Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- 2011-12

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director  Robbie Mook

(announced Dec. 6, 2010)  Mook started at the DCCC as political director in the beginning of 2009; in May 2010 moved over to director of independent expenditures. Campaign manager on Jeanne Shaheen's successful 2008 campaign for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire. State director in Nevada, in Ohio, and in Indiana for then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Directed the 2006 Maryland Democratic Coordinated Campaign. In 2004 Mook served as DNC deputy field director for programs and finished out the campaign as GOTV director in Wisconsin. Earlier he served as deputy field director on Howard Dean's 2003-04 New Hampshire primary campaign (started April 20, 2003). Worked for NYC councilwoman Eva Markowitz. Field director for the Vermont Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign in 2002. B.A. in classics from Columbia University, 2002. Worked for the Vermont Democratic House caucus in 2000 and the Vermont Democratic Party as a canvasser in 1998.

Deputy Executive Director/ Communications Director  Jennifer Crider

(also served this role in the 2010 cycle and has been DCCC communications director since Feb. 2007; she also serves as political director to the Leader Pelosi)  Crider spent more than four years as deputy communications director for Minority Leader/Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2003-07.  Crider opened Sen. Maria Cantwell's press office and served as her press secretary, 2001-03.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (WA), 2000-01, and also worked for the late U.S. Rep. Robert Matsui (CA). Throughout her career, she has worked on a number of congressional campaigns.  Crider started her career at a Fortune 500 company.

ADMINISTRATION

Chief Operating Officer  Kristie Mark

(managing day to day operations; started at the DCCC in 2003)

Chief Financial Officer  Jackie Forte-Mackay

(overseeing the Committee's finances and compliance reporting) Has served as the DCCC's CFO for nine cycles.  She is also the DCCC's Chief Diversity Officer.

POLITICAL

Political Director  Kelly Ward

(leading the effort on redistricting and incumbent protection; directed the DCCC's incumbent retention efforts in the 2010 cycle)  Campaign manager on Alan Khazei's campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in the Massachusetts special election (Dec. 8, 2009 primary).  Director of America Forward, a coalition of non-profits, starting in Aug. 2007.  Executive director of The Project for Arizona's Future, first part of 2007.  Campaign manager on Harry Mitchell for Congress, 2006.  Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.  Special projects in the Arizona Governor's Office.  Bachelor's in political science and Spanish from the University of Arizona, 2002.

Director of Targeting and Data  Aaron Strauss

(Jan. 2012)  Senior analyst at The Mellman Group, July 2009-Dec. 2011.  "Brainfather" of the Voting Information Project, 2007-11.  Targeting consultant to Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08.  Analyst/statistician at The Mellman Group, 2004-05.  Database manager on Dean for America, 2003-04.  Database developer/administrator on Warren Tolman for Governor, 2002.  Ph.D. in politics from Princeton, 2009.  B.A. in M. Eng. from MIT, 2003.

Regional Political Directors

West Lucinda Guinn

(new this cycle)  Field director at Americans United for Change.  Worked a political desk at the DCCC in the 2008 cycle.  Field director at Americans United for Change, 2006-April 2008.  Regional field director on Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, 2007.  Guinn has also managed a couple of state legislative campaigns.  Account rep. for MSHC Partners, 2004-06.  An organizer on the Gephardt for President campaign, 2003-04.  B.S. in communications from the University of Texas at Austin, 2001.

Midwest  Ian Russell

(new this cycle)  Consultant at Vanguard Strategies, LLC and managed Tom White for Congress, 2010.  Legislative aide to states Sen. Tom White, 2007-08.  Field and campaign director for the Nebraska Democratic Party, 2004-06.

South  Charles Kelly

x.

Northeast  Abigail Curran

(started at the DCCC in May 2010)  Campaign manager of Gov. Chet Culver's 2010 re-election campaign from Jan.-April 2010.  Managed Linda Stender's 2008 campaign for Congress in NJ-7.  Deputy Iowa field director for John Edwards' 2008 caucus campaign.  Managed Baron Hill's sucessful 2006 campaign for Congress in IN-9.  A field organizer in Dubuque for Dick Gephardt's Iowa caucus campaign, 2003-04. Her experience also includes managing congressional campaigns in New Jersey and Indiana. She is also graduate of the University of Virginia.

