Obama 2012 General Election Campaign Organization, North Carolina
Obama for America/Organizing for America  |  401 E. Lakewood Ave.  |  Durham, NC
NORTH CAROLINA  |  Obama Main Page

(page updated April 6, 2013)
...for additions, corrections and other changes contact

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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

General Election Director  Michael Halle

(Jan. 2012)  Campaign manager on Anthony Foxx for Charlotte, April-Nov. 2011.  Campaign manager on Citizens for Jake Zimmerman, St. Louis City Council Campaign, Jan.-April 2011.  Field director on the Missouri Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, May-Nov. 2010.  Special assistant at the HHS Office of Health Reform, April 2009-April 2010.  Started as a field organizer on Obama's 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign, then continued on to Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana; and in the fall served as a deputy field director in North Carolina.  Prior to the campaign he interned at the Center for American Progress.  Graduate of Illinois State University, 2006.  twitter

Communications

Communications Director  Gwen Rocco

Campaign manager on Jessica Ehrlich for Congress in FL-13.  Communications director on Natalie Tennant for Governor in West Virginia, 2011.  Press secretary to New York State Sen. Jeff Klein, 2010.  Communications director on Betty Sutton for Congress, 2010.  Press secretary of Bill de Blasio for Public Advocate, 2009.  M.P.A. from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, 2009.  B.A. in economics from University of Maryland College Park, 2007.

Press Secretary  Cameron French

Most recently communication specialist at the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of HHS.  Communications director to Congressman John Hall (NY), June 2010-Jan. 2011.  Deputy communications director to Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), 2009-10.  Deputy press secretary at the DNCC, then a regional press secretary at the DNC.  Press assistant at the Podesta Group, 2006-07.  Studied political science at UNC Charlotte.  Pennsylvania native.

Deputy Press Secretary  Christina Freundlich

(April 2012)  B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University, 2011.

Western Regional Press Secretary  Suzi Emmerling

(Sept. 2012)  Previously press secretary at Charlotte in 2012, the host committee, from Aug. 2011.  Senior communications officer for the Apollo Alliance, 2010-11.  Press aide and special events coordinator at the Center for American Progress, 2007-10.  Associate director of programs at Envision EMI, 2003-07.  B.A. in French and political science from UCLA.

Press Assistant  Morgan Finkelstein

Student in political communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

Digital

Digital Director  Mike Davidson

(March 2012)  Assistant national web manager (started May 2011) and previously national new media specialist (Nov. 2009-May 2011) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Teaching assistant in the Department of English at the University of Maine, 2007-09.  M.A. in communication, culture and technology from Georgetown University, 2011; M.A. in English from University of Maine, 2009; B.A. in English and environmental studies from Western Michigan University, 2003.

Deputy Digital Director  Duncan Wolfe

Interned at Obama headquarters in 2008.  B.A. in art history from DePauw University, 2011.

Digital Content Manager  Mary Naset

(June 2012; started as a digital content intern at headquarters in Chicago in Jan. 2012)  Interned at AKPD.  Campaign photographer at Chicago for Rahm Emanuel Oct. 2010-March 2011.  B.A. in political science from North Central College, 2012.

Digital Organizer  Morgan Burke

(May 2012; started as digital organizing intern in Jan. 2012)  Student in political science, history at UNC Chapel Hill.

Field

Field Director  Greg Jackson

NC field director on Organizing for America from June 2009.  Organizational development consultant at Hassett Willis and Company, Nov. 2008-June 2009.  CRM consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, 2007-08.  B.A. in government from University of Virginia.  twitter

Deputy Field Director  Kane Miller

Field director at Anthony Foxx for Mayor, latter part of 2011.  A regional field director at Organizing for America, Jan. 2010-June 2011.  Field organizer at Obama for America, Fall 2008.  B.S. in psychology from North Carolina College and State University, 2009.

Deputy Field Director  Nina Meiers

(July 2012)  Worked on the Walker recall campaign in Wisconsin from Nov. 2011-June 2012 (regional GOTV lead on Tom Barrett for Governor; a deputy regional field director at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; and DPW/Committee to Recall Scott Walker).  English teacher at Wangchanwittaya School in Thailand, April-Oct. 2011.  A regional field director at Organizing for America, Aug. 2009-March 2011.  A regional field director on Perriello for Congress, Fall 2010.  Field organizer in Columbia County, WI on Obama's campaign in Fall 2008.  B.A. in psychology from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007.

