Hillary Clinton Organization

(page updated April 12, 2015)

The Campaign in Waiting
This page shows what was known about Hillary Clinton's campaign in waiting at the time of her announcement on April 12, 2015, based on myraid news accounts.  Work at assembling a campaign team had been going on for months under the leadership of Robby Mook. [see Staffing Chart V4 one of the documents released by WikiLeaks in Fall 2016  PDF]

this is an archive page | active page

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Headquarters: 1 Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights, NY, will occupy two floors of the building. 
...HQ first reported April 3, 2015 by Politico

Title?  John Podesta

(specific reports on Jan. 13, 2015; several reports in 2014 tabbed Podesta as likely campaign chair) 
•  Counselor to the President, announced Dec. 10, 2013, leaving the position in early Feb. 2015.  Founder (2003) and president and CEO of the Center for American Progress to 2011.  Visiting Professor of Law on the faculty of the Georgetown University Law Center.  Co-chair of the Obama-Biden Transition Project following the 2008 campaign. 
•  Chief of Staff to President Clinton at the White House from Oct. 1998-Jan. 2001; Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff, 1997-98.  Assistant to the President, Staff Secretary and a senior policy adviser on government information, privacy, telecommunications security and regulatory policy, Jan. 1993-95. 
•  In 1988 Podesta and his brother Tony founded Podesta Associates, Inc..  Experience on Capitol Hill as Counsel to Democratic Leader Sen. Tom Daschle, 1995-96; Chief Counsel for the Senate Agriculture Committee, 1987-88; Chief Minority Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittees on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks; Security and Terrorism; and Regulatory Reform, 1981-87; and Counsel on the Majority Staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1979-81. 
•  Served as a special assistant to the Director of ACTION, the federal volunteer agency, 1978-79.  Worked as a trial attorney in the Department of Justice's Honors Program in the Land and Natural Resources Division, 1976-77.  Graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, 1976.  Graduate of Knox College in Galesburg, IL, 1971.  Chicago native. 
•  Author of The Power of Progress: How America's Progressives Can (Once Again) Save Our Economy, Our Climate, and Our Country (Crown, Aug. 2008).

Campaign Manager (Running Campaign Day to Day)  Robby Mook

Advised Clinton on 2014 midterms.  Managed Terry McAuliffe's 2013 campaign for governor of Virginia.  Executive director at the DCCC in the 2012 cycle; DCCC political director from 2009-May 2010, then DCCC IE director to Nov. 2010.  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.  Vermont native.

Chief Strategist  Joel Benenson

(see The Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2015)  Has done polling for Obama since joining the Obama campaign in Jan. 2007.  Founding partner (2000) and president of the Benenson Strategy Group (BSG); has served as a pollster and strategist for U.S. senators, governors and mayors, CEOs and corporate clients.  Benenson started his polling career in 1995.  Briefly worked as a vice president of the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency.  Communications director for Gov. Mario Cuomo's 1994 re-election campaign.  Political reporter for the New York Daily News; earlier worked at newspapers in Westchester County.  Graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York.

Media Advisor  Jim Margolis

(see The Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2015)  Senior partner at GMMB.  Senior advisor on Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and on Obama's 2007-08 campaign.   Senior strategist/media consultant on John Kerry's 2003-04 presidential campaign through the primaries.  Worked on the ad team for Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign.  Joined Greer & Associates in 1985, and has been with the firm since then, except for leave to serve as chief of staff to Sen. Kent Conrad, Jan. 1987-Jan. 1988..  Worked on Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign as state director for the Illinois primary, the North Carolina primary, and as deputy communications director in the Fall campaign.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Howard Wolpe; managed Wolpe's upset win for Congress in Michigan in 1978.  B.A. degrees in government and communiciation studies from Oberlin College, 1978.  Grew up in Kalamazoo, MI.

Pollsters  John Anzalone and David Binder

(see The Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2015)  Both worked on Obama's 2012 and 2008 campaigns.  Anzalone is founder of Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (ALG); Binder is founder of David Binder Research.