Political Assistant  Jerah Smith

Smith started at the DCCC in June 2010 as a research intern and served as operations assistant from July-Dec. 2010.  B.A. in political science from Wheaton College, 2010.  (Smith's experience also includes interning in Sen. Barack Obama's office in 2008).

FIELD

National Field Director  Brynne Craig

(Northeast regional field director in the 2010 cycle; started at the DCCC in Feb. 2010) Previously an Organizing for America national regional desk at the DNC, started March 2009.  Ohio deputy field director on the Campaign for Change.  A field organizer on Hillary Clinton for President starting in June 2007, then Nevada delegate selection director and Texas deputy delegate selection director.  B.A. Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College 2007, after attending University of San Francisco for a couple of years.

Regional Field Directors

West 

Midwest  

South
Northeast  

Director of Trainings and Campaign Staff Recruitment  x

x.

Field Assistant and Fellows Program  x

x.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director  Jennifer Crider

see above

Press Secretary  Jesse Ferguson

Communications director on Brian Moran’s Democratic primary campaign for governor in Virginia, 2009.  Chief of staff to Moran, the Democratic Caucus Chairman in the Virginia House of Representatives, starting in 2006.  Executive director of Virginia 21, a higher education advocacy organization based in Richmond.  Served in the administration of Gov. Mark Warner.

Deputy Press Secretary  Sabrina Siddiqui

Briefly a spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Treasury.  Media relations manager at the New America Foundation, 2011-12.  Communications director for U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, Feb. 2009-Dec. 2010; also served as communications director on Loebsack for Congress, Fall 2010.  Deputy press secretary at the DCCC, 2007-09.  Americorp member, 2005-06.  B.A. in business administration, marketing from Trinity University, 2005.

Regional Press Secretaries

Plains/Northwest  Stephen Carter

Previously communications strategist at Blue Engine Message & Media.  Deputy press secretary in the 2010 cycle.  B.A. in politics from Whitman College, 2007.

West - Amber Moon

(Aug. 2011)  Communications specialist (2008-10) and communications director (2006-08) at the Texas Democratic Party.  Press secretary to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, 2005.  Assistant press secretary at the DCCC, 2003-05.  Deputy press secretary/legislative assistant to Congressman Ken Bentsen, 2002-03.  Press assistant on Ken Bentsen for U.S. Senate, 2001-02.  B.S. in political science from the University of Houston, 2002.

Midwest - Haley Morris

Press assistant, then deputy press secretary to Sen. Sherrod Brown, 2009-10.

South - Stephanie Formas

(Feb. 2012)  Started at the DCCC as Southern regional research analyst in April 2011.  Legislative assistant to Congressman Chet Edwards, 2009-11; also served as political and research director on Edwards re-election campaign in Fall 2010 and volunteer coordinator on Edwards' re-elect in Fall 2008.  Texas delegate manager on Hillary Clinton for President, April-June 2008.  B.A. in theatre from Baylor University, 2008. 

Northeast - Josh Schwerin

(Jan. 2011)  Previously communications director to Congressman Scott Murphy (NY) to Jan. 2011.  Communications director and earlier deputy press secretary on Scott Murphy for Congress, 2009-10 .  Field organizer on Gillibrand for Congress, June-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in economics from Trinity College-Hartford, 2008.

RESEARCH

Research Director  Kevin McKeon

(Jan. 2011)  Started at the DCCC as a research analyst, Jan.-Sept. 2007, then rapid response coordinator, Oct. 2007-April 2008, then deputy research director, April 2008-May 2010, and most recently research director for the DCCC's IE effort, May-Dec. 2010.  Research analyst on Mark Taylor for Governor, 2005-06.  Research and data technician for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 2004-05.

