Arena has built a community of experienced political staffers who are ready to help you take the next step — whether you’re figuring out your path, preparing for a job search, or just need a half hour with someone who’s been there.
A few things to keep in mind: our coaches are volunteering their time, so please limit yourself to one session per coach. Sessions are not ongoing — if you’re looking for a longer-term mentorship relationship, check out Arena Connections.
Political, Digital, Communications Strategist and Director with experience on Capitol Hill, Super PACS, in targeted states, and government agencies with a strong background in regulatory and policy work.
From Las Vegas to Carson City, I’ve worked on grassroots campaigns at the local level to send progressive champions to Congress, and lobbied for critical funding in Nevada’s state house for the programs that matter most.
A note from the coach:
I’ve transitioned from direct electoral organizing to government affairs work in the interim and at our state house.
Anna Carlson-Ziegler is a political campaigns strategist with experience on presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and local races, including two cycles of experience with the DSCC. Anna most recently served as Campaign Director at Climate Power.
Cade Leebron is the Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party. Previously a member of the inaugural cohort of LOFT Fellows, she has spent nearly a decade running Democratic campaigns across Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, including as Campaign Manager in 2024 for Congressman Pat Ryan, where she built a $9 million operation and delivered a 14-point win. She holds a B.A. in Government from Wesleyan University and an M.F.A. from The Ohio State University.
Political and communications consultant that specializes in working with progressive causes and candidates. Former Iowa Democratic Party State Chair. Former Obama, Clinton, Sanders, Castro campaigns. Former NextGen Climate Action, Run for Something, Ready for Hillary. Based in Iowa, but I work with clients all over the world.
A note from the coach:
I have worked in multiple disciplines in terms of campaign and consultant work: organizing, management, digital, comms, and ops.
I am the Director of Programs for LEAD PA & LEAD PA Institute. I have previously served as Executive Director of the Delaware County Democratic Committee from 2020-2022 and spent the previous fours before that as a fundraising and compliance staffer / consultant in multiple organizations and campaigns.
I am passionate about odd year elections, growing the candidate and staff progressive pipeline, and sharing political and campaign know how to help demystify the electoral process.
A note from the coach:
Prior to my campaign and political work, I was a mental health clinician and I’m currently an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. I have made many transitions through the political ecosystem and also outside of it.
20 years of experience doing Congressional, Senate and Presidential campaigns, Capitol Hill work, Obama appointee at 2 federal agencies and nonprofit advocacy. Specialize in rural and agriculture politics.
A note from the coach:
I do mostly Comms, Rapid Response, am NOT the person for fundraising/field type stuff
Josh has worked in politics and advocacy for over 20 years, managing congressional and statewide campaigns, consulting on ballot initiatives, and more. Today he runs Square Strategies, a Chicago-based public affairs and political consulting firm working with candidates, companies, and non-profits.
A note from the coach:
Don’t over-extend yourself, especially during busy season!
Juven Jacob is a former Presidential Appointee, a communications specialist, and a campaign manager. He brings years of experience in communications, digital strategy, rapid response, crisis communications, and public policy. Juven’s expertise lies at the nexus of strategic campaign management, persuasive communications, and cutting-edge digital outreach, all vital for navigating today’s evolving congressional and political landscape.
In the Biden Administration, Juven spearheaded public affairs strategies connected to major Presidential initiatives, including Justice40, Thriving Communities, and the White House Hispanic Initiative. He executed coordinated communications plans and forged partnerships across intergovernmental agencies, state leaders, and local governments.
While in Congress, Juven served as a senior communications and legislative affairs strategist. He transformed complex policy into compelling stories for national and hometown audiences, led message development for major committee hearings, drafted remarks and op-eds for Members of Congress, and directed rapid response operations during high-profile floor debates and oversight investigations.
A note from the coach:
Political careers are built on sharp strategy and deliberate execution. I am here to help you navigate your next major professional move. We can focus on scaling your own consulting firm, transitioning between campaign cycles, or landing your very first role in politics. Let’s use our session to clarify your goals, sharpen your plan of attack, and map out your path to success.