Director of State Campaigns and Political Engagement  Marlon Marshall

(see the Washington Post March 18, 2015)  Returned to 270 Strategies from Jan. 5, 2015.  A special assistant to President Obama and the principal deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White House to the end of 2014.  Founding partner of 270 Strategies.  Senior advisor to the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Deputy field director on Obama's re-election campaign, from April 2011.  Field director at the DCCC in the 2010 cycle.  Deputy White House liaison to the State Department.  In Fall 2008 Marshall served as general election director in Missouri on Obama’s Campaign for Change.  On Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign he was field director for the May 6 Indiana primary, the March 4 Ohio primary and the Jan. 19 Nevada caucuses.  In 2006 Marshall served as field director on the Maryland Coordinated Campaign and earlier as Prince George's County regional field director.  Regional field director for the Kansas Democratic Party in the 3rd CD for the last six months of 2005.  In summer and fall 2004 Marshall served as Kansas City, MO field organizer/regional base vote director on the Missouri Coordinated Campaign; he finished the campaign doing GOTV in Ohio.  Graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in communication studies.  Native of St. Louis. 

Regional Organizing
Hans Goff

(reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on April 1, 2015)  Southern regional organizing director at Ready for Hillary super PAC.  Senior associate at M Public Affairs; founder (2010) and CEO of Voting Works, LLC.  Rocky Mount/Northeast regional field director for OFA-NC, Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.  Other experience includes work for Gov. Mark Warner, the New Jersey General Assembly Majority Office, the non-profit YouthBuild Newark, U.S. Rep. John Olver, Gov. Jon Corzine and Sen. Robert Menendez.  Master of public affairs and politics from Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, 2008; double major in government and African-American studies from William and Mary, 2005.  Started out in politics in high school, working as an intern for Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer.  Native of Trenton.  Godson of Pattie LaBelle.  twitter

Jessica Mejila

(reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on April 1, 2015)  Southern regional organizing director at Ready for Hillary super PAC.  Campaign manager on Anthony Rendon for California State Assembly.  Campaign manager on Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez's 2010 re-election campaign.  Field director on Judy Chu for Congress.  Field director for Ricardo Lara for Assembly (CA).  Statewide Get-Out-The-Vote director for the California Democratic Party “Yes We Can! California ’08” campaign.  Deputy director of political affairs for the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee.  State field director for Hillary Clinton for President in Colorado.  Volunteer coordinator for Barbara Boxer for U.S. Senate, 2004.  Midwest deputy regional field director for the DNC, 2004. Attended California Lutheran University.  Los Angeles native.  Experience also includes working as an organizer for SEIU 1928.  twitter

Director of Grassroots Engagement  Adam Parkhomenko

Co-founder (Jan. 2013)/co-chair/executive director of Ready for Hillary super PAC.  Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates in 47th District in the June 2009 primary.  From 2008-08, Parkhomenko served as executive aide for Friends of Hillary, HILLPAC, Hillary for Senate 2006, and the Hillary Clinton for President campaign.  In 2003, as a student at Northern Virginia Community College, Parkhomenko founded votehillary.org. In 2009 he graduated from the DC Metropolitan Police Academy, and he serves as a reserve law enforcement offficer.  He is a senior at George Mason University.  twitter

Communications Director  Jennifer Palmieri

(reported by The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 5, 2015 leaving White House "March at earliest")  Assistant to the President and Director of Communications at the White House, reported Dec. 5, 2011.  President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and a senior vice president for communications at CAP.   Ohio communications director on Kerry-Edwards '04.  National press secretary for the John Edwards campaign starting in Jan. 2003.  Press secretary at the DNC through the 2002 cycle.  Served eight years in Clinton Administration, as a White House Deputy Press Secretary from 1998 to 2001, as a Special Assistant to White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, and Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance.  She started her career in the congressional office of then Rep. Leon Panetta (D-CA).  Graduate of the American University in Washington, DC.  twitter

Deputy to the Communications Director  Kristina Schake

(reported March 23, 2015 by Bloomberg's Jennifer Epstein)  Chief communications officer at L'Oreal USA from July 8, 2013.  Special Assistant to President Obama and communications director to the First Lady Michelle Obama, Dec. 2010-mid 2013.  A key figure in the lawsuit challenging California's Proposition 8; in Spring 2006 she and Chad Griffin co-founded of the American Foundation for Equal Rights.  Chief communications strategist for California First Lady Maria Shriver.  Co-founder (with Chad Griffin) and principal of Griffin|Schake, a Los Angeles-based public affairs and strategic communications firm.  Consultant on Prop. 10 on California's Nov. 1998 ballot (the Rob Reiner Initiative), which imposed an additional 50 cents tax on cigarettes.  Executive director of I Am Your Child Foundation.  Graduate of Johns Hopkins University, 1992.

