Obama 2012
General Election Campaign Organization, Ohio
Obama for America/Organizing for America |
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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
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
General Election Director Chris Wyant
(reported by the Columbus Dispatch on March 7, 2012) Chief of staff at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. "Quit a finance job in New York to volunteer" on the Obama campaign starting in mid- 2007; by Fall 2008 was a deputy field director in Ohio. Yale graduate. Cincinnati native. twitter
Communications
Communications Director Jessica Santillo
(April 2012) Communications director for
strategy and policy at HHS, 2009-11. Southern regional press
secretary at the DCCC, 2009. Maine communications director on
Obama's 2008 campaign, July-Nov. 2008. Worked in four states on
the Hillary Clinton for President campaign including Iowa, Colorado (communications
director), Texas, and
West Virginia (communications director), Nov. 2007-May
2008. Worked on Capitol Hill as communications director to Rep.
Tim Mahoney (FL), 2006-07 and as a press assistant, legislative
correspondent to Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD), 2005-06.
B.A. in economics from Brandeis University, 2005.
Press Secretary Jessica Kershaw
(Sept. 2011) Communications director to U.S.
Rep. David
Cicilline, Jan.-Aug. 2011. Communications director to U.S. Rep.
John Boccieri, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011, and communications director on
Boccieri's re-election campaign in Fall 2010. Press assistant to
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, 2007-08. Communications director on
Sharen Neuhardt for Congress, Fall 2008. B.S. from Syracuse
University, 2007. twitter
Rapid Response Director/Director of Regional
Press Reesa Kossoff
Communications director for the Washington State Democratic Party. Worked at NARAL Pro-Choice America. Deputy communications director on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s 2010 reelection campaign. Spokesperson for Change That Works. Press secretary for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus. Graduate of Indiana University. Native of Buffalo Grove, IL. twitter
Regional Press Secretaries
(Northwest) David Turner
(July 2012) Senior associate at Gibraltar
Associates,
2011-12. Finance manager at the DSCC, 2009-10. Served as a
field organizer on Obama's Fall 2008 campaign in the eastern suburbs of
Pittsburgh. B.A. in history from Williams College, 2008.
(Central and Southeast) Laura Allen
Press secretary to Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11), March
2011-July
2012. Washington office of the John Glenn School of Public
Affairs, The Ohio State University, 2008-11. Research assistant
at Governing Magazine, 2008. Bachelor's degree in political
science, jounalism, American government from The Ohio State University,
2008. twitter
(Southwest) Jason Pitt
(May 2012) Associate press secretary at the
Sierra Club, May
2011-12. Deputy
press secretary, scheduler/press assistant and press intern to Rep.
John Boccieri through Jan. 2011. Undergraduate degree from James
Madison University, 2009. twitter
(Northeast) Yianni Varonis
(Aug. 2012; initially press assistant from Feb. 2012) A field organizer on John Boccieri for Congress 2010. Master's degree in applied politics (2011) and bachelor's degree in communication/political science (2008) from The University of Akron. twitter
(Cuyahoga) Raymonde Charles
Press assistant and grant coordinator for Rep. David
Cicilline
(RI). Intern, program assistant and communications
coordinator at Rhode Island Kids Count. Degree in political
science from Rhode
Island College, 2010. twitter
Digital
Digital Director Ashley Bryant
(Nov. 2011) Digital practice at Weber Shandwick,
2010-11.
Pantene community manager for Procter & Gamble, 2009-10.
Consumer service representative and social media moderator for Procter
& Gamble, 2008-09. Annuity service representative for Great
American Insurance, first part of 2008. Sales division leader for
Western & Southern Financial Group, 2006-07. twitter
Deputy Digital Director Philip Zymet
(Feb. 2012) A digital organizer at Obama for
America in Chicago,
Oct. 2011. Brief stint as a freelance writer for Patch.com,
Aug.-Oct. 2011. Digital media lead at Organizing for America,
California, June-Oct. 2011. Bachelor's degree in political
science, civic engaagement from UCLA, 2011; transferred from El Camino
College.
Field
Field Director Jenn Brown
(July 2011) A national regional director at
Organizing for
America-DNC, April 2009-July 2011. A regional field director on
Obama's 2008 campaign, July-Nov. 2012. Campaign manager on Nancy
Nadel for Oakland City Council, first part of 2008. Campus
director for Vote Hope 2008, May 2007-Feb. 2008. National field
manager at the Center for Progressive Leadership, 2006-07.
