Key People-President Barack Obama
Obama for America, One Prudential Plaza, Chicago, IL    
[website]   
2008 campaign organization

(page updated and corrected March 26, 2014)
Note to readers: This page is currently being upgraded. Please help make it better.
If you have any suggestions for additions, corrections and other improvements big or small please email me: action08 @ gmail.com


OVERVIEW: The re-elect campaign formally launched and filed with the FEC on April 4, 2011, although top members of the team were laying the groundwork earlier. 
The IT team started two weeks earlier in the latter part of March building the necessary infrastructure.  For the first pay period (April 15) the campaign showed 42 people on the payroll.  It added about 20 people every two-week pay period through the second quarter and showed 160 people on the payroll as of June 30 (Excel).  This did not include consultants.  The campaign also began building its organization around the country; in a July 13, 2011 video the campaign reported 60 field offices in 39 states.  Organizing for America, which operated out of the DNC beginning in 2009, in a sense served as a campaign in waiting and many people switched over to from there.  The Summer Organizers and Fall Fellows (+) programs provided further manpower.  In an October 13, 2011 email the campaign reported, "In the past three months we've grown our organizing staff by 50 percent, and opened up three new field offices every week."  By the time the primaries started (+), solid organizations were in place in many states, and more people were being added.  One senior staffer noted that "we needed a lot of people" and suggested after the campaign that it might have been helpful to have had a recruiting team. It was unprecedented to have an organization as big as early, and the campaign continued to grow.  At peak in July 2012 about 650 people were working at the headquarters in Chicago; that number declined in the following months as staff were sent out to the states.  By October 2012 the campaign and state parties (Organizing for America) had a bit over 4,000 people on the payroll.

Campaign manager Jim Messina says that the most important decision made was to put the campaign in Chicago, where it could work free of inside-the-Beltway considerations.  Messina says that President Obama set the tone at the outset, telling him that the campaign "has to be about the grassroots."  Although Obama's 2008 campaign had built an unprecedented grassroots organization that proved successful, Messina did not want to repeat that.  His view was, "We need to run a new campaign." (+)  So, Messina states, "We spent a year building a whole bunch of things."  He says he received a useful piece of advice on technology from Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, "You do not want political people."  Thus chief technology officer Harper Reed came from outside the political realm, and the campaign brought on many engineers and analysts with no political experience.  Among its roles, the technology department developed tools "to make door knocking easier."  One such tool was Dashboard, "the online organizing network for Obama 2012...it empowers you to take on a major role in this campaign."  Messina described Dashboard as "the hardest thing we did in the entire campaign."  The early Organizing for America effort at the DNC, all the field offices and staff during the campaign, and the campaign's groundbreaking use of technology and data, were all about  building relationships

Messina placed a major emphasis on metrics. (+) "This campaign has to be metric driven.  We're going to measure every single thing in this campaign," he stated in a April 2011 campaign video.  The campaign was constantly modeling and testing.  Will this message work with low engagement voters?  Is this person likely to donate?  To volunteer?  The reason for this approach was simple.  Data allowed the campaign to use its time and money more wisely.  Messina tells a great story of a volunteer in Wisconsin who was given just two doors to knock on in a particular block.  At one of the homes the volunteer helped the person fill out an early vote form.  The other was an undecided voter, and the volunteer was provided with specific information to address that voter's concerns.

The organization in the states was immense.  As in 2008, when Campaign for Change was run through the state parties but was an integral part of the campaign, Organizing for America functioned in the same way for the re-electIn the states there were a few Obama for America staff—typically the state director, the communications staff and the digital director—and a much more extensive Organizing for America team.  In fact, they were all part of the same effort.  It was a question of "who signed the check" and was "a distinction without a difference" but is something to be aware of.  Paraphrasing an Organizing for America staffer: The Organizing for America staffers were employed by the state party.  In most states, this was funded entirely or almost entirely through a transfer-down account which Obama for America transferred money to.  Organizing for America staff/programs existed not only to support President Obama, but also to elect other Democrats. 

Battleground states were particularly well resourced.  The campaign staff included the state director and communications, digital, field, data, political, policy and research, Operation Vote, voter protection, GOTV, and operations personnel.  Typically a general election director oversaw field, data and constituency.  The operations department oversaw such functions as human resources, information technology, office and vendor management, literature design, volunteer resource allocation and budget management.  Field had the highest visibility.  All told the campaign had 813 field offices, each run by a field organizer.  Ohio finished with 121 offices (compared to 89 in '08) and Florida with 104 offices (compared to 58 in '08).  Field organizers in turn drew upon active volunteers who stepped forward to become neighborhood team leaders (+).  Ultimately the campaign reported 10,000 neighborhood teams comprising over 32,000 of these dedicated volunteers working to organize in their communities.  (If you attended an Obama rally, probably heard one or two of them speak as part of the program). Team leaders and volunteers identified supporters and more volunteers and registered new voters.  One of the lessons of the 2010 debacle was that Obama's supporters would not "turn out magically."  The campaign worked hard to expand the electorate, and it reported registering 1.8 million people at doors and another 1.1 million online.

Below is a sketch of this large and sophisticated campaign; the department headings below are rough, and there are some holes and gaps and a dose of educated guesswork about who fits where in some of the departments.  See also: Obama for America HQ Department Descriptions, FEC, and countering views from the RNC: Feb. 10, 2012, June 8, 2012.



Campaign Manager  Jim Messina

White House deputy chief of staff for operations through Jan. 28, 2011; previously director of personnel for the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition.  National chief of staff for Barack Obama's presidential campaign starting in June 2008.  Chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Jan. 2005-June 2008.  Chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), 2003-05; took a leave of absence to serve as director of former Gov. Tony Knowles' U.S. Senate campaign, June-Nov. 2004.  Campaign manager on Sen. Baucus' 2002 re-election campaign.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), 1999-2001.  Served on Sen. Baucus' staff 1995-99, taking leaves of absence to manage Dane County executive Rick Phelps' campaign for Congress in the Sept. 1998 primary in WI-2 (finished second to Tammy Baldwin), and serve as field director on Sen. Baucus' 1996 re-election campaign.  Chief of staff to state Sen. Mike Halligan, first part of 1995.  Political director for the Montana Democratic Party.  Managed Daniel Kemmis' re-election campaign for mayor of Missoula, 1993.  In 1992, while a student, served as legislative campaign coordinator for the Montana Democratic Party and press secretary on Frank Morrison's primary campaign for governor.  B.A. in political science from the University of Montana, 1993.  Grew up in Boise, ID.  twitter

Chief of Staff to the Campaign Manager  Peter Newell

(reported by the Washington Post on Nov. 25, 2011)  White House liaison at GSA, 2010-11.  Director of the White House Travel Office, 2009-10.  Deputy director of advance, press advance (from May 2008), and member of the national advance team (from Feb. 2007) at Obama for America.   Director of policy and planning (2005-07), and scheduler/policy director (2002-04) in the Office of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.  VISTA, 2001-02.  B.A. in communications from Boston College, 2001.


Senior Campaign Strategist/Consultant  David Axelrod

Senior advisor to the President through Jan. 28, 2011; previously senior advisor to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition and senior strategist to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.  Founded Axelrod & Associates in 1985, and served as senior partner of the campaign media firm now known as AKPD Message & Media; has worked on over 150 campaigns at the local, state and national levels.  Ran the DCCC's independent expenditure program in 2006.  Did the message and media campaign for Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate primary campaign.  Served as media consultant on Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.  Managed Paul Simon's 1984 U.S. Senate race where he upset Sen. Charles Percy.  Eight years as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering national, state and local politics.  B.A in political science from the University of Chicago, 1977.  Born in 1955 in New York City.   twitter


Director of Opinion Research  David Simas

(June 2011)  Per Lynn Sweet "coordinates polling and messaging research."  Served as director and aide to White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod.  Director of operations and earlier deputy chief of staff to Gov. Deval Patrick, 2007-09.  Registry of Deeds for Northern Bristol County.  Served on the Taunton City Council.  Member of the Taunton School Committee.  Practiced law.  J.D. from Boston College Law School, 1995; Stonehill College, 1992.  From Taunton, Mass..

Assistant  Caitria Mahoney

B.A. in political science from University of Vermont, 2010; interned at the White House in summer 2010.  From Newton, Mass..


Deputy Campaign Manager  Jen Dillon O'Malley

Executive director of the Democratic National Committee from Jan. 2009.  Battleground states director on the Obama campaign, starting in April 2008.  Deputy campaign manager on John Edwards for President after serving as state director on his Iowa caucus campaign.  Campaign manager on Rep. Jim Davis' 2006 gubernatorial campaign in Florida.  Deputy campaign manager for Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 Senate re-election campaign in South Dakota.  Field director on Sen. Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  In 2002 O'Malley served as field director for the South Dakota Democratic Coordinated Campaign, then as field director for Sen. Mary Landrieu's runoff campaign.  In 2001 she was campaign manager for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.  In 1999-2000 O'Malley was volunteer coordinator for Gore in the NH primary, then worked as a field organizer in New York and Pennsylvania, and in the general election, she was regional field director for the Missouri Coordinated Campaign in the St. Louis Metro area.  O'Malley is a 1998 graduate of Tufts University and hails from Jamaica Plains, MA. [Dillon's husband Patrick served as White House Deputy Director of Political Affairs to Jan. 2011].  twitter


Deputy Campaign Manager  Julianna Smoot

White House social secretary (announced Feb. 27, 2010, served into Jan. 2011)  Chief of staff to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.  Finance director on Barack Obama's presidential campaign, then a co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Finance director at the DSCC in the 2006 cycle.  Other experience includes work for then Sen. Tom Daschle's DASH PAC, finance director on Sen. John Edwards successful 1998 campaign for U.S Senate and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  Bachelor's degree in government from Smith College, 1989.


Deputy Campaign Manager  Stephanie Cutter

(reported by several news organizations on Sept. 26, 2011; started "between Thanksgiving and Christmas")  Assistant to the President and deputy senior advisor at the White House (deputy to senior advisor David Plouffe).  Counselor to Treasury Secretary Geithner to May 2009.  Chief spokesperson for the Obama-Biden Transition.  Senior advisor and chief of staff to Michelle Obama on the campaign, June-Nov. 2008.  Communications director on Kerry-Edwards 2004 and John Kerry for President, announced Nov. 11, 2003.  Communications director for the 2004 Democratic National Convention (also participated in the press operations of the Los Angeles, Chicago and New York conventions).  Communications director for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy starting July 2001.  Senior vice president at the public relations firm Robinson, Lerer and Montgomery.  Cutter worked for President Clinton as the deputy communications director at the White House, from 1999 to the end of the adminstration.  Associate Administrator for Communications at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center; B.A. in government and economics from Smith College, 1990.  Originally from Raynham, MA.  twitter

Assistant  Rachel Cohen

(Nov. 2011; started with Cutter at the White House in Oct. 2011)  Scheduler for Sen. Barbara Boxer, 2010-11.  Numerous internships.  B.A. in government and history from Georgetown University, 2009.



Chief Operating Officer  Ann Marie Habershaw

(April 2011)  Chief operating officer at the DNC March 2009-March 2011.  Chief operating officer at M+R Strategic Services, Inc., Feb. 2007-March 2009.  COO at the DCCC for three cycles, 2001-07.  Director of finance and administration at EMILY's List, 1995-2001.  B.S. in accounting from Bryant College, 1984 and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001.

Assistant  Cyndy Hernandez

(Aug. 2011)  Scheduler to Congresswoman Judy Chu, Oct. 2009-July 2011.  Undergraduate degree in American studies and ethnicities from University of Southern California, 2009.

Deputy Chief Operating Officer  Teal Baker

(Sept. 2011)  Consultant to the DNC Sept. 2010-March 2011.  Principal at the Podesta Group, 2009-10.  Director of entertainment on the 2009 PIC.  National director of surrogates at Obama for America, 2007-08.  Worked at PodestaMattoon for several years.  Assistant to Kerry-Edwards 2004 Pennsylvania state director Tony Podesta.  Office manager and scheduler for Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA).  Staff assistant, then scheduler in the office of Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN).  B.A. in political science from Rhodes College, 2000.


Senior Advisor  Robert Gibbs

(role formalized Jan. 2012)  White House press secretary through Feb. 11, 2011.  Senior strategist for communications and message on Obama's 2008 campaign; started as communications director and senior traveling communications aide.  Joined Obama shortly after he won the March 16, 2004 U.S. Senate primary.  Press secretary for John Kerry for President for the first 10-plus months; resigned Nov. 2003.  Press secretary for the DSCC, 2001-02.  Communications director for Debbie Stabenow's U.S. Senate campaign, 1999-2000.  Press secretary to Sen. Max Cleland, 1999.  Communications director for Fritz Hollings' 1998 re-election campaign.  Press secretary to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (NC).  Worked for U.S. Rep. Glen Browder (AL-3) including as executive assistant.  Degree in political science from North Carolina State University, 1993.  Native of Auburn, AL.

FIELD

Battleground States Director  Mitch Stewart

National director of Organizing for America.  Virginia state director on the Obama campaign in the Fall; during the primaries Stewart served as Obama's Iowa caucus director starting in Jan. 2007, then worked on the campaign in Nevada and Minnesota, as field director on the March 4 Texas campaign, and as state director on the May 6 Indiana primary campaign.  Coordinated Campaign director for the Minnesota DFL during the 2006 midterm elections.  Field director on Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 re-election campaign.  Eastern Iowa regional field director for Sen. John Edwards’ Iowa caucus campaign (announced May 2003).  A regional field director for the Louisiana Democratic Party during Sen. Mary Landrieu's 2002 run-off campaign.  A regional field director for the South Dakota Democratic Party during Sen. Tim Johnson's 2002 re-election campaign.  Has also served as a research assistant and staff assistant in Johnson's Senate office.  B.S. in chemistry and biology from the University of South Dakota.  Originally from Vermillion, SD.   twitter

Deputy Battleground States Director  Mark Beatty

(April 2011)  National director of special projects at Organizing for America-DNC, Feb. 2009-March 2011.  Deputy general election director on Obama's Ohio Campaign for Change in Fall 2008, also part of the 2008 Post-Election Task Force; Midwest targeting director at Obama headquarters in Chicago, June-Sept. 2008; Obama field staffer in Nevada, Kansas, Texas and Indiana, as well as project manager for the post-primary task force.  Associate at the Boston Consulting Group, 2006-07.  B.A. in political science from Harvard College, 2006.
Note: After Election Day, Beatty oversaw the Obama Legacy Project, putting together a comprehensive analysis of results and feedback from staff and supporters.

Battleground States Coordinator  Khan Shoieb

(Aug. 2012)  Political science student at Amherst College; Truman scholar and studied politics and international relations at St. Catherine's College, Oxford.  From New York, NY.


Field Director  Jeremy Bird

Deputy director of Organizing for America.  General election director on Obama's Campaign for Change in Ohio; during the primaries, he served as the Obama campaign's South Carolina field director, Maryland state director and Pennsylvania field director.  Field director for Wake-Up Wal-Mart.  Deputy field director for training and GOTV at the DNC in Fall 2004 (started late July 2004 right before the Convention). Training director for Democratic GAIN.  One of the two Congressional District directors on Howard Dean's 2003-04 New Hampshire presidential primary. Bachelor's degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, 2000; Master's degree from Harvard Divinity School. Grew up in High Ridge, outside of St. Louis, MO.   twitter

Deputy Field Director  Marlon Marshall

(reported by Marc Ambinder on April 5, 2011)  Field director at the DCCC in the 2010 cycle.  Deputy White House liaison to the State Department.  In Fall 2008 Marshall served as general election director in Missouri on Obama’s Campaign for Change. On Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign he was field director for the May 6 Indiana primary, the March 4 Ohio primary and the Jan. 19 Nevada caucuses.  In 2006 Marshall served as field director on the Maryland Coordinated Campaign and earlier as Prince George's County regional field director.  Regional field director for the Kansas Democratic Party in the 3rd CD for the last six months of 2005.  In summer and fall 2004 Marshall served as Kansas City, MO field organizer/regional base vote director on the Missouri Coordinated Campaign; he finished the campaign doing GOTV in Ohio.  Graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in communication studies. Native of St. Louis.   twitter


Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic Regional Director  Lauren Kidwell

A special assistant at the Department of HHS.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as regional field director for South Central Iowa in the caucus campaign and as field director on the Kentucky primary campaign.  Regional field director for the 4th CD with the Minnesota Coordinated Campaign in 2006.  Worked in Senator Obama's DC Senate office from January 2005-June 2006 mainly as a legislative correspondent.  Regional director for NW Illinois on Obama's 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate; field staffer in Central Illinois on Obama's primary campaign for U.S. Senate.  Graduate of the University of Illinois. twitter

Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic  Will Leaverton

Master's degree in political management from The George Washington University, 2009.  B.A. in history/political science from Texas Christian University.   ...to deputy national GOTV director at close

West Regional Director  Angela Barranco

Came to the campaign after working in the Sierra Club's national press office.  Managed Congressman Russ Carnahan's 2010 re-election campaign.  Communications director for Congressman Joseph Crowley (NY-7), 2008-10.  Senior advisor on the Martin Heinrich for Congress campaign, Fall 2008.  Press secretary to Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), 2007-08.  Campaign manager on Ken Jankins for county legislator, 2006-07.  Campaign manager on Christine Jennings for Congress in FL-13, 2006, narrowly losing to Vern Buchanan.  Campaign and recount manager, then legislative and transition director for Yonkers City Council President, 2005-06.  Field organizer in Sandoval County for NM Victory 2004.   B.A. in environmental biology from Columbia University in the City of New York, 2002. 

West  Gillian Bergeron

(July 2011)  Western regional director (2010-11) and national volunteer coordinator (2009-10) at Organizing for America-DNC.  Started on Obama's 2007-08 campaign as the Lowcountry regional volunteer coordinator on the South Carolina primary campaign, then continued on to Alabama, Texas and Pennsylvania (northeast, Scranton area; in the Fall served as deputy field director on Obama's Colorado Campaign for Change.  Graduate of the University of South Carolina, 2006.  Native of Hilton Head Island.  ...to deputy national GOTV director at close

Midwest Regional Director  Meg Ansara

(Jan. 2012)  Previously at Stand for Children as Massachusetts state director (2006-06) national organizing director (2007-08), chief operating officer (2008-11) and chief of state operations (2011).  National trainer at the DNC, Fall 2004.  In 2002 was volunteer coordinator on Reich for Governor and earlier deputy advance director on Wellstone for Senate.  Wildlife fire fighter, June-Nov. 2001.  Graduate of Oberlin College, 2001.

Midwest  Melanie Vant

Project coordinator (Jan. 2008-Aug. 2009) and project associate (Jan. 2005-Dec. 2007) at RESULTS Educational Fund.  M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, 2011.  B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2004.  ...to Florida border state director from July 2012

South Regional Director  Tharon Johnson

Campaign manager for Sen. Kasim Reed's successful campaign for Mayor of Atlanta.  Managed Congressman John Lewis's 2008 re-election campaign of.  Political and field director for Congressman John Barrow’s 2004 campaign and his 2006 re-election campaign. Johnson also served two years as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman John Barrow.  Campaign manager for Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond’s 2002 re-election campaign.  twitter

South  Jorge Neri

(Aug. 2011)  Midwest and Southeast organizer at the Center for Community Change, 2008-11.  Organizer at UFCW Local 1546 in Chicago, 2007.  Robert Morris College.  ...to Nevada field director from July 2012

Northeast Regional Director  Dan Kanninen

White House Liaison to the EPA.  Legislative director to Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin from Dec. 2008.  Wisconsin state director of Obama for America in the general election; during the primaries Kanninen took leave from his position as chief of staff to Sen. Robert Jauch (D-Poplar) to work on the campaign in WI, OH (early vote lead) and NC (deputy political director and GOTV political director).  Chief of staff to Jauch for four years, and has almost a decade of experience in the Wisconsin State Capitol.  Attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Grew up in Superior, WI.  twitter   ...to Virginia senior advisor

Northeast  Meagan Gardner

(June 2011)  A national regional director at Organizing for America-DNC, 2010-11; WV state director for Organizing for America, 2009-10.  In Fall 2008 Gardner served as a regional field director on Obama's Campaign for Change in Ohio.  B.A. in political science from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, 2006.   ...to Iowa field director from July 2012


National Field Coordinator  Gurwin Ahuja

(July 2012) B.S. in business administration, finance from The Ohio State University's Max M. Fisher College of Business, 2012.

Intern Coordinator  David Dietz

Graduate of DePauw University, 2011; helped out on the Obama campaign in Iowa and Nevada during Winter term 2008.  Indianapolis native.


GOTV Director  Rachel Haltom-Irwin

Senior advisor for outreach and operations, Government Contracting & Business Development at the Small Business Administration 2010-11.  Director of the White House Internship Program, 2009-10.  General election director for Indiana on Obama's 2008 Fall campaign; Obama for America college coordinator/youth vote on the Iowa caucus campaign; also served as Indiana deputy field director during the primary.  Assistant at Wal-Mart Watch, 2006-07.  MPA/MC from Harvard Kennedy School, 2012; undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, 2004.

Deputy GOTV Directors  Gillian Bergeron, Will Leaverton and Geoff Berman



TRAINING DEPARTMENT
"oversees training and campaign curriculum development for staff, volunteer leaders, volunteers, and the fellow/intern training programs in all 50 states.  There is a team of 11 state-wide training directors in battleground states throughout the nation, and 2 headquarters trainers in Chicago, all directed by Sara El-Amine.  The department is the first Training Department in Presidential campaign history, and stems from Obama for America’s commitment to training local citizens to be grassroots organizers."

National Training Director  Sara El-Amine

(Summer Organizers, Fall Fellows)  Since joining the campaign during the Iowa caucuses in 2007, El-Amine has worked in 12 states, serving in every position within the field hierarchy at Organizing for America and Obama for America.  B.A. in diplomacy and world affairs from Occidental College, 2007.  Lebanese-American; grew up in Duxbury, MA.   twitter   ...to Virginia GOTV director from Aug. 2012

Deputy Training Director  Geoff Berman 

New York State field director for Organizing for America from June 2009.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a volunteer in the primaries and as a field organizer in southeast Missouri in the general election.  Artistic director of the acting school at the Atlantic Theater Company, starting in 2005.  Attorney at Weil Gotshal and Manges, 1996-2005.  J.D. from University of Virginia Law School and M.A. in history from University of Virginia, 1994; B.A. degree from UCLA, 1991.  (then national director of delegate operations and finally deputy national GOTV director)  twitter...to deputy national GOTV director at close

Deputy Training Director  Stacy Berger

Experience includes executive director of California Young Democrats.  Graduate of UC San Diego, 2002.  California native.  (to Nevada GOTV director at close)

OPERATION Vote

(announced as Project Vote on Aug. 25, 2011) "communicate with and engage key demographic groups, such as African Americans, Women, Youth, Latinos, LGBT, Veterans, Asian Americans and others."

Operation Vote Director  Buffy Wicks

Vice president for political affairs at AKPD Media.  Deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.  Wicks worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting as the campaign's Western region field director in Chicago, then as field director in California, deputy field director in Texas, director of the campaign's national volunteer program ("Obama Organizing Fellows"), and in the fall state director for Missouri.  Political director for Wake Up Wal-Mart.  Organizer in the 'Anti-War in Iraq' campaign in San Francisco, CA.  Co-founded Hoi-Polloi, "a people’s organization created by a small group of conscientious thinkers striving for world peace."  Campaign manager on Jay Fetcher's 2004 state Senate campaign in Colorado.  Des Moines organizer on Howard Dean's Iowa caucus campaign.  Graduate of the University of Washington, 1998.  twitter

Operation Vote Deputy Director  Michael Blake

(announced Aug. 25, 2011)  Most recently Deputy Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement where he directed outreach to the African-American and minority business communities.  In the 2008 general election campaign Blake served as deputy state director/political director for the Obama-Biden campaign in Michigan; he started as deputy political director on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Director of external affairs for the Michigan House of Representatives before heading to Iowa.  Prior to that, in 2006, he was the West Michigan campaign organizer for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus, organizing three state house campaigns.  Member of the inaugural class of Obama's Hopefund "Yes We Can" training program.  Graduate of the Medill School of Journalism from Northwestern University.  New York native.  twitter

Women Vote Director  Kate Chapek

(Feb. 2012, succeeded Heather Colburn who started in Aug. 2011)  Consultant at Baughman Company (direct mail), 2010-11.  Account executive at MSHC Partners, 2010.  Regional communications desk at Change that Works, 2009-10.  Campaign manager on Joan Buchanan for Congress, mid-2009.  Regional coordinator at EMILY's LIst, 2005-09.  Also Michigan GOTV director for America Votes, Fall 2006.  Communications director at Moving America, Gov. Bill Richardson's organization, 2004.  M.A. in journalism from Georgetown University, 2009; B.A. from University of Southern California, 2001.

Jewish Outreach Director  Ira N. Forman

(Aug. 2011)  Executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council starting in Jan. 1996.  Also research director of The Solomon Project.  Director of congressional relations at the Office of Personnel Management.  Fellow at the Center for National Policy, 1990-93.  New York director of National PAC, a large pro-Israel PAC.  Legislative liaison and political director at AIPAC, 1977-81.  M.B.A from Stanford University, 1983; undergraduate degree from Harvard College, 1974.

Jewish Outreach Coordinator  Max Slutsky

Media analyst, 2010-11, and Israel government fellow at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, 2010-11.  B.A. in political science and Judaic studies from University of Michigan, 2010.

Youth Vote Director  Valeisha Butterfield-Jones

(announced Oct. 25, 2011)  Recently formed the Butterfield Group, a management and communications firm.  Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Oct. 2009-June 2011.  Founder (2007) president and CEO of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network and served as executive director of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.  Executive director/executive vice president at Rush Communications.  Programing and marketing at HBO Sports, 2004-05.  After graduating, Butterfield worked on the Campaign to Re-elect Chief Justice Henry Frye.  B.A. in political science from Clark Atlanta University, 2000.  North Carolina native.  twitter

Youth Vote Deputy Director  Eric Zoberman

(announced Oct. 25, 2011)  Field director for Rock the Vote in the 2010 election cycle.  Following President Obama's inauguration, Zoberman led United We Serve, a national service initiative of the new administration.  Joined the Obama Iowa caucus campaign in June 2007; during subsequent contests traveled the country working in field and press and was the field director for St. Louis County, Missouri during the General Election.  Graduate of University of Maryland, 2007.  twitter

Latino Vote Director  Adrian Saenz

(Nov. 2011)  Consultant at Message, Audience and Presentation, 2011.  Chief of staff to Congressman Harry Teague, 2009-10.  Chief of staff to Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX) from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008.  Took leave from congressional office to serve as state director for Obama's 2008 primary campaign in Texas.  National field director at the DCCC in 2006.  Press secretary/communications director for Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) 2000-05.  Served as president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association.  Took leave from congressional office during the fall 2004 campaign to serve as base vote director (Hispanic) on the New Mexico Democratic Coordinated Campaign, based out of Santa Fe office.  B.S. in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  twitter

Latino Vote Deputy Director  Alida Garcia

(March 2012)  Deputy campaign manager on Austin Beutner for Mayor of Los Angeles.  Associate at K&L Gates, LLP, 2008-10.  J.D. from Columbia Law School, 2008; B.A. in communication from Stanford University, 2005.

African American Vote Director  Stefanie Brown

(Jan. 2012)  Founder and executive director of Brown Girls Lead. National director of the NAACP's Youth and College Division.  Also, president and CEO of SL.Brown Enterprise, a community relations consulting company.  Served as national outreach coordinator for Global Justice, Inc.  Program coordinator of the Antioch Development Corporation's Stopping AIDS is My Mission Program (SAMM) in Cleveland.  Degree in business management from Howard University, 2004.  Native of Bedford Heights, Ohio.  twitter

African American Vote Deputy Director  Camille C. Joseph

(May 2012)  Special advisor and director of intergovernmental affairs (June 2011-July 2012) and director of public engagement and policy (Nov. 2010-June 2011) in the Office of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; a legislative correspondent.  Field coordinator at Progressive Strategies Group, 2008-09.  Field organizer on the Obama campaign in Fall 2008.  Degree in politics, history from New York University, 2007

LGBT Vote Director  Jamie Citron

Worked at HHS' Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  Started on Obama's 2008 campaign in early 2007 in the finance department and eventually served as deputy LGBT vote director.  Worked for the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.  In 2006 Citron worked on Patty Wetterling's congressional campaign as part of the HRC's Youth College program.  Attended Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.  Grew up in Highland Park, IL (the north suburbs of Chicago).  twitter

LGBT Vote Deputy Director  Aditi Hardikar

Graduate of University of Michigan, 2011.  twitter

Veterans and Military Families Vote Director  Rob Diamond

Diamond is also New York State Director.