Strategic Communications Advisor and Senior Spokesperson  Karen Finney

(reported by CNN's Brianna Keilar on April 6, 2015)  Senior fellow and consultant to Media Matters for America.  Contributor at MSNBC for 5 years and hosted a weekend show "Disrupt with Karen Finney" from 2013-14.  Director of communications at the DNC, March 2005-2009.  Briefly deputy chief of staff for communications to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).  Communications director for Elizabeth Edwards on the Kerry-Edwards campaign (announced Aug. 31, 2004).  Communications director for New York City Board of Education.  Press secretary for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign.  Director of business development at Scholastic Books in New York City.  Deputy director of presidential scheduling in the Clinton White House into 1998.  Served as one of two deputy press secretaries to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton for the first four years of the Clinton Administration.  Member of the national advance team on Clinton's 1992 campaign.  California scheduler/field representative to Sen. Alan Cranston.  Worked as a teaching assistant at the Crittendon Center for Young Women and Infants in Los Angeles.  B.A. in anthropology from UCLA.  twitter

Day to Day Spokesman  Jesse Ferguson

(reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on March 12, 2015)  DCCC director of independent expenditures from Feb. 7, 2014; previously DCCC deputy executive director and communications director from Nov. 16, 2012; DCCC press secretary in the 2012 cycle and started at the DCCC in Oct. 2009 as southern regional press secretary.  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.  Bachelor's degree in government and economics from the College of William and Mary.  twitter

Spokesman  Nick Merrill

Clinton's spokesperson since 2013.  Office of Strategic Communications at the U.S. Department of State from Aug. 2009-end of Jan. 2013.  Associate at The Markham Group.  Worked for 15 months as a full time national advance staffer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, serving as the lead site person for many of her major rallies and speeches.  Worked for one year for loveLife, an HIV prevention program in South Africa.  Field on Jon Corzine's campaign for governor.  B.A. in government from Skidmore College, 2005.

Lead Press Secretary  Brian Fallon

(reported by the Washington Post on March 17, 2015)  Director of the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice (spokesman for Attorney General Eric Holder), July 2013-end of March 2015.  Communications director at the Senate Democratic Policy & Communications Center, Jan. 2011-June 2013; communications director to Sen. Charles Schumer, July 2007-Dec. 2010.  B.A. in political science and government from Harvard University, 2003.  twitter

Josh Schwerin
National press secretary at the DCCC from Jan. 2014.  Press secretary on Terry McAuliffe's sucessful campaign for governor of Virginia, Dec. 2012-Nov. 2013.  Northeast regional press secretary at the DCCC, Jan. 2011-Dec. 2012.  Communications director to U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy (NY), March 2009-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.  twitter

Jesse Lehrich
Deputy communications director at American Bridge 21st Century after starting as press secretary in May 2014.  Assistant press secretary at Organizing for Action, April 2013-April 2014.  Competitive manager (April 2012-April 2013), media assistant (Dec. 2011-April 2012) and media buying intern (Sept.-Dec. 2011) at GMMB.  Interned on the Obama campaign, Aug.-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in political science from Colorado College, 2011.  twitter

Rebecca Chalif
Deputy national press secretary at the DNC from Dec. 2012; started as a communications intern June 2010-Nov. 2011, then assistant press secretary, Nov. 2011-Nov. 2012.  M.A. in media and politics from Georgetown University, 2011; B.A. in American history from Duke University, 2008.  twitter

Ian Sams
Previously a regional press secretary at the DNC from Sept. 2013.  Press secretary to Sen. Tom Carper, June 2011-Sept. 2013; also digital director on Carper for Delaware, June-Sept. 2013 and press secretary on Carper for Delaware, Sept.-Nov. 2012.  B.A. in political science from University of Alabama. twitter

Tyrone Gayle
Western regional press secretary at the DCCC from Jan. 2014.  Associate director for communications at the U.S. Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, Feb. 2013-Jan. 2014.  Special assistant to Tim Kaine on his U.S. Senate campaign, Aug. 2011-Nov. 2012.  Communications associate at Media Matters for America, Sept. 2010-Aug. 2011.  Press and communications at the Center for American Progress, June-Sept. 2010.  B.A. in communications studies from Clemson University, 2010.

