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Donald Trump Organization—Pre-Campaign
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(page updated May 21, 2015)


The Donald J. Trump Presidential Exploratory Committee
(announced March 18, 2015)

Senior Political Advisor  Corey R. Lewandowski 

(started in Jan. 2015; reported Feb. 25, 2015)  National director of voter registration (from March 2014) and East Coast regional director (March 2013-March 2014) and New Hampshire state director (from 2008) at Americans for Prosperity.  Director of public affairs at Schwartz MSL, Sept. 2004-July 2012.  Executive director of the New England Seafood Producers Association, May 2003-Aug. 2004.  Campaign manager and communications director on Bob Smith for U.S. Senate, Dec. 2001-Jan. 2003. Northeast region legislative political director for the RNC, April-Nov. 2001.  Administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH), Dec. 1997-Feb. 2001.  Development assistant at Citizens for a Sound Economy, May-Nov. 1997.  Executive assistant to U.S. Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-MA), Jan. 1996-Jan. 1997.  Masters in political science from American University, 1997; B.A. in political science from University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1995.

Press Secretary  Hope Hicks


Legal Counsel  Donald F. McGahn

Partner at Jones Day.


also note. a key Trump advisor but not part of the exploratory committee...
Executive Vice President and Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump  Michael Cohen

Joined The Trump Organization in 2006; key advisor t Trump on his 2011 look into running (ShouldTrumpRun.com).  Formerly partner at Phillips Nizer, LLP.  Candidate for New York City Council in 2003, running as a Republican against Eva Moskowitz (D).  twitter


IOWA

Advisors 
Chuck Laudner

(reported by Breitbart on Feb. 24, 2015)  On Jan. 24, 2015 the Des Moines Register reported that Laudner had been named camapign coordinator for Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund.  Campaign manager on Sam Clovis' U.S. Senate primary campaign in 2014.  Prominent supporter of Rick Santorum in 2011-12 Iowa Caucus campaign.  Managed the anti-retention campaign (Iowa for Freedom) in 2010.  Executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa, 2007-08.  Chief of staff to Rep. Steve King, 2003-06, and senior policy advisor for several months at the end of 2006.  In 2002 Laudner guided Steve King to victory in four-way special nominating convention in the 5th CD.  Managed Bill Salier's 2002 primary campaign against Sen. Chuck Grassley.  Worked on Steve Forbes' 2000 campaign.

Ryan Keller

(announced April 7, 2015)  Deputy Iowa Victory director and test manager, Sept.-Dec. 2014.  Campaign manager on Zaun for Congress, Jan.-Sept. 2014.  Executive director of Polk County Republicans, Nov. 2011-Jan. 2014.  Iowa political and organizational director on Americans for Rick Perry, an independent 527 group, July-Aug. 2011; Iowa field staffer on the initial interation of Newt 2012.  Staffer in the Republican Senate Minority Leader's Office in the Iowa Senate.  Political and organizational director on Zaun for Congress, 2010.  General manager at Heart of America, limited service hotel, 2002-08.  Personal and small business banker at Wells Fargo, 1998-2001.  Master's degree from Drake University.  Bachelor's degree from Grand View College.  A.A. from Indian Hills Community College.  Lifelong Iowan. twitter

Brad Nagel

(announced April 7, 2015)  COO at Providence International, LLC.  Served as a U.S. Navy SEAL; retired in 2012.  M.B.A. from the University of Iowa, 2014; B.S. in workforce education and development from Southern Illinois University.  Originally from Cherokee, Iowa and now a resident of Coralville.  twitter

Chris Hupke

(announced April 7, 2015)  President of the SD Family Policy Council.  Graduate of Iowa State University.  twitter


NEW HAMPSHIRE

Senior Political Advisor Corey Lewandowski is based in New Hampshire. (see above)

State Director  Matt Ciepielowski

(reported Feb. 25, 2015)  New Hampshire field director at Americans for Prosperity, April 2012-Feb. 2015.  Youth for Ron Paul regional coordinator in Louisiana, Oct. 2011-March 2012.  B.A. in political science, public relations from Quinnipiac University, 2011.  Active in Young Americans for Liberty, including Connecticut state chair, June 2010-July 2011.  twitter

Deputy State Director  Andrew Georgevits

(announced March 31, 2015)  Vice chairman of Concord City GOP.  Sales rep. for Off the Vine from Jan. 2010; crew manager for Capital Productions from April 2004; owner of Andrew's Auto Detailing from Jan. 2004; marketing rep. for LaBelle Winery from Jan. 2004.  Field director for Romney for President in Merrimack, Belknap, Straffort and Carroll Counties, May-Oct. 2012; production assistant for Romney for President, Nov. 2011-Jan. 2012.  Senior account executive at ReaXion Energy Drink, March 2008-May 2010.  Waiter at Outback Steakhouse, Jan. 2004-May 2007.

