Lieutenant Governor-Elect Walter Dalton today announced a seasoned and diverse group of senior staff to assist him in managing the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

"This team is experienced, dedicated and committed to working on behalf of all North Carolinians," Dalton said. "I am proud to have such talented individuals leading my office. They know our state, they know how to get things done, and they will help move North Carolina forward."

Caroline Valand will serve as chief of staff. Valand was raised in Washington, North Carolina, and has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a master's in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University. Since 2005, she has served as the executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Previously, she served as the national political director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, where she oversaw 16 of the country's most competitive legislative caucus operations. She also worked as the political director and then director of the North Carolina Senate Committee.

Kimberly Reynolds will serve as deputy chief of staff. Reynolds has worked in North Carolina politics and government for nearly ten years. Most recently, she worked as an associate at the political/governmental affairs consulting firm, Nexus Strategies, where she developed strategies for a variety of political and corporate clients. Reynolds previously served as deputy director and then director of the North Carolina Senate Committee, and as a research and budget analyst at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Avery Staley will serve as counsel. Staley has a law degree from Vermont Law School and a master's from Winthrop University. He has worked as a consultant to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and in positions at the Compass Group USA and the Charlotte Area Fund. Staley also managed Congressman Mel Watt's 2000 re-election campaign.

Sara Lang will serve as communications director. Since 2006, she has worked at the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, first as communications director and then as deputy chief of staff. There, she secured national television and print coverage for a wide range of issues and managed the response to numerous high profile issues. Lang began her career with Congressman Bob Etheridge and worked as his press secretary for more than three years.

Cynthia O'Neal will serve as director of external affairs. She is currently the principal of Cynthia A. O'Neal, Attorney At Law. A 1999 graduate of Duke Law School, she practices as a construction lawyer and currently serves as an officer and a director of the United Minority Contractors of North Carolina. In 2006, O'Neal was named one of the Triangle Business Journal's "40 Under 40" Leadership Award.

Mike McLaughlin will be the chief policy analyst. He brings nearly two decades of experience researching and writing about pressing state-level public policy issues. Following a series of positions with media outlets, McLaughlin served as editor of the journal for the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research and most recently worked as the director of communications and research for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.