Board Of Directors

The American Association of Political Consultants, founded in 1969, is a bipartisan organization of political professionals. Association membership consists of general consultants, media consultants, pollsters, campaign managers, public affairs executives, professors, fundraisers, lobbyists, congressional staffers and campaign service vendors.

AAPC Officers

AAPC President

Kyle Roberts, Smart Media Group – Media Buying

Kyle Roberts, President & CEO of Smart Media Group, is one of the top Republican media strategists in the nation. With over 20 years in political media buying, Kyle started Smart Media with a simple mission in mind: to provide GOP candidates with sophisticated traditional and digital research, faster responsiveness and tenacious negotiation on his client’s behalf—delivering stronger results and better value.

AAPC Vice President

Kelly Gibson, Bryson Gillette

Kelly Gibson has spent much of her free time working to combat gender inequality, from serving on the Running Start Advisory Board sponsoring and training young women to run for office, to working with the American Association of Political Consultants to amplify the input of women on professional panels, boards and conferences. Her personal mission is to bring more equity to politics. When she is not working, or raising her two young boys, she is seeking out ways for women to have a more significant voice.

AAPC Treasurer

Danielle Cendejas, The Strategy Group, – Direct Mail/General Consulting

Danielle Cendejas is a Democratic Strategist and Partner with The Strategy Group. She oversees the execution of direct mail programs and financial operations for the firm’s Los Angeles office. Her direct mail helped propel Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Congressman Salud Carbajal, and State Senator Caroline Menjivar to victory and deliver numerous independent expenditure wins for the DCCC, the California Labor Federation, and SEIU California. Early in her career, Danielle was a field organizer and delegate tracker for Obama for America in 2008 and worked in the California State Senate. Danielle graduated from Gonzaga University and resides in Los Angeles.

AAPC Secretary

Tracy Dietz, DonorBureau – Data Science, Analytics, Insights

Tracy Dietz serves as the CEO of DonorBureau. Formerly, she was Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at L2 a leading provider of enhanced political data. Dietz grew the relatively small operation into a dominant force in the industry driving both revenue and new product development. During her tenure, Tracy was integral in expanding L2 to a national data provider and was a dominant force behind the development of L2’s online data and analytics platform.

Immediate Past President

Larry Huynh, Trilogy Interactive (D) – Digital
Larry has over a decade of experience in digital communications advising corporate, non-profit, and political clients on online advocacy and engagement, online fundraising, online advertising, and social media strategy. A nationally recognized digital strategist, Larry’s work has earned dozens of awards across multiple online disciplines and he is a frequent presenter and trainer at conferences.

Democrats

Raghu Devaguptapu, Partner at Left Hook Strategies

Raghu Devaguptapu is a partner at Left Hook. Sick of sleeping in a van while touring with his band during college, Raghu settled in for a more stable professional life: A Democratic political operative.

Gillian Rosenberg Armour, AGENCY

Gillian has nearly two decades of experience with electoral campaigns, progressive advocacy groups, and political training organizations. After working for President Obama, J Street, and serving as the Executive Director of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, Gillian joined AGENCY in 2016.

James Aldrete, Message Audience & Presentation, Inc. – Communications

James Aldrete is a political communications consultant who is helping diversify the coalition behind today’s progressive victories. Aldrete served as a member of the Obama Media Team in 2008 and 2012, with a specific focus on Hispanic media and engagement. Aldrete’s firm, known as MAP (short for Message Audience & Presentation, Inc.), has also helped expand awareness and accountability on the issue of immigration reform, working with advocacy groups including FWD.us and SEIU, as well as access to health care and education, working with Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and the Texas State Teachers Association.

Zandria Haines, SBDigital – Digital

Zandria Haines serves as SBDigital’s Vice President, where she develops and coordinates effective multi-touch communication strategies and tactics that help move the needle for candidates and progressive organizations across the country. Prior to joining SBDigital, she managed the political client success team at Hustle, who trained and supported over 1,300 candidates, 45 state parties, and 3 national committees.

Danny Jester, GMMB – Media Buying/Planning/Research, Analytics & Digital Strategy

Daniel’s media planning expertise encompasses some of the best campaigns across politics, advocacy and awareness. Daniel helps lead GMMB’s buying team across all categories of television, digital, radio, and more. He focuses on bringing media placement into the 21st century through better targeting, data, and analytics so clients get the most out of every dollar spent.

