Denison University

Cleveland State University

Communications and Management Professional

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

EMILY's List

State and Local Campaigns Regional Director - South

Principal advisor to Missouri Attorney General and Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Koster. Built and managed all aspects of the nation’s most expensive gubernatorial race with a budget of over $26 million.

- Oversaw all budgeting and spending decisions.
- Managed the campaign’s day-to-day operations, including motivating and directing a staff of 63.
- Directed all campaign communications, including:
-  Message development for statewide television, radio, mail, email, and call centers;
-  Managed aggressive earned media campaign that utilized press conferences, surrogates, op-eds;
-  Crisis communications and rapid response communications;
-  Digital communications and social media strategy.
- Developed relationships with local, state, and national press corps and served as an on-the-record spokesperson.
- Led consultant team in creation and implementation of polling, research, policy development, and paid media advertising strategy.
- Assembled a diverse coalition of endorsements and support from liberal and conservative organizations from Planned Parenthood to the National Rifle Association and ensured cooperation and communication between the campaign and the organizations.
- Coordinated communications and fundraising activities with the Democratic Governors Association.
- Worked closely with the Missouri Democratic Party in development and execution of a coordinated, statewide earned media campaign and peer-to-peer communications effort.

Koster for Missouri

Campaign Manager

Managed all aspects of gubernatorial campaign’s day-to-day operations, including budgeting and spending decisions, paid and earned media communications, and leading consultant team.

- Primary spokesperson for the campaign;
- Hired, trained, and managed a staff of 15;
- Raised and oversaw a budget of $4.5 million;
- Served as the liaison for the campaign with supportive local, state, and national organizations.

Sheheen for South Carolina

Developed and implemented a $1 million field and communications effort on behalf of all North Carolina Democrats that successfully re-elected all incumbent statewide candidates.

North Carolina Democratic Party

Coordinated Campaign Director

Hired by Equality NC to develop a strategic plan for the campaign in support of marriage equality and in opposition to North Carolina’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

- Developed the initial communications plan, which included budgets for television, radio, and direct mail.
- Created benchmarks for voter contact and grasstops and grassroots recruitment and engagement.

Equality NC

Consultant

Advised Member and Chief of Staff on all political, communication, and legislative matters.

- Managed all office communications and trained press staff on media relations and message development;
- Directed official House staff when Chief of Staff was absent from the office
- Served as Acting Legislative Director, leading legislative staff, compiling and communicating vote recommendations to the Member;
- Oversaw Member’s Leadership PAC activities, including national travel, speaking schedule, political communication, and fundraising.

U.S. House of Representatives

Deputy Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor

Oversaw and directed the political communications and recruitment and endorsement process for the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

- Primary spokesperson for the PAC;
- Strategic advisor to both incumbent and challenger races on communications, political, and policy initiatives;
- Reinvigorated the PAC’s website and social media presence to better brand the organization.

Blue Dog Coalition

National Political Director

Created and directed a $5 million statewide political operation to mobilize voters in support of the Democratic ticket.

- Directed Party’s communications, including television, radio, mail, and email programs, while also serving as primary spokesperson.
- Developed relationships and effectively brought together diverse Democratic constituencies to ensure the re-election of 7 Members of Congress in the state.
- Managed the day-to-day operations of the Party, including: financial management, fundraising, and personnel with a staff that ranged from 10 to 150.

Executive Director

Successfully re-elected a first-term Member of Congress while managing all aspects of the campaign.

- Developed polling and messaging for campaign, while cultivating relationships with statewide political leaders, donors, and press.
- Oversaw fundraising operation that raised nearly $2 million.

Heath Shuler for Congress

Responsible for all communication out of Member’s office including franked mail, website, press releases, editorials, newsletters, and constituent correspondence.

- Spokesperson for Member with print, broadcast, and online media.
- Responsible for cultivating relationships with local, state, national, and Capitol Hill press.

Communications Director

Advised first-time candidate and campaign manager on all aspects of a political campaign, including: fundraising, budgeting, paid media, polling, and field. Oversaw all campaign communications, including: earned media plan, website development, serving as primary campaign spokesperson, and pitching stories to media.

Andrew Whalen