Evan Lazerowitz is serving as Comptroller. Evan grew up in the Republican stronghold of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. He first became interested in politics at a local and county level, but his first national campaign experience was as a state chairman for Maryland Students for McCain in 2008. Spending 2 months in below zero temperatures in New Hampshire helped introduce Evan to the rigors of campaigning. Evan joined the Johns Hopkins University College Republicans and has been helping to elect Republican candidates and promote conservative thought on campus ever since. Evan was the chairman of his chapter and was elected to the board of the Maryland Federations of College Republicans (MFCR) his sophomore year. After serving as Vice Chairman, Evan was elected Chairman of the MFCRs at the end of his junior year. During his tenure, Evan focused upon increasing the number of chapters, raising money and building better relationships with state and local leaders. He also served as Student Government Vice President where he reformed the student constitution and student group financial systems. Evan is a 2L at the Georgetown University Law Center and plans to practice health and insurance law. He is looking forward to ensuring transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility within the CRNC. In his free time, he is an avid fan of New Jersey Devils’ hockey and Yankee’s baseball.

Staff

Michael Antonopoulos

Executive Director

Michael Antonopoulos is serving as Executive Director. A lifelong resident of California, politics appealed to Michael at an early age. In high school, Michael worked alongside local elected officials to engage young people as a mayoral representative on the San Jose Youth Commission. Soon after enrolling at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga California, Michael joined College Republicans and became active in the University’s student association to encourage youth participation in the political process and in campus governance. Michael served two terms as Chairman of the California College Republicans, the nations largest College Republican Federation. Unanimously elected to serve two consecutive terms as the College Republican National Committee’s Western Region Vice Chairman, Michael directed the Committee’s activities in thirteen western states. Over the past four years, Michael has emerged as an up-and-comer in California Republican politics, managing campaigns at the federal, state and local level, and working at a political consulting and public relations firm. Michael’s experience has instilled a conviction that young people can harness emerging social technology and organize at the local level to impact the national political landscape. Prior to his work on behalf of Republican candidates, Michael was employed at a Silicon Valley high tech firm where he worked in opposition to job killing legislation in the ongoing patent debate. Most recently, Michael was the District Director for Assemblyman Don Wagner in the heart of Orange County, California.

Katie Sly

Office Manager

Katie Sly is currently serving as Office Manager and Executive Assistant. Katie is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and is a recent graduate of The University of South Carolina. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. Katie got her start in politics the summer after her senior year of high school when she interned with Representative Tom Price’s office (GA-6) at the district office dealing with constituent services. During college Katie interned with Alan Wilson’s campaign for Attorney General where she assisted with volunteer coordination and fundraising events. She was also involved in South Carolina’s College Republican chapter as a way to promote conservative thoughts on campus and was an active member of Delta Zeta sorority. In her free time Katie enjoys spending time with friends as well as cheering on the Atlanta Braves.