I consider myself a people and culture strategist with extensive experience driving organizational strategy and delivering impactful results in high-stakes environments such as the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, and major political campaigns. I am known for building inclusive initiatives that advance equity and belonging, and have a passion for designing and implementing systems for leadership development and performance management.
Noah is the Midwest Regional Director for federal races at EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for Democratic pro-choice women in politics. Noah first stumbled into politics as a volunteer for the marriage equality ballot initiative in his home state of Maryland, and he’s had the campaign bug ever since. Prior to joining EMILYs List in 2023, he worked on House and Senate races around the country as a campaign manager and fundraiser. Though he counts Democratic politics as his main passion, Noah is also an avid Scrabble player and Baltimore Orioles hate-watcher. A note from the coach:
My involvement with a variety of federal races means I’m generally most helpful to people who are interested in direct campaign work — but I’m always happy to chat with anyone, regardless of the type of work they’re interested in or the stage of their career.
I work to deepen and expand engagement of progressive organizations and legal communities to elevate the importance of the courts and to advocate for a fair and independent judiciary that reflects the diversity of our country. I am an attorney and have extensive experience in voter protection and campaign management.
A note from the coach:
I am a lawyer and am currently working on judicial nominations.
I have worked primarily in campaign fundraising, management, and paid media across swing states, including most recently Pennsylvania and Nevada.
A note from the coach:
I’m happy to talk to anyone, but can be particularly helpful for those looking to manage races or work in fundraising on races, or for those who need help learning about the world of paid media
Contest Every Race, Beccia for Congress, BerlinRosen, Hockeystick
General Consultant
Sydney Throop is the Founder of Summit Strategies, a political consulting firm that helps campaigns, organizations, and advocacy groups leverage technology, data, and strategy to win. With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of politics and technology, she has advised candidates, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations on campaign strategy, digital innovation, fundraising and communications. Before founding Summit Strategies, Sydney held leadership roles at Relentless and Movement Labs, helping campaigns modernize how they engage voters and scale their impact. Today, she helps clients transform innovative ideas into winning campaigns through smarter technology and disciplined execution.
A note from the coach:
Although the cycle is starting to ramp up, I’d love to be a resource to folks on a monthly basis.
Victoria R. Clark Hunter is the founder of Clark Hunter Group, a Washington, D.C.-based legal and compliance practice focused on political law, election compliance, and government investigations. She has held senior roles at the Biden-Harris White House, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. House of Representatives, and most recently served Virginia’s 2026 redistricting referendum as Voter Protection Director for Virginians for Fair Elections. She serves as Deputy General Counsel of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and is a Cornell Law alumna. Victoria is Chair of Arena Stage’s Young Patrons Board.
A note from the coach:
I am a full time entrepreneur and have experience in government, nonprofits, and campaigns.
Zac is a sought-after strategist and practitioner. He has managed multiple red-to-blue races and charted the course for high-profile Democratic primary victories. While at LCV, Zac managed state and federal independent expenditures and worked on the inaugural member-to-member organizing program. At the federal, state, or local level, Zac’s ability to design and execute winning communication programs has made him a leader in the field. He’s worked with the DCCC-IE, House and Senate Majority PACs, multiple red-to-blue races, state house caucuses, initiatives, and numerous organizations.
As Data Director for the California Federation of Teachers, Amir leverages 18 years of experience engineering data strategy for labor unions, non-profits, and major political campaigns, including Obama for America and the Colorado Democratic Party.
Lauded as an unflappable “data wiz,” he masterfully translates complex SQL, GIS, and VAN datasets into accessible, plain-language strategy. Throughout his career at organizations like SEIU Local 1021, Amir has built custom tools, managed cloud-based CRM migrations, and designed sophisticated statewide voter targeting universes, consistently transforming dense analytics into powerful, winning operational advantages for progressive movements.
A note from the coach:
Growing up Muslim and Persian in the rural South instilled in Amir a unique resilience, which humorously inspired his consultancy, Armadillo Data Services. Off the clock, he swaps complex spreadsheets for wilderness hikes with friends.