Western Regional Operation Vote Director/Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Director  Alissa Ko

(March 2012)  Deputy PAC director at Consumer Attorneys of California, 2010-12.  President of California Young Democrats, 2009-11.  Political/community organizer for SEIU Local 1000, 2008-Jan. 2010.  PAC/development coordinator at Consumer Attorneys of California, 2005-08.  B.A. in business economics from UCLA.

Southern Regional Operation Vote Director/Senior Vote/Disablilities/Doctors Director  Andrea Bazán

President of Triangle Community Foundation in Durham, NC, 2005-11.  Served on board of the National Council of La Raza 2002-11, including a year as chair, elected Jan. 2008.  Executive director and chief lobbyist at El Pueblo, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, 1994-2005.  Research and policy at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Resources, 1997-2000.  Field training coordinator/project director at UNC Chapel Hill, 1994-97.  MPH and MSW from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995.  Originally from Boston.

Faith Vote Director  Michael Wear

(mid-May 2012) Executive assistant to the executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2011.  Interned on Obama's 2008 campaign, doing faith outreach.  Native of Buffalo, NY.

Operation Vote and Political Data Manager  Dessa Gypalo

(May 2012)  Previously account executive, office manager, junior account executive and intern at Resolute Consulting, LLC, from Oct. 2007.  Voterfile administrator at Central Strategies, 2008-12.  B.A. in history, business administration from Roanoke College, 2007.

Nurses for Obama

(announced March 14, 2012)

Catholics for Obama

(announced Aug. 13, 2012)

Rabbis for Obama

(announced Aug. 21, 2012)

Political

Political Director  Katherine Archuleta

(reported by CNN June 9, 2011)  Prior to joining the campaign Archuleta served as chief of staff to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.  Senior advisor to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, starting in Oct. 2005, and the City of Denver's lead planner for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  Executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation in Albuquerque.  Co-founded both Semilla Group, a women-owned consulting group focused on community development, and the Center for Regional and Neighborhood Action, a nonprofit organization engaged in regional growth management.  Aide to Federico Peña for a decade, including his eight years as Denver Mayor (administrative assistant, deputy chief of staff, and administrative cabinet officer), chief of staff to Pena when he was Secretary of Transportation, 1996-97, and senior advisor when he was Secretary of Energy, 1997.  Director of special initiatives at the Hunt Alternative Fund.  Master's in education from University of Northern Colorado, 1976.  B.A. in education from Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1971.  Denver native.  twitter

Deputy National Political Director  Yohannes Abraham

(announced Aug. 25, 2011)  National political director of Organizing for America at the DNC.  Served in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.  Started as a Polk County field organizer on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign in May 2007; he served as GOTV director on the Feb. 12 Virginia primary campaign; in the Fall he was field director on the Virginia Campaign for Change.  Degree in political science from Yale, 2007.  Ethiopian American from Springfield, VA.  twitter

Associate Political Director  Omar Khan

(Aug. 2011; also later served as lead/Southern political director)  Congressional liaison at HUD, 2009-11.  Vice president of Young Democrats of America, 2007-09.  In the 2008 cycle, Khan started as Nevada field director on the Biden for President campaign, March 2007-Jan. 2008, then worked on Obama for America starting as a field organizer, then director of operations for the Texas State Convention team, and in the Fall as deputy political director on the Florida Campaign for Change.  President of Florida Young Democrats, 2005-07.  Deputy political director-Florida Senate Victory at the Democratic Party of Florida, 2005-06; college outreach coordinator for DPF in the latter half of 2004.  B.A. in political science from University of South Florida, 2004; served as student body president, 2003-04.

Director of Special Projects  Pablo Duran

Worked for many years for Rep./Sen. Tom Udall (NM), starting in 2003.  Degree in history and political science from University of New Mexico, 2003.  From Rio Rancho, NM.

Director of Political Operations  Abby Witt

(Sept. 2011)  Executive director of resource development at Ivy Tech Community College from Jan. 2011.  Political director at the Common Purpose Project, Sept. 2010-Sept. 2011.  Joined Blue Engine Message & Media, Oct. 2010.  Assistant director in the Offices of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement at The White House, 2009-10.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting as a field organizer in the Keene office on the NH primary campaign and serving as regional field director in Delaware County, PA in the Fall.  B.A. in political science and public administration from American University.  Originally from Evanston, IL.

Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic Regional Political Director  John Zody

Chief of staff (2009-11) and district director (2007-09) in the Office of U.S. Rep. Barron Hill (IN-9).  Director of civic engagement/program manager at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, 2004-07.  Deputy director for communications and planning in the Office of Govs. Frank O'Bannon and Joe Kernan.  Program manager at the Indiana Department of Commerce, 1999-2001.  Regional field director in the 8th CD for the Indiana Democratic Party, 2000.  B.S. in public affairs from Indiana University Bloomington, 1999.

West Regional Political Director  Lizet Ocampo

(May 2012)  Member services and outreach coordinator to House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, May 2011-May 2012.  Legislative assistant for the Office of Legislative Affairs at the White House, 2009-11.  Legislative staffer in the U.S. Senate, 2006-07.  AdWords associate/customer insights assistant at Google, 2006-07.  M.A. from Stanford University School of Education, 2006; B.A. in political science from Stanford University, 2006.

Midwest Regional Political Director  Sean O'Brien

Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (IL), 2009-12.  Legislative director to U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (NC), 2007-09.  Legislative aide and speechwriter to U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (IL), 2004-07, after starting as an intern.  Worked in IT for eight years.  B.S. in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College, 2010; B.A. in American culture from Northwestern University, 1996.  From Manhattan.

Northeast Regional Political Director  Micah Ragland

(May 2012)  Communications director to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA), Aug. 2011-May 2012.  Director of media relations/government affairs at Public Strategies, Inc. 2009-11.  Deputy chief of staff and communications director to U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (IN), 2008-09.  Speechwriter in the Office of the House Majority Whip, 2007-08.  Frontline Democrats finance director at the DCCC, Jan.-July 2004.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez (NJ), 2001-03.  J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2007;  B.A. in political science/international relations from Morehouse College, 2000.

Political Coordinator  Gabe Amo

Marshall Scholar at Oxford University.  Interned at the White House in Summer 2010.  Undergraduate degree in political science from Wheaton College, 2010.  Field director at the RI Democratic Party in Fall 2007.  Field organizer on Sheldon Whitehouse's U.S. Senate campaign in Fall 2006.  From Pawtucket, RI.

Senior Advisor  Broderick Johnson

(announced Oct. 24, 2011)  A founding partner of the Collins | Johnson group.  Previously a partner at Bryan Cave LLP, where he headed the public policy and government affairs practice.  Informal advisor to the Obama campaign in 2008.  Senior advisor for congressional affairs on the Kerry presidential campaign.  Vice president for congressional affairs at AT&T and Bell South.  Served in the Clinton administration, 1998-2000, including as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs.  Chief Democratic counsel for the House Committee on the District of Columbia and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.  Assistant counsel in the Office of Legislative Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives.  law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, 1983; bachelor's degree in philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross, 1978.  Baltimore native.

PoliCY

Policy Director  James Kvaal

Deputy undersecretary of education from June 2010.  A special assistant to President Obama on the White House National Economic Council, Feb. 2009-June 2010.  Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.  Policy director on John Edwards' 2007-08 presidential campaign.  Senior policy advisor in Edwards' Senate office Jan. 2003-July 2004.  Legislative associate on the Democratic staff of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Jan. 2001-Jan. 2003.  Worked on education policy in the Clinton Administration from 1997-Jan. 2001, starting in Spring 2000 at the White House National Economic Council and earlier at the Department of Education's office of post-secondary education and the office of the Deputy Secretary.  J.D. from Harvard Law School, 2007; B.A. in public policy from Stanford University.  Born in Lexington, MA.

Associate Policy Directors
- Health Care  Christen Linke Young

(Dec. 2011)  Policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009-11.  A regional field director on the Obama campaign in Fall 2008.  Public policy specialist at the Land Trust Alliance, 2004-06.  A field organizer on the Kerry-Edwards campaign.  J.D. from Yale Law School, 2009; B.S. in biological sciences from Stanford University, 2004.

- National Security  Marie Harf

(late Nov. or ea. Dec. 2011)  Media spokesperson for the Central Intelligence Agency from June 2008.  CIA analyst on Middle East leadership issues from March 2006 to June 2008.  Master's degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.  Bachelor's degree in political science from Indiana University.  Native of Granville, Ohio.

- Economic Policy  Jacob Leibenluft

(March 2012)  Senior policy advisor for the National Economic Council at the White House, Jan. 2011-March 2012.   Writer for Slate.  Luce scholar with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, 2006-07.  Undergraduate degrees in history and economics from Yale, 2006; served as editor-in chief of the Yale Daily News. From Chevy Chase, MD.

- Economic Policy  Nikhil Joshi

(Jan. 2012)  B.A. in economics and M.A. in public policy from Stanford University, 2011.  Associate consultant for Bain & Company in the latter half of 2011.  Research associate in the National Economic Council at the White House, Fall 2009.

- Energy and Environment  Kelley Greenman

Environmental policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Transportation from May 2009.  B.A. in environmental studies from Washington University in St. Louis, 2009.

- State Policy  Dominic (Dom) Williams

(March 2012)  Came to the campaign from the Office of the New York City Public Advocate, where he served as deputy advocate for economic policy and senior policy advisor.  International representative for pension strategies at SEIU, 2008-10.  Researcher on John Edwards for President, June 2007-Feb. 2008.  Teacher at the Collegiate School, 2005-07.  Worked on Brian Kavanagh's campaigns for Council and Assembly.  A.B. in philosophy from Princeton University, 2005.

Policy Coordinator  Leigh Arsenault

Policy advisor/special assistant in the Office of the Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting as a college organizer based in Keene on the NH primary campaign, then on the Oregon primary campaign and in the general election as national youth vote director.  Worked on state legislative races in Vermont. Graduate of Middlebury College, 2006.

Policy Assistant  Allison Hunn

(Nov. 2011; initially assistant to the director of media planning from Aug. 2011)  B.A. in foreign affairs, French from the University of Virginia, 2011.

Policy Advisor (Energy and Environment)  Candace Vahlsing

(May 2012)  Climate change program operations (Oct. 2011-May 2012), legislative analyst (March-Nov. 2011), rotational assistant (Aug. 2010-March 2011) and air pollution specialist (March 2009-July 2010) at the California Air Resources Board.  M.S. in environmental health sciences from UC Berkeley, 2008; B.A. in international environmental policy from Hampshire College, 2003.

Policy Advisor (Health Policy  Rachel Hornstein

(June 2012)  M.P.H. from UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health.  B.S. in biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2010.

Communications

staff of 30 in the headquarters in Chicago...
Communications Director  Brent Colburn

(reported late Feb. 2012)  Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Director of external affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  A national spokesperson for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.  In Fall 2008 served as communications director on the Obama campaign in Michigan (and worked on the campaign in Virginia in the final three weeks.  Manager of the issues and advocacy practice at Burson-Marsteller, 2007-08.  Worked for U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow as deputy chief of staff to Oct. 2007, as spokesman on her 2006 re-election campaign, and earlier as a senior advisor.  Communications director for Sen. Charles Schumer, mid-2004.  Research director on Howard Dean's presidential campaign, 2003-04.  Worked at the DCCC.  A regional political director for the Democratic Leadership Council.  Graduate of the College of William and Mary, 1998.

Deputy Communications Director  Rachel Racusen

(July 2012)  Vice president of SKDKnickerbocker (fka Squier Knapp Dunn) from Feb. 2012.  Director of public affairs at FEMA, May 2010-Feb. 2012.  Communications director (from 2008-10), deputy communications director (2006-08) and press assistant to House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Rep. George Miller.  Account coordinator at Dittus Communications, 2005-06.  B.A. in political science from Union College, 2004.

Press Secretary  Ben LaBolt

(widely reported on April 5, 2011; start mid-May 2011)  Communications director on Rahm Emanuel's campaign for Mayor of Chicago.  An assistant press secretary to President Obama.  Joined the Obama campaign in Aug. 2007 and held a variety of roles including spokesman on the primary campaign in Ohio and a deputy press secretary in the general election.  Press secretary in Obama’s Senate office.  Spokesman on Sherrod Brown’s successful U.S. Senate campaign in Ohio in 2006.  Press secretary to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), 2005-July 2006 and for a bit in early 2007.  Seacoast regional director on Howard Dean's 2003-04 New Hampshire primary campaign.  2003 graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in political science; president of College Democrats at Middlebury, 2001-03 and helped out on Howard Dean's 2000 re-election campaign.  Native of LaGrange, Illinois.  twitter

Deputy Press Secretary  Katie Hogan

(widely reported on April 5, 2011; start mid-May 2011)  Associate director of press advance and press pool wrangler at the White House.  Assistant traveling press secretary (press wrangler) on the 2008 Obama campaign Graduate of The George Washington University, 2006.  Chicago native (Beverly on the South Side).

Deputy Press Secretary  Kara Carscaden

(July 2011)  Vice president and special assistant to the president at Rubenstein Communications, 2010-11.  Rapid response manager in the Office of the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, 2009-10.  Senior research associate at the DNC, 2008-09.  Deputy press secretary to Sen. Barbara Mikulski, 2006-07.  M.A. in political management from The George Washington University, 2007; interned for Sen. Charles Schumer.  Legal assistant in the Appeals Bureau for the Manhattan District Attorney, 2003-04.  Field organizer for the NHDP, June-Oct. 2002.  B.A. in political science and art history from Wellesley College, 2002.  twitter

Deputy Press Secretary  Adam Fetcher

(July 2012)  Previously press secretary at the U.S. Department of the Interior from July 2011.  Assistant press secretary (Jan.-Aug. 2011), director of special projects in the Office of Public Affairs (Jan. 2010-May 2011) and public affairs and press assistant  at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (March-Dec. 2009).  A field organizer on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Membership marketing coordinator at the JCC in Manhattan, Aug. 2007-June 2008.  B.A. in English from Carleton College, 2006.

Assistant Press Secretary  Stephen Spector

Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011; interned at the White House in Spring 2010.

Press Assistant  Marc Aidinoff

Graduate of Harvard College, 2012.


Travelling Press Secretary  Jen Psaki

(started travelling July 5, 2012)  On leave from position as senior vice president and managing director at Global Strategy Group, where she started in Oct. 2011.  Deputy Communications Director and Deputy Assistant to the President at the White House.  Traveling press secretary on Obama's 2008 campaign after starting out as deputy press secretary.  Spokeswoman at the DCCC in the 2006 cycle.  Communications director to Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY).  In Fall 2004 worked on the Kerry campaign doing press for the Kerry/Heinz children.  Deputy communications director and earlier assistant to the state director on Sen. John Kerry's 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  Field organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign in 2002.  Graduate of the College of William and Mary; studied English and sociology.  From Stamford, CT.  twitter

Travelling Press Aide  Molly Poppe

(July 2012; initially a press intern from July 2011-Jan. 2012, then a media monitor from Jan.-July 2012)  B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2011.

Director of Regional Media  Tom Reynolds

(Sept. 2011)  Deputy director of the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.  Ohio deputy communications director for Obama for America in fall 2008. In May 2008 Reynolds joined Qorvis Communications as a director.  National press secretary on Bill Richardson's presidential campaign and earlier served as Iowa communications director for the campaign.  Press secretary to Sen.Tom Harkin (D-IA).  Communications director for Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA).  Earlier, according to The Hill, he worked for a public-affairs firm in Southern California.  Undergraduate degree from Boston University, and has completed most of the work towards Master’s degree in political management from The George Washington University.  twitter

Regional Press Secretaries 
West  Ofelia Casillas

(reported by Politico's Mike Allen on June 1, 2011)  Prior to joining the campaign Casillas was deputy director of communications and foundation relations for the ACLU of Illinois.  She has over a decade of experience writing for news publications including The Miami Herald, People magazine, The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune; social policy writer at the Tribune for nine years.  Bachelor's degrees in English and journalism from the University of Florida.  Cuban-American; originally from Miami.

Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic  Frank Benenati

(reported by Politico's Mike Allen on June 1, 2011)  Prior to joining the campaign, Benenati served as Northwest regional press secretary at the DNC starting in April 2009.  Communications director on Al Franken for Senate/Minnesota Coordinated Campaign.  Press secretary to Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY) from late 2006 to March 2008.  Press secretary on the Linda Stender for Congress campaign (NJ-7), Fall 2006.  Staff assistant and legislative correspondent to Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA), 2005-06.  B.A. in journalism/government from American University, 2005.  twitter

Midwest  Ben Finkenbinder

(Aug. 2011)  Press wrangler at the White House, Jan. 2009-June 2011.  Assistant press secretary on Obama for America, June 2007-Nov. 2008.  Graduate of Macalester College, 2007.  Originally from Bethesda, MD. twitter

Northeast  Michael Czin

Previously Northeastern regional press and earlier assistant press secretary at the DNC.  Served as a field organizer in Davenport on Hillary Clinton's Iowa caucus campaign.  twitter

Southeast  Addie Whisenant

(Sept. 2011)  Democratic press secretary for the House Financial Services Committee, Aug. 2010-Sept. 2011.  Communications director to Rep. Artur Davis (initial deputy communications director), April 2009-Aug. 2010.  Graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in journalism and mass communications.  Native of Atlanta, GA.  twitter


Director of Constituency Press  Clo Ewing

(announced Aug. 25, 2011)  Senior associate producer for Harpo Productions from Aug. 2004.  Associate producer and assignment editor for CBS News, 2000-04.  Dual degree in political science and broadcast journalism from Syracuse University, 2000.

Deputy Director of Constituency Press  Charly Norton

(started on the campaign in March 2011)  In the 2010 cycle, Norton worked as an account associate at MSHC Partners.  She has held many internship positions.  B.A. in political science, public policy from The George Washington University.

Director of Hispanic Press  Gabriela Domenzain

Communications director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from mid-2010.  Associate producer at Univision in Miami.  Liaison at the National Council of La Raza.  Master's degree in journalism from New York University; undergraduate degree from University of Chicago, 1998.  From Miami, FL.  twitter

Hispanic Press Coordinator  Nathaly Arriola

(Feb. 2012)  Press secretary for Hispanic media to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from March 2011.  Public policy fellow in the Office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.  B.A. in political science from UC Santa Barbara, 2010.


Director of Rapid Response  Lis Smith

(reported by Politico, Jan. 2012)  Previously communications director for the Democratic Governors Association (announced Jan. 2011). Communications director on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's 2010 campaign, and in 2009 worked for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.  Worked on Dan Seals' congressional campaign in Illinois.  Campaign manager on Sen. Chris Koster's campaign for Attorney General in Missouri, 2007.  Press secretary on Sen. Claire McCaskill's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign.  Graduate of Dartmouth College, 2005.  twitter

Deputy Director of Rapid Response  Danny Kanner

(reported by Politico, April 27, 2012; start early May 2012)  Comes to the campaign from position as press secretary to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.  Press secretary on the independent Crist for U.S. Senate campaign in 2010.  Worked in the Department of Education for the Bloomberg Administration in New York City.  Worked on David Yassky's campaign for NYC comptroller in 2009.  Body man to Gov. Eliot Spitzer.  Graduate of the University of Maryland.

Digital Outreach Lead  Erica Sackin

(Jan. 2012 split between communications and digital..."ran the Obama campaign's blogger, progressive media and digital media outreach program, working with bloggers across the country, and pushing out digital content")  Previously media manager at Planned Parenthood of New York City.  Account executive at Fenton Communications, 2006-08.


Director of Event Communications  Marti Adams

Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting as a press assistant in the NH primary.  Previously worked in Atlanta, GA on an economic development project commissioned by Mayor Shirley Franklin.  She has also worked as a correspondence intern for President Clinton in New York.  Graduate of Spelman College.  Originally from McLean, Virginia. twitter


Director of Surrogate Communications  Ellen Qualls

Moved over to the campaign in Feb. 2012 from position as director of surrogate and allied group outreach at the DNC, Aug. 2011-Feb. 2012.  A resident fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics.  Senior advisor for strategic planning for four years for Nancy Pelosi; also served as press lead for Energy Secretary-designate Steven Chu during the Obama transition.  Communications director for Mark Warner's Forward Together PAC in the 2006 cycle; communications director for Gov. Mark Warner 2005-06, and press secretary to Warner starting on Dec. 12, 2001 through 2005.  Previously Richmond bureau chief for WDBJ-7 TV in Roanoke starting in Nov. 1994; earlier served as station's first Danville bureau chief.  Graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in English, 1988.

Deputy Director of Surrogate Communications  Rob O'Donnell

Previously did surrogate and allied group outreach at the DNC. 


Senior Communications Advisor  Jennifer (Jen) Friedman

(Sept. 2012)  Director of public affairs at the Commerce Department from Jan. 2012.  Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, Jan. 2011-12.  Vice president and director of communications for the Albright Stonebridge Group, June 2007-Jan. 2011.  Director of state communications at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2004-07.  Communications director/communications coordinator at the Violence Policy Center, 2002-04.  B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2002.



• SPEECHWRITING
Director of Speechwriting  Stephen Krupin

(July 2011)  Speechwriter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from April 2009-July 2011; previously served as Leader Reid’s press secretary and deputy press secretary.  Florida press secretary on President Obama’s 2008 campaign.  Media relations and crisis communications associate at APCO Worldwide, 2004-07.  Founder, web designer and graphic designer of EonMedia, 2002-07.  While at Medill, Krupin worked a number of journalism jobs including Washington bureau of Cox Newspapers, reporter and copy editor at the Daily Herald in Chicago, and intern for CNN in Washington.  Master’s degree from the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, 2008; undergraduate degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2004.

Deputy Director of Speechwriting  Vinay Reddy

Came to the campaign from position as speechwriter to Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Surrogate Communications Coordinator  Jill Jefferson

(July 2012)  Worked on civil rights cold cases in Mississippi with the Civil Rights Cold Case Project and wrote speeches for Global Strategy Group in DC after holding internships in the White House and in the Office of Congressman John Lewis. Researcher for Congressman Lewis's Across That Bridge.  Degrees in history and English from the University of Virginia, 2009.

Surrogate Communications Coordinator  Mark Grindy

Previously an associate at the Glover Park Group from Aug. 2009.  Worked press and communications at the Center for American Progress Summer 2009.  B.A. in political science, English from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009.

Writer/Researcher  Aaron Sherman

(Jan. 2012; started as an intern in Sept. 2011)  Counselor at the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel, Aug. 2010-June 2011.  B.A. in international relations from UC Davis, 2010.

Research

Research Director  Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean

Moved to the campaign from position as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Research at the White House, after serving as director of research on the transition, and deputy director of content on the campaign.  Previously worked as a research and communications strategist at CNBC and as Vice President at IMS, Inc., a research consulting firm.  Jarvis-Shean studied at the University of Cape Town and was the fifth generation of her family to attend the University of California, Berkeley, from which she graduated with a degree in political science.  Native of Sacramento, California.

Deputy Research Director  Peter Bondi

(June 2011)  Senior advisor for research and communications on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee.  Research on Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate, 2008.  Deputy research director on Edwards for President, 2007-08.  Researcher at the Democratic National Committee during the 2006 cycle.  Experience includes Jon Corzine for Governor, Bob Menendez for Senate and Betty Castor for Senate campaigns.  Interned on Sen. Joe Lieberman's presidential campaign and then served as a field staffer in New Hampshire. Graduate of Cornell University, 2002.  Native of New Haven, CT.  twitter

Research Associates (...about 16 people, self research plus regional)

David Gomez

(June 2011)  Researcher at the White House, Feb. 2009-June 2011.  Research consultant at Obama for America in Fall 2008.  B.A. in English language and literature from Northern Illinois University, 2005; studied at the John Marshall Law School.

Helen Hare

(June 2011)  Researcher at the White House, Jan.-May 2011.  Communications director on DC Mayor Adrian Fenty's 2010 re-election campaign, April-Sept. 2010.  Deputy communications director for DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, 2009-10.  B.A. in economics from Oberlin College, 2009. 

Fae Jencks

(June 2011)  Researcher at Media Matters for America, June 2010-June 2011.  B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University, 2010.

Conor Dwyer Reynolds

(June 2011)  Student working towards degree in political science from University of Rochester; interned in the communications department at the White House, Jan.-May 2011.

Thomas Zimmerman

(July 2011...national security and foreign policy)  Country director for Pakistan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Client services manager at Blue State Digital, Jan.-Aug. 2009.  Technology projects manager at Obama for America in Chicago in Fall 2008; field organizer on the primary campaign starting June 2007.  Education resources coordinator/assistant to country director of American Councils for International Education in Kabul, Afghanistan, 2006-07.  B.A. in political science from Williams College, 2006.

Eric Snyderman

(Aug. 2011...immigration, crime and justice, counter-terrorism)  Research fellow in the Office of Sen. Charles Schumer, 2011.  Assistant research  director for veting and special projects on the Alex Sink for Governor campaign (FL), May-Nov. 2010.  Conflicts of interest analyst at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 2009-10.  Interned on Mark Warner for Senate 2008.  B.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University, 2008; working part-time towards an M.A. in international relations and national security studies from American University.

Charlotte Jameson

(Sept. 2011...agriculture, food and rural issues)  Public policy coordinator at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, May 2009-Sept. 2011.  Energy associate at Environment America, Sept. 2008-April 2009.  B.A. in political science from University of Chicago, 2008.

Annie Mansfield

(Sept. 2011)  Social media manager at Mansfield Insurance Agency, Aug.-Dec. 2011.  English teacher in Korea, 2010-11.  Host at The Second city, piano instructor and model.  Volunteered on Obama's 2008 campaign.  B.A. from Indiana University Bloomington, 2007.

David Duberstein

(Dec. 2011)  Research coordinator (July-Nov. 2011) and research analyst at the DCCC (Jan. 2010-July 2011).  B.A. in journalism from University of Maryland College Park, 2007.

Damon Porter

(Dec. 2011...digital liaison)  Researcher at Innovative Associates, Feb.-July 2011.  Intern at the White House in communications-research, Sept. 2010-Jan. 2011.  A.B. in economics, political science from University of Chicago.  New media intern on Obama for America in summer 2008.

Vriti Jain

(April 2012)  Policy associate in the City of Chicago Mayor's Office, June 2011-May 2012; research assistant on the transition (Feb-May 2011) and on Chicago for Rahm (Nov. 2010-Feb. 2011).  A.B. in public policy, economics from University of Chicago, 2011.

Caitlin Murray

(2012...regional research desk-South and Midwest)  Deputy research director, oppo on Elizabeth for Massachusetts in the first part of 2012.  Research director on Beshear/Abramson 2011 (Kentucky gubernatorial).  Research associate at the DSCC, 2010.  Correspondent for The Buffalo News, 2009-10.  Reporter for Greater Niagara Newspapers, 2007-09.  Degree in communications, journalism from SUNY College at Buffalo, 2007.

Ryan Karlsgodt

(July 2012...regional research desk)  Project assistant at Winston & Strawn LLP, May 2011-July 2012.  Research analyst at the DCCC, Feb. 2009-Dec. 2010.  B.A. in history, environmental studies, 2008.

Sandra Lynne Fryhofer

(July 2012...health care and seniors' issues)  B.A. in government, health policy from Harvard University, 2012; policy intern at HHS in summer 2011.

Ethan Gurwitz

Graduate of Northwestern University, 2012.  From Worcester, MA.

Justin Dews


 
DNC staff based in Chicago (...about 24 people, focused on opposition research)

Director of Strategic Research  James Lynch

(March 2012; previously deputy director of strategic research starting July 2011)  Senior deputy appointments secretary in the Office of Gov. Jerry Brown, Jan.-July 2011.  Director of research and rapid response at Jerry Brown 2010, March-Dec. 2010.  Consultant at James Lynch Research, 2009-10.  Research and policy director at Merkley for Oregon, Jan. -Nov. 2008.  Legislative researcher in Congress, Oct. 2007-Jan. 2008.  Deputy research director on Angelides 2006, May 2005-Nov. 2006.  J.D. from University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law, 2006; B.A. degrees in U.S. History and political science from UC San Diego, 2003.