Senior Advisor for Communications  Mandy Grunwald

(reported by The New York Times' Jonathan Martin, Feb. 5, 2015)  Longtime advisor to the Clintons; served as media advisor and director of advertising on Clinton/Gore '92.  President of Grunwald Communications in Washington; media consultant to myriad campaigns.  Partner at Greer Margolis Mitchell, Grunwald & Associates in Washington, DC from 1991.  Worked for 12 years at the Sawyer/Miller Group in New York, starting in 1979.  Graduate of Harvard University. 

Chief Technology Officer  Stephanie Hannon

(reported by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker on April 8, 2015)  Director of product management, civic innovation and social impact at Google from March 2013.  Product manager at Facebook, June 2012-March 2013.  Vice president of international at Eventbrite, Nov. 2011-March 2012.  Co-founder of Sensey, a startup focused on smart thermostats, mid-2011.  Group product manager at Google in Sydney, Australia (Google Wave, 2008-10), Zurich, Switzerland (Google Maps, 2006-08) and Mountain View, CA (Gmail and Google Apps, 2004-06).  Software engineer at Cisco Systems, 1996-2002.  M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, 2004; Master's degree in electrical engineering (1997) and bachelor's degreee in computer systems engineering (1996) from Stanford University.  twitter

Digital Director  Katie Dowd

(reported by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker on March 24, 2015)  Director of digital strategy in the Office of Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Foundation from Jan. 2014.  Innovation advisor at the U.S. Department of State, Sept. 2010-Jan. 2014; also senior advisor to the U.S. CTO at the White House, March-Nov. 2013.  New media director at the U.S. Department of State, May 2009-Sept. 2010.  New media director at HillPAC/Friends of Hilary, July 2008-May 2009.  Deputy Internet director/deputy director of online fundraising on Clinton's 2007-08 campaign.  Deputy director of marketing at the DCCC in the 2006 cycle.  Deputy director of marketing at the DSCC in the 2004 cycle.  Programs director at the American Association of Political Consultants, 2002-03.  Account assistant at MSHC, 2002.  Graduate of Wittenberg University, 2001.  twitter

Deputy Digital Director  Jenna Lowenstein

(reported by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker on March 24, 2015)  Vice president of digital at EMILY's List.  Deputy digital director at the DNC, Dec. 2013-June 2014.  Coordinated campaign digital director in Virginia, April-Nov. 2013.  Campaign innovation (Feb. 2012-April 2013) and snior campaigner at Change.org (Jan. 2011-Feb. 2012).  New media director on Lee Fisher for Ohio, July-Nov. 2010.  Director of communications and online organizing at National Stonewall Democrats, June 2009-July 2010.  Online strategy associate at Joe Trippi and Associates, Feb.-June 2009.  B.A. in government, English from Georgetown University.  twitter

Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy  Teddy Goff

(reported by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker on March 24, 2015)  Partner at Precision Strategies.  Digital director on Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, May 2011-Nov. 2012.  Associate vice president for strategy at Blue State Digital, Jan. 2009-April 2011.  Oversaw creation and launch of WhiteHouse.gov for the Obama-Biden presidential transition, Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009.  Part of the new media team on Obama's 2008 campaign-in the fall director of new media for battleground states (Great Lakes and Ohio Valley); during the primaries Goff served on the campaign's mass email team.  B.A. in English and political science from Yale University, 2007.  twitter

Director of Paid Media  Oren Shur

(reported by CNN's Brianna Keilar on April 6, 2015)  Director of IE for the Democratic Governors Association, July 2013-Dec. 2014.  Campaign manager on Jay Nixon for Missouri, March 2011-Nov. 2012.  Campaign manager on Diane Denish for Governor (NM), Aug. 2009-Nov. 2010.  Communications director on Nixon for Governor, June 2007-Nov. 2008, and for the transition.  Communications director in the Office of Sen. Ben Cardin, Nov. 2006-June 2007.  Press secretary/spokesman at Ben Cardin for U.S. Senate, April 2005-Nov. 2006.  B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University 2003.