I have working in progressive tech since 2020, originally getting my start as a DigiDem on a PA congressional campaign managing mostly field data operations/analytics and some mobilization/digital oragnization. I then was Data Director at the Rhode Island Democratic Party briefly before spending three years at Bluebonnet Data, initially Technical Director then Executive Director. After a brief career break in 2025 to hike the Appalachian Trail, I have been Director of AI Solutions at Change Agent AI since the beginning of 2026.
My career is dedicated to empowering the Progressive movement with tech and data systems built to empower organizers and changemakers to most effectively build people power in their communities.
I’ve been working in politics for over 25 years. I’ve worked on Presidential, Senate, and Congressional campaigns. I’ve spent the last 15 years working for labor unions in California handling everything from union decertifications to running ballot initiatives to introducing new tech and improvement processes.
A note from the coach:
I’m an Organizer by heart. I transitioned into tech because it felt less likely to burn out. I’m naturally an extrovert and people person so I can coach on Organizing/Data+tech/how to break into campaign world, etc.
Nick is a political technology leader with 10+ years of experience working to elect Democrats and strengthen progressive organizations. He began his career in field organizing and campaign management, working on voter registration, GOTV programs, and issue advocacy campaigns across the country before transitioning to the technology side of the ecosystem at ActBlue, where he manages a team that serves hundreds of the platform’s most strategic accounts.
He came to this work because of a single conversation with a newly registered voter in 2015 that changed the course of his life. He volunteers with Arena because he believes the next generation of political leaders deserves the kind of guidance he wishes he had starting out.
A note from the coach:
If you’d like to chat through political tech, issue advocacy, organizing, changing career tracks within politics, get resume and/or cover letter advice, or just brainstorm where you’d like to go, please don’t hesitate to reach out
Salim Shariff is a father, award-winning digital and communications strategist, and trainer with 15 years of digital experience. He’s managed multi-million dollar ad buys, raised millions of dollars online for progressive causes and candidates, and driven hundreds of thousands of people to take action online and off
A note from the coach:
I’m a fulltime consultant/business owner, so that’s a unique layer.
Adrian Ghainda is a lifelong Jersey City activist with over 7 years of experience in the electoral and nonprofit space.
In 2023, Adrian ran for County Commissioner in Hudson County’s 2nd District, earning 32% of the vote off
the line.
In 2024, Adrian worked as Senior Campaigns Manager for the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, managing their Clean Energy campaign and Independent Expenditure plan for local elections across New Jersey.
In 2025, Adrian worked as Political Director for Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla for New Jersey State Assembly, securing their nomination as the Democratic nominees in the June Primary.
A note from the coach:
I have experience in Communications, Digital Organizing, Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, and experience as a former candidate for local office.
My life in politics started as a volunteer in 2007 for Barack Obama. In 2010 when I was laid from my corporate job I went pro as a field organizer. I’ve worked 4 presidential campaigns, 2 gubernatorial, 5 municipal campaigns in field, political, operations, digital and management. I am currently semi-retired living in France.
Joe Earleywine brings over 25 years of union organizing experience to workers and union staff.
He successfully organized his own workplace in the ’90’s and spent the next 26 years working as an Organizer and Director with UFCW locals and UFCW international union
A note from the coach:
I’m a union campaigner and have also done career coaching
I have spent nearly ten years working across political campaigns, local & state parties, and progressive movements in several roles: organizing, digital strategy, technology, and more.
I love helping people navigate the many pathways that exist within political careers that they probably don’t even know about. I believe sustainable careers are built through mentorship, continuous learning, and recognizing that skills gained in politics can open doors far beyond a single campaign cycle.
I would enjoy supporting emerging leaders as they find their strengths, build confidence, and create careers that are both impactful and personally fulfilling.
A note from the coach:
I led a group of Gen Z Digital Organizers during the summers of 2023 and 2024, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Katy Schmader currently serves as the Regional Campaign Director for the Gina for Texas campaign. Her organizing career began as a super volunteer for the Beto for Texas Senate campaign in 2018. Two years later, during the peak of the pandemic, she left teaching full-time and jumped into the political arena.