Geoff Andersen, Devan Barber, Dave Barr, Luke Bassett, Aaron Buchner, Tyson Brody, Lauren Dillon, Kayti Fan, Chris Herold, Nicholsa Howie, Avi Klein, Kate Mann, Jacob Mathai, Chris McClure, Ryan McInerney, David Miller, Melinda Okoye, Brad Pollock, Anna Ruch, Tom Ryan, Samuel Salustro, Matthew Schaub, Matt Timmeny, Tori Wender

DNC staff based in DC
Director of Rapid Response Research  Tony Carrk (...about 7 people)

(July 2011)  Policy director of the Center for American Progress Action Fund's "ThinkProgress.org" (a "progressive communications war room"), 2009-11.  Research director on Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign, Jan.-June 2009.  Deputy research director at the DSCC, latter half of 2008.  Senior researcher on Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08.  Research associate at IMS, 2003-07.  M.P.P. from Georgetown Public Policy Institute, 2003; bachelor's degree from Siena College, 2001.

Jim Donofrio, Dani Lipsman, Jared McDonald, Rebecca Parks, Emily Rogers, Erika Starr

Digital

Chief Digital Strategist  Joe Rospars

Founding partner and creative director of Blue State Digital.  Took leave from BSD to serve as new media director on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Part of Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign Internet team, where he wrote and edited emails and also worked on message development, online brand building, and grassroots organizing.  Prior to the Dean campaign, Rospars taught English in Stockholm, Sweden and wrote for NotGeniuses.com, a political blog.  Bachelor's degree in political science from The George Washington University.  Originally from Long Island.   twitter

Digital Director  Teddy Goff

(May 2011)  Associate vice president for strategy at Blue State Digital.  Oversaw creation and launch of WhiteHouse.gov for the Obama-Biden presidential transition.  Part of the new media team on Obama's 2008 campaign-in the fall director of new media for battleground states (Great Lakes and Ohio Valley); during the primaries Goff served on the campaign's mass email team.  Degree in English and political science from Yale University.   twitter

Deputy Digital Director  Marie Ewald

(Feb. 2012)  Previously head of online fundraising at World Food Programme, from Feb. 2010.  Online fundraising and direct mail at the Clinton Foundation, 2009-10.  National email programs and fundraising manager on Obama's 2008 campaign from July 2008.  Vice president at M+R Strategic Services, 2005-08.  Editor/writer at the Christian Science Monitor, 2002-03.  Graduate of Stanford University. 

Director of Digital Operations  Lauren Parks

(Nov. 2011)  Came to the campaign from position as EA/PR marketing associate at Podesta Group, from May 2009.  B.S. in journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008.

FRONTEND  |  VIDEO  |  DESIGN/PROD.  |  ONLINE ORGANIZING  |  CONTENT  |  SOCIAL  |   EMAiL  |   ONLINE ADVERTISING  |  DIGITAL ANALYTICS  |  PROG. MANAGERS

• FRONTEND
26 developers, producers, QA technicians and interns
Director of Frontend Web Development  Daniel Ryan 

(Aug. 2011)  CTO at PressCore, Inc., 2010-11.  Technical director at Chattarati, 2009-11.  Frontend department manager at Medium, 2007-09.  Freelance web and IOS developer, 1998-2011.  M.A. in cultural history of war from University of Manchester, 2006; B.A. in history from Lee University, 2005.

Deputy Director of Frontend Web Development  Kyle Rush

(June 2011)  Previously frontend web developer at Blue State Digital.  B.A. in political science from CSU Fullerton, 2008.  Southern California native.

Lead Developer for BarackObama.com  Jeff Louden

(Sept. 2011)  Freelance developer and designer based in Louisville, KY, Jan. 2007-Sept. 2011, and software trainer for Apple Inc., March 2008-Feb. 2011.  Certificate in music technology and production from Berklee College of Music, 2007; B.A. in information studies from Florida State University, 2005.

Lead Developer for GOTV Projects  Michael Renehan

Freelance consultant (development, UX, design) based in Chicago.  Working toward M.S. in software development from Northwestern University, 2012; B.F.A. in playwrighting from Boston University, 2005.

Senior Web Producer  Jason Rico

(Feb. 2012)  Worked for Apple Inc. from Aug. 2006-Feb. 2012.  Served in the U.S. Navy starting in 1998.

Web Producer  Nicholas Marcoullier

(Aug. 2012)  Sales intelligence analyst at Groupon, July 2011-July 2012.  Development associate at Elsewhere Collaborative, mid 2011.  Co-founder and programming coordinator at 1419, Jan. 2009-March 2011.  B.A. degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2010.

Lead QA  Matt Ranalletta

(June 2011)  Marketing assistant for the University of Illinois Alumni Association, 2010-11.  B.A. in psychology, marketing from Washington University in St. Louis.

Quality Assurance Specialist  Elizabeth Joun

(Nov. 2011)

Quality Assurance Specialist  Willie Brosnan

(March 2012; started on the campaign as a political intern, Sept. 2011-March 2012)  B.A. in psychology from George Mason University, 2009.

User Experience Engineer  Manik Rathee

(Dec. 2011)  Owner and head photographer at Manik Rathee Photography from Jan. 2010.  Graphic/UI design lead at RevSystems, Inc. Nov. 2010-Dec. 2011.  Freelance designer, Sept. 2004-Dec. 2010; also designer for Hartz Mountain Corporation (March-Oct. 2010), designer/webmaster at True Sounds Productions (2005-08), and designer for Robeson Gallery (2006-07).  BFA in advertising and graphic design from Kean University, 2010.

Senior Front End Developer  Matthew Gipp

(Dec. 2011)  From upstate New York.

Senior Front End Developer  Eryan Cobham

(Jan. 2012)  Principal consultant at Cobwebs Consulting, LLC from June 2009.  J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, 2005;  B.A. in political science from Yale University, 2001.

Developers

Chris Wolff

(July 2011)  IOS and web developer at cichangeInc., 2010-11.  Frontend developer at Merge Healthcare, Feb.-July 2010.  B.A. in digital media technology from Columbia College Chicago, 2009.

Andy Creighton

(July 2011)  B.A. in philosophy from University of Chicago at Urbana-Champaign, 2008.

Anh-thu Huynh

(Sept. 2011)  Freelance web designer and developer since 2004.  Graduate of University of Chicago, 2008.

Aki Braun

(Dec. 2011)  Ecommerce and web integration administrator/executive vice president of logistics at Johnson Creek Enterprises, LLC, March 2009-Dec. 2011.  Inventory control specialist at Apple Inc, May 2007-Sept. 2008.  Assistant manager at FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center, 2004-07.

Greg Bugyis

(Jan. 2012)  Owner and lead developer at Areech, 2008-Jan. 2012; and web developer at House Party, Inc. 2008-11.  Contract web developer, 2005-08.  Technical writer at InterAKT Online, 2004-05.  B.S. in computer science from Purdue University, 2004. 

Sean Kealey

(Jan. 2012) Freelance developer/creative director (Haystack Needle Design) in Chicago since 2006; lead graphic designer for Aquent, 2007-Jan. 2012.  Art director and production manager at M2MEDIA360 in Chicago, 2003-07.  Production manager for The Ashley Group, 2001-03.  Studied screenwriting, film editing at Columbia College Chicago.

Carrie Sapp

(July 2012)  Over a decade of web development experience, most recently at Aditi (Microsoft).  Other experience includes web developer at Insight Global (Microsoft), 2010-11, web application developer at Allyis (Microsoft), 2006-10, and senior software engineer at Kaplan Professional, 2003-06.  Originally from Texas.

Jeff Solnet

(July 2012; previously spent a couple of months as an Organizing Fellow in Boca Raton)  B.A. in government from Harvard University, 2012.

Conor Gaffney

(Sept. 2012)  Technology associate at the Chicago 2011 Transition Committee; deputy new media director at Chicago for Rahm, Nov. 2010-Feb. 2011.  Research associate at Citizens for Claypool, April-Nov. 2010.  Aldermanic aide in Chicago, Jan-June 2009.  M.Phil. from University of Cambridge, 2012; A.B. in fundamentals, Classical studies from University of Chicago, 2008.

Interns
Summer 2012  Cheyenne Matthews-Hoffman, Sam Chase, Michael Lucas, Robert Virgin, Tara Nebe
Fall 2012  Annie Swank, David Ryan


• VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Video  Stephen Muller

(Aug. 2011)  Director of video production and messaging at Blue State Digital, from Feb. 2008.  Producer at Obama for America, May-Dec. 2008.  BFA in film production from Chapman University Film School, 2007.

Supervising Producer of Video Production  Royd Chung

(Oct. 2011)  Previously director of programming/co-executive producer at Atlas Media Corp. from Oct. 2007.  Various producer positions, starting as an associate producer at PBS, 2001-03.  B.A. in government from Harvard University.

Production Manager, Digital Video Production  Eliza Comer

(Jan. 2012)  Various production positions including three years as a line producer for Atlas Media Corp.started as a production manager/company manager at Walden Family Playhouse, 2002-04.  B.A. in American studies and government from Wesleyan University.

Senior Video Producer  Emily Anderson

(Nov. 2011; lead on all rapid response video content)  Came to the campaign after various producer positions including producer and assignment editor at CNN, 2008-10.  B.A. in history and communications from Boston College, 2003.

Video Producer/Cinematographer  Sierra Lindsey

(Dec. 2011; lead on all health care video content, served as the traveling producer/director for all content involving the President on the road)  Producer/shooter at Gigantic Productions, 2007-08.  Producer/shooter for MTV Networks, 2003-08.  Shooter/field producer/assignment desk at NY1 News, Jan.-Sept. 2006.  Associate producer at VH1-MTV Networks, 2003-05.  B.A. in social work, journalism and communications from New York University, 2003.

Video Producer/Editor  Saimon Kos

(Jan. 2012; the live specialist; directing all of Obama's live-streamed rallies, events and speeches)  Extensive work for MTV Networks; started as a production associate for MTV Productions "Total Request Live," 2003-05.  B.A. degrees in communication and German from Rutgers, 2002.

Video Producers
Tara McGowan

(Oct. 2011)  Deputy press secretary to Sen. Jack Reed, 2010-11.  Broadcast associate at "60 Minutes," 2009-10.  B.A. in journalism, political science from New York University, 2008.

Liz Morrison

(Dec. 2011; produced many celebrity videos including the viral video with Will Ferrell)  Five years producing non-fiction television in New York City, including shows for Bravo, Discovery Channel, NatGeo, OWN, PBS and Travel Channel.  Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, 2006.

Shannon Semler

(Jan. 2012; also served as the Spanish language producer)  Seven years as a TV producer in NYC, gaining extensive field, post-production and storytelling experience on dozens of shows for Bravo, ABC, MTV, Discovery Health, Fuse, Lifetime, and Food Network.  B.A. in English, Spanish from Georgetown University, 2005.

Stefanie Spiegel

(Jan. 2012; also served as the lead producer for all content involving Vice President Biden)  Ten years of television and corporate video producing experience, with extensive field producing experience on shows for Discovery Channel, VH1, Animal Planet, OWN, Food Network, TLC, FOX and McDonalds. B.A in Communications from University of Michigan, 2003.

Rachel Ruiz

(Jan. 2012; lead story development and casting)  Over twelve years of television and documentary producing experience.  Founded FlashRock Films.  Degree in journalism from Illinois State University.

Cerissa Tanner

(Jan. 2012)  Peabody Award winning producer with over seven years of experience producing and writing documentaries for Current TV and others.  Master's in journalism from University of California Berkeley, 2006.

Marion Cunningham

(May 2012)  Production credits on programs that have appeared on Discovery, Science Channel, A&E and National Geographic TV and Animal Planet.  B.F.A. in film and television from Chapman University, 2005.

Cinematographer/Editor  Adam Wisneski

(Sept. 2011; traveled extensively with the President on Air Force One)  Multimedia producer for the Tulsa World, May 2009-Sept. 2011.  Commercial photographer at Rustic Pathways, Inc., Summer 2008.  Did a couple of photo internships, 2007-08.  Degrees in photojournalism and Spanish from University of Missouri-Columbia/Missouri School of Journalism, 2007.

Cinematographer/Editor  Charlene Music

(Jan. 2012; shot/edited oversaw all Spanish language video)  Over nine years of documentary film making experience.  Clients have included Facebook, Center for Responsible Travel, Encore.org, Eureka Communication, and the Mahatma Gandhi Medical Trust.  M.F.A. in documentary film and video from Stanford University, 2009; B.A. in visual and environmental studies from Harvard University, 2004.

Cinematographer  Liz Rubin

(Aug. 2011)  Over a decade of working on TV, network, film, broadcast crews storytelling and film making across a wide variety of cross-platform media and digital projects in New York and Los Angeles.  M.F.A. in film and cinematography from the Art Center College of Design, 2003; B.A. in psychology and art history from Mount Holyoke College, 1993.

Cinematographer  Andrew Shuford

(Jan. 2012; shot many interviews and videos with the President and celebrities)  Over ten years of experience as a freelance cinematographer including work on television shows for Discovery, TLC, HGTV, WE, VH1 and CBS.  B.A. in film and video from Brooks Institute of Photography, 2006.

Post-Production Supervisor  Noah Meisner

(Jan. 2012; created and oversaw production workflow strategies, managed live streams; also produced the Jay-Z viral video)  Producer of the short "Die with Me" (2011) and co-producer of the short "Red Shoes" (2009).  M.A. in media studies and film from The New School in New York.

Video Editors
Josh Kanipe

(Aug. 2011)  Producer and editor with twelve years of experience working with some of the biggest studios in Hollywood producing and editing trailers, Blu-ray/DVD content, commercials, promos, webisodes and EPKs.  B.S. in music industry from the University of Southern California, 1999.

Mie Sorensen

(Dec. 2011)  Interactive designer, filmmaker, producer, director and editor with over ten years of experience and study.  Clients have included Disney, Nickelodeon, MTV, Lionsgate, New Regency, Mercedes and Bravo; also freelance producing and editing for her own company Lilwondermat since 2004.  B.A. in interactive media and design from University of Newport, Wales; B.F.A. in dramatic writing from NYU, 2002.

Kimberly Pellnat

(Jan. 2012)  Ten years as an editor and producer in New York; has edited over 400 projects for TV, independent film and the web.  B.S. in communication and media studies from SUNY College at Fredonia, 2002.

Allan Piper

(Jan. 2012; edited many of the rapid response videos)  Television and documentary editor; has worked on shows for TLC, E!, Discovery and CBS and other networks and was editor and senior editor for BBC New York, 2005-08.  Directed, produced and edited the theatrical release documentary "Married and Counting" (2011).  Undergraduate degree in English from Harvard University; attended New York University Film School in 1994.  Virginia native.  

Mark Meatto

(Oct. 2012)  Has produced, directed and edited films including his first theatrical film "How To Grow a Band" (2012).  He worked for six years as Ross McElwee’s creative collaborator, including on the documentary feature "Bright Leaves."  B.A. in philosophy from Harvard University, 1999.

Motion Graphics Artist  Sasha Fornari

Co-founder On Center magazine, 2008-10.  Videographer and photographer at the Moscow Ballet, 2009-10.  Graphic production manager for The Joffrey Ballet, 2003-08.  B.F.A. in graphic design from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001.

Motion Graphics Artist/Director  Christopher Markos

(July 2012; including director of the viral Will Ferrell video)  Emmy award winning motion graphics artist, filmmaker, director and editor.  Director at Dictionary Films, 2008-11; creative director at Sol Design, 2004-11.  Designer at Digital Kitchen, 2000-03.  Visual effects artist at Avenue Edit, 1995-2000.  Experience includes director of photography on Paraíso, winner of the best documentary short at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.  Studied at Berklee College of Music and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Assistant Editor/Videographer  Matty Greene

(Aug. 2011; took on multiple roles including editor, cinematographer, associate producer, post-production assistant and digital media manager)  Interned at the White House Office of DIgital Strategy, filming and editing content for WH.gov, Jan.-May 2011.  B.S. in radio/television/film from the University of Texas at Austin, 2010.

Assistant Editor/Videographer  Mike Ingrasci

(started Jan. 2012 as an assistant editor and took on multiple roles including editor, cinematographer, associate producer, post-production assistant, live digital video technician and digital media manager)  Freelance videographer in the Greater L.A. area. Director of video for the Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp, 2007-11.  Interned on Obama's 2008 campaign in Chicago.  B.F.A. in film production from U.S.C.'s School of Cinematic Arts, 2008.

Digital Distribution Lead  Soothesuk Kusumpa

(Sept. 2011)  Strategist and analyst at Blue State Digital, 2009-11.  Office of Sen. Richard Durbin, 2009.  Organizer and Fellow on the 2008 Obama campaign.  M.P.A. from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 2008; B.F.A. in industrial design from the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana.

Photographer/Designer  Chris Dilts

(May 2011; traveled extensively with the President and Vice President; worked closely with the design and social media teams to integrate photography)  Owner of Christopher Dilts Photography | Design from Aug. 2005-present; including designer/photographer as part of the DNC New Media creative team, 2010-11.  Photographic editor/associate designer at P8NT Magazine, 1999-2005.  BA. in sociology/anthropology from Earlham College, 1999.

Photographer  Scout Tufankjian

(Aug. 2012)  Based in Brooklyn, NY, Tufankjian is a well-known photojournalist represented by Polaris Images.


• DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Design Director  Josh Higgins

(Sept. 2011)  Over twelve years design experience; creative director at Departure Advertising.  Previously associate creative director at Vitrorobertson.  Design degree from San Diego City College.  Musician with the band, fluf (7 albums).  San Diego native.

Associate Design Director  Carla Pearlman

(July 2011)  Graphic designer at the Museum of Science and Industry, 2009-11.  Graphic designer at Obama for America, Fall 2008.  Graphic designer at Polaris Creative Partners, 2008.  B.F.A in visual communications from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2007.

Senior Design Lead  Taylor LeCroy

(Aug. 2011)  Senior art director at Tom, Dick & Harry Creative Co., 2008-11.  Art director at Element 79, 2007-08.  Art director at DDB Chicago, 2005-07.  Graduate in art direction from The Creative Circus; B.A. from University of Florida, 2002.

Lead Interactive Designer  Dan Carson

(Oct. 2011)  Interactive designer at Hornall Anderson Design Works, Nov. 2009-Sept. 2011.  Designer and Flash developer at POP, 2006-09.  Interactive designer and developer at Squad, 2004-06.  Owner of okdan, web design and development, 2002-09.  AAA in interactive media from the Art Institute of Seattle, 2004.

Senior Designers
Daphne Karagianis

(May 2011)  Designer at the DNC Feb.-May 2011.  Art director at Digitas Design in Chicago.  B.A. in graphic design from Columbia College Chicago.

Garret Karol

(Jan. 2012)  Graphic designer at ALARM Press/Design Bureau Magazine, latter part of 2011.  Graphic designer at Robinson & Maites, 2010-11.  Senior designer at University of Missouri's Department of Student Life, 2007-10.  B.F.A. in graphic design from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006.

Lee Zelenak

(Jan. 2012)  Previously director of programming at AIGA Cleveland from June 2009, and designer for Twist Creative Inc. from June 2008.  Instructor in the School of Visual Communication Design at Kent State University, 2006-10, and studio manager/designer at Glyphix Design Studio from 2006-08.  B.S./M.F.A. in visual communication design from Kent State University, 2008. 

Ryan Paule

(March 2012) Art director at Moosylvania, Nov. 2011-March 2012.  Design consultant and earlier creative intern for Fleishman-Hillard, 2010-11.

Amanda Buck

(March 2012)  Designer for PieLab, a Project M + H.E.R.O. initiative, 2009-10.  Freelance designer and earlier design intern for Ologie, 2008.  B.S.D. in visual communication design from The Ohio State University, 2008.

Designers
Zach Stubenvoll
- Lead Production Designer/Print Lead (Sept. 2011)  Bachelor's degree in graphic design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, 2011.

Ryan Roche (Sept. 2011)  Designer at Minds On in Columbus, OH, mid-2011.  B.F.A. in graphic design from Bowling Green State University, 2011.

Lauren Gallagher (Nov. 2011)  Previously working as a freelance junior art director.  Designer at Insight Advertising, 2009-11.  Degree in visual communication technology from Bowling Green State University, 2010.

Drew Roper
(Jan. 2012)  Marketing designer for Modern Luxury, latter half of 2011.  B.A. in graphic design from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2010.

Jason Dietrick, Sr. (Jan. 2012)  Senior designer at Partners Design, Inc., Oct. 2007-Dec. 2011.  Bachelor of design from Penn State University, 2007.

Jake Welchert (Jan. 2012)  Production artist at Ervin & Smith Advertising, May-Dec. 2011.  Bachelor's degree in design and applied arts from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2011.

Carli Dottore  Designer at Angelini Design in Rome, Italy, latter part of 2010.  Designer at Twist Creative in Cleveland, OH, 2008-09.  B.F.A. in visual communication design from Kent State University.


• ONLINE ORGANIZING
Digital Organizing Director  Betsy Hoover

A regional organizing director at Organizing for America.  In the 2008 campaign Hoover worked as a field organizer in South Carolina, on Obama's Pennsylvania primary campaign and in the general election was a deputy field director on the Campaign for Change in Michigan.  Development associate at Sojourners/Call to Renewal.  Graduate of Xavier University, 2006.  Milwaukee (Whitefish Bay) native.   twitter

- Engagement Program Managers

Call Tool  Bridget Halligan

(Aug. 2011)  Halligan worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as an Organizing Fellow in June 2008, and served as a field organizer in Sarasota County, FL in the Fall.  B.A. in political science from Villanova University, 2011; student body president, 2010-11.

A Bit of Everything  Brandi Edwards

(Sept. 2012; Florida deputy digital director from Feb.-Aug. 2012 and earlier New Hampshire digital director from Aug. 2011-Jan. 2012)  New media regional desk at Organizing for America-DNC, March-Aug. 2011.  Deputy field director for Indiana at Organizing for America, July 2009-April 2011.  Indiana coordinator at Repower America, April-July 2009.   Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a field intern in March 2008 and then as a field organizer on the North Carolina Campaign for Change in Fall 2008.  B.S. degrees in life sciences (2003) and political science (2005) from Indiana State University.

Distributed Events  Audrey Edmonds

(Aug. 2012)  Director of digital communications on Eric Griego for Congress (NM), Oct. 2011-June 2012.  Online communications specialist for the Maryland State Education Association, Aug. 2009-Oct. 2011.  Communications and marketing associate at EarthShare, 2007-09.  B.A. in English language and literature from University of Maryland College Park, 2007.

Digital Training  Brad Schenck

(Feb. 2012; started in May 2011 as Southern region digital director)  A new media desk June 2010-May 2011 and regional field director in Miami/Fort Lauderdale (July 2009-June 2010) for the DNC.  Self-employed as Brad A. Schenck Media, 2003-09.  Field organizer on Obama's campaign in Miami/Fort Lauderdale in Fall 2008.  Designer/project manager at Six Flags, 2001-03.  Studied organizational leadership at Penn State University.   ..to Nevada digital director from Aug. 2012

Online Grassroots Fundraising  Grant Denton

(July 2011... the campaign’s online Grassroots Fundraising program)  Intern/online organizer at Organizing for America, Sept. 2010-May 2011.  M.A. in communication management (2010) and B.S. in political communication (2009) from Emerson College.

Dashboard  Jeff Gabriel

twitter

Gotta Register  Jesse Thomas

(Jan. 2012)  Deputy director for interactive communications at USAID, 2010-11.  Confidential assistant to the CFO and Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 2009-10.  Worked field on Obama's 2007-08 campaign.  Co-founder and producer of People's Television; also video associate for Seed Magazine, 2006-07.  B.A. in political science from SUNY Purchase, 2006.

- Regional Desks
Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic  Katy Rose Glickman

Previously a new media regional director for Organizing for America.  Staff assistant to U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ), 2009-10.  Field organizer on Obama for America.  B.A. in fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania, 2008.

Midwest  Ryan Gallentine

Regional field director on Obama for America in Michigan's 4th CD from June -Nov. 2008 after serving as a field organizer in Iowa, Nevada, Colorado, Wisconsin and Indiana, starting in Oct. 2007.  Political editor at Broadcast Interactive Media, May-Oct. 2007.  B.S. in journalism and mass communication from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007.

Southern and Midwest  Andy Oare

(Jan. 2012)  Senior new media strategist (Oct. 2010-Oct. 2011) and new media specialist on the Recovery Act team (April 2009-Sept. 2010) at the U.S. Department of Energy.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting in Dec. 2007 as a field organizer in the South Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky primaries, and in the general election as a regional field director in Michigan, and redeployed to Indiana GOTV for the close of the campaign.  B.A. in communications and B.S. in psychology from Xavier University, 2006.

Western  John Schueler

(Jan. 2012)  Senior new media strategist and new media specialist at the Department of Energy, March 2009-Jan. 2012.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting in June 2007 as a field organizer and serving as Missouri new media director in the Fall.  B.A. in political science and government from Loyola University Chicago.

Northeast  Erica Sagrans

(Sept. 2011)  Online writer and site manager (Jan.-Dec. 2010) and email strategist (June 2009-Jan. 2010) at Organizing for America-DNC.  Online writer for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2007-09.  Research, policy work and grant-writing at the Rhode Island Family Life Center, a non-profit that supports formerly incarcerated individuals and their families in Providence.  Bachelor's degree in sociology from Brown University, 2005.

- Constituency Managers (Operation Vote)

Lead  Gillea Allison

(Jan. 2012)  Brand and communications manager at D Magazine Partners, Aug. 2009-Dec. 2011.  PR and promotions coordinator at Method Products, Jan.-July 2009.  Worked on Obama's campaign in Fall 2008 as a staging location director in Pueblo, CO.  Support associate at Action Without Borders/Idealist, 2007-08.  B.A. in history and international studies from Fordham University, 2006.

Leah Sandals

Account executive for Resnicow Schroeder Associates; also director of public relations for SlantShack Jerky.  Worked as an organizer on Obama's 2008 campaign in Philadelphia.  Public relations at Homes for the Homeless.  Degree in anthropology and Spanish from Columbia University.

Melissa Archuleta

(April 2012)  Account manager at Seed Media Group, Nov. 2008-Jan. 2010.  Advertising sales for the Wall Street Journal, 2005-08.  Marketing assistant at Solomon Friedman Entertainment, 2003-04.  B.A. in marketing/modern languages from Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Vinay Nayak

Student at Yale University.  Nayak was a candidate for New Haven Ward 1 Alderman in Nov. 2011.  Native of Oakbrook, IL (suburban Chicago).

- State Digital Directors:  CA-Vance Hickin  -  CO-Jeremie Vella  -  FL- Carey Jeremiason  -  IL-Taneisha Roby  -  IA-Trent Schacht  -  MN-Jake Levy-Pollands  -  NV-Brad Schenck  -  NH-Greg Wasserstrom  -  NM-Chris Burley  -  NC-Mike Davidson  -  OH-Ashley Bryant  -  PA-Josh Cook  -  VA-Jonathan Marrero  -  WI-Emily Dalton   ...and about 75 online organizers in the state programs



• CONTENT

Outbound Director, Content  Christopher Hass

Deputy content lead on the new media team on Obama's 2008 campaign.

Senior Outbound Manager (blog)  Mary Hough


Senior Digital Writer (Rapid Response)  Tanya Somanader

(Feb. 2012)  Reporter at the Center for American Progress, ThinkProgress, 2010-Feb. 2012.  Legislative correspondent in the Office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, 2008-10.  Degree in history, international relations from Brown University, 2007.

Senior Writer  Lauren Peterson

(Aug. 2011)  Acting operations director at the Wisconsin Film Festival, Jan.-Aug. 2011; project manager at the University of Wisconsin Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, March 2010-Aug. 2011.  B.A. in political science and government from University of Madison-Wisconsin, 2010.

Outbound Writers/Producers
Melanie Garunay

(Oct. 2011)  Web manager for Third World Center, Sept. 2009-May 2011.  B.A. in international relations from Brown University, 2011.

Grant Fuller

Freelance contract reporter for World Vision Report in Mexico City, 2009-11.  Radio journalism trainer at Journalists for Human Rights, 2008-09.  Radio program trainer for Voluntary Service Overseas, 2007-08.  B.A. in communication and Spanish from Trinity University, 2005.

Noah Remnick

Student at Yale University.

