Obama 2012 General Election Campaign Organization, Ohio
Obama for America/Organizing for America 
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(page revisd April 5, 2013)
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State Director  Greg Schultz

Started mid-March 2009 as state director of Organizing for America.  Deputy political director on the Ohio Campaign for Change in Fall 2008.  Legislative liaison for Gov. Ted Strickland in the Department of Administrative Services.  First vice president of Ohio Young Democrats.  B.A. in history and political science from The Ohio State University, 2003; M.Ed from The Ohio State University 2004.  twitter

Senior Advisor  Aaron Pickrell

(reported by the Columbus Dispatch on March 7, 2012)  Ohio state director for Obama for America in 2008.  Campaign manager on the Strickland for Governor campaign in 2006.  Chief operating officer at DCS Congressional.  Political director on John Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  Chief of staff to Rep. Leonard Boswell for two years prior to joining the campaign.  Worked a stint at Kieloch Consulting in Washington, DC.  Finance director for Vilsack/Pederson Inaugural Committee, 1999.  Finance director/deputy campaign manager for Boswell's re-election campaign, 1997-98.  Deputy director of operations for the Iowa Democratic Party, 1995-96.  Field staff/office manager for Nagle for Congress in Waterloo, Jan.-May 1995.  Graduate of Iowa State University, 1994.  twitter

General Election Director  Chris Wyant

(reported by the Columbus Dispatch on March 7, 2012)  Chief of staff at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.  "Quit a finance job in New York to volunteer" on the Obama campaign starting in mid- 2007; by Fall 2008 was a deputy field director in Ohio.  Yale graduate.  Cincinnati native.  twitter

Communications

Communications Director  Jessica Santillo

(April 2012)  Communications director for strategy and policy at HHS, 2009-11.  Southern regional press secretary at the DCCC, 2009.  Maine communications director on Obama's 2008 campaign, July-Nov. 2008.  Worked in four states on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign including Iowa, Colorado (communications director), Texas, and West Virginia (communications director), Nov. 2007-May 2008.  Worked on Capitol Hill as communications director to Rep. Tim Mahoney (FL), 2006-07 and as a press assistant, legislative correspondent to Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD), 2005-06.  B.A. in economics from Brandeis University, 2005.

Press Secretary  Jessica Kershaw

(Sept. 2011)  Communications director to U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, Jan.-Aug. 2011.  Communications director to U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011, and communications director on Boccieri's re-election campaign in Fall 2010.  Press assistant to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, 2007-08.  Communications director on Sharen Neuhardt for Congress, Fall 2008.  B.S. from Syracuse University, 2007.  twitter

Rapid Response Director/Director of Regional Press  Reesa Kossoff

Communications director for the Washington State Democratic Party.  Worked at NARAL Pro-Choice America.  Deputy communications director on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s 2010 reelection campaign.  Spokesperson for Change That Works.  Press secretary for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.  Graduate of Indiana University.  Native of Buffalo Grove, IL.  twitter

Regional Press Secretaries
(Northwest)  David Turner

(July 2012)  Senior associate at Gibraltar Associates, 2011-12.  Finance manager at the DSCC, 2009-10.  Served as a field organizer on Obama's Fall 2008 campaign in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh.  B.A. in history from Williams College, 2008.

(Central and Southeast)  Laura Allen

Press secretary to Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11), March 2011-July 2012.  Washington office of the  John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, 2008-11.  Research assistant at Governing Magazine, 2008.  Bachelor's degree in political science, jounalism, American government from The Ohio State University, 2008.  twitter

(Southwest)  Jason Pitt

(May 2012)  Associate press secretary at the Sierra Club, May 2011-12.  Deputy press secretary, scheduler/press assistant and press intern to Rep. John Boccieri through Jan. 2011.  Undergraduate degree from James Madison University, 2009.  twitter

(Northeast)  Yianni Varonis

(Aug. 2012; initially press assistant from Feb. 2012)  A field organizer on John Boccieri for Congress 2010.  Master's degree in applied politics (2011) and bachelor's degree in communication/political science (2008) from The University of Akron.  twitter

(Cuyahoga)  Raymonde Charles

Press assistant and grant coordinator for Rep. David Cicilline (RI).  Intern, program assistant and communications coordinator at Rhode Island Kids Count.  Degree in political science from Rhode Island College, 2010.  twitter

Digital

Digital Director  Ashley Bryant

(Nov. 2011)  Digital practice at Weber Shandwick, 2010-11.  Pantene community manager for Procter & Gamble, 2009-10.  Consumer service representative and social media moderator for Procter & Gamble, 2008-09.  Annuity service representative for Great American Insurance, first part of 2008.  Sales division leader for Western & Southern Financial Group, 2006-07.  twitter

Deputy Digital Director  Philip Zymet

(Feb. 2012)  A digital organizer at Obama for America in Chicago, Oct. 2011.  Brief stint as a freelance writer for Patch.com, Aug.-Oct. 2011.  Digital media lead at Organizing for America, California, June-Oct. 2011.  Bachelor's degree in political science, civic engaagement from UCLA, 2011; transferred from El Camino College.