Rosa Mendoza,Global Strategy Group – Polling and Public Opinion Research

Rosa started her career in politics during Obama’s reelection campaign and has remained in politics ever since. By combining her love for data and politics, Rosa Mendoza has been a leader in the Democratic analytics space for cycles. She’s served in numerous data-driven roles for NextGen, the Human Rights Campaign, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. While at the DCCC, Rosa held various analytical roles, including Head of Analytics and Senior Strategist during the 2018 cycle.

Jill Normington, Normington Petts & Associates – Polling

A partner at the firm of Normington, Petts & Associates, Jill Normington has more than 20 years of experience in survey research and campaign strategy. Her current political clients include Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL), Angie Craig (MN-02), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Bill Keating (MA-09), Susie Lee (NV-03), and Brad Schneider (IL-10). She is also the pollster for Massachusetts Treasurer Deb Goldberg and Nevada Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall.

Rebecca Pearcey, Bryson Gillette – Media Production

Rebecca Pearcey is one of the most accomplished Black political operatives in the country. Last year she joined Bryson Gillette, a strategic communications and public affairs firm based in Los Angeles and Washington DC. As Vice President of Bryson Gillette, Rebecca oversees local, state, and national political campaigns for the firm.

Rick Ridder, RBI Strategies and Research – General Consulting, Survey Research, Radio, TV and Print

Rick Ridder is President and Co-Founder of RBI Strategies and Research. A former presidential campaign manager and a senior consultant for seven other presidential campaigns, Rick has consulted for numerous U.S. Congressional, gubernatorial, and state and local initiative campaigns. Internationally, he has worked in over 23 nations including the successful campaigns of seven heads of state. Rick has also been recognized with the “Award of Achievement” from the Gleitsman Foundation “in recognition of commitment and leadership initiating social change.” He is the author of the award winning book Looking for Votes in All the Wrong Places.

Taryn Rosenkranz, New Blue Interactive – Digital

Taryn Rosenkranz is a pioneer in creating successful digital political fundraising techniques and programs to reach American voters. She is the founder and chief executive officer of New Blue Interactive, which has become a powerhouse firm in the last three years, providing digital strategy services to large organizations and party committees including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), House Majority PAC and also national groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council. In addition, her clients include Governors, Senators & Congressional leadership and members as well as challengers from everything from mayoral races down to county executive races.

Roger Salazar, ALZA Strategies – Public Affairs

Roger Salazar is the President of ALZA Strategies. A former White House and Gubernatorial communications specialist, his background includes experience as a media spokesperson, in English and Spanish, for prominent officials such as President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard. These experiences, along with his work directing national and statewide media advocacy efforts, make him an expert in strategic media communications.

Jaimey Sexton, The Sexton Group – General Consultant

Jaimey Sexton is Principal of the The Sexton Group. Mr. Sexton has 20 years of experience as an organizer, vendor, and consultant for campaigns large and small, from President Obama to a school board race in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Jaimey brings the same attention to detail to every project or campaign. His goal isn’t simply to make thousands of phone calls or send text messages; he strives to add value to every working relationship. Jaimey is also a board member of the American Association of Political Consultants.

Republicans

Ben Burger, SRCP Media

Ben is a recognized strategist, producer, writer and national speaker. He draws from his extensive field experience and two decades of media consulting to provide clients with fresh creative.

Jon Black, DataTrust

Jon Black is a political operative and data strategist, widely known for his past roles with the Republican National Committee (RNC) and currently as the CEO of Data Trust.

Kirsten Kukowski, K2 & Company

Kirsten has unequaled communication, public relations and public affairs experience. She’s a professional strategist who has excelled in all types of high exposure communications.

Betsy Ankney, Stand for America PAC – Campaign Management

Betsy Ankney is a political operative with over a decade of experience on tough campaigns. She has been involved in campaigns at the state and local level and has played a role in some of the biggest upsets in Republican politics.

Ward Baker, Baker Group Strategies – Campaign Management & Development of Comprehensive Campaign Strategy

Ward Baker is the founder and president of Baker Group Strategies. Ward currently serves as senior advisor to Senator Loeffler’s campaign. During the 2020 election cycle, Ward served as senior advisor to Bill Hagerty’s successful Senate campaign in Tennessee, where Hagerty had a decisive 27-point victory in the general election and won over 50% of the vote in a contested, 15-candidate primary.