SOCIAL...FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, TUMBLR &c
Outbound Director, Social Media  Laura Olin

(March 2011, acc. to Brian Reis writing at The Daily Beast, "the first digital staffer")  Came to the campaign from Blue State Digital.  Online specialist at People for the American Way, 2007-08.  Assistant editor at Center for American Progress, 2007. MSc from London School of Economics and Political Science, 2006.  B.A. in political science, psychology from University of Virginia.  Grew up in Washington, DC suburbs.  Born in Lahti, Finland.

Social Media Strategist  Abby Aronofsky

Experience includes freelance copywriter at MS&L Worldwide.  MPIA from School of international Relations and Pacific Studies at UC San Diego, 2011.  Undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communications from New York University.

Social Media Strategist  Alex Wall

(Feb. 2012)  Previously a media assistant at the Sierra Club, from April 2011.  Clean energy associate at Environment America, 2009-11.  B.S. in political science and journalism from Northwestern University, 2009.

Social Media Content Manager  Jessi Langsen

(Dec. 2011)  Came to the campaign from position as knowledge manager-food and nutrition practice at Edelman, from May 2010; also social media strategist/account supervisor at Edelman Digital, 2008-11.  Senior account executive at Vi Nelson & Associates, 2006-08.  Degree in communications from Miami University, 2005.

Translator  Mario Moreno

(Oct. 2011 "co-launching and developing content strategy for the Spanish blog, managing the Spanish language email list, and researching, writing, and editing all Spanish content.")  Fellow in Buenos Aires; research assistant in Mexico City.  B.A. in political science from Duke University, 2010.


• EMAIL

Outbound Director, Email  Toby Fallsgraff

(May 2011)  Senior email campaigner at the DNC from April 2010.  Consultant at M+R Strategic Services through April 2010.  Campaign manager on O'Neill for Congress, 2007-08.  M.A. in political management from The George Washington University, 2006.  B.S. in journalism from Ohio University, 2004.

Deputy Email Director  Martha Patzer

(May 2011)  Prior to joining the campaign Patzer was an email campaigner at the DNC, starting Aug. 2010.  Online outreach and communications manager at the League of Women Voters, 2009-10.  Communications manager at the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, 2007-09.  Arts and entertainment writer for UWeekly, 2006-07.  Copy editor at the South Bend Tribune, 2005-06.  B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame.

Deputy Email Director  Lindsay Holst


Senior Outbound Writer  Steve Jacobs

(Aug. 2012...improve and accelerate email fundraising)  Online communications strategist at Blue State Digital, Aug. 2009-March 2012.  Producer (2007-09) and news assistant (2006-07) at NY1 News.  B.A. in history and literature from Harvard University, 2005.

Outbound Writer/Mobilization Manager  Jay Davis

(Aug. 2011)  Online director at Equality California, May 2009-July 2011.  Account executive at Spitfire Strategies, May 2007-May 2009.  Communications associate at Business for Social Responsibility, 2006-07.  Assistant editor, editorial assistant at Thomson Learning, 2002-06.  M.A. in political science from San Francisco State University, 2011; B.A. in English from Pomona College, 2002.

Outbound Writers
Rebecca Christopher 

(Aug. 2011) Writer at OMP, July 2010-July 2011.  Undergraduate degree in political science and government from Valparaiso University.

Caitlin Mitchell

(Aug. 2011)  Research director at AKPD Message and Media, 2009-11; new media director for Chicago for Rahm Emanuel, Oct. 2010-March 2011.  B.S. in communication studies, public advocacy from Ohio University, 2007.

Laura Wilson

(Oct. 2011)  Program assistant at the Elliott School of International Affairs at GWU, 2009-11.  Manager of outreach at Fastcase, Inc., 2007-08.  M.A. in international development studies, media and social justice, doc. film from The George Washington University; B.S. in foreign service, international politics, women's studies from Georgetown University, 2007.

Sarah Driscoll

(Oct. 2011)  Communications and outreach associate at Women Thrive Worldwide, 2011.  Virginia state associate, fellowship program at Environment America, 2009-11.  B.A. in anthropology, communications and media studies from Tufts University, 2009.

Sam Levor

(Feb. 2012)  Deputy communications director on Bob Massie for U.S. Senate (Mass.), March-Oct. 2011.  Campaign manager on Beth Bye for State Senate (Conn.), Fall 2010.  Administrator and event coordinator at the Toxics Action Center, 2008-10.  Assistant canvass director for the Fund for the Public Interest, in Boston, 2007-08.  B.A. in politics and history from Brandeis University, 2007.

Patrick Stevenson

(April 2012)  Assistant account executive (Nov. 2010-March 2012) and account coordinator (Aug. 2009-Nov. 2010) at GYMR Public Relations.  B.A. in English and history from Xavier University, 2008.

Amanda Litman

(May 2012; intern from Sept. 2011-May 2012)  B.A. in American studies from Northwestern University, 2012.

Ryan Alexander 

(July 2012)  Digital director on Barrett for Wisconsin (recall election), March-June 2012.  Digital director at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Nov. 2011-March 2012.  Deputy communications director at the Wisconsin State Assembly, May-Nov. 2011.  New media and communications consultant on Chris Abel for Milwaukee County, Jan.-April 2011.  New media director on Barrett for Wisconsin, Feb.-Nov. 2010.  Senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, 2008-10.  Online strategy and advocacy at WebStrong Group/Webster Strategies, 2007-08.  New media director at Dwight Evans for Mayor Jan.-May 2007.  New media consultant on John Edwards for President, 2007.  Online communications and organizing for the All America PAC, latter half of 2006.  Field organizer on the Kerry/Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Fall 2004.  B.A. in political science and government from Marquette University, 2006.

Elizabeth Zaretsky

(July 2012; started on the campaign as an Organizing Fellow in Iowa City, Oct. 2011-May 2012)  Student in political science, English at University of Iowa.

Monique Ozanne

(Aug. 2012; intern from May-Aug. 2012)  J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2012; B.S. in journalism from Ohio University, 2009.

Agnes Mazur

(Aug. 2012)  Digital communications associate at Blue State Digital from Oct. 2010.  Organizing Fellow and campaign office liaison on the Obama campaign in Valparaiso, IN in summer 2008.  B.A. in political science from University of Chicago, 2009.

Danielle Kantor

(Aug. 2012)  Communication associate at Blue State Digital from Jan. 2012.  Sales coordinator for New York Magazine, 2008-10.  M.A. in public communication from American University, 2011; B.S. in political science, philosophy from Tulane University, 2008.

Daniel (Danny) Porter

(Aug. 2012)  English teacher for the Hidakagawa Board of Education in Japan, 2010-2012.  Web and social media assistant at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2008-10.  B.A. in political science, communication studies from Kent State University, 2008.


ONLINE ADVERTISING
Internet Advertising  Bully Pulpit Interactive/Andrew Bleeker

Bleeker was director of internet advertising on for Obama for America in the 2008 general election campaign. He founded Bully Pulpit Interactive after the campaign and is principal; others are Michael Organ, partner; Ben Coffey Clark, managing director; and Mark Skidmore, managing director.

Director of Digital Marketing  Nathaniel Lubin

Senior associate at Bully Pulpit Interactive, 2009-11.  Writer/producer in Obama's 2008 campaign.  B.A. in political science and government from Harvard College.

Senior Interactive Designer  Jillian Maryonovich

(Jan. 2012)  Senior interactive art director at Digitas Chicago, 2006-11.  Flash designer at Barbarian Group, 2004-06.  Graphic design at the Massachusetts College of Art, 2002.

Senior Advertising Strategist  Sarah Eva Monroe

(2012)  Director of digital strategy at Lipman Hearne, 2011-12.  Director of interactive marketing at TCS Education System, 2008-11.  Online Communication Specialist at Columbia College Chicago, 2004-08.  Self-employed freelance web designer and developer (Luckyface Designs), 2000-08.  M.S. in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University, 2010.  B.A. in art studio from Tulane University, 2000.

Digital Advertising Strategist  Chris Choi

(Nov. 2011)  Previously associate (2010-11) and account executive (2009-10) at Bully Pulpit Interactive.  B.A. from the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan University.

Senior Digital Advertising Manager  Eric Reif

(Aug. 2011)  Previously account supervisor at Bully Pulpit Interactive, 2010-11.  B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, 2010.

Digital Ads Manager  Frankie Brannon

(Aug. 2012)  Co-founder of SocialAdditive!, May 2011.  Co-founder of RevHarvest, Sept. 2010-May 2011.  Senior media buyer at 785 Media, 2006-10.

Digital Advertising Manager  Danielle Butterfield

(Sept. 2011)  Came to the campaign after serving as a press intern for Rep. Loretta Sanchez.  B.A. in political science from Chapman University, 2011.

Digital Media Manager  Yasmin Aslam

(April 2012)  Digital media planner at Carat, 2011-12.  Associate media planner at Starcom MediaVest Group, 2010-11.  Assistant planner (2009-10) and assistant account executive/junior account executive (2008-09) at Horizon Media.  B.A. in political science, from UC Berkeley, 2007.

Media Lead  Shannon Lee

(Oct. 2011)  Media planner (May 2010-Dec. 2011), associate media planner (Oct. 2008-May 2010) and new business associate (July-Oct. 2008) at Digitas, Inc..  B.A. in journalism from Indiana University Bloomington, 2008.

Analyst  Gaurav Shirole

(Sept. 2011)  Worked as an analyst at Cornerstone Research.  BS/BA in business, political science from UC Berkeley.

Search Engine Marketers
Cliff Doggett

(Nov. 2011)  Search marketing manager at Total Attorneys, 2010-11.  Account team leader at iProspect, 2009-10.   Search marketing program manager at Performics, 2007-09.  Marketing manager at DigitalWork Inc., 2003-07.  Graduate of DePaul University, 2004.

Brian O'Grady

(Feb. 2012)  Manager of launch and optimization at VivaKi, 2009-Feb. 2012.  Program manager at DoubleClick Performics, 2006-09.  MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, 2005.

DIGITAL ANALYTICS
Director of Digital Analytics Amelia Showalter

(July 2011, started as senior digital analyst)  Started Amelia Showalter LLC, doing quantitative political consulting, in January 2011. Director of media strategies at Changing Targets Media, 2008-10.  Analyst at MSHC Partners, Fall 2008.  M.P.P from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 2008; A.B. in government from Harvard University, 2005.

Deputy Director of Digital Analytics  Evan Zasoski

(Sept. 2011)  Analytics engineer at the DNC from April 2010.  Analyst at Computer Technology Solutions, 2008-10.  M.S. (2008) and B.S. (2006) in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Senior Analyst  Michelangelo D'Agostino

(Nov. 2011)  Postdoctoral researcher at Argonne National Laboratory from 2004. Physics teacher at Millfield School in Somerset, England, 2003-04.  Ph.D. in particle physics from UC Berkeley, 2009; A.B. in physics from Harvard University, 2002.

Senior Analyst  Ricky Gonzales

(Jan. 2012)  Ph.D. candidate in health policy at Harvard University.  Health policy analyst (2006-07) and fellow (2005-06) at Families USA.  A.B. in history and science from Harvard College, 2005.

Senior Digital Analyst  Yahel Carmon

Senior web analytics architect at Blue State Digital starting in May 2010.  A web manager at the University of Pennsylvania.  Studied political science and economics at McGill University.  Grew up in New York.

Senior Analyst  Samarth Bhaskar

(started as an associate analyst in Sept. 2011)  M.A. from University of Chicago, 2011.  B.A. in international studies, communications from University of Illinois at Urbana, 2010.

Associate Analyst and Data Specialist  Jamie Bernstein

(Oct. 2011)  Human resources specialist (civilian) for the U.S. Army, 2007-09.  M.P.P. from University of Chicago, 2011; B.S. in public management and policy from University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, 2006.

Associate Analyst  Ben Smithgall

(Sept. 2011)  B.A. in public policy studies from University of Chicago, 2012.

Analyst  Dylan Harper

(March 2012)  Data analyst/associate consultant at DNV-Wind, 2008-11.  STE (contractor) for Windows Mobile, Dec. 2007-April 2008.  Software tester at Testing Testing 123, latter half of 2007.  B.S. in mathematics from University of Washington, 2007.

Analyst  Brian Wonch

(Dec. 2011)  Marketing and outreach coordinator (2008-10) and program support and marketing assistant (2007-08) at McGaw YMCA.  Americorps staff at Washtenaw County Workers Center, summer 2007.  Member services staff at Ann Arbor YMCA, 2006-07.  M.Sc. in marketing from Northwestern University, 2011; B.A. in Latin American studies, Spanish from Oberlin College, 2006.

Analyst  Chris Eldredge

(Dec. 2011)  Product analyst at Foodily, Inc. 2010-11.  B.A. in economics and political science from UCLA, 2010.

Associate Analyst  Debbie Chung

(March 2012)  Associate at Charles River Associates, Aug. 2010-March 2012.  B.A. in economics and political science from New York University, 2010.

Associate Analyst  Benjamin Levin

(May 2012)  B.A. in economics/mathematics from Pomona College, 2012.

Senior Project Manager  Sabeen Virani

Consultant at Monitor Group.  Program assistant for the Aga Khan Development Network.  M.A. in Middle East studies from Harvard University, 2008; B.A. in government, Near Eastern studies, international relations from Cornell University, 2005.  From Santa Monica, CA.

Interns
Bobby Courtney (Feb.-July 2012; from Aug. 2012 deputy data director in Colorado)  B.A. in mathematics from Georgetown University, 2011.
Batchimeg Ganbaatar (Sept. 2012)  B.S. in marketing, international business from University of Illinois at Chicago.


PROGRAM MANAGERS

Director of Digital Programs  Anna Kim

(Sept. 2011)  Office of the Staff Secretary at the White House, Jan. 2009-Aug. 2011.  Agency review on the Obama-Biden Transition.  Worked in the new media department on Obama's 2007-08 campaign.  External affairs/development at the Center for American Progress, 2005-07.  B.A. in political science from Northwestern University.

Director of Digital Products  David Sebag

(Dec. 2011)  Director of product management at Hashable, 2010-11.  Product marketing manager at Quigo Technologies, 2005-06, director of content at Quigo, 2006-07, and principal product manager at AOL Advertising/Quigo, 2008-Jan. 2010.  Founder of Beam5.tv.  Project manager at semaphore Partners, 2003-04.  Product manager at Hotjobs.com, 2000-01.  Research analyst at Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, 1998-2000.  M.A. in film from Columbia University in the City of New York, 2005.  B.A. in economics and psychology from University of Pennsylvania, 1998.

Senior Program Manager  Julia Prieto

(Oct. 2011...national fundraising programs including all online properties for the national finance team)  Associate manager, digital at the Robin Hood Foundation, 2009-11.  Director of marketing for TADA! Youth Theater, 2006-09.  Assistant account executive at Scheer Advertising Group, 2005-06.  B.A. in political science from Williams College, 2005.

Digital Product Manager  Sierra Sletvett

(April 2012)  Senior product manager at Zynga, Sept. 2010-April 2012.  Product manager at Google, April 2008-July 2010 (software engineering intern at Google, summer 2007).  B.S., B.A. in computer science, interdisciplinary visual arts from University of Washington, 2008.

Program Managers 
Sara Langhinrichs

(May 2011)  Prior to joining the campaign Langhinrichs was an email campaigner at the DNC, starting April 2010.  Research assistant for Mic Check Radio at the Center for American Progress, 2008-10.  Civic engagement fellow at the Resource Center of the Americas, Jan.-Aug. 2007. B.A. in political science, economics from Macalester College, 2006.

Mika Kurose Rothman

(Nov. 2011)  Worked in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Sept. 2010-Nov. 2011.   Strategy intern at Blue State Digital, Feb.-Aug. 2010.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign as a field intern in Iowa and field organizer in Seattle.  B.S. in media, culture and communication from New York University, 2010.

Adam Stalker

(Jan. 2012...persuasion and contrast projects)  Senior account director (2007-08), client services manager (2007-08), account supervisor (2005-07), senior search manager (2004-05), senior account manager (2003-04) at Avenue A | Razorfish.  Marketing manager at LiveListings, Inc. 1999-2002.  B.A. in marketing from University of Washington, 2000; working toward M.P.P. from Georgetown University.

Laura Miller   ...to CO for close of campaign, Digital Border States Director  

(Feb. 2012)  Intern in the Office of Digital Strategy at the White House, Aug. 2011-Jan. 2012.  Account management intern at Launch Creative Marketing in Chicago.  B.S. in advertising from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011.

Charles Brace

Former staffer on Sen. Russ Feingold's campaign and on We Are Wisconsin.

Vivek Tata

Came to the campaign from Google where he worked as product marketing manager, Google Product Search (2009-10), industry analyst (2007-08), AdWords coordinator (2006-07), and associate product marketing manager, AdWords (starting July 2006).  B.A. in history from Dartmouth College, 2006.


Notes:
Kara Harshman interview.  "Kyle Rush on Optimizely, Testing, and Obama (Part 1)." Optimizely blog, Jan. 21, 2013.    "Total on the digital team was about 165 people."
Joshua Green. "The Science Behind Those Obama Campaign E-Mails." Bloomberg Businessweek, Nov. 29, 2012.
Jo Piazza.  "Lessons in digital outreach from Obama campaign's blogger liaison." Current, Nov. 27, 2012.
Jonathan Cutrell.  "Chatting with Obama for Americai's Director of Frontend Development: Daniel Ryan."  Nettuts+, Nov. 26, 2012.
Nick Judd and Micah L. Sifry.  "The Obama Campaign's Legacy: Listen, Experiment, and Analyze Everything."  TechPresident, Nov. 21, 2012.
Manik Rathee's Readlist

Technology, DATA and Analytics

Chief Integration and Innovation Officer  Michael Slaby

(April 2011)  Chief technology strategist at Tomorrow Ventures, LLC from Feb. 2009.  Executive vice president, digital global practice chair at Edelman, 2010-March 2011.  Technology director on the Obama-Biden Transition Project.  Started on Obama's 2008 campaign in March 2007 as new media strategist and production lead, then deputy new media director and finally chief technology officer.  Deputy campaign manager on Vi Daley's re-election campaign for Alderman in Chicago, 2007.  Production manager at The Strategy Group, 2006.  Interned for Sen. Dick Durbin in Chicago, 2005-06; and head waiter at Oceanique.  Worked for several multimedia design and web application and platform development startup companies including no ink, inc.  A.B. in English literature from Brown University, 2001.   twitter

CTO, CIO and CAO reported to Michael Slaby and he reported to Messina.

Technology

Chief Technology Officer  James Harper Reed

(from late April 2011; according to Chicago Tribune Reed "will focus on helping field operators improve voter contact")  Describes self as "an engineer excited about real time, social software and the open source software movement."  On his blog he wrote, "I spent most of 2010 doing my best to avoid deliverables and enjoy not having a day to day job."  At Rackspace to April 2010.  CTO of skinnyCorp, LLC (Threadless.com), 2005-09.  Web programmer at Cramer and Krasselt, 2004-05.  Security and software engineer at World Book Publishing, 2001-04.  Founder of NaTa2.com, a small hosting company, 1997-2008.  B.A. in computer science and philosophy from Cornell College in Mt Vernon, Iowa, 2001.  Grew up in Greeley, CO.

Deputy Chief Technology Officer  Mike Conlow

Previously deputy technology director at the DNC.  Director of analytics at OMP.  Director of data analysis and reporting on Obama for America, June-Nov. 2008.  Senior analyst at the DNC, 2006-07.  Senior research associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, 2005-06.  Bachelor's degree in economics from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2004.


Director of Development  Dan Ratner

(May 2011)  Describes self as "Chicago-based serial entrepreneur..."  Co-founder and CEO of ContactKarma, a social recommendation engine.  CEO of High Note Enterprises.  Entrepreneur in residence at the Nanobusiness Alliance; chairman of the Nanotechnology Alliance.  With his wife founded in 2005 and operated Sittercity, the nation's first and largest site for matching parents and babysitters, petsitters, elder care, tutors, and housesitters.  Founder and CEO of Snapdragon Technologies, 1997-2001.  CTO of Wired Business, 2000-01.  Graduate of Brown University, 1997.

Director of Engineering  Dylan Richard

(May 2011)  Vice president of engineering (2009-10), director of software development (2008-09) and senior engineer (2007-08) at skinnyCorp.  Co-founder/advor at mk2 development, 2007-10.  Senior developer at Crate & Barrel, 2000-07.


Senior Security Engineer  Ben Hagen

(Sept. 2011)  Security consultant for Neohapsis, 2010-11.  Security consultant (2007-10) and security engineer (2004-07) for Motorola.  M.S. in information assurance from Iowa State University, 2004.

Senior Engineers 
Justin Vincent

(July 2011) Project Narwhal, person matching.  Previously a software engineer at Google, March 2008-July 2011.  B.S., B.A. in computer science, mathematics from University of Washington, 2007.

Chris Gansen

(Sept. 2011)  lead engineer on Dashboard.  Came to the campaign after six years at IBM Interactive.  B.S. in computer science from University of Michigan, 2005. 

Jesse Kriss

(Oct. 2011)  Principal at jklabs from July 2009.  Developer/designer/lead architect at Figure 53, July 2009-Sept. 2011.  Research developer at IBM, 2005-10.  User interface design consultant at eJamming, Inc. 2004-05.  M.A. in human-computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon University, 2004; B.A. in music from Carleton College, 2003.

Engineers  

John Anders Conbere

(May 2011)  lead engineer on the API services team  Came to the campaign from position as software developer for Estately in Seattle, WA, 2010-11.  Independent software developer (Anders Conbere Consulting), 2007-10.  Software developer at Joyent, 2008-09.  Systems engineer at Atlas Solutions (acquired by Microsoft), 2007-08.  B.S. in mathematics from Western Washington University, 2005.

Ryan Kolak

(July 2011)  lead engineer of Narwhal integration  Internet programmer at Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, senior internet programmer at Thermo Fisher Scientific, 2005-11.  Web developer at Clever Ideas, 2002-05.  Web developer at Computer Discount Warehouse, 2001-02.  Software engineer at IntegrationWare.  Studied at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Christopher Coté

(March 2012) "lead engineer for digital and tech integration"  Vice president of technology at SpotOn, Inc., Oct. 2010-March 2012.  Senior developer at Dancing Mammoth, Inc. 2007-09.  Technologist and developer at the Ann Arbor District Library, 2003-05. Programmer at JB Chicago, 2001-03.  Studied technology at Columbia College Chicago.

Josh Thayer

(April 2012)  lead engineer of Narwhal  Engineer at Craigslist in San Francisco, Feb. 2001-March 2012.

Ryan Resella

(May 2012) on the voter contact team; lead engineer on GottaRegister.com  Fellow (Jan.-Nov. 2011) and technical lead (Nov. 2011-May 2012) at Code for America, in the SF Bay area.  IT specialist, IT analyst, and then senior IT analyst for the City of Santa Clarita, 2005-10.  IT at Companies Incorporated, 2004-05.  M.P.A. (2010) and B.S. in computer science (2006) from Cal State University-Northridge.

Gabriel Burt

(June 2011)  Software engineer for Novell, 2007-11.  Software engineer for IBM, 2006-07.  B.S. in computer engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005.

Zane Shelby

(June 2011)  Mobile software engineer at TripIt and Concur Technologies, 2010-11.  Software engineer at Cozi, 2007-08.  Software engineer (2006-07) and associate software engineer (2005-06) at aQuantive; company acquired by Microsoft in Aug. 2007.  M.S. in computer science from Northeastern University, 2010.  B.A. in computer science from UC Santa Cruz, 2004.

Will St. Clair

(July 2011)  Interactive developer at Stone Ward, 2010-11.  University of Texas at Austin.

Nick Leeper

(Aug. 2011) "lead engineer of finance/fundraising"  Co-founder/engineer at Absolocal from May 2010.  Senior software developer at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 2001-11.  Co-owner/developer of Truespin Media, 2004-10.  MIS from Iowa State University, 2001.

Derek Brooks

(Aug. 2011) "lead engineer of voter contact and protection"  Co-founder/engineer at Absolocal, May 2010-Aug. 2011 and senior application engineer at Dipity from Jan. 2010.  Owner/engineer at Broox Productions, from 2001.  Application engineer at Red 5 Interactive, Inc. 2007-10.  Co-owner/developer of Truespin Media, 2004-10.  Application developer for Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l, Inc., 2003-07.  B.A. in computer science from Cornell College, 2003.

Clint Ecker

(Sept. 2011)  Project manager, web developer, and technical contributor at Ars Technica, 2008-11.  Senior web developer at Stone Ward, 2006-08.  B.S. in computer engineering technology and A.S. in electrical engineering technology from Purdue University, 2004.

Kevin Der

(2012)  Software engineer at Quora, 2009-12.  Technical director at Pixar Animation Studios, 2008-09.  Software engineer at Facebook, 2007-08.  Candidate for Ph.D. in computer science at Stanford University; B.S. in computer science and engineering from MIT, 2006.

Nathan Kontny

On leave from positions as founder of Cityposh, Jan. 2011 and CTO at Inkling Inc. from Jan. 2006; based in Chicago.

Ivan Indrautama

Previously at Threadless.

Ian Dees

(Feb. 2012...system to synchronize data between various vendors for the campaign)  Software engineer at Digital Cyclone, Inc, a division of Garmin International, Inc., Feb. 2010-Feb. 2012.  Software engineer at GE Healthcare, 2006-10.

Abi Noda

(March 2012)  Co-founder of OrangeQC, in Chicago, June 2009.  Independent consultant, Jan.-Aug. 2011.  Lead developer at Doejo, April 2009-Feb. 2011.  Studied computer science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Chirag Patel

(April 2012)  Co-founder and senior vice president at Halo Monitoring, Inc., March 2007-April 2012.  Software contractor at Stack Software, Inc, 2004-07.  Design engineer at Adtran, 1998-2002.  Educated at Rutgers and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Michael Barrientos

(June 2012)  Senior software engineer at Jetlore, Sept. 2011-June 2012.  Software engineer at Google, 2007-09.  Software engineer at Applied Signal Technology, 2003-07.   M.S. in computer science from Stanford University, 2011; B.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley, 2002.

Data
Lead Database Engineer  Jay Edwards

(Feb. 2012)  Operations engineer, research engineer at Twitter, Inc., 2007-10.  Network engineer at Webxites, 2006-07.  Managing partner of Jayed, LLC, doing tech. infrastructure work for small businesses, schools and individuals, 2002-05.  SAP R/3 Basis administrator at Tyco, 2000-02.  QA engineer at Metricom, 1999-2000.  Consultant, 1997-99.

Database Engineer  Noel McKinney

(July 2011)  Principal and co-owner of The Constant Group Inc., Aug. 2005-present.  Vice president of engineering and development (2010-11) and senior software developer (2009-10) at Insignis.  Database administrator at Spectrum Global Fund Administration LLC, 2005.  Software developer at Insignis, 2001-05.  M.S. in computer science from DePaul University, 2001; M.S. in social and applied economics from Wright State University, 1991; B.S. in management (finance) from Purdue University, Kerannert School of Management, 1987.

Database Administrator  William Wanjohi

(Nov. 2011)  Data analyst at Seyfarth Shaw, 2009-11.  Litigation support analyst at Debevoise & Plimpton, 2007-09.  Research/doc. reviewer at Viacom, second half of 2006.  Legal assistant at Harkins Cunningham LLP, first half of 2006.  B.S. in engineering from Swarthmore College.


DEVOPS
DevOps takes projects that are in semi-final form, catching revisions made by the developers and ensuring their availability and stability in the live environment.

Lead DevOps  Scott VanDenPlas

(May 2011)  Co-founder of MaxRes Contract Research, Jan. 2010.  Director of tech. ops. at Sprout Social in early 2011.  Engineer at skinnyCorp, 2008-10.  Network operations manager at the Field Museum of Natural History, 2007-08.  CIO at Originate Home Loans, 2006-07.  Network operations manager at Insignis, 2001-06.  Senior network engineer at Aisa Technologies, 2000-01.  Graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2000.

DevOps Engineer  Nick Hatch

(Aug. 2011)  Came to the campaign from position as customer support engineer at Urban Airship.  B.S. in biochemistry from Western Washington University, 2009.

DevOps Engineer  John (JP) Schneider

(Feb. 2012)  Systems engineer at Threadless.com, 2010-12.  IT operations manager at The Field Museum, 2008-10.  Customer information systems analyst at Elkay Manufacturing, 2000-08. 

