Rachael Rice began her career in politics following her graduation from college in 1992.  She served as the legislative aide and campaign staffer to Maryland General Assembly Delegate Mary Louise Preis (D-Harford County) until 1996.  Rachael trained at the Democratic National Committee Tulley-Brown Campaign School, focusing on field and fundraising, before leaving Maryland to become the Berkshire County, Massachusetts Campaign Coordinator for Congressman John Olver (D-Mass), Senator John Kerry (D-Mass), and President Bill Clinton. After helping all three candidates successfully maintain their respective seats, Rachael returned to Annapolis to head the Maryland House of Delegates Democratic Research Group.  As the head of the group, she assisted members with message, incumbency protection, fundraising, and media outreach.

In 1997, Rachael served as a Policy Analyst to the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), an association of eighteen independent colleges and universities that aims to collectively represent and coordinate independent higher education in Maryland. She left MICUA in 1998 to resume a career in politics, taking the helm of the Mary Louise Preis for Senate campaign, the most closely contested—and watched—race in Maryland. Immediately following the campaign, Rachael spent a year working for Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, raising over $450,000 for Marylanders for Miller. Rachael continued her work for President Miller at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign Committee Miller chaired that promoted the mission of building and maintaining winning, state-of-the-art Democratic campaign committees in states through partnerships with legislative leaders, professional staff, and supporters. While at the DLCC, Rachael created and executed the first-ever caucus operation in Vermont during the turbulent 2000 election cycle.  This immediately followed the Legislature passing of the nation's first civil union legislation by Governor Howard Dean.  Serving as House and Senate Democratic Caucus Director, Rachael directed a $600,000 fundraising program and supervised all candidate campaign plans, message development, and direct mail programs, ultimately helping the Vermont Senate maintain a slim majority. Rachael also traveled to Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, California in July, 2000, to direct the DLCC’s fundraising efforts at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

Rachael returned to the DLCC and Washington, D.C. in 2001 to manage key DLCC fundraising events and policy meetings, to assist with recruitment and placement of caucus directors in targeted state chambers and to review and upgrade all DLCC Training Materials and public documents. Rachael left the DLCC in 2001 to begin Rice Consulting, a Democratic Consulting Firm specializing in fundraising, compliance and incumbency protection for Congressional, statewide, countywide and state legislative democratic candidates and organizations.

Rachael is a graduate of the John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland and a magna cum laude graduate of Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where she was the 1992 Doris T. Bell ’50 Award winner, a three-time Division III Academic All-American, recipient of English Departmental Honors, History Departmental Honors and Thesis Honors, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.

Rachael is married to David Carey, an attorney and Bel Air Town Commissioner. They live in the Town of Bel Air with their Labradors, Max Rice-Carey and Augie Rice-Carey. When not at Rice Consulting, Rachael enjoys spending time with Dave and Max, running, walking, hiking and biking, playing tennis, time with family and friends, college basketball season, traveling, trips to the Outer Banks, participating in Town of Bel Air activities, and listening to NPR.

Caroline Barkuloo joined the Rice Consulting team in 2007. She assists in handling committee and individual fundraising accounts. Caroline researches and updates the databases of Rice Consulting clients to ensure the latest and most recent information is in the system.

A native of Harford County, Caroline graduated from Bel Air High School in 2005. She earned her Associate of Science degree from Harford Community College in December 2007 and her Bachelor's of Science degree from Towson University in business administration with a track in legal studies in December 2009. 

Formerly Caroline Kemp, Caroline recently married.  Caroline and her husband, Tom, live in Bel Air.  When not at work, Caroline enjoys hanging out in her home town and lounging around her condo.  She is a huge fan of sushi and enjoys spending holidays with her family at their home in Hawaii.

Ben McGann was welcomed back to Rice Consulting in May 2010 for his third “tour of duty” with the firm.  Ben first worked as a Staff Assistant at Rice Consulting in 2005 when he was a senior at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.  After graduating from WC with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Ben returned to Rice Consulting as an Account Manager, and coordinated fundraising for Delegate Joanne Benson, Delegate Jon Cardin, and Chairman Dereck Davis, among others. 