She’s managed statewide campaigns, worked with precinct chairs at the county level, and built critical relationships with allies across our great state.
Pierina Sanchez for New York City Council, District 14
Field Director
I am a seasoned political operative with fourteen years of proven campaign experience. I am the proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, born and raised in Miami, FL, the city where I cultivated and honed my political and organizing skills. I am passionate about electing non-traditional candidates to elected office, including BIPOC, women, working-class folks, and LGBTQIA+ candidates. I have held senior campaign leadership roles for organizations such as 32BJ SEIU and I currently serve as the Campaign and Policy Manager for Avanzamos Unidos in Cleveland, Ohio.
A note from the coach:
As a neurodivergent, plus-size, woman of color with an invisible disability, I have the lived experiences of navigating this field and this industry while also dealing with these barriers. I think these lived experiences are incredibly valuable and I’d love to impart my wisdom to others who may be dealing with similar issues.
Samantha is a seasoned political strategist with over a decade of experience leading and scaling effective electoral campaigns at the state legislative, congressional, and presidential levels. She brings deep expertise in field operations, team leadership, data-driven strategy, and voter protection. Passionate about bridging strategy and execution, Samantha builds high-performing teams that return quality voter contact impacts at scale.
Allison Ehrich Bernstein (she/her) is a strategist, speechwriter, and editor who works with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations to integrate strategic communications and great writing to advance nonprofit causes.
She has managed communications and written speeches, opinion pieces, and digital content for local and global leaders, including at the U.S. State Department, Accion International, Hilltop Public Solutions, Hillary for America, and for candidates throughout New England, in her home state of Virginia, and with Get Her Elected.
A graduate of Brown University, Allison resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is also the creator of Progressive Job Resources and a longtime operator on the DNC’s Voter Protection Hotline.
A note from the coach:
While I’ve worked on many campaigns as a staffer, volunteer, and consultant, most of my experience comes from cycles up to and including 2016; I’ve largely been on the nonprofit/advocacy side since.
Deonne Morris is an educator, political coach and civic empowerment practitioner who specializes in developing good governance leaders at the grassroots level. She is fervent in helping emerging and established public servants lead with emotional intelligence, authenticity, and strategic clarity. Blending holistic education, Positive Intelligence coaching, and community-centered practice, she creates supportive spaces where leaders hone their skills, strengthen their presence, and navigate complex environments with deliberate intention. Her work empowers changemakers to be and create the change they seek. She is steadfast in her commitment to Democratic excellence and WINING!!
A note from the coach:
I am comfortable with any coaching position except digital and finance. Being an educator and teacher/ trainer is first nature for me, and I will rise to the occasion once I accept a task. Thank you!
For more than 30 years, Ellen Barry has provided strategic advice to C-Suite members and Boards of Directors navigating crises ranging from cyberattacks to natural disasters to financial malfeasance. Working both in-house for Fortune 20 companies and with global consultancies, she’s provided high-level crisis counsel, CEO advisory, financial and corporate messaging, employee communications, and community, investor and government relations. Her work has included NGO outreach, non-profit management, and communications leadership of teams throughout the world for both corporate and private entities. Barry holds a degree from Georgetown University and is a guest lecturer at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication.
A note from the coach:
I have managed teams up to 100 people; worked & lived all over the US; media trained executives & politicians; coached and mentored people through my entire career.
I am a communications expert who creates change in politics, policy, and culture.
Campaigns include all Democratic presidential nominees since 1992; Governors Healey, Murphy, Cuomo, Corzine, Dayton, and others; Kim, Whitehouse, Dayton, Nelson, Clinton, and other senators; Congressmembers including Amo, Maloney, Morelle, Rice, and others; among many others.
I am proudest of creating messaging that defeated six-term incumbent, xenophobe, and “America’s toughest sheriff” Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County as Trump won Arizona.
A note from the coach:
Prior to focusing on producing media for progressive candidates in the 2024 elections, I was Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications at international NGO Human Rights First. I also serve as President of the 1661 Foundation, and directed and produced an award-winning feature documentary now in distribution.