DevOps Engineer  Brian Holcomb

(May 2012)  Previously senior Unix administrator for the National Science Foundation through Digital Solutions Inc. and then Optimos Inc., from Jan. 2008.  Systems administrat at OmniTI, 2007-Jan. 2008.  Systems analyst III at Jacobs Engineering, 2003-07.  Systems engineer at Argus Systems Group, 2000-02.  Bachelor's degree in computer science and math from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

and: DNC Director of Systems Engineering Leo Zhadanovsky was deployed to Obama headquarters from June 2012.

DevOps Product Manager  Betsy Elizabeth Huigens, also in IT


PRODUCT MANAGERS
Product Manager for Digital, Finance and Voter work streams  Mari Huertas

(Feb. 2012)  Digital products manager at World Book, 2008-11.  World Languages and Literacy Editor for the Wright Group at The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2005-08.  Project coordinator at Nieman, Inc. 2003-05.

Product Manager for Dashboard  David Osborne

(March 2011-Aug. 2012, then RFD in Richmond, VA)  Contractor on the Measures of Effective Teaching Project for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2009-11.  Project manager of the School Survey at the NYC Department of Education, 2008-09.  Portsmouth regional field director on Sen. Chris Dodd's NH primary campaign, 2007.  Field director on Merle Johnson's campaign for Iowa State Senate in Fall 2006 (Ankeny); one of Sen. Evan Bayh's Camp Bayh graduates.  B.A. in American studies from Northwestern University in Chicago, June 2005.

Director of Voter Experience  Winnie Lam

(June 2012)...electronic voter registration and directing Americans to their polling places. On sabbatical from Google; head of product management, customer service (Aug. 2009-June 2012), senior product manager, international payments May 2006-Aug. 2009), and engineering project manager (Sept. 2004-May 2006).  Senior technical project manager at AOL Netscape, 2002-04.  Associate project manager at Sapient Corporation, 2000-01.  B.S. in systems design engineering from University of Waterloo.

Director of Voter Experience  Anthea Watson Strong

(started May 2011 as product manager on the technology team; with the campaign to May 2012)

Director of User Experience  Jason Kunesh

(May 2011)  Co-founder of Fuzzy Math, LLC, 2009-May 2011.  President of Kunesh Interaction Design, 2007-09.  Lead information architect at Orbitz, 2003-07; also night instructor at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, 2005-07.  Senior strategy consultant at Cyberworks Media Group, 2002-03.  Manager of multimedia design at DiamondCluster International, 1999-2002.  M.S. in human computer interaction from DePaul University, 2006.  B.A. in English from University of Wisconsin, 1992.  twitter


USER EXPERIENCE
UI/UX Engineer  Aaron Salmon

(May 2011)  Owner of Auraworks Ltd., a sole proprietorship, since 2007.  Co-founder OhSoWe.com.  Front-end development and user interface consultant for Solfo, design and usability director for mk2 development, 2008-10.  Art director at Tecture, LLC, 2007-08.  Internet designer/developer at Quicksilver Associates, 2005-07.  Web design supervisor at The CORE Organization, 2002-05.  eLearning creative developer for Integrated Performance Systems, 2001-02.  Web developer/team lead at Unety Systems, 1999-2001.  Web authoring and publishing certificate from Chippewa Valley Technical College.

UI/UX Web Engineer  Ben Korody

(Aug.-Nov. 2012)  Senior web developer for Cuban Council, Aug. 2009-Aug. 2019.  Production artist at Inverted Creative, 2008-09.  Interactive developer at IP Pixel, 2006-08.  Studied art and visual communications at Loyola University of Chicago.

User Experience Advisor  Scout Addis

(started volunteering in 2011)  Director of User Experience at Practice Fusion from Jan. 2012; user experience architect at Zendesk, Jan.-Aug. 2012.  Owner/consultant at Graceland Heavy Industries, April 2009-Jan. 2012.  Senior business analyst for Barclay's Global Investors, 2008-09.  Senior product manager at TeaLeaf Technology, 2007-08.  Interaction design consultant at Cooper, 2004-07.  B.F.A. in theater management from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1986.

Mark Trammell

(June 2012, per The Atlantic "helped build a [Twitter] tool that could specifically send individual users direct messages")  Senior design researcher at Twitter, Oct. 2009-June 2012.  User experience architect at Digg, 2008-09.  Web standards evangelist at PayPal, mid-2007.  Web administrator at the University of Florida, 2000-07.  M.S. in decision and information science, 2002; B.B.A in operations and information technology from The College of William and Mary, 2000.  Served in the U.S. Navy, 1993-98.

UX Designer  Dave Castleton

(June 2011 to Feb. 2012)

UX Intern  Gabriela Rivas


San Francisco Tech Field Office
(from Feb. 2012, independently developed various smaller projects)

Lead Engineer  Angus Durocher

(2011)  Involved with the online sector for over a decade.  Lead web developer for YouTube/Google, 2006-10.  Ops, engineering, production at Roll Your Own Search Engine (Rollyo) from 2005.  Co-founder and CTO of Crow Hill Art since 2002.  UE engineer/interface engineer/head of production at Bigstep.com.  CD-ROM game developer.  Moved to San Francisco in 1997.  Reporter in Austin, TX and earlier in Haines, AK.  Studied at Bates College as well as UNH in Durham, and Brown University.

Community Outreach Lead  Catherine Bracy

(started on the campaign in June 2011 as a product manager)  Consultant to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 2010-11.  Administrative director at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, 2002-10.  B.A. in communication from Boston College, 2002.


Quality Assurance  Harry Mattison

(Sept. 2012)  Senior software engineer (2008-12) and quality assurance manager (2001-08) at Autodesk.  Policy director on Khazei for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, 2011.  Quality assurance manager at Revit Technology, 1999-2001.  Principal product designer at Pegasystems, 1998-99.  Group leader at Parametric Technology, 1994-98.  B.S. in mechanical engineering from Yale, 1994.


Integration and Innovation Director  Ashley Arenson

Previously account executive at mcgarrybowen and assistant account executive at Energy BBDO.  B.A. in liberal arts, economics from Villanova University.


Director of Support  Brady Kriss

(Nov. 2011...recruited, selected, trained and managed a rotating team of interns and volunteers)  L.L.M. in intellectual property law and policy from University of Washington School of Law, 2010; J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, 2007; B.A. from Carleton College, 2003.

Executive Assistant  Mackenzie Walker

(July 2012)  B.A. in sociology from University of Washington, 2011.


Overview
From about Jan. 2012 on, work within the Tech department was organized by workflows (for example: API/Narwhal, GOTV, voter protection...).  Each workflow had its own product manager and engineering lead(s).  The team approach was a hallmark of the department.  Many people had a hand in the various products big and small.  A lead engineer headed development, working with numbers of other engineers depending on the complexity of the project; there were engineers who focused on the user experience; a security engineer checked to make sure the product would not be compromised; devops engineers took projects that were in semi-final form, caught revisions made by the developers and ensured their availability and stability in the live environment.  Finally the products went to the relevant department(s).

Narwhal
One of the most challenging projects was Narwhal, which allowed data from different sources and in different formats to be consolidated and put to use.  Narwhal has been described as a "coordination system/data platform for linking and sharing information on voters and volunteers."  The Narwhal API (application programming interface) was built in-house. and operated through redundant cloud-based servers at Amazon Web Services.  Work on this started with an API team and there was also a Narwhal integration team which linked in with the vendors (Blue State Digital and NGP/VAN).  As data was updated, the integration team made sure that the changes flowed in and were synchronized.  For example, consider what happened a voter used the mobile app to RSVP for an event.  The mobile app talked to the Narwhal API to retrieve event data; when the person RSVP'd through the API, integration passed the RSVP back.  Web applications interacted with Narwhal instead of having their own databases.  Refinements were made; for example the Calltool app allowed call details to be saved in Narwhal.  A major challenge was scaling; how would Narwhal operate under a high usage situation such as the days leading up to Election Day or Election Day itself.  As described by Alexis Madrigal in The Atlantic, the campaign put Narwhal through a full "live action role play" LARP exercise on Oct. 21.  (Much has been written about the Romney campaign's Project Orca and how, in the absence of such rigorous testing it performed poorly on Election Day).

Many people worked on the Narwhal API including...API team; Anders Conbere, Carol Davidsen, Josh Thayer, Justin Vincent, Zane Shelby, Kevin Der, Jim Meehan, Abi Noda and Clint Ecker; developing features/changes: Will St. Clair, Derek Brooks; Narwhal Integration Team included Ryan Kolak, Nick Leeper, Ian Dees, Sam McVeety, Michael Barrientos.

Targeted sharing
Another success was targeted sharing.  This was a Facebook app that allowed the campaign to see a supporter's friend list, and determine, for example, who an individual interacts with most. With fast access to the voter file, the campaign could match those names against the voter file to figure out who each person was.  Then it could ask the supporter to make specific requests of particular friends, for example, watch a video or contribute. 

Notes:
Clint Ecker.  "My OFA Family."  Officially Lucky (Clint Ecker blog), Dec. 18, 2012.
Sean Gallagher.  "How Team Obama's tech efficiency left Romney IT in dust."  Ars Technica, Nov. 20, 2012. 
Alexis C. Madrigal.  "When the Nerds Go Marching In."  The Atlantic, Nov. 16, 2012.
Tim Murphy.  "Inside the Obama Campaign's Hard Drive"  Mother Jones, Sept./Oct. 2012.
Sasha Issenberg.  "Obama's White Whale." Slate, Feb. 15, 2012.

Data

Director of Data  Ethan Roeder

(May 2011)  Data and tech. director at the New Organizing Institute, April 2009-May 2011.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting in May 2007 as voter file manager on the Nevada caucus campaign and concluding as Midwest data director/lead.  Reports manager at Lambda Legal, March 2005-May 2007.  Field director at the Coalition for a Fair Michigan, July-Nov. 2004.  BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2002.

Data Manager  Ben Fuller

(Aug. 2011)  Previously assistant director, FIS at SEIU, 2007-11.  Field director on Charlie Wilson for Congress, 2006.  Distribution coordinator on the 2004 Ohio Coordinated Campaign.  B.S. in political science from The Ohio State University, 2004.  Akron native.

REPORTING
Reporting Manager  Daniel Scarvalone

(Dec. 2011)  Analyst at Catalist, April-Dec. 2011.  Colorado data/new media director for Organizing for American/DNC, June-Dec. 2010.  State legislative account executive/research assistant at NGP Software, Aug. 2009-June 2010.  B.A. in political science from Tufts University, 2008.

Deputy Reporting Manager  Warren Linam-Church

J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2010; B.S. in computer engineering from Texas A&M University, 2007.

Deputy Reporting Manager  Stefan Fox

Software developer at the New Organizing Institute.  Data wrangler for the National Committee for an Effective Congress.  Graduate of University of Illinois, 2007; studied economics and geography.  Originally from Chicago.


REGIONAL DATA DESKS
(support state data directors)
Midwest  Ed Coleman

(Aug. 2011)  National project manager for state data and targeting services at ISSI, 2008-11.  Minnesota technology director at America Votes, 2006-08.  Call center manager for Clean Water Action, 2005-06.  Minnesota technology director at America Coming Together, 2004.  Assistant technology manager at the University of Vermont, 2001-03.  B.S. in business administration from University of Vermont, 2001.

Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic  Lena Tom   ...to CO in Aug. 2012  GOTV Data Director

(Aug. 2011, initially Northeast regional data manager)  National data and targeting director at the Alliance for Climate Protection, 2009-11. Customer services representative at the DVA Federal Credit Union, mid-2009.  Indiana deputy voter file manager and field organizer on the Obama campaign in Fall 2008.  Interim manager at H.A.L.E. Federal Credit Union, first part of 2007.  B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago, 2007.

Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Northeast  Ian Ferguson

Software engineer (Nov. 2010-Feb. 2012) and data acquisition specialist (Aug.-Nov. 2010) at Catalist.  A field organizer in rural VA for the Obama campaign in Fall 2008.  B.S. in computing information and technology from Guilford College, 2010.

South  Aly Sheets   ...to NC in Aug. 2012  GOTV Data Director

(Jan. 2012)  Field director on the Wake County Democratic Coordinated Campaign, latter part of 2011.  Field director on Dina Titus for Congress, 2010.  Field organizer on Shields for Delegate (VA), Aug.-Nov. 2009.  Field organizer on Friends of Terry McAuliffe (VA), Feb.-June 2009.  Degree in political science from North Carolina State University, 2012.

West  Devin Brady

(Aug. 2011)  Director of voter contact and new media for the Tennessee Democratic Party, Feb. 2009-March 2011.  Research assistant at Vanderbilt University, 2006-09.  Bachelor's degree in cognitive neuroscience from Boston University, 2006.


DATA PROGRAMS
Voter Protection Data Lead  Brian Alseth

Technology & LIberty Project Director for ACLU of Washington.  Northeast data desk and national voter protection data director on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Associate at Kutak Rock, LLP in Omaha, 2005-06.  Law clerk to the Honorable Robert W. Pratt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.  J.D. from Creighton University School of Law, 2002.  From Omaha, NE.

Political, Operation Vote Manager  Dessa Gypalo

(May 2012)  Account executive Jan. 2011-May 2012), office manager (Nov. 2009-early 2011), junior account executive (2007-09) and intern (Oct. -Dec. 2007) at Resolute Consulting LLC, .  Also voterfile administrator at Central Strategies, Oct. 2008-May 2012    B.A. in history, business administration from Roanoke College, 2007.

Legal, Political Deputy  Eoin Hayes

(Sept. 2012; after briefly a Fall Organizing Fellow in Montgomery Co., PA).  Master's in management from London Business School, 2012; B.E. in process and chemical engineering from University College Cork (Ireland), 2009.

FINANCE DATA
Dan Zauber

(June 2011)  Technology director for Chexout.com from Oct. 2010.  Product manager at NGP Software, June 2004-Aug. 2009.  B.A. from Princeton University, 2003.

Dan Murray



Data Note: "Stork was an internally built tool at OFA/ DNC that allowed people to move data from vendors (VAN and BSD) to databases used for querying. IN addition, it allowed us to create chron jobs to produce reports and exports from databases around the clock. It was a single tool that made moving data around simple."

Analytics

"54-person team of analysts, engineers and organizers that provided analytics and technologies for voter contact, digital, paid media, fundraising and communication"
Chief Analytics Officer  Dan Wagner

(beginning of June 2011)  Targeting director for Organizing for America at the DNC for the 2010 cycle.  Started on Obama's 2007-08 campaign as deputy voter file manager for the Iowa caucuses and in Fall 2008 oversaw Great Lakes and Ohio Valley targeting and served as national GOTV targeting director.  Degree in economics and public policy from University of Chicago.  Originally from Birmingham, MI.

Deputy Chief Analytics Officer  Andrew Claster

(July 2011)  Previously deputy targeting director at the DNC, 2009-11.  Field organizer on the Pennsylvania Campaign for Change, July-Nov. 2008.  Vice president at Penn, Schoen & Berland, 2005-08.  Consultant at the World Bank, 2004-05.  Analyst at Penn, Schoen & Berland, 1998-2001.  MSc in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 2003.  B.A. in political science from Yale University, 1997.

Director of Analytics Operations  Caroline Grey

(July 2011)  Targeting operations director at the DNC/Organizing for America from 2009-11.  Worked on the Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a field organizer in Iowa in Feb. 2007 and concluding as an RFD in Virginia in Fall 2008.  Graduate of Johns Hopkins University.  Originally from Berkeley.
"managed the phones for all of the polling that came out of the Cave...the largest and most accurate live voter survey operation in the history of American politics. The nightly, 9,000 complete, usable interviews enabled the campaign to understand both large patterns in public opinion and voters as individuals, driving key strategic decisions across the campaign"

Technology Project Manager/Deputy Director of Analytics Operations  Tim Trautman

(Jan. 2012)  Targeting operations manager at the DNC in the 2010 cycle.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a field organizer in the primaries and as a database administrator in Chicago in the general election.  B.S. in economics from American University.

Chief Scientist  Rayid Ghani

(July 2011)  Analytics research lead, senior researcher/research scientist at Accenture Technology Labs, 2001-July 2011.  M.S. in machine learning from Carnegie University, 2001.  B.S. in computer science, mathematics from Sewanee-The University of the South, 1999.


BATTLEGROUND STATES

Battleground States Analytics Director  Elan Kriegel

(June 2011)  Senior modeling analyst at the DNC, 2010-11.  Previously a radio and television producer.  M.A. in quantitative methods in the social sciences from Columbia University; B.S. in mathematics and anthropology from the University of Wisconsin.

Deputy Battleground States Analytics Director  Matt Dover

(June 2011)  Middle school social studies teacher and Teach for America Corps member in New York City, June 2007-June 2009.  M.P.P. from Harvard University, 2011; B.A. in political science from The University of Alabama, 2007.

Battleground States Operation Vote Analytics Lead  Emily Norman

Elections analyst for Western and Southwestern States in the Targeting Department at the Democratic National Committee, 2010-11.  Previously an analyst at McKinsey & Company.  A.B. in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College.

Battleground States Analytics Project Manager  Sadia Iqbal

(Jan. 2012)  Project assistant at Kirkland & Ellis, July 2010-Dec. 2011.  Interned at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, first part of 2010.  Working towards a master's in public policy from the University of Chicago; B.A. in political science and international studies from Loyola University of Chicago, 2010.

Battleground States Polling Analyst  Seth Samuels

(July 2012)  Analyst at Analysis Group, Inc 2006-09.  M.A. in political science from University of California, Berkeley; B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University.

Battleground States Election Analyst  Harrison Kreisberg

(June 2011)  Elections analyst in the Targeting Department at the Democratic National Committee, 2010-11.   A.B. in international relations and economics from Brown University.

Battleground States Election Analyst  Kassia DeVorsey

(2011)  DNC data manager, 2010-11.  B.S. in physics from MIT.

Battleground States Election Analyst  David Shor

(Jan. 2012)  Statistician and limited partner at Allodynic Therapeutics from July 2010.  Founder of Stochastic Democracy from Aug. 2008.  B.S. in mathematics from Florida International University, 2010; visiting student research collaborator, molecular biology at Princeton University, Feb. 2010-April 2011. 

Battleground States Election Analyst  Matthew Saniie

(Jan. 2012)  Regional data manager for Organizing for America/DNC.  Regional field director in Southwest Florida for Obama's Campaign for Change in Fall 2008.

Battleground States Election Analyst  Amos Budde

(May 2012)  Research assistant at The Urban Institute, Feb. 2011-May 2012.  B.S. in mathematics from Brown University, 2010; working towards an M.S. in applied economics from The Johns Hopkins University.

• COMMUNICATIONS

Lead Communications Analyst  Andrew Magaña

(Jan. 2012)  Acquisition and development associate at the Magellen Group, latter part of 2011.  Summer associate at Goldman Sachs, Summer 2010.  U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense,  Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L), 2006-09.  Active duty U.S. Navy Officer, 2003-06.  M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, 2011; B.S. in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy, 2003.

• DIGITAL

Digital Analyst  Joe Arasin

(Oct. 2011)  Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, 2008-10.  M.S. in public policy and management (2008) and B.S. in computer science (2007) from Carnegie Mellon University.

Digital Analyst  Matthew Rattigan

(Dec. 2011)  Graduate research assistant at UMass Amherst.  Senior reporting analyst at Upromise, 2000-01.  Senior data analyst at Ask.com, 1999-2000.  Decision support consultant at Monitor Group, 1997-99.  Ph.D. in computer science from UMass Amherst, 2011.

Digital Analyst  Aziz Shallwani

(Jan. 2012)  Principal data analyst at Capital One, 2004-11.  M.Eng from McGill University, 2003; B.S. in electrical engineering from University of Waterloo, 2000.


• EXPERIMENTS

Director of Experiments  David Nickerson

Associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame; started at Notre Dame as a visiting research fellow in 2004.  Ph.D. in political science from Yale University, 2005.  B.A. in mathematics and philosophy from Williams College, 1997.

Deputy Director of Experimental Research  Peter Backof

(Oct. 2011)  Special projects analyst at the Analyst Institute, Jan. 2010-Oct. 2011.  M.A. in political science from University of Chicago, 2009; B.A. in political science from Dickinson College, 2007.

Experimental Research Analyst  Meredith Sadin

(June 2012)  Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University.  Investigator at the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, 2005-08.  Head graphics reporter at Newsweek, 2003-04.  B.A. in political science from Brown University, 2003.

• FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Finance and Operations Analyst  Timothy Prescott

(Jan. 2012)  Consultant at Accenture, 2010-Jan. 2012.  Interned on Obama's 2008 campaign, Oct. 2007-Feb. 2008.  Bachelor's in internal business administration (2005) and MIS in supply chain management (2007) from Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam.

Finance and Operations Analyst  Katherine Jordan

(March 2012)  Consultant at McKinsey & Company, 2009-11 and Summer 2008.  Product manager at Meetup.com, 2006-07.  Junior product manager at TheLadders.com, 2005-06.  M.P.P. from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; B.A. from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School.

 

MEDIA
Director of Media Analytics  Carol Davidsen

(April 2012; previously senior product manager, technology team from Nov. 2011)  Product and program manager for Microsoft Advertising TV Group (initially Navic Networks acq. in 2008), 2006-11, left to join the campaign.  Integrations lead and project manager in the professional services group at Converse Systems (Kenan Systems, Lucent Technologies, CSG Systems), 2000-05.  Consultant in the professional services group at Bearingpoint, 1998-2000.  B.S. in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Deputy Director of Media Analytics  Peter Bouchard

Associate director of media analytics at Omnicom Media Group for Hewlett-Packard, 2011-12.  Media and market research associate director at Fox Network Group/National Geographic Networks.  M.B.A. from University of Maryland's Smith School of Business, 2011; B.S. in marketing from American University's Kogod School of Business, 2005.

Senior Media Planning Analyst  Nathan Sterken

(June 2011)  Previously analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, starting Nov. 2010.  Analyst at Changing Targets Media, April-Nov. 2010.  Online production and analytics manager at the White House, May-Nov. 2009.  M.P.P. (2007) and B.A. in political science (2006) from University of Michigan.

Media and Visualization Analyst  Jesse Stinebring

(June 2011)  B.A. student in political science at Hamilton College.

Media Analyst  Edwin Lim

B.A. student in mathematical methods in the social sciences, economics and creative writing at Northwestern University.  Research assistant at Science of Network in Communities Labs, 2010-12.


MODELING

Director of Statistical Modeling  Daniel Porter

Senior modeling analyst at the DNC, 2010-11.  M.A. in quantitative methods in the social sciences from Columbia University; B.A. from the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan University.

Deputy Statistical Modeling Director  Matthew Holleque

(March 2012; statistical modeling analyst from Oct. 2011-Feb. 2012)  Microtargeting analyst at MSHC Partners, June-Oct. 2010.  Deputy director of the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project, Jan.-Dec. 2008.  Ph.D. in political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012; B.A. in political science from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2005.

Modeling Analyst  Greg Dyer

(Sept. 2011)  B.A. in statistics from Harvard College, 2009.

Modeling Analyst  Ana Rocca

(Oct. 2011)  Pursuing a Ph.D. in economics from U.C. Berkeley.  Associate economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago from 2006-08.  B.S. in economics from the University of Chicago, 2006.

Modeling Analyst  Tiffany Washburn

(Jan. 2012)  M.A., 2010, M.Phil. 2011, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University; teaching assistant at Columbia, from Sept. 2009.  Studied architecture at Harvard University, 2005-06.  B.A. in political science from North Carolina State University, 2004.

Modeling Analyst  Peter Tanner

(March 2012)  Data analyst manager (from Aug. 2010), principal data analyst (March 2008-July 2010), senior data analyst (March 2007-Feb. 2008) and data analyst (Aug. 2005-Feb. 2007) at Capital One.  Bachelor of mathematics degree from University of Waterloo, 2005.

Modeling Data Manager  Chris George

(May 2012; started as statistical modeling intern in Jan. 2012)  B.S. in mathematics and statistics from Miami University, 2011.


SPECIAL PROJECTS
Analytics Special Projects Director  Warren Flood

(Oct. 2011)  President/owner of Bright Blue Data, in Washington, DC, from Nov. 2010.  Worked on the DNC’s national targeting team Fall 2010 election cycle.  Director of information systems and technology for the Office of the Vice President, Jan. 2009-Oct. 2010.  Western region data director for Obama's 2008 campaign, responsible for nine states, June-Nov. 2008.

Special Projects Analyst  Curtis Morales

(May 2012)  Software engineer for Touro College, August 2011-May 2012.  B.A. in computer science from Harvard University, 2008.

Special Projects Analyst  Chase Martyn

(July 2012)  Software engineer at Salsa Labs, Inc., Jan. 2011-July 2012.  Vice president of BuildSellGrow.com, Dec. 2009-Jan. 2011.  Managing editor of IowaIndependent.com and tech director for the Center for Independent Media, April 2007-Dec. 2009.  Freelance web developer since 2007.  B.A. in philosophy from Grinnell College, 2007; co-president of Grinnell College Campus Democrats.  Canvasser (June-Aug. 2006) and field organizer (Aug.-Nov. 2006) for the Iowa Democratic Party.


Notes:
Sasha Issenberg.  "A More Perfect Union: How President Obama's campaign used big date to rally individual voters."  MIT Technology Review.  Jan./Feb. 2013.

MEDIA

Director of Media  Larry Grisolano

Director of paid media and opinion research on Obama's 2008 campaign, started Jan. 2007; created, supervised and directed the opinion research program and managed the paid advertising campaign (television, radio, internet, direct mail and other print advertising)  Partner in The Strategy Group.  Managed Gov. Gray Davis' 2002 re-election campaign and Californians Against the Costly Recall, the Davis' campaign to defeat the 2003 recall.  In 1991-92 worked on the Clinton for President primary campaign including stints in Little Rock, running the Florida State Convention straw ballot operation, and in the Illinois primary; in the fall oversaw the Clinton-Gore coordinated campaign in California.  Worked in press and research for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s 1991 re-election.  In 1988 managed Iowa field operations for Sen. Joe Biden and, later, for Sen. Paul Simon.  Organizer for Tom Harkin’s upset victory for the U.S. Senate in 1984.  B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa.  Also studied business management at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Deputy Director of Media  Kate Kochman

Scheduler to Rahm Emanuel on his mayoral campaign and when he served as White House chief of staff.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign.


Regional Directors for Paid Media and Polling

West, Northeast and Latino Paid Media  Casey Hernandez

(Jan. 2012)  Press secretary to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa March 2009-Jan. 2012.  Manager of the Measure Q School Bond Initiative, Office of the Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District Aug.-Nov. 2008.  Government affairs fellow at Green Dot Public Schools, Summer 2007.  Associate at The Strategy Group Aug. 2005-Aug. 2006.  Associate at Burnside and Associates, July 2004-July 2005.  M.P.P. from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, 2008; Undergraduate degrees in communications and psychology from University of Southern California, 2004.

South and African American Paid Media  Kimberly Strohman

Director of public policy at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, July 2009-July 2011.  Legislative assistant at the Florida State Senate, Nov. 2006-Sept. 2007.  Florida Democratic Party, March-Nov. 2006.  Director at Learning for Life, 2005-06.  Fundraising assistant at the Florida Democratic Party, May-Nov. 2004.  M.A. from University of Florida, 2004; B.A. in communications from University of North Florida.

Midwest  Christian Mitchell

(April 2012)  Elected State representative from the 26th District in Nov. 2012.  Vice president at Conlon Public Strategies from Nov. 2011.  Director of external affairs in the Office of the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle, May-Nov. 2011.   Campaign manager and transition director Will Burns for 4th Ward Alderman, Nov. 2010-May 2011.  A regional field director at Citizens for Lisa Madigan, Fall 2010.  Community organizer at Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, 2008-10.  B.A. in public policy analysis from University of Chicago, 2008.


Deputy Directors of Paid Media and Messaging
Melissa Nitti

(Nov. 2011)  Press secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010-11.  A regional press secretary at Obama for America in Fall 2008.  Senior associate at The Strategy Group, mid-2008.  Account manager at Griffin Schake, 2006-09.  Junior publicist at Much & House Public Relations, 2005-06.  Production coordinator for The Strategy Group, 2004.  Undergraduate degree from Occidental College, 2004.

Isaac Baker

At AKPD Message and Media starting in 2010.  Briefly served as a spokesman at the U.S. Treasury Department at the start of the Obama Administration.  Obama for America Ohio communications director in the 2008 general election.  Hillary Clinton's communications director for the Ohio primary campaign; earlier served as a deputy press secretary in the national headquarters.  Press secretary on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. A director at the Glover Park Group, 2003-06.  Journalism degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.  Seattle native.