Organizing director for the United States Student Association,
2004-06. Graduate of UC San Diego, 2003.
Deputy Field Directors
(Northwest) Chris
Keck
Regional field director for Organizing for
America-Ohio, starting Aug.
2010. Regional field director at the Ohio Democratic Party,
2009-10. Field organizer in Granville on Obama's 2008 Campaign
for Change. B.A. in American history from The Ohio State
University, 2009.
(Southeast) Jennifer
Warner
Deputy field director for Organizing for America starting in June 2010 in Northeastern Ohio. Field organizer on Obama's Campaign for Change in Fall 2008. Housing choice voucher supervisor for the Elkhart Housing Authority, 2003-08. B.A. in political science from Saint Mary's College.
(Southwest) Aaron Bly
[Hamilton, Montgomery, Greene and Butler Counties]
(July 2012;
previously a regional field director from May 2011) In Fall 2010 DCCC
deputy field director in Ohio's 1st CD. B.A. in history,
political science from Miami University, 2010.
(Northeast) William
Garrett
(July 2012) Strategic communications
coordinator/confidential
advisor to the Assistant Secretary of OVA/ED at the U.S. Department of
Education, 2011-12. Special advisor to the Director of
Counternarcotics Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, 2009-11. Regional political director in Northwest
Indiana on Obama's Fall 2008 campaign. Bachelor's degree in
criminology from University of Northern Iowa, 2007; started studies at
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
(Cuyahoga County)
Alynn
Woischke
(Central Ohio)
Victoria Zyp
(Sept. 2012; previously training director from Dec.
2011) Deputy
field director at We Are Ohio, May-Nov. 2011. A regional field
director at Organizing for America-DNC, July 2009-April 2011.
International programs coordinator at Street Law, Inc. in Washington,
DC, 2004-06. Master's degree in Arabic studies from Georgetown
University, 2009; B.A. in economics from Rice University in
2005. From Cincinnati.
Director of Out-of-State Volunteers Hannah
Posner
(July 2012) Deputy finance director for the Ohio
House Democratic
Caucus, July 2011-July 2012. In 2010 worked for the Ohio
Democratic Party as a neighborhood organizer and field department
executive assistant. B.A. in history, Latin American history from
Kenyon College, 2010.
Data
Data Director Martha Norrick
DNC Midwest regional data director and
earlier DNC Ohio data
director, May 2010-Sept. 2011. Associate at Global Strategy
Group, 2008-10. Graduate of Barnard College, 2007.
Deputy Data Director William Brannon
(Aug. 2012; started in Chicago in Feb. 2012 as an
associate
analyst) Project manager at the Institute for the Theory and
Practice of International Relations, May 2011-Jan. 2012; started there
as a research assistant in 2009. B.S. in mathematics and
international relations from the College of William and Mary, 2011.
Deputy Data Director Richard Cripps
(Sept. 2012) Working towards B.A. in politics,
philosophy and
economics from University of Oxford.
Ben Smithgall
POLICY
Policy Director Patrick Katzenmeyer
(Feb. 2012) Owner with his college roommate of
Market 65, a
restaurant focusing on locally grown food, in downtown Columbus, since
Jan. 2011. Special assistant for economic development to Gov. Ted
Strickland, April 2010-Jan. 11. Senior policy analyst at the Ohio
House of Representatives, 2006-10. M.B.A. from The Ohio State
University, 2010; B.A. in finance and economics from Ohio University,
2006.
Political
Political Director Gabrielle Seay
(Oct. 2011) State organizer for Stand Up for
Ohio, Feb.-Oct.
2011. Regional political director at the Ohio Democratic Party,
June-Nov. 2010. WIA program specialist at the Lucas County
Workforce Development Agency, 2009-10. Executive assistant for
Lucas County Commissioners, 2007-09. twitter
Deputy Political Director Chip Shannon
(Feb. 2012) Deputy political director for Issue 2 at Ohio Democratic Party, Sept. 2011-Jan. 2012. Regional communications director at We Are Ohio, April-Sept. 2011. Regional field director at the Ohio Democratic Party, 2009-10. A field organizer on Terry McAuliffe's primary campaign for governor of Virgnia, Jan.-June 2009. B.A. in philosophy, theology from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 2008.