After the 2007 Baltimore election cycle, Ben left Rice Consulting for the Southeast United States to help the Democrats and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He served as National Finance Assistant for U.S. Senator Kay Hagan's successful race to unseat Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina.   Immediately following the Hagan win, he served as Deputy Finance Director for Jim Martin’s run-off race for U.S. Senate in Georgia, and then Finance Director for Jon Bowerbank who ran for Lt. Governor in Virginia.  Most recently, Ben served as Deputy Finance Director for Congressman Artur Davis’ campaign for Governor in Alabama.  Ben looks forward to implementing national and state-wide finance strategies with Rice Consulting’s range of clients.

When he is not staffing call time, Ben can be found at Ravens and Orioles games or participating in various community or philanthropic events around the state. 

Laurie Scannell, Rice Consulting’s first employee hired in 2001, rejoined the firm in October 2008 after taking several years off to raise her children. Laurie’s first “tour of duty” with Rice Consulting was as an account manager, handling individual client accounts and databases. Laurie now serves as Rice Consulting’s Controller, managing financial accounts, employee benefits and other fiscal matters.

Laurie is a 1988 graduate of the John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland and a 1992 graduate of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and economics. In 1995, Laurie graduated from the Loyola College of Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business with a Master's in business administration.

From 1993 through 2001, Laurie worked for T. Rowe Price Associates, and was responsible for managing operations, auditing and quality control.

When not at Rice Consulting, Laurie enjoys being with her husband and two daughters. She spends as much time as possible at the beach and is a self-described "crazy Soccer Mom." 

Caroline Cook joined Rice Consulting in 2009.  As Creative Director, Caroline manages client websites, social media networks, and other forms of new media outreach.  She also photographs events, assists with fundraising events, and designs and oversees the production of all client event invitations and publications.

Caroline grew up in Bel Air and graduated from Bel Air High School in 2004, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning newspaper, The Bellarion.  In 2008, Caroline graduated from Miami University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree  in Photography and a minor in Political Science.  Her political experience includes working on the campaigns of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and presidential candidates John Kerry and Hillary Clinton in the swing state of Ohio.  She has also served as an Election Judge in both Maryland and Ohio.

While serving on the Miami University College Democrats Executive Board, Caroline registered voters, canvassed, phone-banked, and organized events and rallies in support of Democratic candidates.  As a founding member and Co-President of Miami University Students for Hillary Clinton, she collaborated with local community members to coordinate guest speakers and other events in the Oxford, Ohio community and surrounding county.

Throughout college, Caroline used her photojournalism as a catalyst to raise awareness of social justice and human rights issues via documenting student organizations working to promote social change.  These organizations dealt with issues of immigration in Ohio and working for a living wage for Miami University full-time staff.

Caroline lives in Bel Air and in her spare time enjoys spending time in Baltimore City, creating art, reading, running and doing yoga.

Kelly Bittner joined the Rice Consulting team in January, 2010 as Staff Assistant.  She assists in handling committee and individual fundraising accounts.  Kelly researches and updates the databases of Rice Consulting clients and ensures the timeliness of mailings for important client events.

Kelly has lived in Harford County her entire life and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1989.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) in 1993 and recently attended the College of Notre Dame where she received a certificate in teaching for elementary education. 

Prior to joining Rice Consulting, Kelly worked for T. Rowe Price Associates for eight years, managing representatives in the financial institutions trading division.  Kelly also worked for the State of Maryland to manage budgets for the Harford County Health Department and gained marketing experience while working for Lafarge, a construction materials company.

Kelly lives in Street with her husband, daughter, son, and recently rescued black lab, Cody.  She enjoys coaching her daughter in lacrosse and likes to cheer for her son during baseball season.  As a family, they enjoy bike riding, traveling and working in their vegetable garden.

Sara Janusz joined Rice Consulting in spring of 2010 as a Staff Assistant.  Sara currently serves as the President of the Women's Democratic Club of Cecil County and Vice President of the Cecil Young Democrats.  Sara grew up in Cecil County, where she still resides with her three children.  In her spare time Sara enjoys activities with her kids, being active in community organizations, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Matt Kent joined Rice Consulting in the 2010. As a summer intern, he works directly under Creative Director Caroline Cook, assisting in management of client social media and aiding creation of event invitations and publications.

Matt grew up in Harford County and graduated from the John Carroll School in 2006, as Senior Class President. In May 2010, Matt graduated magna cum laude from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Public Praxis.  During college, Matt worked political internships with Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, Congressman Frank Kratovil and Senator Charles Schumer. Matt also served as an elections inspector with the Dutchess County Board of Elections in New York. In the fall, Matt will attend the University Of Maryland School Of Law in Baltimore and will pursue a J.D. 