Nick Berkowitz joined Open New York as the Director of Communications and Digital Strategy in October 2023. With over a decade of experience, Nick has led strategic communications for clients such as the City of Newark, Enterprise Community Partners, The National Council of State Housing Agencies, and Columbia University. He has also consulted on electoral and advocacy campaigns and serves on his local Community Board and Land Use committee, helping to approve over 1,000 units of housing.
A New Yorker born and raised, Nick is a proud product of NYC Public Schools and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hunter College.
A note from the coach:
I am incredibly energized by helping folks looking to do good in the world connect with others and clarify what they’re looking to do!
I build and run communications strategy for political and advocacy organizations: the message, the media relations, and the digital infrastructure to deliver both.
Over 15+ years, I’ve worked on multiple Presidential campaigns and led communications functions for national advocacy organizations, startups, unions, and similar organizations-such as ProgressNow, SEIU, & the Climate Action Campaign.
A note from the coach:
I also have experience in digital, field, and advance (events)
Alexandra is a Democratic strategist and fundraiser who has been involved in politics for a decade. She began her professional career with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as a Field Organizer. She then moved into political campaign fundraising as a consultant where she has supported dozens of campaigns up and down the ballot across the country. She has developed and executed fundraising plans from million-dollar races down to school board campaigns. Alexandra opened her firm, Voltage Campaigns, to elect leaders, demystify political campaigns, and build campaign infrastructure with lasting impact.
She is passionate about down ballot campaigns, public transportation, and criminal justice reform.
A note from the coach:
I am also an Trainer for the National Democratic Training Committee and a Alum of Arena Academy.
Andrea founded Rise in 2022, after serving as the National Finance Director in John Fetterman’s successful race for the US Senate, raising over $70 million and smashing record fundraising numbers in Pennsylvania.
Since founding Rise, she has worked on over 30 projects in 7 states, including US Senate, US House, Gubernatorial races, state legislative races, and independent expenditure and 501(c)4 efforts.
She has been nationally recognized for her political work, most recently being named as a class of 2025 40 under 40 honoree by the American Association of Political Consultants. She has also been recognized in PA as City and State PA’s 40 under 40 Rising Stars in 2017 and again as a City and State Philadelphia 40 under 40 awardee.
A note from the coach:
I have worked with team finance on all campaign levels from presidentials to city council races. I specialize in scale-up and fundraising systems. I also serve as a trainer for multiple democratic leaning organizations.
I started my own finance consulting company in 2022 and can speak to work at a firm v campaign work.
Nathaniel Markowitz is the Executive Director of Activate America, a grassroots PAC dedicated to helping Democrats retain and grow their majorities in the US House and Senate. With almost 15 years of experience in political and fundraising work, he has contributed to campaigns spanning mayoral, gubernatorial, and federal races.
A note from the coach:
I really value the chance to give back to our community. I don’t really volunteer in many other capacities, so this is where my volunteer energy tends to go.
Nick Daggers is an award-winning Democratic campaign consultant with nearly twenty years of experience helping candidates raise the money they need to win tough races. n 2020, Nick became part of the 40 under 40 class from the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC). His work on behalf of clients has been recognized with multiple Pollie & Reed Awards. He is also a frequent commentator, trainer, and expert on campaign finance issues. He has led training seminars and participated in discussion panels for the ARENA Academy, the American Association of Political Consultants, the Democratic Party of Illinois, College Democrats of Illinois, and the New Leaders Council. He has also provided commentary on Politics Tonight.
A note from the coach:
I’ve worked on campaigns for over twenty years both as a staffer and consultant.
I have a degree in musical theatre and pivoted into politics post-grad. I started as an organizer. Arena taught me all the basics of how to be a good organizer. I met someone through Arena who worked on the campaign that hired me for my first FO job. Then worked for Walz Flanagan 2022 as Women’s Rights and Healthcare Coordinator. Then transitioned to the House of Representatives as Outreach Director for MN02. Now I work to directly staff and support the Executive Director of Swing Left, where we work to elect democrats across the country.