Paid Media Operations Manager  Caitria Mahoney

(and assistant to director of opinion research David Simas)  University of Vermont graduate.  White House intern in summer 2010.  From Newton, MA.


Deputy Director of Opinion Research  Jon Fromowitz

Senior analyst at the Benenson Strategy Group, Feb. 2009-Feb. 2011.  Assistant to the General Election director on Obama's Pennsylvania Campaign for Change, Sept.-Nov. 2008.  Regional political desk at Activate, Summer 2008.  National director of remote calling on the Hillary Clinton for President campaigns, Nov. 2007-June 2008.  Operations associate for direct mail for the New Jersey Senate Democratic Majority, Fall 2007.  B.A. in political science from Brown University, 2007.

Director of Video  Ian Harrington

Experienced in TV and film production.  Director/screenwriter/producer at Fuerza Catracha LLC.  Co-ran That’s Us, a small production company ("Belfast Blues"), 2003-05.  Personal assistant and associate producer to Danny DeVito, at Jersey Films, 1998-2004.

Director of Direct Mail  Sandra Lyon

(April 2012)  Vice president of marketing and communications at Elite Global Events, Inc., March 2011-March 2012.  Managing director at TruBlu Politics, April-Nov. 2010.  Account executive at the Mack Crounse Group, Nov. 2009-March 2010.  Director of scheduling on the Deeds for Governor campaign in Virginia, Fall 2009.  Account executive at the Mack Crounse Group, Fall 2008.  Director of the chairwoman's office and national delegate selection (2007-08) and research director (2006-07) at the Florida Democratic Party.  Communications director at Research Management Strategies in New Brunswick, NJ, Fall 2005.  Deputy communications director in Arizona and Oregon for America Coming Together, Fall 2004.  Deputy director of the Women's Senate Network at the DSCC, 2003-04.  Communications coordinator at the DNC, 2002-03.  Bachelor's degree in political science and mass communications from Arizona State University.


also note
Paid Media and Polling Regional Director  Alex Okrent

(Jan. 2012-died at headquarters on July 13, 2012)  Previously senior analyst at Benenson Strategy Group, from April 2010.  Louisiana field director on Obama for America in Fall 2008; deputy Illinois political director on Obama for America, April 2007-June 2008.  Production assistant at The Strategy Group, 2006.  Worked as a field organizer on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign.  B.S. from the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan University, 2005..

First Lady Michelle Obama

twitter

Chief of Staff  Allyson Laackman

(from Jan. 2012, reported by Lynn Sweet on Dec. 1, 2011)  Comes to the campaign from position as CFO in the Executive Office of the President.  Finance director on the Obama-Biden Transition Project.  Controller at Obama for America, Jan.-Nov. 2008.  CFO at French American Securities, 1997-2001.  CFO at IFX (formerly Jack Carl 312 Futures, Inc.) 1992-97.  Manager at Arthur Anderson, 1981-92.  Master's in accountancy science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;  in finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Press Secretary  Hannah August

(Aug. 2012)  Press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, May 2011-Aug. 2012.  Regional communications director at the White House, Nov. 2010-May 2011.  Press secretary at the U.S. Department of Justice, 2009-10.  Deputy communications director at the DSCC, 2007-09.  Deputy press secretary to Sen. Robert Menendez, 2006-07.  B.A. in international relations from University of Pennsylvania.

Press Secretary  Olivia Alair

(Dec. 2011)  Previously press secretary (Nov. 2009-Dec. 2011) and deputy press secretary (April-Nov. 2009) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Regional communications director, OH at Obama for America, Fall 2008.  Deputy press secretary to Sen. Joe Biden, 2006-July 2008.  B.A. in government from Georgetown University.

Advance  Lindsay Scola

(March 2012)  Director of scheduling and advance (USUN) at the U.S. Department of State, Dec. 2009-Oct. 2011.  Special assistant and scheduler to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Feb.-Dec. 2009.  National advance staff (Feb.-Nov. 2008) and field staff (March 2007-Feb. 2008).  Office manager/scheduler to Congressman Adam Smith, 2005-07.  Studied at the University of Washington.

Scheduler  Timothy Merritt

Deputy director of scheduling to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi from May 2011.  Communications director and scheduler to Rep. Gene Green (TX-29); started with Green as an intern in Sept. 2007.  B.A. from University of North Texas, 2008.

Scheduler  Jessica McCall

Transition advisor to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Aug.-Dec. 2010.  Deputy director for scheduling and advance in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, 2009-10.  National advance staff at Obama for America from March 2007-Dec. 2008.

Vice President Joe Biden

twitter

Chief of Staff  Sheila Nix

(team announced March 26, 2012)  U.S. executive director of ONE since June 2009.  Senior vice-president for the Strategy Group, where she focused on direct mail for the Obama general election.  Senior advisor to Gov. Rod Blagojevich starting in Sept. 2004, deputy campaign manager for policy on his 2006 campaign, and one of two deputy governors to Blogojevich through June 2008.  Chief of staff to Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) for 2 1/2 years from when he took office through Spring 2003.  A vice president at Wallman Strategic Consulting after working briefly at Podesta.com  Chief of staff to Sen. Bob Kerrey (NE) to end of Feb. 1999 and earlier legislative director, started with Kerry in late 1992; also worked on Kerrey’s 1992 presidential campaign.  Associate at Arnold & Porter, 1989-91.  J.D. from University of Chicago Law School; B.S. in accounting from Creighton University, 1983.

Deputy Chief of Staff  Scott Mulhauser

(March 2012)  Senior advisor and counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, overseeing communications, message and outreach.en. Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and in other senior communications positions, including for Sen. John Breaux (LA) and the DSCC.  Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Political Director  Sam B. "Trip" King

(March 2012)  South Carolina state director on Biden's presidential campaign, 2007.  Director of development, special projects, with a primary focus on South Carolina Political Collections for the University of South Carolina's University Libraries starting in 2005.  Worked for U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings for 28 years serving as state director from 1990 until Hollings' retirement from the Senate in January 2005, and earlier as Upstate director to Hollings, 1977-89.  Active in South Carolina politics starting in 1974, including work on four of Hollings' campaigns.  Attended Wofford College and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in political science.  Native of Columbia, SC.

Press Secretary  Amy Dudley

(March 2012)  Moves over from serving as deputy press secretary in the Office of the Vice President.  Previously served as press secretary to Sen. Ted Kaufman (DE).  Worked in the public affairs office of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).  Started her career in Washington as a staff writer for National Journal's The Hotline.  Graduate of Colgate University.  Native of Brookfield, CT.  twitter

Advance  Nora Cohen

(March 2012)  Most recently deputy director of advance for Vice President Biden at the Office of the Vice President; has served in the White House since 2009.  Part of the advance team for the Obama-Biden campaign in 2008.  Worked as a fundraiser for various non-profits in Philadelphia, including grants manager for the  Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 2005-08.  B.A. in English language and literature from Harvard College, 2003.  Native of Appleton, WI.

Scheduler  Virginia "Ginna" Lance

(March 2012)  Moves over from serving as scheduler for Vice President Biden.  Worked at the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce.  Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.  Originally from Ellicott City, MD.

Scheduler  Patrick Bauer

(July 2012)  Advance associate for the White House from Aug. 2009-July 2012; served as a domestic policy intern at the White House in summer 2009.  National field associate on Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08.  M.P.A. (2011) and B.A. in political science (2010) from University of Pennsylvania.

Scheduling and Advance

...staff of 79 people; $30 million budget including events, travel and payroll.
Director of Scheduling and Advance  Lisa Kohnke

(reported by Lynn Sweet on Sept. 19, 2011)  Director of Special Events in the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House from Jan. 2009.  Deputy director of scheduling and advance on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.  Associate director of national events for AIPAC, Oct. 2005-May 2007.  Joined the Kerry campaign in May 2004 as a scheduler for Sen. Kerry; moved over to advance and served as a deputy director of advance from July 2004 to the end of the campaign.  Scheduled for Congressman Kendrick Meek, late 2002 to May 2004.  Scheduled for Gore after he left office, first at his transition office then at his PAC, Leadership 02, until Nov. 2002.  Joined the Gore campaign in Nov 1999; worked as a field organizer for 5 months in Sioux City, IA and Broward County, FL, did advance for 3 months, then moved to Nashville in June to be the advance desk for Vice President Gore teams until Nov. 2000.  National field director of College Democrats of America, from Spring 1998 to Fall 1999.   B.A. degrees in political science and Jewish studies from Indiana University, 1998.  Grew up in Oak Park, IL.

SCHEDULING
Schedulers
POTUS
-Laura Benbow

(May 2012)  Program assistant at PATH, a nonprofit focusing on global health, May-Oct. 2011.  Scheduler May 2010-May 2011 assistant to the chief of staff (July 2009-May 2010) and staff assistant for constituent experience (Sept. 2008-July 2009) to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA).  B.A. in political science from Seattle University, 2008. 

-Adair Gregory

(July 2012)  Special assistant to U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (MA), Jan. 2011-July 2012.  Scheduler/co-field director on Keating for Congress, May-Sept. 2007.  B.S., B.A. from University of Denver Daniels College of Business, 2009.

FLOTUS
-Jessica McCall

Transition advisor to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Aug.-Dec. 2010.  Deputy director for scheduling and advance in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, 2009-10.  National advance staff at Obama for America from March 2007-Dec. 2008.

-Timothy Merritt

(June 2012)  Deputy director of scheduling to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, May 2011-June 2012.  Communications director and scheduler to Rep. Gene Green (TX-29); started with Green as an intern in Sept. 2007.  B.A. from University of North Texas, 2008.

VPOTUS 
-Virginia "Ginna" Lance 

(March 2012)  Moves over from serving as scheduler for Vice President Biden at the White House.  Worked at the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce.  Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.  Originally from Ellicott City, MD.

-Patrick Bauer

(July 2012)  Advance associate for the White House from Aug. 2009-July 2012; served as a domestic policy intern at the White House in summer 2009.  National field associate on Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08.  M.P.A. (2011) and B.A. in political science (2010) from University of Pennsylvania.


Briefing Assistant  Shasti Conrad

(Jan. 2012)  Executive assistant to Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett at the White House, Aug. 2010-Dec. 2011.  Staff assistant in the White House Office of Public Engagement, Feb.-Aug. 2010.  Bachelor's degree in sociology/international relations from Seattle University, 2007.

Scheduling Assistant  Houston Johnson


ADVANCE

Director of Advance  Grant Campbell

Associate director and trip coordinator at the White House.

Deputy Director of Advance for the Vice President and Dr. Biden  Nora Cohen

(March 2012)  Most recently deputy director of advance for Vice President Biden at the Office of the Vice President; has served in the White House since 2009.  Part of the advance team for the Obama-Biden campaign in 2008.  Worked as a fundraiser for various non-profits in Philadelphia, including grants manager for the  Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 2005-08.  B.A. in English language and literature from Harvard College, 2003.  Native of Appleton, WI.

Deputy Director of Advance for the First Lady Michelle Obama  Lindsay Scola

(March 2012)  Director of scheduling and advance (USUN) at the U.S. Department of State, Dec. 2009-Oct. 2011.  Special assistant and scheduler to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Feb.-Dec. 2009.  National advance staff (Feb.-Nov. 2008) and field staff (March 2007-Feb. 2008) on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Office manager/scheduler to Congressman Adam Smith, 2005-07.  Studied at the University of Washington.

Senior Advance Coordinator  Avra Stackpole

(Sept. 2011)  Advance associate in the Executive Office of the President at the White House from May 2010-Aug. 2011; served as an intern in scheduling and advance at the White House in Spring 2010.  B.A. in human service studies and sociology from Elon University, 2010.

Senior Advance Coordinator  Clare Marshall

(March 2012)  Advance associate at the White House, Aug. 2011-March 2012; served as an intern in scheduling and advance at the White House in Summer 2011.  Degree in journalism, public relations, political science from Indiana University Bloomington, 2011.

Senior Advance Coordinator  Tramaine Brown

Fulbright fellow teaching Engish in Spain.  Degrees in English and Spanish from Wofford College in Spartanburg, 2011; served as an intern in scheduling and advance at the White House.  Grew up in Spartanburg.

Advance Coordinators
Andrew Estrada

John Reilly
Sarah Murphy
Kate Schriver


Budget Desk  Laura Evaenes

Advisory financial associate for Price Waterhouse Coopers in McLean, VA.  Senior financial analyst for Ferris Baker Watts in Silver Spring, MD.  Bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Maryland University College.


SURROGATES

Director of Surrogates  Joseph Reinstein

Deputy Social Secretary in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama from Jan. 2009.  Two decades of marketing experience, including vice president of marketing at Medline Industries, 2007-09; senior vice president/senior account director energy at BBDO, 2003-07; vice president and marketing director at Element 79, 2001-03; and vice president and marketing director at Foote Cone & Belding, 1998-2001.  Degree in government from Oberlin College, 1987.

Deputy Surrogate Director  Jennifer Rosenbaum

(Aug. 2011)  Finance at the DNC, most recently deputy national finance director at DNC/Obama Victory Fund 2012 (April-Sept. 2011), finance director for Americans Abroad (2009-11), New England deputy finance director (April-Aug. 2009).  Jewish outreach on Obama for America in Fall 2008.  Marketing coordinator at Alstra Capital Management, 2005-06.  Programming and production manager at College Sports Television, 2003-05.   B.A. from Boston College, 2001.  


Regional Surrogate Directors
Northeast and African American, Veterans, Athletes for Obama, DJs for Obama  Alexys Feaster

(Nov. 2011)  Vice president of business and artist development at Waveflow Studios in Los Angeles area, March 2009-Nov. 2011.  Co-founder and president of Q&A Productions, consulting, June 2005-Nov. 2011.  Worked at Interscope Records, 2006-08.  Entertainment press and publicity coordinator (2004-06) marketing assistant (mid-2004) and page (starting Dec. 2003) at NBCUniversal, Inc..  B.A. in communication and media studies from James Madison University, 2003.

South and LGBT  Jake Stevens

(April 2012)  Special assistant in the office of the CEO and President of OPOWER, June 2010-April 2012.  Scheduling assistant to Rep. Xavier Becerra, 2009-10.  Deputy to West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang, 2008-09.  B.A. in politics from Occidental College, 2008.

Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic  Maude Baggetto

Staff assistant in the White House Office of Public Engagement.  Master's degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania; undergraduate degree in urban planning from Bryn Mawr College, 2007.  Chicago native.

West and Latinos  Stephanie Venegas

(Jan. 2012)  Executive assistant and office manager (Aug. 2008-Dec. 11) and staff assistant (2007-08) for Rep. Xavier Becerra.  B.A. in law and society from UC Santa Barbara, 2007.

Midwest  Jason Rio

(May 2012)  Vice president of management at Aware Music from Nov. 2002.  Manager at DBMI, 1995-2002.  Degree in communications from Michigan State University, 1996.


Surrogate Assistants  

Joseph Huneke

(Jan. 2012)  B.A. in political science and international studies from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2011.

Vaughan Meyer

(April 2012)  Contract analyst at Loan Management Solutions, Sept. 2011-March 2012.  Analyst at Centerline Capital Group, Inc., July 2010-July 2011.  B.A. in interdisciplinary studies in Humanities from Stanford University, 2009.

Jodi C. Anderson

(Aug. 2012)  Investment banker at Barclay's Capital, July 2009-Aug. 2012.  Policy analyst at Al Franken for Senate, Sept. 2008-April 2009.  M.P.P. from Harvard University, 2008; B.A. in political science, psychology from Northwestern University, 2006.

Brian Terrell

(Sept. 2012)  B.A. in political science from Morehouse College, 2011.  Interned at the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence in Summer 2009.


Director of Surrogate Media  Matt Bevens

(Nov. 2011)  Senior associate at The Glover Park Group, 2009-11.  Client services representative and social research assistant at Calvert Funds, 2007-09.  B.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University, 2007.

Surrogate Communications Coordinator  Jill Jefferson

(July 2012)  Worked on civil rights cold cases in Mississippi with the Civil Rights Cold Case Project and wrote speeches for Global Strategy Group in DC after holding internships in the White House and in the Office of Congressman John Lewis. Researcher for Congressman Lewis's Across That Bridge.  Degrees in history and English from the University of Virginia, 2009.

Surrogate Communications Coordinator  Mark Grindy

Previously an associate at the Glover Park Group from Aug. 2009.  Worked press and communications at the Center for American Progress Summer 2009.  B.A. in political science, English from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009.


Surrogate Department: "planning and execution of 4,570 non-press surrogate events and recruitment of 1,008 surrogates"
more finance events with celebrity guests and entertainment as opposed to message-driven (see Communications, above)

CFO

Chief Financial & Budget Officer  Geoff Trukenbrod

(succeeded Mary Beth Schulz in April 2012)  COO at Akuna Capital.  Director at Granite Creek Partners, 2007-10.  CFO and vice president of business development at Cue Biotech/Caden Biosciences, 2001-07.  Senior manager at The ProAction Group, 1996-99.  Consultant at Gibson & Associates, 1994-96.  M.B.A. from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, 2001; B.A. from Hamilton College.

Budget Director/Deputy CFO  Molly Culhane

(Sept. 2011)  Staff analyst in the national security and space group (2010-11) and financial specialist (2001-10) at Boeing.  Master's degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University; undergraduate studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Scheduling and Advance Budget Manager  Ian Reed

(Oct. 2011)  Associate director for finance at the White House, 2009-11.  Worked on surrogate scheduling at travel on Obama's 2008 campaign.  M.S. in public administration from DePaul University, 2008; B.A. in political science and government from Grand Valley State University.

States Budget Manager  Cristina Bonuso

(Nov. 2011)  Attorney at Thompson Hine LLP, 2007-11.  J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, 2007.  B.A. in business economics and Italian studies from Brown University, 2002.

Paid Media Budget Manager  Tom Elson

(Jan. 2012)  Worked on the campaign as a budget analyst in summer 2011.  Policy analyst at the Environmental Defense Fund, 2006-09.  M.B.A. from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, 2011 and  M.S. in environmental science from Stanford University, 2011.  A.B. in environmental studies/psychology from Bowdoin College, 2006.

Finance and Operations Budget Manager  Jane Lee

(March 2012)  Associate at Education Resource Strategies, 2009-10.  Consultant, strategy and operations at Deloitte Consulting, 2005-08.  M.P.A./M.B.A. concurrent degree from Northwestern University and Harvard Kennedy School, 2012.  B.A. in political science and legal studies from Northwestern University, 2005.


Senior Budget Analyst  Jeff Rapp

(June 2011) Analyst at Excelsior Capital Management, 2006-10.  B.S. in economics from University of Michigan, 2006.

Budget Analyst  Jared Mueller

(July 2011)  Associate at the Boston Consulting Group, 2009-11.  Graduate of Duke University, 2009.

Budget Analyst  Susan Parker

(Dec. 2011)  M.P.P. from University of Chicago, 2011; B.A. in international relations from Michigan State University, 2009.


Senior Accountant  Charles Olivier

(June 2012; started as a staff accountant in June 2011)  B.A. in accountancy, business administration from University of Illinois, 2011.

Staff Accountant  Sarah Gerstenberger

(Oct. 2011)  M.S. in accountancy from Loyola University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, 2011; bachelor's of business administration, accounting from Eastern Michigan University, 2009.

Staff Accountant  Carmin Reynoso-del Toro

Bachelor's (2009) and Master's (2010) degrees in accounting from University of Illinois at Chicago.

Controller  Kelly McGuire

(March 2012)  Director of finance at Big Ten Network, Oct. 2007-June 2011.  Controller at Univision & Telefuture Television, 2002-07.  Controller at Tribune Entertainment, 1998-2001; senior internal auditor at the Tribune Company, 1996-98.  Senior tax consultant at Arthur Andersen LLP, 1993-95.  M.B.A. in finance and international business from DePaul University; bachelor's degree in accounting from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Note starting Nov. 2012, McGuire serves as deputy CFO and director of financial operations, charged with winding down and wrapping up financial operations.

COMPLIANCE

Director of Compliance  Nicholas Pancrazio

(April 2011)  Previously research supervisor-compliance (Aug. 2010-March 2011) and research associate-compliance (Oct. 2009-July 2010 at the DNC.  B.A. in political science and government from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008.

Compliance Manager  Shaunta Floyd

(May 2011)  Regional director of operations (Dec. 2009-May 2011) and research associate (Oct.-Dec. 2009) at the DNC.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign as director of operations on the Campaign for Change in Atlanta, GA (July-Nov. 2008), operations/office manager and field organizer (Nov. 2007-April 2008) and vetting specialist in Chicago (March-Nov. 2007).  Specialist at American InterContinental University Online, 2004-06.  B.A. in criminal justice from Illinois State University, 2001.

Vetting Research Director  Jon Bosscher

(April 2011)  Research associate at the DNC from Jan. 2010.  Research consultant, 2009-10.   Research fellow at The Atlas Project, late 2009.  Field organizer in Ohio on Obama's 2008 campaign.  M.A. from Bowling Green State University, 2008; B.A. from Miami University, 2005.

Assistant Vetting Research Manager  Joseph Tennial

(May 2011)  Regional field director on Medoza for Clerk (Chicago), Jan.-Feb. 2011.  Field organizer for the Illinois Democratic Party, Aug.-Nov. 2010.  B.S. in psychology, pre-law from Xavier University of Louisiana, 2010.

Vetting Research Associate  Carl Young

(Dec. 2011)  Social media coordinator for the Morehouse College National Alumni Association, July-Dec. 2011.  B.A. in political science and economics from Morehouse College, 2011.

Compliance Associates
Jessica Kwan

(Aug. 2011) Most recently an intern in 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly's Office.  B.S. in business management from Hofstra University, 2008.

Taylor O'Brien

(Sept. 2011)  B.A. in political science, Spanish from DePaul University, 2011.  Finance intern and Organizing Fellow on Obama's 2008 campaign.

Vania Kinard

(July 2012)  Student at The Catholic University of America.

IT

     ...individual and office technology (laptops, devices, printers) and procurement and support thereof.

Chief Information Officer  Rajeev Chopra

(March 2011)  President/senior systems engineer at The MIS Department, Inc., a Chicago-based IT consulting firm he founded in 1999.  IS director at the DNC, 2010-11.  IT director on Obama's 2008 campaign (started volunteering at headquarters in April 2007, continued to help in states during the primaries, and started on staff in April 2008)   Previously worked as a freelancer for about two years.  Systems analyst for the Andrew Corp.

Deputy CIO  Khalid Maletan

Computer consultant specializing in networking infrastructure and using technology to resolve business process problems.  Has done work in Switzerland, Afghanistan and Libya; served on the board of directors of Global Networks.

Regional IT Directors 
David Sloane

(April 2012)  Technical operations manager at Paytronix Systems, 2011-12.  Director of technical operations and security, director of systems management at Memento, Inc. 2008-11.  Systems manager at Evare, 2004-07.  Senior systems administrator at VFA, 2001-04.  Technical operations engineer at Event Zero, 1999-2001.  Senior technical service analyst at Symantec, 1995-98.  Customer service representative at Omnitek Information Services, 1993-94.

Mike Miller

(April 2012)  Restaurant manager (Jan. 2009-April 2012) and information technology manager (Aug. 2007-April 2012) at NCP Chicago.  Sales producer at Allstate, 2004-10.  Master's degree in computer information and network security from DePaul University, 2012; bachelor's degree from Millikin University, 2005; earlier attended Holy Cross College.


SYSTEMS
Security Engineer  Shane Hable

(March 2011)  Systems engineer at The MIS Department, Inc. from May 2009.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign on the help desk team, and as an IT support manager on the transition.

Senior Systems Administrator  Alberto Manrique

(March 2011)  Systems engineer at The MIS Department, Inc. from Feb. 2009. IT specialist, support manager and headquarters IT desk on Obama's 2008 campaign from March 2007.  Client technical services-technology group intern for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 2006-07.  Attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Systems Administrator  Joseph Kimball

An IT consultant, Joseph Kimball Consulting LLC.  Technical analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  IT helpdesk at Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney.  IT consultant at Matrix Computer Software.  M.S. in information technology from Northwestern.  B.S. in management information systems from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.


SOLUTIONS SPECIALISTS

Salesforce.com (contract management)  Edward Schlickfup

Bachelor's degree in English from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Quickbase (business purchase app)  Bruce Levy

(July 2011)  Field support specialist at Derivix Corporation, 2008-10.  Manager of operations for Restaurant Evaluators, 2000-07.  Sales/support for SunGard Data Systems, Inc., 2004-05.  Director of business development at MB Trading, 2000-02.  Technical support manger at Townsend Analytics, 1997-2000.  Market maker at the Chicago Boar Options Exchange, 1983-1995.


REGIONAL TELECOM DESKS
Betsy Huigens

(Aug. 2011; also a DevOps product manager)  Customer relations manager at Readeo LLC, Jan-Aug. 2011.  Founder of Bluelight LLC, 2010-11.  B.A. in psychology from DePaul University, 2012.

Krenee Tolson

(June 2012)  Service learning coordinator at DePaul University, Dec. 2010-June 2012; telemarketer for Center Stage, 2008-11.  B.F.A. in acting from DePaul University, 2012.


Equipment Manager  Amada Fitzsimmons

(Nov. 2011-purchasing, shipping and maintenance of equipment; continued after the election with winding down and inventory)  Report specialist (2010-11) and medical office assistant (2007-10) at Little Company of Mary Affiliated Physicians.  M.B.A. from Saint Xavier University, 2010; B.S. in community health/health planning and administration from University of Illinois, 2007.


HELP DESK TEAM
(about 6-8 people)
Manager  Ross Reed

(May 2011)  Studied at Illinois State University.

Manager  Jason Bragg

(Nov. 2011)  Director of operations/technical director at BBL Productions, 2009-11.  Production assistant at several production companies, 2006-09.  Front end manager at CompUSA, 2004-05.  Bachelor's degree from DePaul University.

MORE OPERATIONS

in addition to CFO, Compliance and IT, these are additional areas that reported to COO Ann Marie Habershaw and deputy COO Teal Baker...
HUMAN RESOURCES
Human Resources Director  Sheena Patton

(April 2011)  Part of Organizing for America in Illinois.  In Fall 2008 ran the Obama campaign's border state program in Indiana; attended the first Camp Obama in May 2007.  Worked in corporate human resources for about 14 years.  B.S. degree from DePaul University.  Lifelong resident of the south suburbs of Chicago.

Deputy Human Resources Director  Janie Minkin

(Dec. 2011)  Consultant/owner at Sage Mediated Solutions, LLC, 2009-11.  Senior consultant at HRadvantage, LLC 2008-09.  Vice president of human resources at Chef Solutions Inc./Orval Kent Foods, 2004-07.  Director of human resources at ConAgra Foods, 1998-2003.  Managing principal at the HR Group, 1995-98.  Director of compensation, benefits and systems at Baxter Healthcare Corp. 1992-95.  Manager of compensation, benefits and HRIS at Kraft Foodservice, 1989-92.  Senior consultant, compensation, benefits and HRIS at Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association, 1983-89.  MBA in finance from Loyola University of Chicago, 1984.

Human Resources Coordinator  Barisa Meckler

Special assistant at the U.S. General Services Administration, Jan. 2010-May 2011.  Operations assistant at the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2010.  Illinois state scheduler at front desk manager for then Sen. Obama, Feb.-Dec. 2008.  Staff assistant in U.S. Senate, Jan.-Aug. 2007.  Correspondence assistant in Office of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, April 2005-Jan. 2007.  Bachelor's degree in political science and government from University of Denver, 2005.  Working toward M.A. in public policy and public administration from Northwestern University. 

Human Resources  Evera Ivy

Admissions strategy cosultant at The Cara Program from Sept. 2003.  B.S. degree from Illinois State University, 1997.

• STATE OPERATIONS
State Operations Director  David Levine

(April 2011)  Previously national operations director at the DNC, from April 2010; regional operations director at the DNC, 2009-April 2010.  Deputy COO at M+R Strategic Services.  Founder/partner at QCharm LLC, 2006-08; founder/partner at EZBands LLC, 2004-08.  In Fall 2004 Levine was assistant to director of operations at the DCCC.  In Fall 2003 he was a field organizer for EMILY's List/Patti Morrisey for State Delegate in VA House District 32.  B.A. in political science from American University.