Operation Vote
Operation Vote Director Malik Hubbard
(Feb. 2012) Executive director of the
State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, 2011-12.
Deputy director of Boards and Commissions in Gov. Ted Strickland's
office, 2007-11. Political director at the Ohio Democratic Party,
Fall 2008. Field director on the Ohio Democratic Coordinated
Campaign, 2006. Deputy field director at Tim Kaine for Governor,
2005. Base field director at America Coming Together,
2003-04. The Ohio State University and earlier Ohio Wesleyan
University. twitter
Youth Vote Director Lora Rae Anderson
(Feb. 2012; previously a regional field director from
Aug. 2011) Region 3 field director for the Democratic Party of
Wisconsin, mid-2011. Served as chair of Wisconsin Federation of
College
Republicans, but announced switch to Democrats in May 2010. B.A.
in world politics from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. twitter
Deputy Youth Vote Director Tucker Middleton
(Aug. 2012) B.A. in political science from East
Carolina
University, 2012; served as president of ECU College Democrats, 2010-11.
African American Vote Director Ashley
Allison
(May 2012; initially a regional field director from
Aug. 2011) Experience includes educator in New York City, 2005-08
and reporter for Dispatch News Group WBNS 10 TV, 2004-05. J.D.
from Brooklyn Law School, 2011. M.Ed. from Long Island
University, Brooklyn Campus, 2007; B.A. in journalism and political
science from The Ohio State University, 2005. Youngstown
native. twitter
GOTV
GOTV Director Max Lesko
Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign; started as field
staffer in the Conway office on the NH primary campaign, and in the
general election served as a regional field director on the Ohio
Campaign for Change. Graduate of the College of Wooster,
2006. twitter
More GOTV Liz Jaff, Alex Lofton, Ryan
Hughes
Voter Protection
Voter Protection Director
Ahmad
Khan
Appointee at DOD (Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Worked on Obama's 2008 Campaign for Change. The Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. twitter
Operations
Operations Director Bret Benack
Labor relations administrator at the Ohio Department
of Natural
Resources. Previously an organizer with the AFL-CIO. The
Ohio State University.
Deputy Operations Director and LGBT Vote
Director Jacob Manser
Operations manager at We Are Ohio, Jan.-Dec. 2011;
also campaign
manager at Lori Tyack for Municipal Clerk of Court, March-Sept.
2011. B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University.
Surrogates Todd Rensi
Governor's residence manager, chief of staff to First
Lady of Ohio
Francis Strickland, after serving as an aide to her on the
campaign. Longtime staffer at the Ohio Democratic Party.
independent of the campaign...
Allies
• Ohio Democratic Party | 340 East
Fulton St. | Columbus, OH
43215 +
Chairman Chris Redfern
Elected chair in Dec. 2005; re-elected in 2008 and
2012. Elected
to the Ohio State House representing the 89th District in Nov.
2012. Served five terms in the Ohio State House representing the
80th District, including Minority Leader from 2003 to early 2006.
Ottawa County Commissioner starting in 1993. Bachelor's degree,
Master's degree in state and local government from Bowling Green State
University.
Executive Director Kyle McDermott
(announced Aug. 11, 2011;
started following the Nov. 8, 2011 elections) Campaign manager
for Maryellen O'Shaughnessy for Ohio Secretary of State
race in 2010. National field director for United Steelworkers,
2008. Director for the Ohio AFL-CIO statewide political program
in 2006. B.A. in political science from Baldwin-Wallace College,
2002-03. Grew up in Zoar, Ohio.
Deputy Executive Director Liz Brown
Communications Director Jerid Kurtz
Deputy Communications Director Meredith Tucker
Press Secretary Andrew Zucker
Finance Director Erik Greathouse
Women's Caucus Director Lauren Harmon
Data Director Brendan Kelley
Field Director Cory Warfield
Political Director Elizabeth Walters
• America Votes | 75 W. 3rd
Ave.
| Columbus, OH
43201 +
State Director Khaled Salehi
Assistant vice president, strategic development at Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Vice president at Burges and Burges. Bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in international relations from the University of Akron. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Deputy State Director Lindsey Stewart
Data and Targeting Director Pete DiBiase
Field Director Curtis Wourms