Harry Pascal
Founder
Harry Pascal, Founder of the Progressive Turnout Project, has served as Treasurer and Senior Advisor to some of the most high-profile congressional campaigns in the country. After spending more than 35 years as a practicing CPA, Harry began working in progressive politics, bringing his expertise to help campaigns strategically budget and plan. Harry received his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and his M.S.T. from DePaul University.
Alex Morgan
Executive Director
Alex Morgan manages all aspects of Progressive Turnout Project’s on-the-ground organizing efforts, and served as National Field and Training Director in 2016. Alex started his organizing career as a volunteer for Jennifer Granholm’s 2002 campaign for Michigan Governor. Since then, he has overseen grassroots efforts for presidential, congressional, state, and local campaigns. Alex received his B.A. in Political Science from Kalamazoo College and his M.A. in Urban Education from Cardinal Stritch University.
Communications
Priyal Amin
Communications Director
Priyal Amin oversees and manages engagement with Progressive Turnout Project’s extensive online community across the country. As an Illinois native, Priyal has worked on numerous campaigns starting as a volunteer for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and then as an intern on Mike Frerich’s 2014 campaign for Illinois State Treasurer. She is a passionate organizer and is eager to work toward increasing voter turnout across the country. Priyal received her B.A. in Political Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lauren Grimaldi
Communications Assistant
Lauren Grimaldi is the Communications Assistant at Progressive Turnout Project. She holds an honors B.A. in Political Science from Roosevelt University with a minor in journalism. She previously held internships with Chris Kennedy’s Illinois governor campaign and Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s campaign office. Lauren has also written about politics for multiple websites aimed at informing college students about the news. She is thrilled to be joining PTP and is deeply passionate about its mission.
Data and Research
Connie Gao
Data and Analytics Director
Connie Gao manages Progressive Turnout Project’s data and analytics team to ensure that our practices are innovative, efficient, and impactful. As a Regional Field Director on Jon Ossoff for Congress in Georgia and Gretchen Driskell for Congress in Michigan, her belief in the power of field organizing motivates her work in data and analytics. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan.
Katie Miller
Senior Analytics Advisor
Katie Miller advises PTP on strategy and analytics operations and is the Executive Director of our sister organization Progressive Takeover, a bold new PAC working to take back state chambers for Democrats nationwide. Miller has held strategic data roles for a variety of campaigns and organizations, and she is passionate about using data as a tool to win elections and ultimately enact social change. Katie received her Honors B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from Marquette University.
Emily Rice
Deputy Data Director
Emily Rice works with data to help Democrats win and campaigns run smarter as part of PTP’s Data and Analytics team. She started her political career registering young voters in Chicago and has since worked as an organizer for Senator Dick Durbin’s 2014 campaign and a fundraiser for Illinois Democrats up and down the ballot, from City Council to Congress. Emily received her B.A. in Political Theory from Michigan State University.
Jen Whitman
Deputy Data Director
Jen Whitman got her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia in 2013. She honed her data analysis skills developing new approaches to analyzing functional brain imaging data as part of her dissertation work. She also conducted several studies of how people evaluate evidence and make judgments. Her post-doctoral work included research on how political orientation affects attention to climate change.
Vy Luu
Deputy Data Director
Vy Luu brings prior experience in community organizing, local government, and academia to the Data and Analytics team. She is excited to contribute her set of skills to PTP’s work to elect more Democrats into office and bring about progressive change. Coming from a working-class refugee family and community, Vy is deeply committed to working towards building a more just and equitable society. Vy received her Honors B.A. in Sociology from Stanford University.
Field
Brian Koppe
National Field Director
Brian Koppe has spent his career campaigning for Democrats and promoting progressive causes to ensure government represents the needs of all citizens. With a decade of political experience, he has worked within state government, held leadership roles in federal, state, and local campaigns, and established a record of success managing highly competitive campaigns for progressive and union-backed candidates in the Midwest. He received his B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University.
CeCe Grant
Fellows Program Coordinator
CeCe Grant manages our 2018 Fellows program, working with campaigns across the country to recruit, train, and mobilize a small army of organizers to elect new Democratic candidates and protect our Progressive champions. She has more than a decade of experience in political campaigns and government affairs and is a nationally recognized transportation expert. CeCe is a Michigan native and has a masters degree from George Washington University in Legislative Affairs. In her free time, she enjoys Amazon Prime and lying on the beach.
Anna McGreal
Regional Director
Anna McGreal comes from an extensive background in management and campaign experience. She started out as an intern on a congressional race in 2014 and quickly became a field organizer, later working on campaigns at the aldermanic and mayoral level in Chicago. More recently, she worked in project management in the healthcare field. Anna oversee’s competitive races in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, joining Progressive Turnout Project with a hunger for meaningful change!
Erik Smith
Regional Director
Erik Smith leads Progressive Turnout Project’s programs in battleground congressional districts throughout the Midwest. A proud native of Appalachian Ohio, he has over ten years of extensive experience managing aggressive, modern, data-driven, and people-centered campaigns at the federal, state and local levels. His passions include engaging and empowering disenfranchised communities to enact political change, cooking, reading political science research papers, board games, and cheering on the Miami University Hockey Team.
