Key People-Americans for Rick Perry
Americans for Rick Perry  7660 Fay Ave. Suite 314 La Jolla, CA 92037  [website]  
independent 527 group...formed June 2011, active through Aug. 13 when Perry announced  

(page updated Aug. 16, 2011)


National Campaign Director  Bob Schuman

President of The Schuman Group, a political consulting and public relations firm based in San Diego.  Started consulting in 1986.


National Political Director  Jeff LaCourse

Served as Northeast regional political director at the RNC, 2009-11.  Vice president at Grassroots Targeting, 2007-09.  Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regional political director at the NRCC in the 2006 cycle.  Vice president at Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates, 2001-05.  Northeast regional director for the NRCC during the 2000 cycle.  Deputy chief of staff to Rep. Michael P. Forbes (R-NY), starting 1997 until the congressman switched parties in July 1999.  Account executive at Targeted Creative Communications, 1995-97.  Maine field director for the Bush campaign from summer 1987-Nov. 1988.  Degree in political science from the University of Maine.

Information Systems and New Media  Brad Henson

Recently formed Henson Media Group, San Diego, CA, also operated Henson Design, primarily doing consulting on local campaigns in San Diego County.  Information systems for Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 2007-08.  I.T. director for a conglomerate of construction companies in Missouri and Illinois, 2001-07.


Finance Director  Nate Crain

(announced July 27, 2011; leading the volunteer Strike Force for Rick Perry effort)  President of Crain Information Systems, Inc.  Finance experience includes co-chairman of RNC Republican Eagles, 2005-07, and chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, 2005-05.  Member of the 1998 Rick Perry for Lieutenant Governor Kitchen Cabinet.  Served on the Inaugural Committees for Bush/Perry 1999 and Perry/Dewhurst 2003 and has served as a Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas Finance Committee. 


Coalition Building  Angela Toft
(reported by Daily Caller's Matt Lewis on July 14, 2011) 


IOWA

Headquarters: 7780 Office Plaza Drive, West Des Moines   ...opened week of July 20, 2011
[one-month lease; this was a space that Schoenfeld had looked at for the Gingrich campaign]

Executive Director  Craig Schoenfeld

(announced July 5, 2011)  Schoenfeld served as executive director of Newt Gingrich's effort for about a month (first reported April 20, announced May 13; resigned June 9, 2011)  Attorney at Wasker, Dorr, Wimmer & Marcouiller in West Des Moines; also runs a public affairs consulting firm, C. Robert & Associates, which he established in 1994.  Executive director of George Pataki's 21st Century Freedom State PAC Sept.-Nov. 2006.  Managed Rep. Greg Ganske's 2002 campaign for Senate through late 2001.  Communications director for the Iowa Republican Party.  Political director of Iowa Victory 2000.  Political director of Iowa Victory 2000.  Caucus planning director on Bush's 2000 Iowa caucus campaign (starting Sept. 1999 worked in tandem with the campaign's field operations, preparing county and precinct leaders and supporters for the intricacies of the Iowa caucus process).  Director of communications for the Iowa House Republican Caucus 1999-2000.  Analyst/legal counsel to the House Republican Caucus from 1994-98.  M.A. and J.D. from Drake University, 1994.  B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1991.  Raised on a farm in Beaver Dam, WI.

Field 
Ryan Keller

(from July 11, 2011)  Field staffer on Newt Gingrich's brief pre-exodus campaign.  Worked in the Republican Senate Minority Leader's Office in the Iowa Senate.  Political and organizational director on Zaun for Congress, 2010.  General manager at Heart of America, limited service hotel, 2002-08.  Personal and small business banker at Wells Fargo, 1998-2001.  Master's degree from Drake University.  Bachelor's degree from Grand View College.  A.A. from Indian Hills Community College.

Joe Heuertz

(from July 11, 2011)  Field staffer on Newt Gingrich's brief pre-exodus campaign.  Worked on Zaun for Congress, 2010.  Graduate of Drake University, 2010; served as president of Drake University College Republicans.

Daniel Weiser

(from July 11, 2011)  Field staffer on Newt Gingrich's brief pre-exodus campaign.  Previously at Capitol Strategies Group, Inc.  Degree in political science from University of Iowa, 2010.

Paige Thorson (Coalitions/Field)

(from July 11, 2011)  Coalitions director on Newt Gingrich's brief pre-exodus campaign.  Legislative clerk in Iowa House of Representatives for several months.  Law clerk at Hartung & Schroeder, 2009-10.  Studied law and earned health law certificate from Drake University Law School, 2008-10.  Degree in political science from Iowa State University, 2008, after starting at Buena Vista University.

April Linder

Helped organize the Iowa Tea Party bus tour June-ea. July 2011.

Kip Murphy

Directed the Republican Party of Iowa's Victory office in Council Bluffs in 2010.