 

Finance Director  Dennis Cheng

(reported by the New York Times on Feb. 9, 2015)  Chief development office at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation for three and a half years to Feb. 2015.  Deputy chief of protocol at the State Department.  New York finance director on Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns, 2005-08.  Worked on the campaigns of Sen. John Kerry, Gen. Wesley Clark, U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.  M.S. in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science; B.A. in political science and economics from Swarthmore College.

Finance Associate for Outreach  Alex Smith

(reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on April 1, 2015)  Deputy finance director at the Ready for Hillary super PAC from Sept. 2013.  Grassroots associate at the Dewey Square Group, July 2010-Aug. 2013.  B.S. in architecture from University of Virginia, 2010.

Finance Associate  Neisha Blandin

(reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on April 1, 2015)  Grassroots fundraising director at the Ready for Hillary super PAC from Jan. 2014.  Fundraising development at The Cooper Union, 2013.  Associate at Hudson TG, political consulting firm, Aug. 2010-Aug. 2012.  Junior fundraiser at The Esler Group, July 2009-Aug. 2010; and campaign finance compliance officer at Gioia for New York, July 2009-Jan. 2010.  B.A. in political science from Montclair State University, 2008.  Originally from Trinidad and Tobago.

Branding, Imaging, Messaging  Roy Spence

Based in Austin, TX.  Longtime friend of the Clintons; advised on Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign, particularly after the Iowa caucuses.  Co-founder (1971) and chairman of GSD&M; co-founder (2008) and CEO of the Purpose Institute, a consulting firm that helps people and organizations discover and live their purpose.  Author with Haley Rushing of It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For (2008).  B.A. in government from The University of Texas at Austin.

"Principal Gatekeeper"  Philippe Reines 

Currently a founder and managing director at Beacon Global Strategies, LLC.  Has worked for Clinton since 2002.  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Strategic Communications and Senior Communications Advisor to Secretary of State, 2009-13.  Sen. Clinton’s senior advisor and press secretary, 2002-09.  Communications advisor for national security and foreign policy on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and Chelsea Clinton's spokesman, 2007-08.  Communications director to U.S. Rep. Jane Harman (CA).  Teaching and research assistant for Gore's “Covering National Affairs” course at the Columbia School of Journalism in Spring 2001.  Served on the rapid response team of the Gore/Lieberman campaign in 2000, and on the communications team of the Gore/Lieberman Recount Committee.  Worked in banking and finance.  New York City native.  Degree in political science from Columbia University.

Personal Chief of Staff  Huma Abedin

Directed Clinton's transition office when Clinton left the State Department.  Special government employee/consultant and earlier deputy chief of staff to Clinton at the State Department.  Traveling chief of staff for Clinton during her 2007-08 campaign.  Senior advisor and earlier staff assistant to Sen. Clinton.  Started working for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1996 as an intern at the White House.  B.A. degree from The George Washington University.  Grew up in Saudi Arabia; born in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Wife of former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Key Advisor, but No Formal Role  Cheryl Mills

(on March 24, 2015, the NYT's Maggie Haberman reported that Mills, while continuing to be a trusted advisor, will not take a formal role in the campaign)  Founder and chief executive officer of the BlackIvy Group, a company that grows and builds businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Counselor and chief of staff to Clinton at the State Department.  Senior vice president for administration and operations as well as general counsel at New York University.  Senior vice president for corporate policy and public programming at Oxygen Media.  Associate general counsel at the White House from 1993.  Deputy general counsel of the Clinton/Gore Transition Planning Foundation.  Associate at Hogan & Hartson.  J.D. from Stanford Law School, 1990; B.A. from University of Virginia, 1987.

