Michael Amato is the new communications director. Previously, Amato founded Amato Advisors and had been part of the Biden-Harris transition team. Basil Gooden was named the director of state operations for rural development. Gooden’s resume includes time as Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry and the Virginia state director of rural development. Marissa Perry has been selected to be a speechwriter for the USDA Office of Communications. Perry has been the press secretary for former Montana Governor Steve Bullock.
