After leaving U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski's office in the fall, Melissa Schwartz says she's finished training and ready to apply the skills Mikulski tought her to her new job.

Schwartz served Maryland's Democratic senior Senator as communications director for over three years, but left in early October for a job at Powell Tate as vice-president, a strategic communications and consulting firm based in Washington D.C.

Schwartz, who finished her training just recently, said Mikulski shaped the way she views advocacy "on both a macro and micro level."

"Who better could teach me how to get things done?" Schwartz wrote in an email to PolitickerMD.com.

Schwartz said she's become far more ingrained in her work, which includes, "managing nonprofit client accounts, providing strategic communications counsel and building integrated communications campaigns."

"Sen. Mikulski taught me about always making sure we were connecting to the constituents - a skill that translates directly into helping nonprofit organizations shape messages that resonate with stakeholders, including members, donors and partners," Schwartz wrote.

According to a statement, Powell Tate describes itself as a firm that specializes in public affairs, public education, reputation and crisis management, media relations, creative and interactive services, and research and advertising.

"Melissa's unique combination of political, grassroots and non-profit experience will bring tremendous value to our work on brand-building and public education assignments with key organizations, as well as fuel our continued growth in the nonprofit sector," Pam Jenkins, president of Powell Tate, said in a statement.