Jillian Matson
Regional Director
Jillian Matson oversees competitive districts across the country, primarily in the Northeast. She started her political career working for Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire and worked her way through four other states during the primaries. Jillian finished out the 2016 cycle as an organizer for MoveOn’s United Against Hate campaign in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She comes to Progressive Turnout Project with a passion for empowering progressives to create real change within their communities and beyond.
Julio Guzman
Regional Director
Julio facilitates field teams in competitive congressional districts in the West regions of the United States. As an alumnus of our on-the-ground field team program in IL-10 in 2016, Julio brings a deep understanding of our program and appreciation for the personal voter contact techniques employed by the Progressive Turnout Project. Julio’s passion for politics comes from his experience volunteering in his hometown with an environmental justice advocacy campaign aimed at retiring and transitioning a toxic old coal plant to clean energy.
Ryan Byrley
Regional Director
Ryan Byrley manages field operations in competitive districts across the nation. Originally from southwestern Louisiana, he has devoted his career to changing the political landscape for the bluer, one state at a time. He got his start in civil service with the US Navy in 2004, serving his country as an Aviation Mechanic. He has been organizing for progressive causes since 2011, working on behalf of state races, nonprofits, and coordinated campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina. Ryan hopes to continue his advocacy work with PTP and positively influence the cultural narrative in the South.
Charlie Mokriski
District Director (NJ-11)
Charlie Mokriski has worked in politics since 2011, spending the majority of that time getting Democrats elected in rural, swing districts. He is now running PTP’s program in New Jersey. Having come of political age in 2006 to witness the Democrats’ rise and achievements in the Obama era, along with subsequent developments, he is clear-eyed about the scale of the progressive task and is motivated to protect gains already won. He is a Massachusetts native and holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Macalester College.
Chris Gentry
District Director (KS-03)
Chris Gentry manages the third district of Kansas in an effort to remove Kevin Yoder and elect progressives. He earned his Bachelors from Appalachian State University in Political Science. He started his political career working in local politics in Western North Carolina and has worked half a dozen issue campaigns and elections from county commission races to U.S Senate. Chris comes to the Progressive Turnout Project with a passion for electing progressives in traditionally red areas and empowering progressives to change their communities.
Christian Evans
District Director (MI-11)
Christian Evans is a dedicated community organizer with a passion for bringing people together and promoting progressive change. Starting in 2014 Christian has held integral roles on both state and local campaigns in Texas and looks forward to applying his expertise to help get more Democrats get elected nationwide. Christian received his B.A. in political science from Prairie View A&M University and his MPA, from Texas Southern University in Houston Texas.
Christian Ucles
District Director (IA-03)
Christian Ucles has worked for the Democratic parties of Iowa, Minnesota and Texas while also working on issue campaigns dealing with Marriage Equality and Environmental policy. His focus is to always engage and empower People of Color, Young and New voters into civic action by participating in the electoral process. Christian is originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and lives in Windsor Heights, Iowa.
Colin Peddicord
District Director (WA-08)
Colin Peddicord is a campaign veteran from the Pacific Northwest. He got his start eight years ago working to get out the vote for competitive state senate race in Oregon. Since then he has worked on campaigns, ranging from local ballot initiatives to working on Sen. Jeff Merkley’s 2014 re-election campaign. He is now PTP’s District Director for the competitive 8th congressional district in the state of Washington. When not working, he can be found hiking in the Columbia Gorge, kayaking or playing Assassin’s Creed.
Cristy Villalobos
District Director
Cristy Villalobos is leading the field team in Virginia’s 10th congressional district. She majored in Political Science at Meredith College in North Carolina. After working at the North Carolina General Assembly for three legislative sessions, she pursued advocacy work for women’s rights alongside the nonprofit WomenNC. Later she joined the Progressive Turnout Project as a Field Representative in Northern Virginia where she helped to flip ten state house districts blue. She is thrilled to be back with the Progressive Turnout Project to assist in flipping VA-10 blue.
Ernest Bailey
District Director (OH-12)
Ernest Bailey is the District Director in Ohio’s 12th Congressional district. He grew up in Connecticut, where he started his career as a Field Rep for the Working Families Party and was later promoted to Field Manager and Acting Canvass Director. In 2015 he turned his focus to organized labor, winning several representation elections for SEIU and The American Federation of Teachers over the last 3 years. He is excited to return to his electoral roots and join the blue wave!
Hector Rivera
District Director (CA-45)
Hector Rivera is the District Director for California’s 45th Congressional District. A graduate of the University of California, Riverside. Hector has lead voter registration drives, organized community events, and advocated for progressive candidates. In 2016 Hector worked in 5 states for the Bernie 2016 campaign. In the fall of 2016, Hector led a team of 50 canvassers that helped Nevada vote blue. Hector is excited to be a part of such a great organization.