Matt has a wide range of academic interests, mostly focused on the relation of public policy to social inequality. He hopes to become involved with civil rights litigation in the future.

Matt lives in Bel Air. When not at work Matt spends his free time in Baltimore City and Hoboken, New Jersey. He enjoys reading, listening to music, playing golf and following the Ravens and Orioles. 

Tory joins Rice Consulting after spending her first year at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. She will be continuing her studies at the University of Virginia this fall where she plans on majoring in Political Philosophy, Policy, & Law and minoring in Spanish. At Hamilton, Tory stayed active in the community by playing on the college's lacrosse team and participating in the Habitat for Humanity outreach group and a mentor program with local youth . Tory graduated in 2009 from McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD.

Kyle Manning just finished his senior year at Frostburg State University where he majored in Communications Studies and minored in Public Relations. At Frostburg State University Kyle was the Public Relations intern at the Career Services Center his senior year. Kyle was also the head Public Relations officer for the SCSA (Student Communication Studies Association). He also was co-captain of the Frostburg State University Lacrosse team 4 years running.

At the end of the summer Kyle hopes to have a full time job in Public Relations/Marketing with the Washington Capitals.  

Justin Schuster joined Rice Consulting as a summer intern in June of 2010. Working primarily with Caroline Barkuloo, Rice Consulting’s account manager and intern program director, Justin assists in the management of fundraising accounts as well us the upkeep of the office’s databases. 

Justin lives in Owings Mills and has just finished his junior year of high school at Gilman in Baltimore, Maryland. Concluding his previous year as a Class Treasurer, Vice President and as a member of both the student council and Gilman’s Judiciary Committee, Justin awaits his senior year of high school where he will be serving as president of the Model United Nations Club and co-president of the Young Democrats Club.

An honor roll student, a member of the Cum Laude Society and a three-time recipient of Gilman’s annual top scholar award, Justin’s academic interests range from government and politics to international relations and the foreign languages of Spanish and Arabic. Politically active both in and out of school, Justin’s political exposure includes working for United States Congressman John Sarbanes and his political campaign in 2008 where Justin helped to manage a weekly phonebank in Towson in addition to a political leadership program based out of American University in which he participated during the summer of 2009. While liberated from his schoolwork, Justin spends his time with his family and friends while also reading, debating, visiting colleges and participating as a member of Gilman’s wrestling and ultimate frisbee teams.

Nick returns to Rice Consulting from his first year at Hood College in Frederick, MD, where he is studying Law & Society. This is his second summer as a member of the Rice Consulting team, having interned last summer, following his graduation from the John Carroll School. Beyond his prior experience with Rice Consulting, Nick has also served as a student page with the 426th Session of the Maryland State Senate and, active in local politics, is currently serving as Treasurer of Tom Myers' bid for Harford County School Board District B. When not working, Nick enjoys reading, writing and is always willing to watch a good movie.

Max Rice-Carey was born in December 2002 and joined the Rice Consulting team in October 2008. A native of Pylesville, Maryland, Max is a Yellow Labrador Retriever whose long, handsome nose, height, and athleticism suggest a touch of greyhound or Doberman (according to his veterinarian).

Max specializes in office morale, accompanying staff on errands, supervising meetings in the conference room, greeting the mail carrier and all delivery personnel, and trips to the bank. When he is not at Rice Consulting, Max is fanatical about catching his Frisbee and enjoys playing with his many dog friends at Rockfield Park, swimming at the Interstate Canine Swim Center, fetching tennis balls, going on car rides, and visiting his grandparents' house.

Augie Clarence Rice-Carey was born on October 13, 2008 on Silver Road in Darlington, Maryland. He was one of eight puppies born to his chocolate Labrador mother, Swan Creek’s Tallahassee Lassie (“Sassie”) and his yellow Labrador father, Swan Creek’s Cotton Picker (“Ben”).

Augie joined the Rice Consulting team on December 10, 2008. At work Augie focuses on following his big brother Max, napping, and chewing on desk legs, papers and cardboard boxes.

When he is not at the office, Augie loves to play with his dog friends at Rockfield Park, swim in the pool at Gus and Henry Richards' house, go for walks and gnaw on sticks.  Augie is a graduate of Puppy Kindergarten and Basic Obedience at the Terrapin K-9 Academy.