Deputy Field Director  Joshua Harris

(Jan. 2012)  Missouri field director for Organizing for America, April 2011-Jan. 2012.  Louisiana state director for Organizing for America, Sept. 2010-April 2011.  Regional field director for Organizing for America in Massachusetts, Jan.-Sept. 2010.   Clerk in the U.S. Attorney's office in New Orleans, 2008-09.  B.A. in political science from University of New Orleans, 2008.

Border States Director  Mara Sirbu

(April 2012)  Assistant to OFA deputy campaign manager Julianna Smoot, April 2011-March 2012.  Staff assistant in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, June 2010-April 2011.  Fellow at the New Organizing Institute, Sept. 2009-June 2010.  Worked on Obama's campaign as a regional field director and deputy field director in Ohio and Georgia, June-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University, 2010.

Director of Training and Internships/Public Engagement Coordinator  Ashwin Chugh

(Jan. 2012)  Strategic consultant at DabbleHQ, latter half of 2011.  In India from 2010-11, management trainee and executive assistant.  Field organizer and Organizing Fellow on Obama's 2008 campaign in Colorado.  Account executive at AT&T, 2005-08.  B.S. in business management from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business.  Originally from Downers Grove, IL.  twitter

54 Field Offices

Data

Data Director  Santiago Martinez

(Jan. 2011)  Data director and digital director at Organizing for America from Jan. 2010.  Technology support analyst at Arizona State University, Jan. 2008-Jan. 2010.  B.A. in political science and government from Arizona State University, 2007.

Deputy Data Director  Alex Marino

Master's in public policy from Loyola University in Chicago, 2011; B.A. in history, education from St. Louis University, 2007.

Deputy Data Director  Jessica Russell

(Aug. 2012)  Administrative assistant at Brown Harris Stevens in New York, 2008-10.  MSc. from University College London, 2010; B.A. in law and society from UC Santa Barbara, 2005.

PoliTical

Political Director  Jesse Moore

Spokesman at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign starting as a volunteer in Nevada and continuing on to Washington, Texas, Indiana and North Carolina.  Multicultural outreach advisor in WWU's Office of Admissions.  Graduate of Western Washington University, 2005.

Deputy Political Director  Kevin Brown

Graduate of Louisiana State University.

Policy and Research

Director of Policy and Research  Asher Hildebrand

On leave from position as legislative director for U.S. Rep. David Price, from July 2009.  Legislative assistant/correspondent for U.S. Rep. David Price, Jan. 2004-July 2007.  Researcher on Karen DeYoung's book Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell.  Research assistant at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2003.  Master’s in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, 2009; B.A. political science and psychology from UNC Chapel Hill, 2003.

Deputy Director of Policy and Research  Cody McClelland

Operation Vote

Operation Vote Director  Kara Hollingsworth

(March 2012)  Came to the campaign from position as political director at the NCDP.  Veterans and military liaison in the Office of Congressman Larry Kissel, 2011; community outreach coordinator in the Office of Congressman Mike McIntyre, 2011.  Campaign manager on Margaret Dickson for State Senate, 2010.  Military and government affairs liaison for the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, 2009-10.  Campaign manager for the Committee to Re-Elect Margaret Dickson in House District 44, 2008.  Bachelor's degree in political science and government from Troy University.

Women's Vote Director  Elizabeth Outten

(June 2012, succeeded Sloan Whelan)  Regional liaison for Sen. Kay Hagan from Jan. 2011.  Statewide energy coordinator for the Alaska Conservation Alliance, 2009-10.  Operations and scheduling director at OFA-Alaska, 2008.  Legislative aide to AK State Rep. Bob Buch, 2007-08.  Policy manager for the North Carolina Alliance for Health, 2007.  Grassroots manager at the American Cancer Society, 2005-07.  B.A. in sociology, economic justice from UNC Chapel Hill, 2005.

Youth Vote Director  Rob Abraham

(from Feb. 2012; served as a regional field director starting Aug. 2011)  Ohio state coordinator for Rock the Vote, May-Nov. 2010.  B.S. in psychology from Georgia Tech, 2008.  twitter

GOTV

GOTV Director  Zach Koutsky

(Aug. 2012)  Pursuing a master's degree in urban planning/economic development from University of Illinois at Chicago.  Field director at Kratovil for Congress, 2010.  Membership engagement coordinator at Freelancers Union, June 2009-May 2010.  Regional field director at Scott Murphy for Congress (NY), 2009.  Regional field director for the Obama campaign in NC in Fall 2008; field organizer in IL, IA, WI, TX, OR and PA for Obama's primary campaign. Chief of staff to Illinois State Sen. Mike Frerichs, 2007.  B.S. double major in politics and government and sociology from Illinois State University, 2006.