IOWA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

State Director  Mike Vlacich

(reported March 13, 2015 by AP)  Senior advisor to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen; managed Shaheen for Senate, Jan.-Dec. 2014; state director in the Office of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2014.  Director of the Division of Economic Development in the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, Dec. 2006-Dec. 2008.  Deputy chief of staff to Gov. John Lynch, Dec. 2004-Dec. 2006; manager of New Hampshire for John Lynch in 2006.  Executive director of the NH Democratic Party, June 2003-Dec. 2004.  Business recruitment and retention specialist in the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, Dec. 2002-June 2003.  Special assistant for economic development to Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, March 1997-Dec. 2002.  B.A. in political science from University of New Hampshire, 1995.  twitter

Political  Kari Thurman

(reported March 13, 2015 by AP)  Political director on Shaheen for Senate in 2014.  Staffer in Shaheen's Senate office in the first part of 2012.  Did some work with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.  Finance director on Kuster for Congress, May 2009-Dec. 2010.  Finance director on Carol Shea-Porter for Congress, May 2008-Oct. 2009.  Field staff for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, May 2007-May 2008.  Studied at Illinois State University and earlier at University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Communications  Harrell Kirstein

(reported March 13, 2015 by AP)  Communications director at Shaheen for Senate, March-Dec. 2014.  Communications director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, March 2013-14.  New Hampshire press secretary at Obama for America, March-Nov. 2012.  Press secretary (May 2010-Feb. 2012) and deputy press secretary (Feb.-June 2010) for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  Communications director at Dorothy Brown for Cook County President, Aug.-Nov. 2009.  GOTV organizer on Virginians for Brian Moran, May-June 2009.  New Hampshire press aide on Richardson for President, July 2007-Jan. 2008.  B.A. in political science and goverment from University of Rochester, 2009.  twitter

"Political Outreach to Grassroots Leaders"
Mike Ollen

(reported by WMUR's John DiStaso on April 10, 2015)  Associate at Hilltop Public Solutions from Jan. 2015.  Deputy political director on Shaheen for Senate, April-Dec. 2014.  Constituent services coordinator/veterans and military families liaison for U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, Jan. 2013-April 2014.  Regional field director in Strafford County for Obama for America, July-Nov. 2012; field organizer for Organizing for America-NH in Nashua, Feb.-July 2012.  Inventory manager for Boston City Properties, March 2011-Feb. 2012.  Speech writing assistant in the Office of Gov. Deval Patrick, Sept. 2011-Jan. 2012.  B.A. in communications, public advocacy and rhetoric from Northeastern University, 2011.  twitter

Gene Martin

(reported by WMUR's John DiStaso on April 10, 2015)  Director of the NH Senate Democratic Caucus from Aug. 2014; minority caucus director in the New Hampshire Senate, Dec. 2012-July 2014.  Director of the Committee to Elect House Democrats, Jan.-Dec. 2012.  Political and field director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Jan. 2011-Jan. 2012.  Legislative aide in the NH Senate, March-Dec. 2010.  Compliance director/office manager on Paul Hodes for Senate, June 2009-March 2010.  B.A. in political science from Plymouth State University, 2009.  twitter

Liz Wester

(reported by WMUR's John DiStaso on April 10, 2015)  Director of the Committee to Elect House Democrats from April 2014.  Outreach coordinator to U.S. Rep. John Tierney (MA), April 2013-April 2014.  Data coordinator for the Human Rights Campaign in the Chicago area, Jan.-March 2013.  Field director on Niki Tsongas for Congress campaign in Lowell, April-Nov. 2012.  Field director on Stand Up For New Hampshire Families, Oct. 2011-April 2012.  Field organizer for the Human Rights Campaign, Jan.-July 2011.  Field organizer for the NH Democratic Party, Aug.-Nov. 2010.  B.A. and B.S. degrees from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2010.

NEVADA

State Director  Emmy Ruiz

(reported March 18, 2015 by the Washington Post)  Political director for Annie's List, a group that works to elect pro-choice women in Texas, Sept. 2013-Aug. 2014.  Campaign manager for comprehensive immigration reform at Organizing for Action, March-Sept. 2013.  Nevada general election director for the Obama campaign from Feb.-Nov. 2012.  Nevada field director for Organizing for America, June 2011-Jan. 2012.  Texas field director for the DNC, June 2009-May 2011.  National field manager of Young Democrats of America, Aug. 2008-Dec. 2010.  Canvass director, late help and regional field director on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Oct. 2007-May 2008.  Development coordinator/grant writer at the American Red Cross, 2006-07.  Bachelor's degree in English language and literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio, 2006. twitter