Jaclyn Murphy
District Director (IL-06)
Jaclyn Murphy has worked on campaigns across the country, and finds it only fitting to return home to the district she was born in, Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. As Field Director on the only Illinois House Democratic challenger victory in 2016, she knows firsthand the impact a strong ground game can have, and is eager to bring her passion and energy to flipping the 6th. Jaclyn earned her BA from Michigan State University and her MPP from Brown University.
Jamie Landa
District Director (WI-01)
Jamie Landa is the District Director in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. She began her career in sustainable agriculture, doing hands-on agricultural work while volunteering on political campaigns. After transitioning to agricultural policy work, she saw a need for electing champions of environmental legislation. As a result, she became an organizer for Danica Roem’s Delegate Campaign in Virginia. Following a historical victory for Delegate Roem, Jamie worked as a union representative. She is now excited to lead a field team to victory in Paul Ryan’s district.
Jennifer Rodriguez
District Director (TX-07)
Jennifer Rodriguez received her Undergraduate Degree in Sociology from the University of Houston-Downtown and is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Sociology at Prairie View A&M. For the last decade, she has dedicated her life to fighting for civil rights. Jennifer has worked with Non-Profits, Labor Unions, and numerous Democratic Campaigns in order to empower and equip people with the knowledge and tools needed in order to change and help shape their communities and our society.
Matthew Mitchell
District Director (VA-07)
Matthew Mitchell directs field operations for PTP in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. He has always enjoyed meeting and learning from a large of diversity people across rural and urban settings in Massachusetts and North Carolina. He has campaigned to elect Democrats at the state and local levels and advocated for education and voter protections. Matthew is excited to bring his zeal for the right to vote and the exercising of that right to Virginia’s 7th. He received his B.A. in International Relations at Connecticut College.
Max Jay-Dixon
District Director (MN-02)
Max Jay-Dixon manages all aspects of PTP’s voter contact efforts in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. Max first began organizing as a volunteer with the Gulf Restoration Network while studying Psychology at Tulane University. Max joined President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2011, and has been working on electoral and issue advocacy campaigns ever since. Max is most passionate about educational and environmental equity. When he’s not organizing, Max can usually be found outside somewhere hiking, climbing, or kayaking.
Michael Hepburn
District Director (FL-26)
Michael Hepburn is Civic Activist and Youth Mentor who serves as a Citizen-On-Patrol with Miami PD, co-founded his Neighborhood Association and just finished wrapping up his first bid for U.S. Congress. He’s a proud Miami native and Alumnus of Florida International University. Before running for office and joining PTP, his professional experience includes working as a Senior Academic Advisor for UM Business School, Blue Chip for National Football League and as an F500 Company Executive.
Russell Krantz
District Director (CO-06)
Russell Krantz began his political career working on state and local races in Washington State. He also worked for the Washington State Legislature. After the 2016 elections, he moved to Colorado. Since then he has continued his work on progressive campaigns in Denver and elsewhere. He recently helped manage the successful field effort to stop baseless recall efforts against three Democratic State Senators in Las Vegas, Nevada. Russell enjoys hiking and is a lifelong Star Trek fan.
Vanessa Collins
District Director (NV-03)
Vanessa graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a B.S. in HealthCare Administration with a minor in Sociology & Psychology. Vanessa has worked with Naral Pro-Choice America, RMVO and League of Conservation Voters, where she got her start in politics as a canvasser and worked her way up to Regional Field director for the 2016 Clinton/Cortez-Masto Campaign in NV. Her passion for progressive politics comes from being a Christian and a mother.
Zoë Harter-Saunders
District Director (NY-19)
Zoë Harter-Saunders oversees our efforts in NY’s 19th congressional district. Raised to ask questions, she developed her passion for sociology while attending SUNY Geneseo, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2016. She entered the political world as a volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign, and in 2016 she began organizing and fundraising for NYPIRG, addressing environmental and public health concerns across NY, becoming Outreach Director in 2017. She is overjoyed to turn her/our voice into votes in 2018!
Operations
Connor Halline
Operations Director
Connor Halline manages all operational and administrative tasks necessary to maintaining a growing business and supporting PTP’s staff and programs around the country. After previously working abroad, he joined PTP in early 2016 eager to break into the field of politics and make a difference in the makeup of our Washington representatives in order to better reflect progressive values. He received his B.A. in International Studies and Environmental Science from Emory University.
Sharon Batiste McEwen
Employment and Recruitment Director
Sharon Batiste McEwen, PHR, SHRM-CP is a certified human resource professional with more than 20 years of experience in HR administration, recruitment, and operations management at senior and executive levels. She is a generalist who has managed both domestic and international HR teams. Ms. Batiste McEwen has received specialized training in business management, dispute resolution and mediation, training and facilitation, customer service, and HR compliance from George Mason University, The University of Virginia, and Trinity, Washington University.
Leigh Heckman
Operations Assistant
Leigh Heckman recently started at PTP as the Operations Assistant. Her activism began in Washington D.C., canvassing for Greenpeace USA. It was during this time that she learned how closely tied environmental, social justice, and political issues are in our country. She believes that it is everyone’s responsibility to be politically engaged and that is why she is excited to be a part of the PTP team. She is an Alumni of Michigan State and Grand Valley State Universities.