At Pendulum, Nick oversees the digital fundraising department, and a valued leader on paid media team. He has raised over $10 million dollars for members of Congress like former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (AMERIPAC), Rep. Lois Frankel (Elect Every Democrat), Rep. Tony Cardenas (Democrats Win Fund) during his time at Mothership Strategies. He has deep experience building programs from scratch for upstart candidates like Matt Dunlap (ME-02), Christian Urrutia (NH-01), John Paul Torres (MI-11), and Rev. Frederick Haynes III (TX-30). On the paid media side, Nick has led programs for some of the largest PACs, and ballot questions across the country including: SEIU, DLCC, Nevada Yes on 6, Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO, and the CHC BOLD PAC.
A note from the coach:
One thing I have noticed in my time in this space is that there is a lack of infrastructure to support folks transitioning from campaign work to the consulting/committee/etc side. I want to help with that, but also bring a very far reaching set of skills to support folks transitioning into new fundraising, paid media, and general campaign management roles.
Russellie has worked full-time in politics since 2020, when she served as Deputy Director of Coalition Organizing for the Biden for President Campaign in Georgia. She went on to serve as Political Director for Senator Warnock’s historic runoff campaign, helping secure his first term in office. From there, she became a Biden Appointee in Washington, D.C., ultimately serving as Chief of Staff. She currently works in a district-level leadership role supporting a member of Congress in California.
Prior to her career in politics, Russellie spent 15 years in the private sector working in the tech industry and is a trained MSW (Master of Social Work). She has managed large, diverse teams throughout her career and is passionate about coaching and mentoring individuals who are new to or transitioning into politics.
A note from the coach:
My campaign work has focused on AANHPI and multi-cultural organizing and as a manager my expertise has been in managing complex organizations with large budgets. I am particularly skilled at navigating organizational change, conflict management and political messaging in times of crisis.
Adam Tradii is the Founder and CEO of Break Blue Strategies, a Seattle-based Democratic political consulting firm. Since founding the firm roughly six years ago, he has built BBS into a full-service shop covering direct mail, fundraising operations, strategy, creative and design, and digital services for campaigns from downballot races through federal contests.
As CEO, Adam leads a team spanning strategy, creative, and fundraising functions, personally managing seven to ten active clients at a time. His work runs the full arc of a campaign: message frameworks and voter segmentation, paid media and voter contact plans, fundraising infrastructure, and the mail and creative that reach voters directly.
A note from the coach:
I am a strong believer in getting experience in every part of a campaign – being well-rounded lets you choose a specialty you like! Happy to make referrals for job-seekers after a few meetings.
I have been organizing, managing organizers, and designing training programs that support staff and volunteer capacity building in issue and electoral campaigns for 15 years. Since 2018, I have focused my practice on coaching and building learning architecture for mid-to-senior leaders in mission-driven organizations.
A note from the coach:
I help managers think about (dream about) and plan for what comes next. The day after Election Day, whether you win or not, is a hard day. Your title, your work, your org – all gone in hours. So, the transition to what comes next (inside or outside politics) starts in September, months before GOTV ends. I coach managers to transition with ease.
Emily is a partner at boutique Los Angeles-based political firm Makers Strategies. She has over a decade of experience in political consulting, fundraising strategy, and strategic partnerships for organizations from the local to national level. She is also a seasoned electoral candidate recruiter and trainer.
Prior to Makers, Emily managed West Coast business development for political tech firm Civis Analytics’ public sector team. Before that, Emily was the Western Regional Director at DigiDems. Emily has also managed outreach strategy for advocacy campaigns, including at Young Invincibles. For nearly a decade, Emily has been recruiting and coaching women to run for the CA State Legislature, as a consultant for Close the Gap, CA.
If you’re an experienced political staffer who wants to offer time to folks earlier in their careers, we’d love to have you.
The form will collect your information including walking you through how to create a calendar sign up link. Once approved, we’ll add you to the list above. We ask that you can commit to an average of one to two 30 minute session each week.