Organizing Director  Jorge Neri

(reported April 9, 2015 by BuzzFeed's Adrian Carrasquillo)  Associate Director of Public Engagement in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House.  Deputy campaign manager for field at the Alliance for Citizenship, Feb. 2013-Jan. 2014.  Nevada field director on Obama's re-election campaign from July 2012 after serving as the national campaign's Southern regional field director from Aug. 2011-July 2012.  Midwest and Southeast organizer at the Center for Community Change, Nov. 2008-Aug. 11.  Organizer at UFCW Local 1546 in Chicago, Dec. 2007-Nov. 2008.  Robert Morris College.  twitter

SOUTH CAROLINA

State Director  Clay Middleton

(reported March 18, 2015 by the Washington Post)  Special advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Congressional, Intergovernmental and External Affairs from Aug. 2014.  Congressional affairs liaison at the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of External Affairs, June 2013-Aug. 2014.  Special advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, Aug. 2012-June 2013.  Associate director for faith-based and neighborhood partnerships at the Corporation for National and Community Service, May 2011-Aug. 2012.  Lowcountry director for U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, May 2003-May 2011.  South Carolina political director on Obama for America, Aug.-Dec. 2008.  Regional field organizer for the South Carolina Democratic Party, July 2005-Dec. 2006.  Master's (2011) and B.A. in political science (2003) from The Citadel.  Major in the SC Army National Guard, Jan. 2000-present. twitter

See:
Maggie Haberman.  "'Ready for Hillary' Workers Are Ready to Join Campaign."  The New York Times.  April 1, 2015. 
The independent Ready for Hillary super PAC worked from to 2013 to April 2015 to build a base of support for Clinton.
Haberman lists a half dozen RfH staff transitioning over to the campaign in waiting:

		Ready for Hillary	Campaign in Waiting
	Adam Parkhomenko	co-founder/co-chair/ex. director	director of grassroots engagement
	Neisha Blandin	grassroots fundraising director	national finance associate
	Alex Smith	deputy finance director	national finance associate for outreach
	Hans Goff	southern regional organizing	southern regional organizing
	Jessica Meija	western regional organizing	western regional organizing
	Rachel Schneider	director for young Americans and Jewish Americans	Iowa intern coordnator

Phillip Rucker.  "Hillary Clinton adds top digital talent to campaign-in-waiting."  The Washington Post, March 24, 2015.

Phillip Rucker.  "In states with the first 2016 primaries, Democrats ask: Where's Hillary?"  The Washington Post.  March 17, 2015.

Ben Jacobs.  "Hillary Clinton eyes campaign launch in early April with plans to staff up in Iowa."  The Guardian.  Mar. 9, 2015.

Philip Rucker and Dan Balz.  "Top Vilsack adviser to run Hillary Clinton's Iowa campaign."  The Washington Post.  Mar. 4, 2015.

Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan. "The making of Hillary 5.0: Marketing wizards help re-imagine Clinton brand."  The Washington Post.  Feb. 21, 2015.

Anne Gearan and Dan Balz.  "Official or not, Hillary Clinton buids a massive 2016 team-in-waiting."  The Washington Post.  Feb. 6, 2015.

Mike Allen.  "Inside Hillary Clinton's 2016 plan."  Politico.  Jan. 26, 2015.

Jonathan Allen.  "The Man Poised to Guide Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign."  Bloomberg Politics.  Dec. 22, 2014.

David Freedlander.  "The Race to Be Hillary's Karl Rove."  The Daily Beast.  Nov. 26, 2014.

Amy Chozick.  "Planet Hillary."  New York Times Magazine.  Jan. 24, 2014.

Maggie Haberman.  "Hillary Clinton's 50 influentials."  Politico.  Jan. 5, 2014.  and Maggie Haberman.  "Hillary Clinton's shadow camapign."  Politico,  Jan. 5, 2014.

A recurring theme in coverage of Clinton's developing 2016 campaign team is the need learn from mistakes made on the 2008 campaign, which was marked by infighting and "the lack of any clear lines of authority."  See: Gail Sheehy.  "Hillaryland at War."  Vanity Fair.  Aug. 2008.

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Copyright © 2014, 2015  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action. All rights reserved.