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Joanna Burgos, President, Compel, – Media

Joanna Burgos has been a leader on some of the largest, highest stakes political projects in modern times: a $100 million Governor’s race, multiple U.S. Senate races, national political conventions, House and Senate IE campaigns, Congressional Leadership Fund’s record-breaking 2022 year, and the largest House Majority takeover in recent history (2010)…Joanna’s impact is all over them. Whether general consulting, crisis communications, earned media, paid media, digital, focus groups or polling, Joanna does it all.

Sara Fagen, Deep Root Analytics – Marketing Technology
Sara Fagen serves as the CEO of Deep Root Analytics, a leading marketing technology company that partners with advertising and communications professionals to more effectively reach target audiences across all media platforms. Fagen co-founded Deep Root Analytics in 2013 and is a long-term board member.

James Fisfis, Pathfinder Strategic – General Consulting

Pathfinder’s CEO and founder James Fisfis has over two decades’ experience in U.S. and international political campaigns, including 22 years in California. He is the recipient of six AAPC Pollie Awards including the Silver Pollie Award for best Candidate Media Campaign of the 2014 election cycle. He is one of California’s leading consultants for business groups and associations in campaigns across California.

Brenda Gianiny, Axis Research – Public Opinion Research

Axis Research’s founding principal, Brenda Wigger Gianiny, is a nationally recognized expert in the field of public opinion research with two decades of experience honed at the highest levels of corporate America and Republican political campaigns. Using her background, experience and degree in mathematics, Brenda has worked with a wide range of both political and corporate clients to help them achieve success.

Mark Harris, ColdSpark – General Consulting

In 2011, Mark co-founded ColdSpark in his native Pittsburgh, where he presides over a growing cast of office characters. Mark is a numbers-driven political analyst, who can be seen burning the midnight oil pouring over the latest poll numbers. When he’s not hopelessly rooting for his Pittsburgh Pirates, Mark is a national strategist, ad maker, and grassroots expert.

Jackie Huelbig, Basis Technologies – Media Targeting & Placement

As Vice President of Client Development on Basis Technologies’ Candidates + Causes team, Ms. Huelbig delivers the digital media expertise and technology that political and issue advocacy partners need to drive action from key constituents. She leads her team to deliver on Basis’ goal: to improve the lives of the people behind the campaigns by providing a unified, enterprise-class software and services to simplify digital media operations.

Mike Shields, Convergence Media – Media Production

Mike Shields is a Founder and Partner at Convergence bringing more than 20 years of strategic experience at the highest levels of national campaigns, Capitol Hill and influential outside groups. The Washington Post reported that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Shields “one of the most talented political minds I know.” Shields is a CNN Political Commentator who brings an unparalleled depth of policy and management experience. The American Association of Political Consultants recognized Shields’s expertise by naming him the 2012 election’s “Most Valuable Player” for his leadership in creating a messaging program to defend House Republicans.

Jason Torchinsky, Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky PLLC – Election Law

Jason Torchinsky is a partner at Holtzman Vogel, specializing in campaign finance, government ethics laws, election law, lobbying disclosure and issue advocacy groups. In addition to his practice counseling clients on political law compliance, Jason has served as lead counsel in a number of litigation matters dealing with First Amendment freedoms, antisemitism and anti-terrorism, election law and redistricting issues. He is also recognized by Chambers USA and Washingtonian Magazine as one of the top “Political Law” attorneys in the country.

Academic Board Members

Chapter Presidents

Jaimey Sexton, The Sexton Group – Mid-West
Josh Nanberg, Ampersand – Mid-Atlantic
Bradley Honan, Honan Strategy Group & Chapin Fay, Lighthouse Public Affairs – Greater New York
John Rowley, Fletcher Rowley, Inc. – Southern
James Aldrete, Message Audience & Presentation – Southwest

AAPC Past Presidents

Rose Kapolczynski

Rose Kapolczynski is a veteran campaign and communications strategist with four decades of experience helping hundreds of organizations and candidates advance persuasive, disciplined, and strategic campaigns.

Tom Shepard,Tom Shepard & Associates (R) – General

Tom Shepard is president of Tom Shepard & Associates, a political consulting and public affairs firm based in San Diego, CA. Shepard has earned a national reputation for providing assistance to local candidate and ballot measure campaigns, and for providing strategic counsel to businesses, government agencies and community organizations. Shepard has received eighteen of the American Association of Political Consultants coveted Pollie Award and his television, radio and direct mail advertising campaigns are consistently recognized as among the nation’s best.