GOTV Deputy Director  Julian Federle

Experience includes field director for the Chicago Federation of Labor, deputy director on the 2010 Illinois Democratic Coordinated Campaign and Maine state director for Organizing for America at the DNC, 2009-10.

GOTV Data  Aly Sheets

(Aug. 2012; Southern regional data director at Obama for America in Chicago from 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, Aug.-Nov. 2009.  Field organizer on Friends of Terry McAuliffe, Feb.-June 2009.  North Carolina State University.

Regional GOTV Directors
Alejandro Alonso Galva, Sean Anderson, Courtney Counts, Mark Cygan, Shehn Datta, Bailey Dowling, Eddy Gattis, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Griffin, Gina Lee, Frances Marquez, Steph Mulvey, Andrew Patrick, John Bryce Perry, Darryl Scott and Khalil Thompson



Early Vote Director  Jeff Mallare

(Sept. 2012)  Senior advisor for community relations at Charlotte in 2012 from Dec. 2011.  Wake County School board and Municipal Coordinated Campaign Director, latter part of 2011.  Deputy state field director for the North Carolina Coordinated Campaign and a regional field director for the North Carolina Democratic Party, 2010-11.  Campaign manager/senior advisor on Dan Murrey for County Commission, 2010.  Field director on Anthony Foxx for Mayor, Fall 2009.  Field organizer on Obama's 2008 campaign from July 2008.  Studied at the University of Virginia.

Voter Protection

Voter Protection Director  Jennifer Gasper

(April 2012)  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney from April 2011. Volunteer deputy city attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, latter part of 2010.  J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, 2009; MSc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 2006; B.A. in political science from The Johns Hopkins University, 2002.

Deputy Director of Voter Protection  Nate Denny

J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law, 2009; B.A. in English from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2004.

Voter Protection Advisor  Jane Small

General counsel to the House Minority Leader at NC General Assembly from Feb. 2012.  Associate at Davis, Polk and Wardwell, 2000-09.  J.D. from NYU School of Law, 1999; A.B. in English, women's studies from Duke University, 1996.

Trips

Director of Trips  Amanda Aguirre

Management analysis/executive assistant to the director at the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Jan.-June 2012.  Staffer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010-Jan. 2012.  Graduate of University of Texas at Austin, 2010.

Operations

Operations Director  Krista Anderson

(early Feb. 2012)  North Carolina Senate Democratic caucus director for the NCDP from Dec. 2007.  Campaign manager on Albert Pollard for state Senate, 2007.  Political director for the North Carolina Democratic House Committee, 2006.  Campaign manager on Bill Barlow for House of Delegates, 2005.  Campaign coordinator on Llewellyn for NC House, 2004.  Legal office assistant.  Bachelor's degreee in political science and English from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2003.

Deputy Director of Operations and IT  Aaron Robinson

Public policy associate (Jan. 2010-March 2012) and PTO-Operations (Sept. 2008-Jan. 2010) at Google.  Interned at Office of Mayor John Hickenlooper and at Democratic Convention Host Committee in 2008. A.B. in economics, Washington University in St. Louis, 2008.


former
Women's Vote Director  Sloane Whelan
South Carolina field coordinator for Planned Parenthood Health Systems, started Jan. 2009.  Worked on Sen. Mary Landrieu's 2008 re-election campaign.  B.A. in political science and law and society from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 2008. 

Digital Director  Anthony Nagatani (Aug. 2011-Feb. 2012)  ...to NCDP


North Carolina Democratic Party    +

Chairman  David Parker

(elected Jan. 2011)  General counsel at Langtree at the Lake from Aug. 2005 and attorney at David P. Parker PLLC from Aug. 1979.  campaign manager for Terry Sanford's US Senate campaign in 1992, and has consulted or managed numerous local and congressional campaigns, and in 1976 served as Jimmy Carter's North Carolina youth coordinator.  J.D. from University of North Carolina School of Law, 1979; B.A. in economics from UNC Chapel Hill, 1976.

Interim Executive Director  Tammy Brunner

(from May 2012, following resignation of Jay Parmley)  Executive director of the Wake County Democratic Party, March 2009-Dec. 2011.  Operations director at the North Carolina Democratic Party, Feb.-April 2011.  B.A. in political science and government from North Carolina State University, 1998.