Field

Field Director  Jenn Brown

(July 2011)  A national regional director at Organizing for America-DNC, April 2009-July 2011.  A regional field director on Obama's 2008 campaign, July-Nov. 2012.  Campaign manager on Nancy Nadel for Oakland City Council, first part of 2008.  Campus director for Vote Hope 2008, May 2007-Feb. 2008.  National field manager at the Center for Progressive Leadership, 2006-07.  Organizing director for the United States Student Association, 2004-06.  Graduate of UC San Diego, 2003.

Deputy Field Directors
(Northwest)  Chris Keck

Regional field director for Organizing for America-Ohio, starting Aug. 2010.  Regional field director at the Ohio Democratic Party, 2009-10.  Field organizer in Granville on Obama's 2008 Campaign for Change.  B.A. in American history from The Ohio State University, 2009.

(Southeast)  Jennifer Warner

Deputy field director for Organizing for America starting in June 2010 in Northeastern Ohio.  Field organizer on Obama's Campaign for Change in Fall 2008.  Housing choice voucher supervisor for the Elkhart Housing Authority, 2003-08.  B.A. in political science from Saint Mary's College.

(Southwest)  Aaron Bly

[Hamilton, Montgomery, Greene and Butler Counties] (July 2012; previously a regional field director from May 2011) In Fall 2010 DCCC deputy field director in Ohio's 1st CD.  B.A. in history, political science from Miami University, 2010.

(Northeast)  William Garrett

(July 2012)  Strategic communications coordinator/confidential advisor to the Assistant Secretary of OVA/ED at the U.S. Department of Education, 2011-12.  Special advisor to the Director of Counternarcotics Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2009-11.  Regional political director in Northwest Indiana on Obama's Fall 2008 campaign.  Bachelor's degree in criminology from University of Northern Iowa, 2007; started studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

(Cuyahoga County)  Alynn Woischke

(Central Ohio)  Victoria Zyp

(Sept. 2012; previously training director from Dec. 2011)  Deputy field director at We Are Ohio, May-Nov. 2011.  A regional field director at Organizing for America-DNC, July 2009-April 2011.  International programs coordinator at Street Law, Inc. in Washington, DC, 2004-06.  Master's degree in Arabic studies from Georgetown University, 2009; B.A. in economics from Rice University in 2005.   From Cincinnati.

131 Field Offices

Director of Out-of-State Volunteers  Hannah Posner

(July 2012)  Deputy finance director for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, July 2011-July 2012.  In 2010 worked for the Ohio Democratic Party as a neighborhood organizer and field department executive assistant.  B.A. in history, Latin American history from Kenyon College, 2010.

Data

Data Director  Martha Norrick

DNC Midwest regional data director and earlier DNC Ohio data director, May 2010-Sept. 2011.  Associate at Global Strategy Group, 2008-10.  Graduate of Barnard College, 2007.

Deputy Data Director  William Brannon

(Aug. 2012; started in Chicago in Feb. 2012 as an associate analyst)  Project manager at the Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations, May 2011-Jan. 2012; started there as a research assistant in 2009.  B.S. in mathematics and international relations from the College of William and Mary, 2011.

Deputy Data Director  Richard Cripps

(Sept. 2012)  Working towards B.A. in politics, philosophy and economics from University of Oxford.

Ben Smithgall

POLICY

Policy Director  Patrick Katzenmeyer

(Feb. 2012)  Owner with his college roommate of Market 65, a restaurant focusing on locally grown food, in downtown Columbus, since Jan. 2011.  Special assistant for economic development to Gov. Ted Strickland, April 2010-Jan. 11.  Senior policy analyst at the Ohio House of Representatives, 2006-10.  M.B.A. from The Ohio State University, 2010; B.A. in finance and economics from Ohio University, 2006.

