Obama 2012 General Election Campaign Organization, Iowa
Obama for America/Organizing for America  |  2932 Ingersoll Ave.  |  Des Moines
IOWA  |  Obama Main Page

(page updated Feb. 12, 2013)
...for additions, corrections and other changes contact

facebook  |  twitter  |  state page 

see also: OFA IA Oct. 23 memo on early voting


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

General Election Director  Derek Eadon

Through Jan. 3, 2012 served as OFA's Iowa caucus director.  Eadon directed Iowa Democrats' 2010 Coordinated Campaign.  Iowa state director for Organizing for America in 2009.  In the 2007-08 cycle he was the first field organizer hired in Iowa for Obama's campaign, and continued on the campaign through Nov. 2008.  In 2006 he was a field organizer for the Iowa Democrats' Coordinated Campaign in the Cedar Rapids area.  Attended the University of Iowa.  Originally from Elmhurst, Ill.  twitter

Communications

Communications Director  Erin Seidler

(Feb. 2012)  Principal at Midwest Advocacy Group, LLC in Des Moines from June 2010.  Communications director to Gov. Chet Culver.  Public information officer for the Iowa Department of Economic Development, 2008-09.  Communications director on Becky Greenwald for Congress (Iowa's 4th CD in 2008).  Account executive at Lincoln Strategies Group, 2007-08.  Press secretary for the Iowa Democratic Party, 2005-07.  In the 2004 cycle worked as press advance/press assistant on Howard Dean's presidential campaign then as deputy press secretary on the Brad Carson for Senate campaign.  M.P.A. in health care policy from Drake University, 2011; B.A. in public relations from Drake University, 2004.  twitter

Press Secretary  Elizabeth Purchia

(April 2012)  Deputy press secretary (April 2011-March 2012), press assistant (April 2010-April 2011) and confidential assistant (March 2009-April 2010) at the USDA.  Field organizer on Obama's Campaign for Change in Iowa, June-Nov. 2008.  Account executive and earlier assistant account executive at Hill & Knowlton, 2006-08.  Intern at Edelman Public Relations, 2006.  Graduate of Hamilton College, 2006.  twitter

Regional Press Secretary  Colby Nelson

(Sept. 2012)  Aide to Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, 2011-12.  Account manager at DCS Strategies, mid-2011.  Press assistant in the office of Congressman Steve Driehaus, 2009-11.  B.A. in history, American studies from Allegheny College, 2009.

Deputy Press Secretary  Stephanie Palla

(July 2012)  Staff writer (Jan. 2011-July 2012) and associate writer/executive assistant (April 2010-Jan. 2011) at National Journal.  B.A. degree from Boston University, 2009.

Digital

Digital Director  Trent Schacht

(started as digital director Aug. 2011)  Central Iowa regional field director for Organizing for America.  Field organizer in Waukee in Fall 2008 on the Campaign for Change.  B.A. in communication studies from Iowa State University, 2008.  Graduate of Valley High School in West Des Moines, 2003.  twitter

Deputy Digital Director  Kelly Klein

Deputy Digital Director  Erin Wagner

(July 2012)  Cocktail waitress and bartender at Pepper's Grill and Sports Pub in Cedar Falls, June 2009-July 2012.  A field organizer on the Obama campaign in the Cedar Rapids area in Fall 2008 and interned for the PIC in Washington, DC.  B.A. in electronic media and political science from University of Northern Iowa, 2011.

Field

Field Director  Meagan Gardner

(from July 2012, after serving as a national regional field director in Chicago from 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.

Deputy Field Director (Southeast)  John Moore

(March 2012)  Stores clerk at Mesaba Airlines in Minneapolis, 2011-12.  Deputy field director for the Senate DFL Caucus, 2010.  North Dakota state director for Organizing for America, 2009-10.  A regional recount director at Al Franken for Senate.  A regional field director in the 3rd and 7th CDs on the Minnesota Campaign for Change, Fall 2008.  Field organizer in the 3rd CD for the DFL Coordinated Campaign, 2006.  B.A. in political science and government from University of Minnesota, 2007.  twitter

Deputy Field Director (Northeast)  Matt Beltrami

Regional field director at Organizing for America-Iowa starting July 2009.  Volunteer intern on Obama's 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign.  B.A. in philosophy and sociology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, 2009.  twitter

Deputy Field Director (DSM, Central and Western)  Tony Woods


Deputy Field Director (Border States)  Sarah Kerr

(Aug. 2012-volunteers from IL, KS, NE, ND and SD)  An intern (Feb.-March 2012) then projects manager (starting April 2012) for the Obama for America Midwest regional team in Chicago.  B.A. in political science and international development studies from McGill University, 2011.