Deputy Research Director 

Research Analysts  

Policy Director  Mike Ryan

(Dec. 2010)  Legislative director to Rep. Steve Israel, 2007-Dec. 2010.  Deputy field organizer on the Obama/Biden Campaign for Change, Oct.Nov. 2008.  Senior legislative assistant for Rep. Bud Cramer (D-AL), 2004-07.  Manager of congressional affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2001-04.  B.A. in political science from the University of Vermont, 1999.

MARKETING AND NEW MEDIA

Director of Marketing and New Media  Taryn Rosenkranz

Started at the DCCC as online marketing manager in Aug. 2005. Legislative assistant at the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003-05. Associate director at Dittus Communications, Dec. 2001-April 2003. Account executive at Powell Tate/Weber Shandwick, 2000-01. Staff assistant at the coalition for America’s Children, 1999-2000. M.A. in political science from American University, 2000; B.A. in political science from American University, 1998.

Deputy Director of Direct Marketing  Angela Guzman

(managing the day-to-day operations for the Committee’s direct marketing efforts, including all direct mail and telemarketing fundraising campaign; at the DCCC since May 2007) Previously a government relations specialist for the Boeing Company, started in Oct. 2003.  Production manager at Production Solutions, 1999-2003.  M.A. in communication from John Hopkins University, 2007.  Undergraduate degree from American University.

Deputy Director of Online Communications  Brandon English

(Editor of the"The Stakeholder" blog and develops and implements interactive campaigns across multiple platforms-including the DCCC’s website, mobile action campaigns, and social networks.) DCCC online communications manager during the 2008 cycle; during the 2006 cycle, English managed micro-sites and e-mail campaigns for the DCCC's Independent Expenditure Program.

Online Editor  Stephanie Grasmick

(June 2009) Assistant editor of CIOLN for DMG World Media, 2008-10.  Product development at Guthy-Renker, 2008.  Deputy press secretary and earlier press assistant to Sen. Evan Bayh, 2006-07. Communications coordinator at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2005-06.  In the 2004 cycle Grasmick worked for nine months on the John Edwards for president campaign (research, field), then on Tom Daschle for Senate.  Bachelor of journalism degree from University of Missouri, 2004.

Direct Marketing Manager  David Higa

Membership Coordinator  Eshawn Rawlley

B.A. in political science from The George Washington University, 2009.

FINANCE

National Finance Director  Missy Kurek

(focusing on the national individual donor program; one of two deputy national finance directors in the 2010 cycle) This is Kurek's fourth cycle at the DCCC.

National Finance Director  Lindsey Melander

(focusing on the Member participation program and DC region; one of two deputy national finance directors in the 2010 cycle)  Started at the DCCC in April 2005 as deputy finance director of the Washington, DC region.  Worked at the League of Conservation voters for 10 months.  2004 graduate of the School of Business Administration at the University of Vermont.  Native of Williston, VT.

Deputy National Finance Director  Kurt Weiss

(first part of 2011) Experience includes teacher's aide at Brookline Public Schools and English teacher at Lycee Eugene Freyssinet.  Graduate of University of Vermont.

Regional Finance Directors 
MW Eric Dillon
W Stella Ross
S Laura Rose

PAC Finances/Washington DC  Courtney Sigmon

Member Dues  Brian O'Donnell

Director of Candidate Services  Amy Strathdee

(ensures that Democratic Members and challengers have the financial resources they need; Western regional candidate services in 2010 cycle) Assisted in Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's fundraising in 2009.

Candidate Services Fundraising Coordinator  Ashley McNeil

(Feb. 2011)  Call time manager on Rep. Betsy Markey's 2010 campaign.  Project coordinator at Lott Carey, 2006-08.  B.A. in economics from Spelman College, 2005; M.P.P. in social policy from American University, 2009.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Director of IT  David Winston

IT director at the DCCC since Jan. 2004. Previously system administrator for Reilly Mortgage Group, 1998-2003. B.S. in business administration-MIS, 1998.