Ben Carson pre-campaign organization, to May 4, 2015

Ben Carson Organization—Pre-Campaign
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(page updated and corrected April 26, 2015)

Carson America Exploratory Committee.
[www.bencarson.com/explore/ | @realbencarson]
formed March 2, 2015.

Chairman Terry Giles

(in line to be chairman of campaign from Aug. 2014) A longtime friend of Carson, Giles is a Houston businessman and retired lawyer. He is owner, chairman and president of Giles Enterprises, a private holding company, since 2000. Chair and director of Landmark Education Corporation, 2000-05. Owner of GWE, LLC. Principal at Giles & O'Malley in Houston. Served in the U.S. Army, 1970-76. Law degree from Pepperdine; B.A. from Cal State Fullerton, attended on a debate scholarship. Grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended 21 schools in ten years.

Campaign Manager Barry Bennett

(reported by the Columbus Dispatch on March 4, 2015) Longtime advisor to Sen. Rob Portman; just a couple of weeks earlier in Feb. 2015 Bennett was reported as campaign manager for the Fighting for Ohio Fund, a super PAC formed to boost Portman's 2016 re-election campaign. A leader of the Alliance for America's Future, a group that was active in 2010 races. Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH) Sept. 2005 to 2010. Media consultant in Washington, DC. Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Frank Cremeans (OH). Communications director on Lt. Gov. Mike DeWine's 1994 campaign for U.S. Senate. Communications on Rob Portman's election to Congress in the 1993 special election. twitter

Deputy Campaign Manager Stephen C. Rubino

Thirty-year career as a trial lawyer; Rubino has concentrated his practice primarily in clergy sexual abuse and childhood sexual abuse litigation (since 1988), and served as chairman of the American Trial Lawyers Association Litigation Group for Childhood Sexual Abuse from 1993-2010. His law practice is based in Margate, New Jersey. President and CEO of The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc., 2010-13. J.D. from Catholic University's Columbus School of Law; B.S. from Mount St. Mary's College.

Senior Strategist Ed Brookover

(reported by various outlets on March 3, 2015) Chairman of Greener and Hook’s political practice, has over 30 years experience in campaign politics. Political director for the NRCC from 1995-99. Political director for the NRSC during the 1988 campaign cycle. National field director for the RNC in the 1986 cycle serving under then RNC political director Bill Greener. twitter

Communications Director Doug Watts

(reported by various outlets on March 3, 2015...press, advertising and social media) President of Urban Media Group, LLC since April 2004. President of North/South America market development for Clear Channel AdShel, April 1999-April 2004. President of North American operations for Wall City Design, Sept. 1996-April 1999. Senior vice president for asset development at Gannett Outdoor, Sept. 1993-July 1996. Partner at RussoWatts&Rollins, Jan. 1976-April 1988. Advertising director on Reagan-Bush 84. Communications director on George Deukmejian for governor in California, 1982. B.A. in political science from University of Arizona, 1972.

Press Secretary Deana Bass

Principal/managing partner at Bass Public Affairs in Alexandria, VA from 2005. Co-founder of Bond Girl|Books. Deputy director of coalitions at the RNC Jan. 2005-April 2006. Executive director of The Gloucester Institute, 2005-06. Director of coalitions at the House Republican Conference, April 2003-Jan. 2005. MFA in film production from Ohio University, 1999; B.A. in communications and international relations from Salem College, 1995. twitter

Senior Advisor/Grassroots Fundraising Mike Murray

(formally reported mid-Feb. 2015...grassroots fundraising) President and CEO of TMA Direct and the managing partner of Precision Data Management, both headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Founder (2010) of American Legacy PAC [Carson is chairman of the PAC's Save Our Healthcare project since 2014]. Has provided "digital and data marketing services by numerous US Presidential candidates including: Speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Fred Thompson, Mayor Rudi Giuliani [sic], businessman Herman Cain, and Governor Mitt Romney. Mike also manages direct marketing efforts on behalf of the National Rifle Association of America, Citizens United, the College Republican National Committee, National Review and The Washington Times." Finance degree from George Mason University School of Business. twitter

National Finance Chairman Jeff Reeter

Managing partner at Northwestern Mutual in Houston since 2002; appointed managing partner in Dallas in 1996; joined Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Dallas in 1984. graduated from Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business in 1984.

National Finance Director Amy Pass

(reported Feb. 23, 2015 by The Daily Caller's Alex Pappas) President of The Pass Group, LLC in Nashville, TN from 2015. National finance director at Newt 2012 from Aug. 2011. Director of major gifts at American Solutions, 2007-11. Director of planning in the Office of Speaker Newt Gingrich, 2002-07. Degree in business administration from University of Georgia, 2002.

Advance Mike Nason

Executive producer of New Life Live, a one hour daily radio show, since June 2010. Owner of The Nason Group, a strategic media relations company in Orange County, CA, since Jan. 1990. Executive producer of "Hour of Power," 1972-90. twitter

Treasurer Logan D. Delany Jr.

