Democratic Governors' Association – 2013-14

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director  Colm O'Comartun

(announced Dec. 8, 2010, started Jan. 2, 2011)  Longtime aide to Gov. O'Malley; director of the Governor's Office, 2006-10 and special assistant 2002-06.  Prior to joining O'Malley, O'Comartun was director of alumni programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and earlier assistant to the director of development at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.  B.A. in political science (1989) and M.A. in political science (1992) from University College Dublin.  twitter

Assistant to the Executive Director  Jen Ustynoski

(Aug. 2012)  Event coordinator at Lindy Promotions, Jan. 2011-May 2012.  Associate at Orion Group, Inc., Oct. 2009-Jan. 2010.  Finance assistant at Bonner Group Inc., Jan. 2008-Oct. 2009.  B.A. in political science from American University, 2008.

POLITICAL

Political Director  Elisabeth Pearson

(started at the DGA as campaign director)  Campaign manager on Jody Wagner's campaign for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 2009.  Virginia Victory 2008 coordinated campaign director.  Worked for the Democratic Party of Virginia in 2006-07.  Deputy director of the statewide coordinated campaign that elected Tim Kaine in 2005.

Deputy Political Director  Corey Platt

Experience includes senior advisor at the Missouri Democratic Party in 2010; campaign manager on Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty's brief campaign for governor of Pennsylvania, 2009-Feb. 2010; and political director for the Missouri Democratic Party.  twitter

Political Assistant  Jordan Wilson

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director  Danny Kanner

Deputy director of rapid response at Obama for America, May-Nov. 2012.  Press secretary to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.  Press secretary on the independent Crist for U.S. Senate campaign in 2010.  Worked in the Department of Education for the Bloomberg Administration in New York City.  Worked on David Yassky's campaign for NYC comptroller in 2009.  Body man to Gov. Eliot Spitzer.  Graduate of the University of Maryland.  twitter

Senior Communications Advisor  Lis Smith

(from Jan. 2013; DGA communications director in the 2012 cycle)  Communications consultant to Adriano Espaillat primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel in June 2014 primary.  Spokeswoman on Bill de Blasio's campaign for Mayor of New York City, Sept.-Dec. 2013.  Spokeswoman for Eliot Spitzer's campaign for city comptroller in the Sept. 10, 2013 Democratic primary.  Director of rapid response on Obama's re-election campaign from Jan. 2012.  Communications director for the Democratic Governors Association under O'Malley (announced Jan. 2011).  Communications director on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's 2010 campaign, and in 2009 worked for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.  Worked on Dan Seals' congressional campaign in Illinois.  Campaign manager on Sen. Chris Koster's campaign for Attorney General in Missouri, 2007.  Press secretary on Sen. Claire McCaskill's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign.  Graduate of Dartmouth College, 2005.  twitter

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Digital Communications Director  Mark Giangreco, Jr.

(Feb. 2011)  Press secretary at Martin O'Malley for Governor, Aug.-Dec. 2010.  Spokesman for the North Carolina Democratic Party, Feb.-Aug.2010.  Policy director on Creigh Deeds for Governor, June-Nov. 2009.  Deputy policy director on Terry McAullife for Governor, Dec. 2008-June 2009.  Press and research assistant at Mark Warner for Governor, Dec. 2007-Nov. 2008.  B.A. in American history from Harvard University, 2006.

Research

Research Director  Greg Scanlon

(Jan. 2013)  Senate research team lead at American Bridge 21st Century, July 2011-Dec. 2012.  Owner/principal at Capitol Workshop, LLC, Dec. 2010-July 2011.  Research director at Ellsworth for Indiana, April-Nov. 2010.  Research director for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, Jan. 2008-March 2010.  Research director for the Democratic Party of Virginia, Sept. 2006-Dec. 2008.  Researcher at Reger Research, July-Sept. 2006.  Research assistant at Miller for U.S. Senate, Jan.-June 2006.  Field organizer at Victory 2005, Aug.-Nov. 2005.  Political assistant to the state director on Dick Gephardt's presidential campaign, Dec. 2003-Jan. 2004.  B.A. in psychology and government from University of Virginia, 2005.