Deputy National Operations Director  Nathan Olson

(July 2011)  Regional operations director at the DNC, 2010-11.  Operations coordinator at Teach for America, 2009-10.  Regional organizer at Grassroots Solutions, 2008-09.  Regional political coordinator (5th CD) for the Minnesota DFL, June-Dec. 2008.  Field assistant and caucus logistics coordinator on Al Franken for Senate, 2007-08.  B.A. in Spanish studies from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2008.

Regional Operations Directors 
Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic  Ashleigh Barber

(August 2011)  Account manager at The Strategy Group, Summer 2011.  Operations director and campaign logistics coordinator at Field Strategies, Oct. 2007-May 2011.  COO at Switchboard Communications, 2010.  B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame, 2006.

South  Victoria Mayer

(Oct. 2011)  Field director at Rush Holt for Congress, 2010.  Deputy director for intergovernmental affairs in the New Jersey Governor's Office, 2006-10.  Deputy field director on Victory 2009 in Trenton, June-Nov. 2009.  B.A. in political science from Rutgers, 2005.

Midwest  Scott Speegel

(from July 2012; started as Telecom Desk in Dec. 2011)  Volunteer teacher at Shree Bharathi Vidyalaya School in India, 2010-11.  Campaign manager on Ascot for Congress, Aug. 2009-Feb. 2010.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a data manager and in operations in the Fall.  Senior paralegal at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, 2005-07.  B.A. in political science from Northwestern University, 1985.
...succeeded Greg Diamond, who in July 2012 moved over to serve as operations director on the campaign in Iowa.

West  Miriam Chan

(July 2011)  Operations director on the Bill White for Texas campaign, Dec. 2009-Feb. 2011.  B.A. in English and government from the University of Texas at Austin, 2009.

Northeast  Elis Ribeiro

(Dec. 2012)


HEADQUARTERS OPERATIONS

Director of HQ Operations  Willie Kane

(March 2011)  Director of wind down operations for the 2008 Obama campaign, Dec. 2009-March 2011.  Reconciliation manager at Obama for America, Sept. 2007-Sept. 2009.  Manager at Glascott's Groggery, Sept. 2004-07.  Law clerk/assistant at Daniel Sherman, Attorney at Law, 2002-04.  B.A. in English language and literature from Xavier University, 2002.

Deputy Director of HQ Operations  David Belts

(May 2011)  Sales administrator at Omni Financial, 2008-09.  Staffing specialist/recruiter/human resources at SDE Business Partnering, 2005-06.  M.P.A. from University of Colorado at Denver, 2009; B.A. in political science and government from Western Michigan University, 2005.


Volunteer Coordinator/Call Center Director  Nikki Giancola

(April 2011)  Previously a regional field director for Organizing for America in Chicago from Aug. 2010.  Teacher at Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge, Aug. 2008-Aug. 2010.  Teacher at Old Quarry Middle School in Lemont, 2005-08.  M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University-River Forest, 2008.

CORRESPONDENCE
Director of Correspondence  Allison Belville

(May 2011)  Regional operations director at the Democratic National Committee, June 2010-April 2011.  Operations manager at the Obama for America wind down, Oct. 2009-June 2010.  Personnel specialist on the Obama-Biden Transition Team.  Regional operations manager at Obama for America in Fall 2008.  B.S. in public relations from Illinois State University, 2008.

Public Correspondence Manager  Alma Burke

(Dec. 2011)  B.A. in political science and communication at the University of Missouri-Columbia, 2011.  Summer volunteer at the White House in 2010.

Personal Correspondence Manager  Kelsey Pietranton

Degree in history and international studies from University of Richmond, 2011.  Interned summer 2010 in Vice President Biden's correspondence office.

FEC REPORTING
FEC Reporting Manager  Taryn Vogel

(Sept. 2011)  FEC reports manager at the DNC, 2009-Sept. 2011.  Compliance associate at the Hagan Senate Committee, Fall 2008.  A regional field director on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign.  B.A. in political science from Loyola Marymount University, 2004.

Campaign Finance Reporting Analyst  Benjamin Rothschild

(June 2011)  B.A. in mathematics, economics, mathematical methods in the social sciences from Northwestern University, 2011.

Campaign Finance Reporting Analyst  Kyle Hertzberg

(Jan. 2012; from Oct.-Dec. 2011 worked as accounting clerk and specila projects)  Personal banker at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, Aug. 2010-June 2011.  B.A. in finance from Cal State University Fullerton-Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, 2010.

TRAVEL
Travel Director  Hope Woodworth

(Sept. 2011)  Account manager at SDI Travel and Incentives, Feb. 2007-April 2010.  Planning and purchasing manager at Landmark Incentive Marketing, Inc., March 1999-Feb. 2007.  Catering/spa director for Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 1997-99.  Studied at University of Vermont.
including Hope Woodworth, four persons...

Finance

Finance Director  Rufus Gifford

Moved over from position as finance director at the DNC, which he had held since Feb. 2009.  With his then-partner Jeremy Bernard, Gifford did fundraising through B&G Associates in California; California fundraising for Obama's campaign in 2007-08.  Deputy finance director, Western States for the DNC during the 2004 election (oversaw eight states).  Six years working at Davis Entertainment and then Twentieth Century Fox.  Degrees in American civilization and theater from Brown University, 1996.  Son of banking executive Charles K. Gifford.  twitter

Deputy Finance Director  Elizabeth (Liz) Lowery

(March 2011)  Finance director at the DSCC in the 2010 cycle, starting in Jan. 2009.  Senior advisor to the chairman at the DLC, since June 2007.   National finance director Harold Ford, Jr. for U.S. Senate, 2004.  Fundraising consultant at Kimball Stroud & Associates, Inc, 1999-2003.  University of Alabama.

Finance Chief of Staff  Sam Brown

(April 2011)  Finance chief of staff at the DNC, Feb. 2009-March 2011.  Southern Calif. finance consultant on Obama for America, 2007-08.  Political consultant and fundraiser at Capital Strategies, 2006-07.  Creative director at Tom Jacobson Productions, 2005-06.  Deputy finance director on Bob Hertzberg for Mayor, Nov. 2004-March 2005.  Southern Calif. regional finance assistant, 2003-04.  B.A. in cinema-television from the University of Southern California, 2004.

Deputy Finance Chief of Staff  Kevin Karlsgodt

(April 2011)  Assistant to finance leadership at the DNC, 2009-11.  In 2009 worked for Rep. George Miller, on the McAuliffe for Governor campaign and for Rep. Doris Matsui.  B.A. in history, political science from Tulane University, 2008.

Assistant to Finance Leadership  Samantha Citron

(April 2011)  Press assistant at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2010-11.  Press department intern on Obama for America, summer 2008.  Bachelor of journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia, 2009.

Regional Finance and Deputy Finance Directors

Midwest Director  Roz Skozen

(March 2011)  Previously Midwest finance director at the DNC.  Midwest deputy finance director and earlier Midwest finance assistant on Obama for America, 2008.  Finance assistant at Evan Bayh's All America PAC, 2006.  Special assistant to Sen. Bill Nelson, 2005-06.  B.A. in English/Spanish from DePauw University.

Senior Midwest Deputy Director  Michael Kurtz

(April 2011)  Deputy finance director at Friends of Martin O'Malley, 2009-11.  Finance intern on Obama's 2008 campaign.  B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2009.

Midwest Deputy Director  Claire Olszewski

(May 2011)  Advance staffer (Jan.-March 2011) and scheduling and advance intern (Aug. 2010-Jan. 2011) in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama.  Undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, 2010.

Northern California/NW Director  Autumn Sample

(April 2011)  Previously Northwest finance director and Northern California deputy finance director at the DNC, from April 2007.  Washington State Democrats/DNC regional field director for Eastern Washington, 2005-07.  Field organizer in Walla Walla on the 2004 Washington State Coordinated Campaign.  B.A. in international relations from Purdue University, 2004.

Staff Director, Technology for Obama  Jim Green


Southern California/SW Director  Adia Smith

Attended UC Davis.

Southern California/SW Deputy Director  Michael Gilmore

(April 2011)  Moved over from position as deputy Southern California/Southwest finance director position at DNC, started in Feb. 2009.  Also served as deputy finance director, Northwest on PIC 2009 and for the DNC in the latter half of 2008.  Boards and commissions administration 2006-08.  Deputy to the political director at Cantwell 2006.  B.A. in political science from Seattle University, 2006.


New England Director  Kathleen Gasperine

(April 2011)  New England finance director at the DNC from March 2009.  As a Boston-based consultant Gasperine served as finance director on Deval Patrick's 2010 re-election campaign.  Northeast deputy finance director at the DNC in Fall 2008; deputy New England finance director on Hillary Clinton for President.  Deputy Massachusetts finance director for Keeping America's Promise, Sen. John Kerry's PAC, from Nov. 2006-Feb. 2007.  Finance assistant on Rendell for Governor, 2006.  Graduate of Ithaca College, 2006.

New England Deputy Director  Ryan Fleury

(April 2011)  Policy assistant at Human Rights Campaign, April 2010-April 2011.  Bachelor's degree in political communication from Emerson College, 2009. 


Illinois Director  Mabel Arrambide


succeeded April Harley...(April 2011-April 2012, then left to join Charlotte in 2012 host committee)  Previously Illinois finance director at the DNC and earlier Illinois deputy finance director.  Deputy Southern finance director on Southern finance assistant, and Illinois finance assistant on Obama for America, 2008.  B.A. in English from Howard University. 


Tri-State Director (New York)  Brad Thompson


Senior Deputy Director for New York  Diana Doukas

(May 2011)  Annual fund officer for New York University's Stern School of Business for the first part of 2011.  National finance director on Hodes for Senate, 2009-10.  Finance consultant on Andrew Cuomo 2010, 2008-09.  In the 2008 cycle served as PAC director and as deputy Mid-Atlantic finance director for the DSCC.  Graduate of Villanova University, 2005.


Florida Director  Jessica Clark

(May 2011)  Florida finance director at the DNC, Feb. 2009-May 2011.  Deputy Florida finance director on Obama's campaign in 2007-08.  Florida finance assistant  on Nelson for Senate, 2006.  Attended University of Central Florida.


Southern Director  Ari Koban

(April 2011)  Special assistant to the chief of staff at the Ex-Im Bank of the United States, 2009-11.  Associate director of events in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, 2009.  Deputy finance director for the Midwest and Southern regions on Obama's campaign in 2007-08.  Deputy finance director at Friends of Tammy Duckworth, 2006-07.  Finance assistant at Nancy Kohn Consulting, 2005-06.  B.A. in political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005.


Texas/Oklahoma Consultant  Adrienne Donato

Owner of Donato Consulting, Inc.  Also fulfilled this role on the campaign in 2007-08.  Attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.


Gen44 Finance Director  Sharon Yang

(April 2011)  Previously Gen44 finance director at the DNC, 2009-11.  National candidate finance director at the DCCC, July-Dec. 2008.  Mid-Atlantic finance on Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08.  Production manager/executive assistant at Grunwald Communications, 2005-07.  Account assistant at MSHC Partners, Fall 2004.  B.A. degree from Loyola Marymount University, 2004.

Gen44 Deputy Finance Director  Lora Whitticker

(May 2011)  Previously Gen 44 founding member and national co-chair at the DNC from June 2009.  Worked on the Presidential Inaugural Committee and in the closing weeks of the campaign served as voter protection legal team coordinator on Indiana for Change.  Associate attorney at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, 2007-08; associate attorney at Lord Bissell & Brook LLP, 2005-07.  J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, 2002; B.A. in political science and African-American studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, 1999.


African-American Leadership Council Director  Edana Walker

(June 2011)  Previously finance consultant to the DNC.  Consultant at B+G Associates, 2007-09.  Administrative assistant in the retirement section of Mercer, 2005-07.  Fundraiser at John Kerry for President.  Program instructor at The Close Up Foundation, 1999-2001.  Fifth grade teacher at George Washington Carver Elementary School, 1996-98.  Graduate of Spellman College.

African-American Leadership Council Deputy Director  Marcus Switzer

B.A. in public policy and psychology from Duke University.


LGBT Leadership Council Director  Jamie Citron
LGBT Leadership Council Deputy Director  Aditi Hardikar

(see above under Operation Vote)


Futuro Fund Director  Zach Portilla

(Futuro Fund, launched in Oct. 2011, is a grassroots Latino fundraising effort)  Assistant in the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House.  Left Penn State to volunteer on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Duluth native.
    Co-chairs: Henry R. Muñoz III, Andrés W. López, Eva Longoria


Grassroots Fundraising Manager  Yolanda Magallanes

(May 2011)  Associate at The Ashmead Group, 2006-10.  B.A. in politics from Oberlin College, 2006.


Finance Chairman  Matthew Barzun

(starting June 1, 2011)  Left position as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, which he started Aug. 12, 2009, to join the campaign.  In the 2008 cycle he was "among the first to join Barack Obama's National Finance Committee, where he produced the first $25 per-person fundraiser."  based in Louisville, KY, he advised and invested in start-up internet companies.  He was the fourth employee at CNET Networks, where he worked from 1993-2004, including as executive vice president, chief strategy officer, and a member of the executive committee.  A.B. in history and literature from Harvard College.  Originally from Massachusetts.

On the evening of April 14, 2011 President Obama started fundraising for the 2012 campaign with three events in Chicago.  +

Marketing And Merchandise

Marketing and Merchandise Director  Meaghan Burdick

(April 2011) SBA's White House liaison.  Director of grassroots fundraising on Obama's 2007-08 campaign.  [http://store.barackobama.com]  Director of marketing and online services at the DCCC, Jan. 2005-Jan. 2007.  Director of marketing at  DSCC, 2002-04.  Manager of direct marketing at EMILY's List, 1998-2002.  Graduate of Georgetown University, 1998.

Hana Haile-Mariam

(June 2011)  Degree in international relations/public policy from Boston University, 2011.

Joshua Goodman

(May 2011)  Previously worked in the marketing department at the DNC, July 2010-April 2011.  Outreach and public education for the American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation's Capital, 2009-10.  B.A. in political science from Vassar College, 2009.

Marketing Assistants
Caroline Simpson

(Jan. 2012)  Sales and marketing associate at Nuvio Corporation, 2006-08.  M.A. in political science from Kansas State University, 2011; B.A. in political science and government from University of Missouri-Kansas CIty, 2006.

Matthew Weinberg

(Feb. 2012)  Advance associate, White House Office of Scheduling and Advance, June-Dec. 2011.  Field organizer on People for Patty Murray, Fall 2010.  Coordinator for government relations and grassroots at the U.S. Travel Association, March-Sept. 2010.  B.A. in history from University of Washington, 2009.

Carlos Ramos

(Aug. 2012; started as an intern in May 2012)  Student working towards degree in political science and government at Florida State University.

Counsel

General Counsel  Bob Bauer

(end of June or beginning of July 2011)  White House Counsel, announced Nov. 2009, served through end of June 2011 when he returned to Perkins Coie LLP; resignation announced June 2.  Chair of the Political Law Group of Perkins Coie; served as general counsel to the DNC and Obama's personal lawyer.  General counsel for Obama's 2008 campaign.  Thirty years of law practice.  Counsel for many years to the DSCC and DCCC.  J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, 1976.  B.A. from Harvard University, 1973.

Corporate Counsel  Gaurab Bansal

(Oct. 2011)  Attorney at Perkins Coie LLP, 2007-11.  Teacher at KIPP Houston, 2002-04.  Teacher at Teach for America in Houston, 2000-02.  J.D. from University of Washington School of Law, 2007.  B.A. from University of Pennsylvania, 2000.

Counsel and Ballot Initiative Director  Kip Wainscott

(Aug. 2011--director of delegate operations and counsel for ballot access)  Political lawyer and litigator at Bryan Cave LLP, 2008-11; also DC managing director of the New Leaders Council, 2008-11.  Law clerk at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, 2006-08.   J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, 2008; B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University, 2004.

Voter Protection Counsel  Jenni Katzman

(Jan. 2012)  Attorney at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, 2008-Jan. 2012.  U.S. District Court law clerk, 2007-08.  Attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Associates, 2005-07.  J.D. from Cornell Law School, 2005.  B.A. in public policy from Duke University, 2002.

Voter Protection Coordinator  Courtney Wheeler

(Jan. 2012)  Campaign manager on Nashville Mayor Karl Dean's 2011 re-election campaign.  Director of special projects at the DNC, Aug. 2010-Jan. 2011.  Deputy campaign manager on Karl Dean for Mayor, 2007.  Political director on Jim Davis for Governor of Florida, 2005-06.  Political director at the Tennessee Democratic Party, 2004-05.  Field director in Tennessee and Maryland on John Kerry for President, then served as delegate tracker for the campaign.  Campaign manager for a couple of state reps. on the Tennessee Coordinated Campaign, Fall 2012.  J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law, 2010; undergraduate degree from Texas State University-San Marcos, 2001.

Voter Protection Hotline Coordinator  Alexander Konetzki

(Sept. 2012)  Started out as a research associate in the compliance department, Aug. 2011-Sept. 2012.  Associate attorney at Bodwin & Associates, P.C., 2010-11.  In 2007 served as a field intern on Hillary Clinton's Iowa caucus campaign.  Assistant editor at The American Conservative, 2006-07.  Research associate at the New America Foundation, 2006.  J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, 2010; M.Phil. in international relations from University of Cambridge, 2005; B.A. in political science and English literature from University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004.

CONSULTANTS

note: Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post's "The Fix" first set out the details in "Inside President Obama's campaign team." Aug. 8, 2012.

Media...
Larry Grisolano

Director of paid media and opinion research on Obama's 2008 campaign, started Jan. 2007; created, supervised and directed the opinion research program and managed the paid advertising campaign (television, radio, internet, direct mail and other print advertising)  Partner in The Strategy Group.  Managed Gov. Gray Davis' 2002 re-election campaign and Californians Against the Costly Recall, the Davis' campaign to defeat the 2003 recall.  In 1991-92 worked on the Clinton for President primary campaign including stints in Little Rock, running the Florida State Convention straw ballot operation, and in the Illinois primary; in the fall oversaw the Clinton-Gore coordinated campaign in California.  Worked in press and research for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s 1991 re-election.  In 1988 managed Iowa field operations for Sen. Joe Biden and, later, for Sen. Paul Simon.  Organizer for Tom Harkin’s upset victory for the U.S. Senate in 1984.  B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa.  Also studied business management at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Media Strategy in the States  Ann Liston and Terry Walsh

Liston is partner at Adelstein | Liston.  Previously served in senior positions at EMILY's List, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the National Democratic Convention-Los Angeles, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Washington, D.C. media firm GMMB.
Walsh is partner at The Strategy Group; he joined the firm in 1991 and has served as lead consultant and direct mail strategist on numerous campaigns.  In 2008 he was lead direct mail consultant to Obama for President during the general election.  J.D. from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan.

Senior Advisor  Jim Margolis

Senior partner at GMMB.  Also senior strategist on Obama's 2007-08 campaign.

John Del Cecato - AKPD Media
Rich Davis and David Dixon - Davis Media Group
Mike Donilon; Ricki Fairley-Brown - DOVE Marketing
James Aldrete - Message Audience & Presentation
Mark Putnam - Putnam Partners


Hispanic: Sergio Bendixen and Fernand Amandi - Bendixen & Amandi


African American: Clifford Franklin - FUSE Advertising


Polling...
(director of opinion research David Simas)

Lead Pollster/Senior Strategist  Joel Benenson

Has done polling for Obama since joining the Obama campaign in Jan. 2007.  Founding partner (2000) and president of the Benenson Strategy Group (BSG); has served as a pollster and strategist for U.S. senators, governors and mayors, CEOs and corporate clients.  Benenson started his polling career in 1995.  Briefly worked as a vice president of the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency.  Communications director for Gov. Mario Cuomo's 1994 re-election campaign.  Political reporter for the New York Daily News; earlier worked at newspapers in Westchester County.  Graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York.

Polling team includes-
focusing on states  Paul Harstad

Harstad, who has done survey research and consulting for Obama since he was a state Senator running for U.S. Senate in 2002, is CEO of Harstad Strategic Research, based in Boulder, CO.  He has more than three years of experience in government, public affairs, polling, and campaign strategy.   During the 1990s he directed public affairs polling for Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy in Boulder.  During the 1980s he was senior vice president at Peter Hart Research and Garin-Hart Research in Washington, DC.  During the 1970s he worked as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate in Washington, DC.  J.D. from Georgetown University.

focus groups  David Binder

Binder, a member of the 2008 campaign's polling team, is principal at David Binder Research in San Francisco, CA.  M.B.A. from Cornell; B.S. from Syracuse University.

More


Treasurer  Martin Nesbitt

Close friend of Obama, treasurer on Obama's 2008 campaign.  President and CEO of PRG Parking Management (Dba, the Parking Spot), an owner and operator of off-airport parking facilities.  Vice President of the Pritzker Realty Group, L.P. (PRG).  At LaSalle Partners for seven years as equity partner and investment manager.  Worked for General Motors Corporation.  M.B.A. from the University of Chicago; B.S. from Albion College.


National Co-Chairs

(announced Feb. 22, 2012)  Lynnette Acosta – OFA volunteer leader from Florida.   Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce.com.   Senator Michael Bennet – U.S. Senator from Colorado.   Mayor Julian Castro – Mayor of San Antonio.   Governor Lincoln Chafee – Governor of Rhode Island.   Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina.   Representative Judy Chu – Representing the 32nd District of California.   Representative Emanuel Cleaver – Representing the 5th District of Missouri.   Bill Daley – Former White House Chief of Staff to President Obama, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.   Maria Elena Durazo – Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.   Senator Dick Durbin – U.S. Senator from Illinois.   Mayor  Rahm Emanuel – Mayor of Chicago.   Senator Russ Feingold – Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin.   Representative Charles A. Gonzalez – Representing the 20th District of Texas.   Loretta Harper – High School Counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada.   Attorney General Kamala Harris – Attorney General of California.   Sai Iyer – Student at Virginia Commonwealth University and OFA volunteer leader from Virginia.   Caroline Kennedy – Author/President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.   Eva Longoria – Actress and Philanthropist.   Felesia Martin – OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin.   Bishop Vashti McKenzie – African Methodist Episcopal Bishop.  Attorney General Tom Miller – Attorney General of Iowa.   Kalpen Modi – Actor/Former White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement.  Admiral John Nathman – Retired U.S. Navy Admiral.   Governor Deval Patrick – Governor of Massachusetts.   Secretary Federico Pena - Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Secretary of Energy.   Elaine Price – Retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio.   Penny Pritzker – Founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners.   John Register – U.S. Army Veteran and Paralympian.   Representative Jan Schakowsky – Representing the 9th District of Illinois.   Senator Jeanne Shaheen – U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.  Joe Solmonese – President of the Human Rights Campaign.  Alan Solow – Partner at DLA Piper LLP and past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.   Governor Ted Strickland – Former Governor of Ohio.   Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Mayor of Los Angeles

Former

A campaign lasting 19 months will experience turnover.  Here are some of the many other folks who contributed to the effort:

Deputy Battleground States Director  Karine Jean-Pierre

(announced Aug. 25, 2011 to end of May 2012)  A regional political director in the White House Office of Political Affairs.   Southern political pod person on the Obama-Biden campaign. Came to the campaign after serving for four months as press secretary to Congressman Anthony Weiner.  Southeast regional political director on John Edwards for President, Jan. 2007-Feb. 2008.  State and local outreach coordinator at Wal-Mart Watch, 2006-07.  Deputy chief of staff at the New York City Council, 2004-06.  Master's degree in public policy from Columbia University's School of International  and Public Affairs, 2003.

Deputy Battleground States Director  Katie Ingebretson

(May 2011 to end of May 2012)  Digital director at the U.S. Department of Defense, Dec. 2009-April 2011.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign serving as director of the Virginia Campaign for Change in the Fall; during the primaries was Waterloo regional field director for Obama's Iowa caucus campaign as well as state director on the Idaho caucus campaign and Austin regional field director on the Texas primary campaign.  Worked on Virginia Victory 2005, helping to elect Tim Kaine governor.  A canvassing team member on the 2004 Wisconsin Coordinated Campaign.  Bachelor's degree in philosophy and history from University of Texas at Austin, 2004.  Texas native.

...Ingebretson and Jean-Pierre formed K Plus K Enterprises, LLC in June 2012.

Director of Voter Experience  Anthea Watson Strong

(started May 2011 as product manager on the technology team; with the campaign to May 2012).  Project manager for the Voting Information Project, Google and Pew funded at the New Organizing Institute, 2009-11.  Field organizer in WI, TX, IN and MS on Obama for America from Jan.-June 2008, then deputy regional field director on the Wisconsin Campaign for Change, June-Nov. 2008.  Associate director at the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms.  Deputy field organizer on the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in South Milwaukee, Oct.-Nov. 2006.  Legislative fellow in the office of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, 2006.  J.D. from Boston University School of Law, 2005; B.A. in business administration from Principia College, 2002.

Chief Financial Officer  Mary Beth Schulz

(April 2011 to April 2012)  Special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management & Comptroller, 2010-11.  Controller at the DNC, 2009-10.  Valuation services senior associate at KPMG, 2007-09.  Auditor at Ernst & Young, 2003-07.  M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2011.  M.S. in accountancy from University of Notre Dame, 2004.

Director of Modeling  Charles Hammerslough

(Sept. 2011 to March 2012)  Vice president of research and development in the Advanced Solutions Group at The Nielsen Company, 2010-11. Director of analytic solutions (contract) at Dunn Solutions Group, 2009-10.  Vice president of predictive analytics at Sutherland Global Services, 2008-10.  Vice president of marketing analysis at ServiceMaster, 2002-07.  Assistant professor at University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1986-93.  Ph.D. in sociology and demography from Princeton University, 1986; B.A. in anthropology from Yale University, 1980.

Women Vote Director  Heather Colburn

(Aug. 2011 to Feb. 2012)  Colburn was for some years a Madison, WI-based consultant for progressive non-profits, political organizations, campaigns and candidates for public office.  Wisconsin state director on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, 2007-08.  In the 2006 cycle she served as deputy campaign manager on Fair Wisconsin, a statewide initiative to defeat a constitutional amendment banning civil unions and gay marriage.  Major gifts and events director at EMILY's List, 1999-2004.  Finance director on Tammy Baldwin's successful campaign for Congress in 1998.  B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

UX Designer  Dave Castleton

(June 2011 to Feb. 2012)  Production assistant (2006-08) and producer/editor (2008-10) at KUED-TV.  B.S. in mass communication from University of Utah, 2006.

Lead Media Analyst  Kim Stukel

(July 2011 to Feb. 2012)  Senior media analyst for Ace Hardware, May 2005-Nov. 2010.  Owner of Stamping Street, 2003-04.  Media buyer at Starcom Worldwide, 1998-2002.  B.A. in marketing from Lewis University, 1998.

Director of Media Planning  Amy Gershkoff

(April 2011...to Burson-Marsteller latter part of 2011)  Founding partner of Changing Targets Media, a company that provides targeting and analysis for paid media campaigns.  Vice president of analytics at MSHC Partners, 2007-09.  Senior associate at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, 2006-07.  Ph.D. in political science/methodology from Princeton University.  B.A. in economics and government from Cornell University.

Digital Projects Manager  Michael Gottwald

(June to Nov. 2011) Producer/community and online outreach for Court 13, a film production company headquartered in New Orleans.  Ohio new media co-director for Obama for America, June-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in film studies from Wesleyan University, 2006.

States

Ed. Note: Please email [action08 at gmail] for additions and corrections.


AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA
.










HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD
.










MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ
.










NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC
.










SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
.










DC









ALABAMA

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Leanne Townsend

(July 2011)  State director of Organizing for America from July 2009-July 2011.  B.F.A. from University of Montevallo.

ALASKA

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Michelle Meyer

(June 2011)  President and owner of VantagePoint LLC, a political consulting company from Jan. 2006-June 2011.  Campaign manager on Poe for Alaska gubernatorial primary, 2009-June 2010.  Development director at Oiled Regions of Alaska Foundation, 2008-09.  Campaign coordinator on Cruise Ship Taxation & Regulation Initiative, 2003-06.  B.A. in environmental sciences from Western Washington University, 1985.

Arizona

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  César Blanco

(reported by Arizona Republic in May 2012)  Western regional political director at the DNC starting in Aug. 2011.  Seven years experience on Capitol Hill.  Chief of staff to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) for several months in late 2010-early 2011.  Worked for Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (TX) from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2010 starting as a field deputy and finishing as chief of staff.  Worked for Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX) from Jan. 2004 to early 2007, starting as an intern and continuing as a caseworker.  Congressional relations officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Military analyst in the U.S. Navy.  Graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso.  Native of El Paso; resident of San Antonio. 