Training Director  Kevin Geiken

Field director during the caucus period.  In 2009 Geiken started as deputy field director of Organizing for America.  Graduate in liberal studies/performing arts from Iowa State University, 2005.  twitter

67 Field Offices
200 plus field staff

DATA

Data Director  Micah Honeycutt

(July 2012)  Information and technology director at the Iowa Democratic Party starting in 2009.  Midwest data lead for Obama's 2008 campaign, and earlier a data manager for the Clinton campaign.

Deputy Data Director  Kyle Doran

(July 2012)  TEFL volunteer for tue U.S. Peace Corps in Vaghashen, Armenia, 2009-11.  Field organizer on Obama's Fall 2008 campaign in Alaska and Ohio.  M.P.A. from Syracuse University, 2012; B.A. in government and law, English from Lafayette College, 2008.

POLITICAL

Political Director  Troy Price

(Feb. 2012) Left position as executive director at One Iowa to join the campaign; started at One Iowa in June 2010 as political director.  Senior communication specialist and interim communications director to Gov. Chet Culver.  Communication assistant in the Vilsack/Pederson administration.  Worked at the Iowa Department of Public Health and Economic Development.  Staff of Gov. Tom Vilsack and Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson and worked on therir re-election campaign.  Degree in political science from University of Iowa.  From Durant (Eastern Iowa).  twitter

Deputy Political Director  Jordan Oster

Came to the campaign from Midwest Advocacy Group.  Bachelor's degrees in politics and history from Drake University; while a student was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention; served as president of Drake University Democrats.

Research and Policy

Policy Director  Irene Lin

Previously legislative assistant to Rep. Betty McCollum from Feb. 2010.  Communications director for Linda Stender for Congress, 2008.  Research and policy director for Claire McCaskill for Senate, 2006.  Policy director for the National Family Farm Coalition.  Volunteered for a year as a reporter and trade policy research assistant in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Master's degree in public policy from Johns Hopkins University; B.A. in American studies from Amherst College.

Operation Vote

Operation Vote Director  Liz Wing

(April 2012)  Taking leave from part-time pursuit of an M.B.A. at American University's Kogood School.  Executive director at No Limits Foundation from March 2009.  Field organizer on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign working in eight states (started as a field organizer in Iowa City), 2007-08.  Production coordinator at the National Organization for Women, 2005-07.  Bachelor's degree from Ohio University, 2005.  twitter

Women Vote Director  Lena F. Bell

twitter

Youth Vote Director  Caitlin Ross

Previously executive assistant/administrative assistant at Project New America from Sept. 2011.  Helped lead the Youth Vote effort in Iowa for Obama in the 2008 general election campaign.  twitter

African American Vote Director  Deidre DeJear

(July 2012; initially a field organizer from April-July 2012)  Youth and children's ministry director at Elim Christian Fellowship from Sept. 2011.  Assistant girls basketball coach in Des Moines Public Schools, 2008-12.  Marketing assistant at Bankers Trust, 2006-11.  B.A. and B.A.J. from Drake University, 2008.

Latino Vote Director  Jeanette Acosta

Consultant to the Office of Migrant Education at the U.S. Department of Education, from Sept. 2011.  Fulbright research scholar at the Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, 2009-10.  As an AmericCorps VISTA fellow directed the Cesar Chavez Foundation's Sí, Se Puede! Learning Center, 2008-09.  M.P.P. from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, 2012.  B.A. degree from U.S.C., 2008; Acosta interned on Antonio Villaraigosa's 2005 campaign for L.A. Mayor and in the Mayor's office.  twitter


"For All" Leadership Council (young Iowans) (announced Sept. 20, 2012)
African Americans for Obama Council (announced Sept. 9, 2012)
Iowa Latinos for Obama Líderes Council (kickoff event July 22, 2012)
Veterans and Military Families for Obama Steering Committee (announced July 2, 2012)
Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee (announced June 13, 2012)
Women for Obama Steering Committee (announced May 16, 2012; May 17 release)

GOTV

GOTV Director  Zach Wineburg

Deputy political director at the Democratic Governors Association, 2009-11.  Campaign manager at Gabriel Giffords for Congress, 2008.  Deputy field director on John Edwards' 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign. Campaign manager on Albert Riederer for Mayor (Kansas City, MO).  Kansas City regional field director for the 2006 McCaskill for U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri.  Assistant to the political director at DSCC, 2004-05.  Field staffer on John Edwards for President, 2003-04; organized northeastern Iowa for the caucus campaign and continued with the campaign in Virginia and Georgia.  M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, 2012; B.A. in political science and government from Mary Washington College, 2003.  North Carolina native.