Deputy Research Director  Andrew Federick

(Jan. 2013)  Research analyst at the DCCC, Jan.-Dec. 2012.  Also in 2012 served as deputy paid canvass director on Mark Murphy for Congress.  Research assistant at the DCCC, July-Dec. 2011.  Account executive at Petel & Co, June-Dec. 2010.  Field organizer on Citizens for Alan Khazei, Oct.-Dec. 2009.  B.A. in political science, journalism from SUNY College at Buffalo, 2009.

Deputy Research Director  Jess Caraway

(Feb. 2013)  Research analyst at the DCCC in 2012.  Deputy finance director on Alvin Brown for Mayor, Feb.-May 2011.  Masters degree in political science and campaigning, 2010.

Policy

Policy Director  Ian Walton

(June 2011)  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011.  Campaign manager on John Boccieri for Congress, Oct. 2007-Jan. 2011.  Director of congressional accounts ad DCS, 2005-07.  Legislative aide in the Office of Rep Brian Higgins, 2004-05.  Regional financial service director-South at the DCCC, 2003-04; Frontline director at the DCCC, 2002-03.  Deputy finance director on Inslee for Congress, 2000-01.  Field director on the Washington State Democrats' 1998 Coordinated Campaign.  B.A. in political science from Gonzaga University, 1998.

Policy Assistant  Bill Raines

(May 2012)  Constituent liaison/scheduler to U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, Sept. 2011-May 2012.  Community liaison to U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, 2010-11.  B.A. in political science, religious studies from The College of Wooster, 2009.

FINANCE

Finance Director  Roshan Patel

(announced Jan. 24, 2011)  Came to the DGA from the DSCC where he spent two years as Mid-Atlantic finance director under Sen. Robert Menendez; he managed the DSCC’s national corporate PAC fundraising, as well as the Mid-Atlantic region.  Deputy national finance director on Tom Udall’s 2008 campaign.  A regional finance director for Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign in 2007.  Graduate of Mississippi State University, 2002.  Grew up in Forest, MS.

Deputy Finance Director  Anna Cleveland

(started at DGA as a finance assistant) 

Major Donor Director  Noam Lee

(Feb. 2013)  Southern finance director at the DSCC, Feb. 2011-Jan. 2013.  Deputy finance director on Friends for Harry Reid, May-Nov. 2010.  Deputy finance director on Alex Sink for Governor (FL), Jan.-April 2010.  Northern Virginia finance director on Virginians for Wagner, Jan.-Nov. 2009.  Regional field director for the Democratic Party of Virginia, Oct.-Nov. 2008.  Senior associate at The Media Guys, Inc., March-Sept. 2008.  Field organizer on John Edwards for President, July 2007-Jan. 2008.  Deputy campaign manager on Kacie Starr Triplett for Alderman, Jan.-March 2007.  Field organizer on Jeff Smith for Missouri Senate, June-Aug. 2008.  B.A. in political science, Hebrew from Washington University in St. Louis, 2007.

Events Director  Kelly (Berens) Gleeson

(Jan. 2012)  Director of advance for Speaker/Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, April 2008-Dec. 2011.  Special assistant in Gov. Doyle's (WI) office, 2003-07.  GOTV logistics director on Doyle for Wisconsin, 2006.  B.S. in political science from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2002.

Finance Associate and Events Coordinator  Ala Fox

(April 2012)  Community partnership associate at Warrior Gateway, Aug. 2011-March 2012.  B.A. in government, sociology from University of Redlands,  2011.

Finance and Events Assistant  Kate Bukowski

(Dec. 2013)  Program manager and events coordinator at Winning Connections, Jan. 2012-Dec. 2013.  Internships.  B.A. in anthropology and political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2011.

OPERATIONS AND MORE

Chief Operating Officer  Ben Metcalf

Came to the DGA in March 2007 after serving as national budget director for America Votes in 2005-06. In the 2004 cycle Metcalf served as national budget director for America Coming Together and national compliance director for the Dean for America presidential campaign. Graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Native of Randolph, VT.

Director of Operations & Intern Coordinator  Donna Tappin

Also director of operations in the 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 cycles.  B.Sc. in marketing from University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus, 1979.

Compliance Assistant  Jess Fuhrman

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DGA Action (Super PAC)

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