Coalitions  Rep. Joshua Whitehouse

(announced March 31, 2015)  Elected to the State House from Farmington in Nov. 2014.  Administrative assistant at SAN Group, Inc. from July 2014.  Studied at Saint Anselm College.  "NH family since 1632."  (In Jan. 2014 Whitehouse launched Draft Andrew Hemingway for NH Governor PAC.  In Nov. 2011 Whitehouse was announced as part of Jon Huntsman's Gen-H New Hampshire leadership team).  twitter

Field  Zach Montanaro

(announced March 31, 2015)  Field director on Marilinda Garcia's 2014 campaign in NH's 2nd CD.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the Catholic University of America.  twitter

New Hampshire Leadership Team

(announced May 21, 2015)
Belknap County
Chair- Josh Youssef
Vice-Chair- Ben Wilson
 
Carroll County
Chair- Nate Sullivan
Vice-Chair- Zac Mercauto
 
Cheshire County
Chair- Gregory Johnson
 
Coos County
Co-Chair- Jack Riendeau
Co-Chair-Sandra Riendeau
 
Grafton County
Chair- Raul Cervantes
 
Hillsborough County
Chair- Ellen Suprunowicz-Stepanek
Vice-Chair- Tony Mayfield
 
Merrimack County
Co-Chair- Rick Cibotti
Co-Chair- Debbie Cibotti
 
Rockingham County
Co-Chair- Lou Gargiulo
Co-Chair- Mary A. Gargiulo
 
Strafford County
Chair- Karen L. Warburton
 
Sullivan County
Co-Chair- Cynthia Howard
Co-Chair- Phil Howard


SOUTH CAROLINA

Co-Chair  Ed McMullen

(reported as co-chair by The State's Andrew Shaun on March 10, 2015; reported as advisor by the Washington Post's Robert Costa on Feb. 25, 2015)  President of McMullen Public Affairs LLC, based in Columbia.  25 year career in public policy, politics, and business.  President of the South Carolina Policy Council, a conservative think tank through 2007.  Experience also includes chairman of the S.C. Research Centers of Economic Excellence Review Board.  Bachelor's degree in political science from Hampden-Sydney College.

Co-Chair  John Russell

(reported as co-chair by The State's Andrew Shaun on March 10, 2015)  Former state legislator; served in the SC House representing Spartanburg from 1983-87, then in the SC Senate until retiring in 2000.  Assistant to the President Pro Tem of the U.S. Senate, Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1981; staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in 1981.  J.D. from St. Mary's of Texas Law School, 1978; B.A. in history from the University of South Carolina, 1973.  Son of former Gov. Donald S. Russell.

Political Advisor  State Rep. James H. Merrill

(reported Feb. 25, 2015)  Member of the House, elected in 2000; represents District 99-Berkeley and Charleston Counties;served as House Majority Leader from 2004-Dec. 2008.  Owner of Geechie Communications since 1994. District administrator for U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, 1994.  Political director for the South Carolina Republican Party, 1992-98.  Press secretary to U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence, 1989-92.  B.A. (1989) and M.P.A. (1992) from University of South Carolina.  Resident of Daniel Island.  Originally from Florida.

Political Director  Jeff Taillon

(announced May 6, 2015)  Campaign manager on Henry McMaster for Lt. Governor, April 2014-Jan. 2015.  Director of advance (Sept. 2012-April 2014) and press assistant (Jan. 2011-Sept. 2012) for Gov. Nikki Haley in the South Carolina Office of the Governor.  General aide on Nikki Haley for Governor, Aug. 2009-Nov. 2010.  B.S. in business and behavioral science from Clemson University, 2009.  twitter

Field Director  Gerri McDaniel

(announced May 6, 2015)  Active role in the campaigns of several successful city and county political candidates.  7th CD field director on Newt Gingrich's 2012 campaign.  Grassroots activist on the SC GOP 2010 Victory campaign.  Co-founder of the Myrtle Beach Tea Party and is the organizer of the annual SC Tea Party Coalition Conventions.  twitter



In contrast to past presidential considerations, Trump has built an exploratory organization on the ground in key states. Corey Lewandowski started quietly in January; the first reports on Trump's hiring of political staff appeared in the lead up to CPAC.
 
See most notably:
Matthew Boyle.  "Exclusive-'Major Coup': Donald Trump Picks Up Top Iowa Grassroots Operative for Potential 2016 Campaign."  Breitbart, Feb. 24, 2015.
Robert Costa.  "Trump says he is serious about 2016 bid, is hiring staff and delaying TV gig."  The Washington Post, Feb. 25, 2015.


Former

Communications Advisor  Sam Nunberg

(at least through CPAC)  Director of the Middle East Forum's Legal Project, Jan. 2012-Nov. 2014.  Deputy political director at the American Center for Law and Justice, Aug. 2009-Jan. 2011.  J.D. from Tuoro College Jacob D Fuchsberg Law Center, 2009.  B.A. in history from McGill University, 2004.  Served as NYC chair of Students for Mitt.  twitter





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