Political

Political Director  Gabrielle Seay

(Oct. 2011)  State organizer for Stand Up for Ohio, Feb.-Oct. 2011.  Regional political director at the Ohio Democratic Party, June-Nov. 2010.  WIA program specialist at the Lucas County Workforce Development Agency, 2009-10.  Executive assistant for Lucas County Commissioners, 2007-09.  twitter

Deputy Political Director  Chip Shannon

(Feb. 2012)  Deputy political director for Issue 2 at Ohio Democratic Party, Sept. 2011-Jan. 2012.  Regional communications director at We Are Ohio, April-Sept. 2011.  Regional field director at the Ohio Democratic Party, 2009-10.  A field organizer on Terry McAuliffe's primary campaign for governor of Virgnia, Jan.-June 2009.  B.A. in philosophy, theology from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 2008.

Operation Vote

Operation Vote Director  Malik Hubbard

(Feb. 2012)  Executive director of the State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, 2011-12.  Deputy director of Boards and Commissions in Gov. Ted Strickland's office, 2007-11.  Political director at the Ohio Democratic Party, Fall 2008.  Field director on the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign, 2006.  Deputy field director at Tim Kaine for Governor, 2005.  Base field director at America Coming Together, 2003-04.  The Ohio State University and earlier Ohio Wesleyan University.  twitter

Youth Vote Director  Lora Rae Anderson

(Feb. 2012; previously a regional field director from Aug. 2011)  Region 3 field director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, mid-2011.  Served as chair of Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans, but announced switch to Democrats in May 2010.  B.A. in world politics from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  twitter

Deputy Youth Vote Director  Tucker Middleton

(Aug. 2012)  B.A. in political science from East Carolina University, 2012; served as president of ECU College Democrats, 2010-11.

African American Vote Director  Ashley Allison

(May 2012; initially a regional field director from Aug. 2011)  Experience includes educator in New York City, 2005-08 and reporter for Dispatch News Group WBNS 10 TV, 2004-05.  J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, 2011.  M.Ed. from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, 2007; B.A. in journalism and political science from The Ohio State University, 2005.  Youngstown native.  twitter

GOTV

GOTV Director  Max Lesko

Worked on Obama's 2008 campaign; started as field staffer in the Conway office on the NH primary campaign, and in the general election served as a regional field director on the Ohio Campaign for Change.  Graduate of the College of Wooster, 2006.  twitter

More GOTV  Liz Jaff, Alex Lofton, Ryan Hughes

Voter Protection

Voter Protection Director  Ahmad Khan

Appointee at DOD (Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Worked on Obama's 2008 Campaign for Change.  The Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law.  twitter

Operations

Operations Director  Bret Benack

Labor relations administrator at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  Previously an organizer with the AFL-CIO.  The Ohio State University.

Deputy Operations Director and LGBT Vote Director  Jacob Manser

Operations manager at We Are Ohio, Jan.-Dec. 2011; also campaign manager at Lori Tyack for Municipal Clerk of Court, March-Sept. 2011.  B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University.


Surrogates  Todd Rensi

Governor's residence manager, chief of staff to First Lady of Ohio Francis Strickland, after serving as an aide to her on the campaign.  Longtime staffer at the Ohio Democratic Party.




independent of the campaign...

Allies

• Ohio Democratic Party  |  340 East Fulton St.  |  Columbus, OH 43215 +

Chairman  Chris Redfern

Elected chair in Dec. 2005; re-elected in 2008 and 2012.  Elected to the Ohio State House representing the 89th District in Nov. 2012.  Served five terms in the Ohio State House representing the 80th District, including Minority Leader from 2003 to early 2006.  Ottawa County Commissioner starting in 1993.  Bachelor's degree, Master's degree in state and local government from Bowling Green State University.

Executive Director  Kyle McDermott

(announced Aug. 11, 2011; started following the Nov. 8, 2011 elections)  Campaign manager for Maryellen O'Shaughnessy for Ohio Secretary of State race in 2010.  National field director for United Steelworkers, 2008.  Director for the Ohio AFL-CIO statewide political program in 2006.  B.A. in political science from Baldwin-Wallace College, 2002-03.  Grew up in Zoar, Ohio.

Deputy Executive Director  Liz Brown
Communications Director  Jerid Kurtz
Deputy Communications Director  Meredith Tucker
Press Secretary  Andrew Zucker
Finance Director  Erik Greathouse
Women's Caucus Director  Lauren Harmon
Data Director  Brendan Kelley
Field Director  Cory Warfield
Political Director  Elizabeth Walters



• America Votes  |  75 W. 3rd Ave.  |  Columbus, OH  43201 +
State Director  Khaled Salehi

Assistant vice president, strategic development at Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port AuthorityVice president at Burges and Burges.  Bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in international relations from the University of Akron.  Born in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Deputy State Director  Lindsey Stewart
Data and Targeting Director  Pete DiBiase
Field Director  Curtis Wourms