(in line to be CFO of the campaign) President of Delany Capital Management Corp., a private equity firm, since 1986. First vice president in the merger and acquisition group at Drexel Burnham Lambert Incorporated. Former chairman of Howard Industries, Inc., 7-Up Bottling Company of St. Louis and Graham Industries. Former director of Grant Industries, Inc. Studied economics at Oxford University; J.D. from Harvard Law School; A.B. in economics from Harvard College.

General Counsel Kathy Freberg

Attorney based in Irvine, CA.

IOWA

State Director Ryan Rhodes

(reported by The Iowa Republican, Jan. 16, 2015) Grassroots director for Sec. of State Matt Schultz in his 2014 Republican primary campaign in Iowa's 3rd CD. Tea Party outreach director on Michele Bachmann's Iowa caucus campaign (announced Dec. 1, 2011). Founder and co-chairman of the Iowa Tea Party. Political director for Dave Funk in his 2010 Republican primary campaign in Iowa's 3rd CD, and was a consultant for the Iowa Senate Republican Fund on six campaigns during 2010. Worked at a Chrysler dealership. Candidate for Iowa House in District 45 in 2008, while a student, losing to Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) by 58.2% to 41.8%. Graduate of Iowa State University. Iowa native.

Co-Chairs

(announced late March 2015...previously served as Iowa co-chairs of the independent draft effort)
State Rep. Rob Taylor (R-West Des Moines) - Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2012 representing District 44; considered running for Congress or Sec. of State in 2014 but decided against. Sales director for a small business in central Iowa, a consultant and trainer for the automotive industry, and a diesel and bio-fuel specialist. Masters degree in business leadership from William Penn University; B.S. from Upper Iowa University; A.A. degree from Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. Born and raised in Des Moines.
Dr. Christi Taylor - An internist with the Iowa Clinic. Immediate past chair of the Dallas County Republican Party.

SOUTH CAROLINA

State Director Ruth Sherlock

(reported by Time's Tessa Berenson on Feb. 12, 2015) (early Nov. 2011) Partner at Sherlock and Gaines Consulting Group of Greenville and principal at Sherlock & Associates. Deputy South Carolina director on Newt 2012 from Nov. 2011, then national deputy political director. Campaign manager/chief of staff at Joseph Cao for Congress and for Congressman Cao, 2008. Marketing director at BE&K Government Group, 2006-07. Vice president of marketing at Mpower Systems Public Policy Group, 2003. Regional finance director/national field finance director at the RNC, 2000-02. Partner and COO at The Palladian Group, 2001. Community relations for Greenville Hospital System, 1998-99. Finance director for the SC House Republican Caucus, 1998-99. Campaign manager on Clyborne for Congress, 1997-98. Finance director on Robin Hayes for Governor, 1996. Incumbent field representative for the NRCC, 1995-96. Contract labor for Sen. Paul Coverdell, 1993-94. Special assistant at the U.S. Department of Energy, 1989-93. BBA in marketing from Texas A&M University, 1983.

See:
Press Release: "Over $2 Million in Grassroots Support Contributed to Neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson’s Presidential Exploratory Committee," April 6.

Reid J. Epstein. "Ben Carson Creates Committee to Explore Presidential Bid." The Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2015
Eliana Johnson. "Carson Gets Ready." National Review, Dec. 3, 2014:

Correction March 24, 2015: Jim Dornan not national field director.

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Pre-Campaign Organization (to Nov. 4, 2014)

USA First PAC formed Aug. 26, 2014 (FEC).
Silver Spring, MD

Chairman Terry Giles

(in line to be chairman of campaign from Aug. 2014) Longtime friend of Carson, Giles is a Houston businessman and retired lawyer. He is owner, chairman and president of Giles Enterprises, a private holding company, since 2000. Chair and director of Landmark Education Corporation, 2000-05. Owner of GWE, LLC. Principal at Giles & O'Malley in Houston. Served in the U.S. Army, 1970-76. Law degree from Pepperdine; B.A. from Cal State Fullerton, attended on a debate scholarship. Grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended 21 schools in ten years.

Treasurer Logan D. Delany Jr.

Member of the Board Mike Murray

President and CEO of TMA Direct and the managing partner of Precision Data Management, both headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Founder (2010) of American Legacy PAC [Carson is chairman of the PAC's Save Our Healthcare project since 2014]. Has provided "digital and data marketing services by numerous US Presidential candidates including: Speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Fred Thompson, Mayor Rudi Giuliani [sic], businessman Herman Cain, and Governor Mitt Romney. Mike also manages direct marketing efforts on behalf of the National Rifle Association of America, Citizens United, the College Republican National Committee, National Review and The Washington Times." Finance degree from George Mason University School of Business. twitter

Consultant Adrian Gray

President of Adrian Gray Consulting LLC in Bedford, NY since 2013. Vice president of Clear Harbor Asset Management, LLC, 2011-13. Co-founder ant president of Network Relations, a data and analytics firm in NY, 2006-11. Director of strategy at the RNC, 2005-06. National director of voter contact for Bush-Cheney 2004. Deputy director in the Executive Office of the President at The White House, 2001-03. Regional political coordinator on Bush-Cheney 2000, 1999-2000. M.B.A. from NYU Leonard N. Stern School of Business; bachelor's degree in political science and government from Skidmore College.