Idaho Business Review IBR
Mike Matthews
Mike Mathews, who has been with Senator Jim Risch since joining the U.S. Senate in 2009, has been promoted to Idaho deputy chief of staff. He has nearly 30 years of experience, including positions with Senators McClure and Craig. He will continue to serve as regional director of Twin Falls and work out of the regional office as he assumes his new administrative duties.
Rachel Burkett
Rachel Burkett has been promoted to state director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the state in addition to her role as Boise regional director. Burkett, who likewise has been with Sen. Risch since the beginning of his Senate tenure including almost 10 years in Washington, D.C., will continue to operate out of the Boise office.
Mike Roach
Mike Roach, who served as Sen. Risch’s natural resources director since 2009 and previously held positions running Sen. Risch’s Lewiston office and serving on the Resource Advisory Council for the Bureau of Land Management, is retiring at the end of the year. Roach served as the senator’s eyes on the ground, building relationships and solving problems in every corner of Idaho. He is an influential voice in the resource management community, lending his expertise on issues like public rangeland ecology and sage grouse management.
Darren Parker
Replacing Roach as state natural resources director is McCall native Darren Parker. Parker was an original member of the legislative team assembled in Sen. Risch’s Washington, D.C. office where he served for nearly 10 years as a legislative assistant and subsequently as legislative director. He is an expert on natural resources issues, ranging from forestry to species management, and will assume his new role out of the Boise regional office.
Marty Cozza
Marty Cozza, who joined the office in 2019 as Sen. Risch’s press secretary, will now serve as communications director. Before arriving in Risch’s office, Cozza previously worked in the House of Representatives. She will continue to operate out of the Washington, D.C. office.