Deputy GOTV Director  Jill Shesol

Deputy director of party affairs and delegate selection at the DNC from July 2009-2012.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign in the Fall; staffer at Citizens for Harkin, March-July 2008; volunteer on John Edwards for President, 2007-08.  B.A. in politics from Drake University, 2009.

?Syed Hassan

Voter Protection

Voter Protection Director  Lee Fink

Litigation associate at O'Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles for seven years, then left in June 2008 to work on Obama's 2008 campaign, starting as a volunteer in Denver.  Candidate for Redondo Beach City Council in 2005.  Undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley; J.D. from New York University School of Law.   twitter

Operations

Operations Director  Greg Diamond

(mid-2012)  Midwest regional operations director at Obama for America, Nov. 2011-July 2012.  Operations and scheduling director on Kitzhaber 2010, 2009-10.  Field organizer/data tech at Oregonians for Health Security, 2008-09.  Assistant language teacher with Interac Co., Ltd. in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 2004-08.  B.A. in political science from University of Oregon, 2005.

Deputy Operations Director  Brittany Brown


Deputy Operations Director  Tashi Chogyal

(Sept. 2012)  Scheduler at Darcy Burner for Congress (WA), mid-2012.  Legislative aide to State Sen. Maralyn Chase in Olympia, WA.  Field organizer at Suzanne Bonamici for Congress (OR), Fall 2011.  Fellow at the Institute for a Democratic Future, Jan.-June 2011.  Field organizer on Denny Heck for Congress (WA), Fall 2010.  Research intern for the Central Tibetan Administration in India, July-Oct. 2009.  Degree in politics and government, international relations from University of Puget Sound, 2009.

IT Director  Jerold Paulson

(July 2012)  New Hampshire IT director on the Obama campaign, Fall 2008.  High school math teacher in New York, 2005-07.  Various positions at AXA Equitable starting in 1985 as an actuarial trainee and ultimately serving as technology architecture manager, 1999-2000.  B.A., M.A. and M.S. degrees from City University of New York.


Surrogate Director  Jeremy Lewis

(July 2012) Director of resource development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, Sept. 2010-May 2012.  Director of development at One Iowa, 2009-10.  Membership manager (2008-09) and development associate (2007-08) at the Center for Public Integrity.  Associate at Ashmead Group, 2006-07.  M.P.A in political and nonprofit management from The George Washington University, 2008; B.A. in international business and entrepreneurship from the University of Washington, 2005.


Headquarters on Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines
 Ames
 Mason City            photos courtesy Mike Dec, 4president.org




former
Operations Director  Mary Breitenstein

Field Director  Sarah Duevel
In 2010 Duevel served as field director for the DFL Senate caucus.  In 2006 and 2008 she was 1st CD regional field director for the Minnesota DFL.  Native of Wilmar, MN. 

Data Director  Franny Sharpe
(Aug. 2011)  Field organizer for CWA-Iowa.  Deputy field director for the House caucus campaign at the Iowa Democratic Party, 2010.  A regional director at Repower America, 2009.  Voter file assistant at the Arizona Democratic Party, 2008.  Graduate of Northern Arizona University, 2007.

Communications Director  John Kraus
Senior advisor on Russ Feingold's unsuccessful 2010 re-election campaign.  In the 2004 cycle, Kraus worked as communications director and spokesman for Feingold's re-election campaign after serving as Wisconsin state director on John Edwards' presidential primary campaign, 2003-04.  Communications director for Attorney General Jim Doyle's winning campaign for governor in 2002.  Communications director on Elizabeth Burmaster’s 2001 election to State Superintendent of Schools.  Wisconsin press secretary on Vice President Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign and earlier executive director of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.  Campaign manager for Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s 1999 re-election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Graduate of University of Wisconsin.



Iowa Democratic Party     +

Chairman  Sue Dvorsky

(named acting chair after Michael Kiernan stepped down; elected June 27, 2010)  Retired teacher; taught special education in Iowa City for 30 years, and a leader in the teacher's union there.  Longtime Democratic activist; co-chair of Johnson County for Obama in 2007-08 and an early supporter; county coordinator on Tom Vilsack’s campaign for governor in 1998.  Husband is Senator Bob Dvorsky.  Coralville resident.

Executive Director  Norm Sterzenbach

(announced Feb. 6, 2009)  Political director and caucus director for the IDP during the 2008 cycle.  Deputy campaign manager for Chet Culver's successful 2006 gubernatorial campaign, after running Patty Judge's campaign.  In 2004 he served as caucus director for the American Association of Retired People (AARP).  In 1999-2000 he served as the eastern Iowa field director on Bill Bradley’s campaign.  Native of Cedar Rapids.