Mark Mellman, The Mellman Group (D) – Polling

Mark Mellman is one of the nation’s leading public opinion researchers and communication strategists. He is CEO of The Mellman Group, a polling and consulting firm whose clients include leading political figures, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the nation’s most important public interest groups. Mellman has helped guide the campaigns of some sixteen U.S. Senators, eight Governors and over two dozen Members of Congress, as well as numerous state and local officials.

Art Hackney, Hackney & Hackney (R)- General

Arthur Hackney has 35 years experience as a general and media consultant for political, government affairs and corporate clients.

Whit Ayres

Dr. Whit Ayres is the President of North Star Opinion Research, a national public opinion and public affairs research firm located in Alexandria, Virginia, that provides research and strategic advice for corporations, associations, and Republican candidates for public office. Roll Call, a widely-read newspaper on Capitol Hill, called the firm “one of the best in the nation.”

Tony Fazio

Winning Directions has been recognized for its creativity and winning track record, receiving over 100 Pollie Awards since it came into existence, and recently won a total of 22 Pollie Awards for its work on behalf of clients in 2004. For two years in a row, Winning Directions has received more awards in the Direct Mail category than any other competing direct mail firm.

Wayne Johnson

Wayne C. Johnson, a native Virginian and graduate of Purdue University, resides with his wife, Jennifer, and their family in Sacramento, California where he serves as President of the nationally-recognized political and public affairs firm, The Wayne Johnson Agency.

Nancy Todd

Nancy Todd is a political consultant and president of Nancy Todd, Inc., an international strategic consulting firm based in Sarasota, FL. Todd’s specialty is controversial issues which have occurred worldwide over the last 30 years.

Donna Lucas

Donna Lucas has earned a reputation as a smart, strategic and successful communications consultant and business woman. Since opening Lucas Public Affairs in 2006, Donna has grown the firm into a team of accomplished public affairs professionals who work collaboratively with clients to explain the complexities around many of the major public policy challenges facing the state – and what can be done to address those challenges.

Raymond Strother

Raymond Strother passed away on October 1, 2022. He was often called the “consultant’s consultant” by his peers. Universities teaching campaign management also named him “a living legend” in 2003. Over the course of his career, Raymond had many achievements. He was a Resident Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard, a member of the Journalism Hall of Fame at LSU and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Akron.

Richard Woodword

A scale of life’s challenges might put a degree from Stanford University and a stint as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer at different ends of the spectrum. Dick Woodword carried both into the start of his political career and they served him well as he rocketed up the ladder, serving as campaign director for the California Republican Party as the GOP took control of the legislature in 1968.

Ralph D. Murphine

Ralph Murphine is a political and public affairs consultant based in Washington, DC and Quito, Ecuador. He has worked for more than 500 candidates for public office, public interest organizations, trade associations, political parties, public action committees, corporations, labor unions, and others.

Thomas N. Edmonds

Tom Edmonds is a veteran Republican political media consultant. His Washington DC–based firm, Edmonds Associates, Inc., has received over 100 national awards for its communications strategies on behalf of presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial candidates.

William R. Hamilton

The late Bill Hamilton was widely considered an innovator in public opinion research. From 1964 until his death in 2000 he headed one of the premier research and strategic consulting firms in the U.S.

Bradley O’Leary

Joseph R. Cerrell

A prominent public affairs, public relations and political consultant, Joe Cerrell has worked professionally in politics for almost five decades. In 1966, Joe founded and currently serves as chairman and CEO of Cerrell Associates Inc.

Roy Pfautch

Phyllis B. Brotman

Phyllis Brotman began her public relations and marketing career at her kitchen table and became one of the most respected and influential women in Baltimore business and civic affairs.

Matthew A. Reese

Matt Reese, 71, a veteran political consultant who helped mold grass-roots organizing, scientific polling techniques and issue-oriented campaign tactics into strategies for winning elections, died on Dec. 1, 1998 at his home in McLean, where he had been battling lung disease.

F. Clifton White, Co-Founder

Joseph Napolitan, Co-Founder

Born March 6, 1929, Joseph Napolitan was an American political consultant and is considered one of the pioneers in his field. He was president and CEO of Joseph Napolitan Associates, Inc. of Springfield, Massachusetts, which primarily handles domestic campaigns, and chairman of Napolitan Associates /PAA, Inc. of New York, which specializes in political campaigns and public affairs programs outside the United States. Joe died December 2, 2013.

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phone: (703) 245-8020

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