Arkansas

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Gary Moody

Started as state director of Organizing for America in July 2010.  Arkansas communication/field director for Repower America, 2009-10.  National executive director of Young Democrats of America, April-Aug. 2009.  Executive director of Young Democrats of Arkansas, 2006-09.  Campaign manager at Mike Hathorn for Lt. Governor, 2005-06.  Regional field director on the Arkansas Victory campaign, Fall 2002.  Director of marketing and communication at Rheem Media Consulting, 2001-02.  M.A. in communication from University of Arkansas, 2005; B.A. in political science from University of Arkansas ad Fayetteville, 2001.

California

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Mary Jane Stevenson

California field director on Obama for America in Fall 2008; Stevenson started as a regional field organizer on Obama's California primary campaign for two Congressional Districts in the Los Angeles area; then was appointed as a precinct coach for nine Congressional Districts from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.  Before joining the campaign, Stevenson was a national on-air correspondent for Court TV.  She also worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily Journal.  B.S. in journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder; master's degree in international affairs from American University.  twitter

Colorado

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page 

Senior Advisor  Craig Hughes

(reported by the Denver Post on Feb. 20)  Managing director at RBI Strategies; previously research director at the firm, started working at RBI in 1987 as an intern and has been involved in numerous campaigns.  Campaign manager on Sen. Michael Bennet's 2010 campaign.  Senior advisor for Barack Obama’s 2008 Colorado campaign.  Eastern political director in the Clinton White House from 1998-2000.  One of the earliest staff members hired for the Clinton for President campaign in 1991, and subsequently worked for both Clinton/Gore campaigns as well as the Democratic National Committee.

State Director  Carrie Doyle

(reported by the Denver Post on Feb. 20; start March 5, 2012)  Most recently chief program officer at Western Conservation Foundation.  Campaign director at Western Energy Project, 2009-11.  Executive director at Colorado Conservation Voters, 2006-09.  Advocate for the Colorado Environmental Coalition, 2003-06.  Southwest program manger for the League of Conservation Voters, 2001-03.  Organizer, canvasser and administrator for PIRGs, 1990-2000.  B.A. in American studies from Stanford University, 1990.  twitter

Connecticut

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Aaron Easter Gardner

(May 2012)  A legal fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center in New Orleans before starting on the campaign.  Staff assistant to Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty.  In the 2008 cycle, Easter Gardner worked as an organizer on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign, then did projects in some other states, and was deputy state director in Mississippi in the Fall; after the campaign he served as an organizer for the PIC.  J.D. from Tulane Law School, 2012; undergraduate degree from University of Rhode Island, 2006.

Delaware

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Appollos Baker

(June 2012)  Program manager at Sydney Lei & Associates, Feb. 2011-March 2012.  Mississippi field director for the DCCC, 2010.  Program director and earlier assistant program coordinator at the Leon Sullivan Trust, 2007-09.  Project director and field coordinator at the American Cities Foundation, 2005-07.  In 2003-04 served as assistant director of canvassing on John Street's campaign and also worked for America Coming together.  Senior district executive at Boy Scouts of America in Delaware County (suburb of Philadelphia), 1998-2003.  Experience on more than a dozen campaigns since 1996.  B.A. in political science from Florida Memorial College, 1998.

District of Columbia

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Kouri Marshall

Experience includes legislative assistant in the government relations and public policy department of Operation HOPE.  M.P.A. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  B.A. in communication from Eureka College, 2005.  Originally from Peoria, IL.

Florida

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Ashley Walker

Florida director of Organizing for America from 2009.  Deputy state director for Obama for America in the 2008 general election; Florida staffer for Obama for America in the primary, and earlier deputy to political director Matt Nugen in Chicago.  Walker managed Jeremy Ring (D-Margate)'s successful 2006 campaign for State Senate.  Staffer to Sen. Bob Graham in his Tallahassee and Miami Lakes offices, 2002-03, then worked on Graham's presidential campaign.  M.S. in international affairs from Florida State University; B.A. in sociology from Indiana University.  Indiana native.

Senior Advisors
Marcus Jadotte

Managing director for public affairs at NASCAR; joined NASCAR in March 2005 as senior manager for national media outreach.Prior to moving over to work with Senator Edwards in July, Jadotte served as John Kerry's deputy campaign manager for over a year, announced May 28, 2003; starting in July 2004 he was deputy campaign manager for VP operations.  Chief of staff in the office of Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL).  Gore-Lieberman campaign's Florida state director in 2000.  During the Clinton administration he worked in the Department of Labor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary and in Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.  In 1998 he served as political director on the MacKay-Dantzler campaign for governor of Florida.  In 1996 he was a regional director on the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign in Florida.  Jadotte was special assistant to the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, and communications director for the Florida AFL-CIO.  He has worked in the Florida House of Representatives and in the Agency for Health Care Administration.   B.S. degree in Economics from Florida State University.  From Opa-locka, Florida. 

Jackie Lee

Founding partner of Sunstream Strategies.  Managed the FairDistrictsFlorida campaign in 2010.  General election director on Obama's Campaign for Change, announced July 9, 2008.  Iowa field director for the John Edwards for President campaign, 2007-08.  Statewide field director for the Florida Democratic Party in 2006 and for former Sen. John Edwards’ campaign during the 2004 presidential primary.  Lee served as the Delaware state director for the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities and for Americans United to Protect Social Security.  Field director for the Oklahoma Democratic Coordinated Campaign.  North Central Iowa regional field director for the Edwards for President campaign in 2003-04, and then the campaign's field director in Virginia and Florida.  Worked for the Louisiana Democratic Party during Sen. Mary Landrieu's 2002 run-off campaign.  Managed a field office for the South Dakota Democratic Party during Sen. Tim Johnson's 2002 re-election campaign.  B.A. in international relations from University of Delaware.

Steve Schale

President at Schale Strategies since Jan. 2009.  State director on Obama's 2008 campaign (from Florida Democrats' House Victory political director since 2005 (appointed by Democratic Leader Dan Gelber).  Communications director/press secretary for the Florida Democrats in the State House (House Democratic Leader Doug Wiles).  Legislative assistant in the Florida House.  B.A. in history and political science from Sewanee-The University of the South, 1996, and M.A. in communications from Florida State University, 2009.  From St. Augustine.

Georgia

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Meredith Lilly

(April 2, 2012)  Most recently a political appointee, serving as senior advisor to the Regional Administrator at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in Atlanta, GA.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign from Aug. 2007.  Attorney in private practice (Lilly & Associates, LLC), 2006-07.  J.D. from Texas Southern University-Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 2005.  B.A. in history/pre-law from Talladega College.

Hawaii

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Ria Baldevia

State director for Organizing for American-DNC in 2009.  A field organizer on Obama's campaign in Fall 2008 and field director on his Guam caucus effort.  Founder and principal of The Sensus Group, a Hawaii-based digital marketing & consulting firm.  Author of the children’s adventure series, Meena and Friends.  Undergraduate degree in economics from Trinity College in Washington DC, 2005.  Born and raised in Guam.

Idaho

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Lance Whitney

(Aug. 2011)  State director for Organizing for America-DNC, 2009-11.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign as rural field director in Carson City, NV in the Fall, and earlier as a field organizer.

Illinois

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Janelle Rau-Clauson

(May 2012)  At SEIU since March 2001 starting as political and communications director for SEIU Local 284, then Midwest area political director and most recently Midwest assistant area director.  Deputy finance director on Mark Dayton for U.S. Senate campaign, Fall 2000.  Legislative assistant, public information specialist at the Minnesota State Senate, 1999-2000.  Fundraiser on Freeman for Governor, 1997-98.  B.A. in political science from University of Minnesota, 1997.

INdiana

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Peter Luster

(Aug. 2011)  ???

Iowa

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Brad Anderson

(announced Jan. 18, 2012) A partner at Link Strategies, a Des Moines-based political consulting firm from May 2008. Iowa communications director for Obama for America in the Fall 2008 campaign.  Communications director to then-Secretary of State Chet Culver's campaign for Governor and continued as Gov. Culver's communications director, Aug. 2006-May 2008.  Worked for LinkStrategies, the Des Moines-based political consulting firm.  Policy director on John Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  Research director for Sen. Tom Harkin's 2002 re-election campaign.  Senior research associate at the DNC during the 2000 presidential election.  Researcher on Edwards' 1998 Senate campaign.  Graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in political science/criminal justice.  twitter

Kansas

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Aude Negrete

Community organizer for CASA de Maryland.  Field and outreach director at the Kansas Democratic Party, 2009-10.  B.A. degree in political science from University of Kansas.

Kentucky

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Keidra King

Executive assistant to Congressman John Yarmuth from Jan. 2007-Jan. 2012.  Worked on Obama's 2007-08 primary campaign in South Carolina.  Worked on campaigns in Cincinnati.  Attended Northern Kentucky University, 2000-05.  Louisville native.

Louisiana

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Pat McCollough

Ordained minister from Hawthorne, FL (Gainesville area).  Active in the 2008 campaign starting as a grassroots leader and then a Summer Fellow.  Served in the Marine Corps for 25 1/2 years, retiring as Marine Sergeant Major.  Degree in physical education from the University of Florida.

Maine

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Toby McGrath

(April 2012)  Political director (government affairs consultant) at Maine Street Solutions from June 2009.  Associate administrator of field operations at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Feb.-June 2009.  Maine state director on Obama for America, early July-Nov. 2012.  Chief of staff to Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, 2004-06.  Maine House Democratic Caucus Director, 2002-04.  Graduate of Bowdoin College.

Maryland

facebook  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Jason Waskey

Special assistant to Secretary of State John P. McDonough, 2007-09.  In 2008 Waskey was a near full-time volunteer on the Obama Maryland campaign.  Degree in American studies from University of Maryland College Park, 2005.

Massachusetts

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Carl Nilsson

Previously campaigns director at Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts.  twitter

Michigan

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

Senior Advisor  Amy Chapman

(early May 2012) Founder (2007) and CEO of ISSI, a data management, modeling, polling and analytics, and strategic consulting firm.  Michigan state director on Obama's 2008 general election campaign.  Executive director of Grassroots Democrats, an independent non-profit 527 political organization dedicated to strengthening the infrastructure and financial resources of state Democratic parties.  Managed the Michigan Democratic coordinated campaign in 2002.  Midwest political director for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), 2002.  Led the DNC's state legislative redistricting project in 2001.  Campaign director for the AFL-CIO from 1997-2001.  Managed the Michigan Democratic coordinated campaign in 1996.  Managed Ron Wyden's successful 1995 special election campaign for U.S. Senate in Oregon.  Managed Kitzhaber for Governor of Oregon in 1994.  Executive director of College Democrats of America, 1993-94.  Oregon state director for Clinton/Gore in 1992.  Political field director SEIU, 1983-91, and during that time also served as a staffer on Dukakis for President, 1988; Western field director on Bob Casey for Governor, 1986; deputy field director and assistant to the political director on Cranston for President, 1983-84.  Worked on Frank Lautenberg's 1982 campaign for U.S. Senate.  Field staff on Gene Maguire for Congress in New Jersey, 1980.  B.A. in politics and journalism from New York University, 1983.  New Jersey native.

State Director  Lavora Barnes

(early May 2012)  Communications manager for public policy and social mission at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.  Communications director for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus, starting 2007.  Worked a regional desk in the Office of Media Affairs at the White House.  Virginia press secretary on the Clinton-Gore '92 campaign.  Legislative affairs associate for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.  Field director on the Saslaw for Lieutenant Governor campaign in Virginia, 1989 (lost in the primary to Don Beyer).  B.A. from The College of William and Mary, 1987.

Minnesota

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Jeff Blodgett

(Blodgett was also MN state director in Fall 2008)  Founding director of Wellstone Action.  Senior advisor to Amy Klobuchar’s U.S. Senate campaign in 2006.  Oversaw get-out-the-vote efforts in Minnesota for Kerry/Edwards in 2004.  Thirteen years as a senior aide, advisor, and campaign manager to the late Senator Paul Wellstone; ran all three of Wellstone’s Senate races.  Began his career as a community organizer working with family farmers during the farm crisis of the 1980s.  M.P.A. from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, 1998. Undergraduate degree from Carleton College, 1983.

Mississippi

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Kenya Collins

(April 2012; acting state director from Jan. 2012)  Started on the campaign as a full time volunteer leader in 2011.  State director of Students 4 DuPree and special events manager for the Johnny DuPree for Governor campaign, 2011.  Web and public relations coordinator for the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2006-09.  Volunteered on Obama's 2008 campaign.  B.S. in elementary education from Jackson State University, 2000.  From Jackson, MS.

Missouri

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Brian Ponton

Victory 2010/Democratic Party of Virginia 11th CD field director.  Regional field director on St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay's April 2009 re-election campaign.  Deputy regional field director on Obama's Campaign for Change in Missouri.  Graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.

Montana

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Judith Heilman

(May 2012; started as a neighborhood team leader in Bozeman in Oct. 2011)  Executive assistant to the president at Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, Aug. 2005-April 2012.  Heilman and her husband moved to Montana in 2005.  Previously she worked for ten years of arranging custom travel and leading international tour groups.  Started in law enforcement in 1974 and retired as a detective sergeant.  Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University.  San Francisco native. 

Nebraska

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Zack Burgin

Regional organizer at Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Nov. 2009-Oct. 2011.  Regional field director in Omaha for Organizing for America, June-Oct. 2009.  Studied history at Wayne State University.  twitter

Nevada

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Luke Hayes

(June 2011)  Texas state director for Organizing for America, 2009-10.  Field organizer on Obama's 2007-08 Nevada caucus campaign; in Fall 2008 Hayes served as deputy field director on the Virginia Campaign for Change.  Worked on Will Wynn’s 2006 campaign for Mayor of Austin, TX.  Graduate of Vassar College.  Originally from the Bronx.   twitter

New Hampshire

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Pete Kavanaugh

A principal at Hilltop Public Solutions.  Advisor on the Jody Wagner for Lt. Governor campaign in Virginia, 2009, and on the Terry McAuliffe for Governor campaign in Virginia, 2009.  Field director on the Virginia Democratic Coordinated Campaign, 2008.  New Hampshire deputy field director on John Edwards for President, 2007-08.  Deputy director of the Missouri Democratic Coordinated Campaign, 2006.  Field director on the Scott Lang for Mayor campaign in New Bedford, MA, 2005.  Political director at IssuesMatter.org, 2004.  Political director on Jim Stork for Congress in FL-22, 2004.  New Hampshire political assistant on the John Edwards for President campaign, 2003-04.  twitter

New Jersey

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Geoffrey Borshof

(Aug. 2012)  President of Mosaic Strategies Group since March 2010.  Marketing vice president at the International Monetary Exchange, 2008-10.  Campaign manager on Greenstein and DeAngelo for Assembly, 2009.  Deputy field director on the 2008 New Jersey Coordinated Campaign. Served several months as 12th CD field director on Lautenberg for Senate, 2008.  Statewide volunteer director on Hillary Clinton for President.  12th CD field director on the Coordinated Campaign, 2007.  Field director for the DCCC in New Philadelphia, OH in Fall 2006.  Deputy field director on Tom Suozzi for Governor, 2006.  Statewide volunteer coordinator on Corzine for Governor, 2005.  Master's degree in literature from Montclair State University, 2005; bachelor's degree in literature from Rutgers, 2001.  [succeeded Jackie Cornell-Bechelli, who moved over to become a deputy field director in Pennsylvania]

New Mexico

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Pamela D. Coleman

Self employed management and business consultant, 2003-09.  Vice president, general counsel, sales, marketing and public relations at Gordon's Pies/Top of the Tree Baking Company in Londonderry, NH, 1997-2002.  Associate at Pryor Cashman LLP, 1992-96. J.D. from New York Law School, 1992.  twitter

New York

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Robert Diamond

(also National Director, Veterans and Military Families Outreach)  A "former finance-type," Diamond was a vice president at Bear Stearns & Co, Inc., in the Structured Equity Products/Equity Finance group and a senior vice president at Realty Capital International LLC.  Officer in the U.S. Navy for seven years.  Bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy.  NYC native.  twitter

North Carolina

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
Senior Advisor  Courtney Crowder

Legislative director for Gov. Bev Perdue, Jan. 2009-summer 2012. Account supervisor at Capstrat, May 2006-Jan. 2009. Special assistant to the Commissioner of the NC Department of Insurance, 2003-06). District representative for Congressman Bob Etheridge, 2000-03. Master's degree in liberal studies from Duke University, 2004; B.A. in English language and literature, French from North Carolina Central University, 2000.

State Director  Lindsay Siler

(Sept. 2011)  NC state director on Organizing for America from June 2009-Sept. 2011.  Director of public policy at Planned Parenthood Health Systems, 2005-June 2009.  Graduate of University of Southern California.  twitter

North Dakota

facebook twitter  |  state page

State Director  Kyle Locket

(Feb. 2012)  Partner at Cultivated Media from March 2009.  Assistant operations officer at Community Options, Inc. July 2009-Jan. 2011.  Field operations coordinator on Earl Pomeroy for Congress, May-Nov. 2008.  Other experience includes sales associate, project manager and biological technician.  Bachelor's degree in university studies from North Dakota State University, 2007.

Ohio

facebook | twitter | state page

Senior Advisor  Aaron Pickrell

(reported by the Columbus Dispatch on March 7, 2012)  Ohio state director for Obama for America in 2008.  Campaign manager on the Strickland for Governor campaign in 2006.  Chief operating officer at DCS Congressional.  Political director on John Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  Chief of staff to Rep. Leonard Boswell for two years prior to joining the campaign.  Worked a stint at Kieloch Consulting in Washington, DC.  Finance director for Vilsack/Pederson Inaugural Committee, 1999.  Finance director/deputy campaign manager for Boswell's re-election campaign, 1997-98.  Deputy director of operations for the Iowa Democratic Party, 1995-96.  Field staff/office manager for Nagle for Congress in Waterloo, Jan.-May 1995.  Graduate of Iowa State University, 1994.  twitter

State Director  Greg Schultz

Started mid-March 2009 as state director of Organizing for America.  Deputy political director on the Ohio Campaign for Change in Fall 2008.  Legislative liaison for Gov. Ted Strickland in the Department of Administrative Services.  First vice president of Ohio Young Democrats.  B.A. in history and political science from The Ohio State University, 2003; M.Ed from The Ohio State University 2004.  twitter

Oklahoma

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Miguel Medrano

(Nov. 2011) Operations-Stimulus Division at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  A founding member of Change Oklahoma, a local political advocacy group, has worked on several state and local campaigns, and was a volunteer on President Obama’s 2008 campaign.  Interned for Sen. Dianne Feinstein in Spring 2008 as part of the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP).  Combat veteran with service in Iraq and Kosovo/Albania; over 11 years in the U.S Army.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Central Oklahoma.

OREGON

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Brandyn Keating

(Oct. 2011)  Virginia state director of Organizing for America from June 2009.  In the Fall of 2008 Keating served as GOTV director on the Campaign for Change in Wisconsin.  Field director at Coalition for Our Communities, the campaign against a Sept. 2008 ballot initiative to eliminate the Mass. income tax.  Worked in field on the Obama campaign in March-April 2008.  Finance director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 2007-ea. 2008.  Executive director of the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, Sept. 2005-June 2007.  Regional field director on Deval Patrick's 2006 campaign for governor.  Lead organizer for the Coalition for Social Justice/Coalition Against Poverty.  Graduate of Suffolk University Law School, 2006; bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and political science at Bridgewater State College..

PENNSYLVANIA

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Bill Hyers

Campaign manager on Gov. Steve Beshear's re-elect campaign in Kentucky, 2011.  Campaign manager on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's 2010 gubernatorial campaign.  White House’s liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Midwest regional director on Obama's general election campaign.  Campaign manager on Jeanne Shaheen's U.S. Senate campaign in New Hampshire from Nov. 2007-July 2008.  State director on former Sen. John Edwards' Nevada caucus campaign.  Campaign manager on Michael Nutter for Mayor May 2007 Democratic primary campaign in Philadelphia.  Campaign manager for Kristen Gillibrand’s successful 2006 congressional campaign in New York’s 20th district, defeating the incumbent Republican congressman.  In Fall 2004, Hyers worked as the Coordinated Campaign Director in Alaska.  Central Iowa regional field director on Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  State field director for the Judi Dutcher for Governor primary campaign and then regional director for the Minnesota State House DFL Caucus in the 2002 cycle.  Worked on a number of local campaigns in Duluth and Minneapolis starting in 2001.  Before entering the political field, Hyers served in the U.S. Army, 1993-98; as a Military Police soldier; he was stationed in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor.  B.A. in political science from St. Cloud State University in  MN.  Illinois native.

Rhode Island

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Devin Driscoll

(Nov. 2011)  Campaign manager on Mary Doran for Saint Paul Public Schools, Aug.-Nov. 2011.  Account executive at True North Communications, Jan.-Aug. 2009.  A field organizer in Rhode Island for the Obama campaign, Fall 2008.  M.P.P from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, 2011; B.A. in English from Providence College, May 2008; served for 18 months as chairman of the College Democrats of Rhode Island (CDRI) and as deputy state director of RI Students for Barack Obama starting in May 2007.  Oregon native.

South Carolina

facebook  |  twitter  state page
Acting State Director and Field Director  Alex Papadopoulos

Field director on Saqib Ali for State Senate (MD) Sept. 2010 primary campaign.   Studied sociology at Dickinson College.  From Chevy Chase, MD.

South DaKota

facebook  |  twitter  state page
State Director  Zachary Nistler

(March 2012)  Worked on vetting in Presidential Personnel at the White House, Jan.-June 2011.  Organizing for America intern in Sioux Falls, Sept. 2009-Dec. 2010.  B.S. in political science from South Dakota State University, 2011.

TeNnessee

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Justin Wilkins

(July 2011)  Tennessee state director for Organizing for American from July 2009-April 2011.  East Tennessee volunteer coordinator on the 2008 campaign and attended Camp Obama in summer 2007.  Project manager at Profit Plans LLC, 2004-09.  Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2004..  twitter

Texas

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Hector Nieto

In the 2008 cycle Nieto was communications director for the Texas Democratic Party after serving as deputy communications director.  Legislative director for Texas Representative Rafael Anchia.  Field representative to Congressman Martin Frost for three years.  Graduate of St. Edwards University in Austin, TX.

Utah

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director  Igor Limansky

(Nov. 2011)  Consultant on creative and cultural industries for UNESCO, May-Nov. 2011.  Field organizer for Environmental Defense Fund, summer 2009.  Volunteer/field organizer for the Obama campaign, June-Nov. 2008; also festival director for Utah United, June-Oct. 2008.  B.A. in English from University of Utah, 2008.

vermont

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Dan Mulligan

(Oct. 2011)  National field organizer at Democracy for America (PAC), April 2010-July 2011.  In the first part of 2010 served as a field organizer for Maine Change that Works (SEIU).  Field organizer for the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO, June 2009-Jan. 2010.  Regional field coordinator on Massa for Congress campaign in NY 29, Feb.-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in criminal justice/sociology from SUNY Plattsburgh, 2007.

Virginia

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

Senior Advisor  Dan Kanninen

Initially Northeast regional director in Chicago.  White House Liaison to the EPA.  Legislative director to Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin from Dec. 2008.  Wisconsin state director of Obama for America in the general election; during the primaries Kanninen took leave from his position as chief of staff to Sen. Robert Jauch (D-Poplar) to work on the campaign in WI, OH (early vote lead) and NC (deputy political director and GOTV political director).  Chief of staff to Jauch for four years, and has almost a decade of experience in the Wisconsin State Capitol.  Attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Grew up in Superior, WI.

State Director  Lise Clavel

(reported Oct. 10, 2011)  Deputy director of the FOX campaign at Media Matters, Feb.-Aug. 2011.  Congressman Tom Perriello (VA-5)'s chief of staff, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011, and campaign manager of the Perriello for Congress campaigns in 2008 and 2010.  Producer at Scholastic, June 2006-Jan. 2008.  B.A. in English from Yale University, 2002.  twitter

Washington

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Chelsea Turnbull (née Waliser)

(Jan. 2012)  Special assistant to the regional administrator at the General Services Administration, 2009-early 2012.  Account executive at Nyhus Communications, 2009.  Worked on Obama for America, including Polk County regional field director for the Iowa caucus campaign and Washington state director, and in the fall Washington state field director on the Campaign for Change, 2007-08.  Public information officer for the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus in first part of 2007.  Political director on Adam Smith for Congress, 2005-07.  Field organizer on People for Patty Murray, 2004.  B.A. in politics and government from University of Puget Sound, 2004.

West Virginia

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page
State Director Alisa Clements

(March 2012)  Keyholder/sale associate at American Eagle Outfitters.  Regional field director on Elect Natalie Tennant (primary candidate for governor of WV), Spring 2011.  Field organizer for the DCCC in WV, Fall 2010.  Field organizer for Repower America, 2009-10.  Community organizer and intern on Obama's 2008 campaign.  B.A. in communication from Waynesburg College, 2007. 

Wisconsin

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

Senior Advisor  Tanya Bjork

Senior advisor to Protect Your Care, a healthcare advocacy group, from 2010. Director of federal affairs for Gov. Jim Doyle 2009-10.  Wisconsin general election director on Obama's 2008 campaign.  A regional director for EMILY's List to 2008.  In 2004 Bjork served as the AFL-CIO desk coordinator for MN, WI and IL, based in Madison.  Aide to state Senator Brian Burke.  Assembly Democratic Caucus (ADC) director under State Representative Shirley Krug in 2000.  Political director for U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold's re-election campaign in 1998.  Field director for U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone's re-election campaign in 1996.

State Director  Tripp Wellde

Worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting on March 3, 2007, working in Davenport, IA for the caucuses, and later served as a regional field director in Nevada, Minnesota, and Ohio, and as deputy field director in North Carolina; and in the fall was filed director on the Iowa Campaign for Change.  Graduate of the University of Richmond.  twitter

WYoming

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page

State Director  Robert Vernon-Kubichek

Working towards an M.A. in political science and graduate assistant at the University of Wyoming.  B.A. in political science from the University of Wyoming, 2010, after attending University of Utah.  Grew up in Casper and graduated from Natrona County High School.



The White House

Senior Advisor  David Plouffe

(started at the White House in Jan. 2011; to coordinate between the campaign and the White House)  Joined AKP Message & Media in winter 2000 and became a named partner in Feb. 2004.  Senior political advisor on Dick Gephardt's 2004 presidential campaign.  Executive director of the DCCC, 1999-2000.  Gephardt's deputy chief of staff, 1997-98.  Managed Bob Torricelli's 1996 campaign for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.  Campaign director at the DSCC in 1995.  Managed Attorney General Charlie Oberly's unsuccessful U.S. Senate race against Sen. Bill Roth in Delaware in 1994.  Managed Rep. John Olver's (D-MA) 1992 re-election campaign.  Served as a state field director for Sen. Tom Harkin's 1992 presidential campaign, after serving as deputy field director in Harkin's 1990 U.S. Senate race.  Attended University of Delaware from fall 1985 through fall 1988 as a political science major.

More

Democratic National Committee

Chairman  Debbie Wasserman Schultz

(announced April 5, 2011, succeeding Tim Kaine; elected May 4)  Elected to represent Florida's 20th CD (parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties) in Nov. 2004 ("first Jewish Congresswoman ever elected from Florida").  Member of the Florida Senate, 2000-04.  Member of the Florida House, 1992-2000.  Aide to U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, 1989-92.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida, 1988; Master's degree in 1990.  Originally from New York.

Executive Director  Patrick Gaspard

(announced Jan. 20, 2011)  White House political director since Jan. 2009.  Political director on Obama's 2008 campaign.  Executive vice president of politics and legislation for Local 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.  In 2006 he served as acting political director for SEIU international.  National field director for America Coming Together, 2004.  Acting field director on Howard Dean's South Carolina primary campaign.  1199 SEIU deputy director.  Chief of staff to New York City Council member Margarita Lopez.  Worked on David Dinkins' 1989 campaign for Mayor of New York City, then worked for four years for Mayor Dinkins in advance and political, and on Dinkins' unsucessful 1993 re-election effort.  Helped on Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign.  Studied at Columbia University School of General Studies, 1994-97.  Born in Democratic Republic of Congo of Haitian parents; grew up in New York City.

More