Board of Directors

Robert McKay - Chair

Mr. McKay is the president of the McKay Family Foundation, which supports community-based organizations working for long-term social, economic, and political progress in California. In addition, He funds a variety of issue advocacy and other work that promotes civic engagement and voter participation. In 2002, Mr. McKay was the author and principal funder of a California ballot initiative to promote Election Day voter registration. He is the managing partner of the McKay Investment Group, which provides venture capital for early-stage technology and consumer product companies. Mr. McKay was Chair of the 2004 California HAVA Advisory Committee, and is active on many corporate and non-profit boards, including Ms. Foundation for Women, San Francisco Art Institute, Salon Media Group, and Mother Jones magazine.

Anna Burger - Vice Chair

Called "the most powerful woman in the labor movement" by Fortune Magazine, Burger is Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU and Chair of Change to Win which represents six million workers and develops organizing campaigns aimed at ensuring that workers benefit from today's global economy. Burger also oversees SEIU's political operations and grassroots election work, which helped elect President Obama and candidates nationwide. An outspoken voice on the role unions can play to restore economic fairness, Burger serves on the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Burger began her career in 1972 as a Pennsylvania state caseworker before she became SEIU Local 668's first female president.

Steven Phillips - Secretary

Steve Phillips is an attorney and political organizer in San Francisco. He is the President and Founder of PowerPAC.org. Over the past twenty years, Steve has worked as an education reformer, attorney, and elected official.

In 1992, at the age of 28, Steve successfully ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Education, and he became the youngest elected official in the history of San Francisco. Steve attended Hastings College of the Law, and, in 1997, he opened the Law Offices of Steve Phillips where he practiced civil rights and employment discrimination law. As an attorney, Steve successfully litigated against a broad number of entities ranging from municipalities to multi-million dollar corporations.

Steve has written nearly 100 columns and essays that have been published in newspapers across the country. In 2003, Steve founded PowerPAC.org, a statewide social justice organization working with community organizations and activists to build political power in California.

Drummond Pike - Treasurer

Drummond Pike is founder and chief executive officer of Tides Network. Awarded as an Outstanding Foundation Professional, Drummond helped pioneer the advent of donor advised funds in philanthropy; and, through his leadership, Tides has helped increase the capacity and effectiveness of thousands of social change organizations. Prior to founding Tides in 1976, Drummond served as executive director of the Shalan Foundation, an organization dedicated to economic change and environmental sustainability. Drummond also co-founded and served as associate director for The Youth Project in Washington, D.C.; and he was among the original founders of Working Assets, a telecommunications company dedicated to progressive philanthropy and political activism. His extensive public service work includes membership on several boards of directors, including the Environmental Working Group and Democracy Alliance. Drummond received a Masters of Political Science from the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University after graduating with Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Quinn Delaney

Quinn Delaney is president of Akonadi Foundation, which
supports organizations building a movement to eliminate structural racism and
create a racially just society. She has also been very active in the ACLU for
many years. Quinn likes to work collaboratively on issues of racial justice,
civil liberties and building a progressive infrastructure, both nationally and
in her home state of California.

James D. Gollin

James D. Gollin was educated at Princeton University, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and Kokusai Daigaku (International University of Japan) as well as in France and Italy. After work at a number of think tanks in Japan and the US, Mr. Gollin joined Nomura Securities in Tokyo and then Morgan Stanley. He managed securities funds as well as M&A, real estate, resort development and other projects. He has worked in socially responsible business and environmentally-friendly venture capital.

Mr. Gollin is a Director of the Angelica Foundation, funding environmental, pro-democracy and human rights groups in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. He is President of the Board of Rainforest Action Network, where he has overseen successful campaigns leading to landmark agreements between environmentalists and major industries. He is actively working to build progressive infrastructure in New Mexico, where he lives. He is also an award-winning writer and photographer.

Nick Hanauer

Nicolas "Nick" Hanauer is a Seattle-based serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author and activist with a knack for identifying and building transformative business models.

In 1995, Hanauer became the first non-family investor in Amazon.com where he served as a Board Advisor until January 2000. During the same time period, he founded and served as CEO of aQuantive, Inc (originally Avenue A Media) and a short time later founded Gear.com. aQuantive was acquired by Microsoft in August 2007 for $6.4 billion, the largest acquisition in Microsoft history, and Gear.com merged with Overstock.com in 2001.

He co-founded Second Avenue Partners in 2000 and his current investment portfolio includes HouseValues.com, Ice Energy, Modumetal, and Qliance Medical. Prior portfolio companies Insitu Group and Newsvine were respectively sold to Boeing in 2008 and MSNBC.com (Microsoft and NBC Universal) in 2007. He currently serves as a board member and advisor to House Values.com and Qliance Medical and is vice chairman of Marchex.

Hanauer began his career in Sales and Marketing at the Pacific Coast Feather Company and still serves as the company's Co-Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer. In 1988, he co-founded Museum Quality Framing Company, which is the largest of its kind on the west coast with 60 stores.
Hanauer directs a significant portion of his time to social and policy issues. In 2007, he co-authored "The True Patriot" with Eric Liu (currently in its second printing) and co-founded The True Patriot Network, a non-partisan group committed to furthering patriotic ideals. He also co-founded the Washington State League of Education Voters (LEV), a non-partisan statewide political organization focused on promoting public education, where he serves as co-president. Hanauer also serves on the boards of the Cascade Land Conservancy, The University of Washington Foundation, The Seattle Alliance for Education, The University of Arizona's Mt Lemmon Science Center and the Biosphere2; a University of Arizona climate research project.

A Seattle-area native, Hanauer is an avid adventure traveler, who has visited more than 60 countries, a fly fisherman and an amateur astronomer. He and his wife, Leslie, reside in the Seattle area with their two children.

John Stocks

John Stocks is the Deputy Executive Director of the National Education Association.  Stocks is a national leader in the fight to transform America's public schools and progressive social change.  Since 2003, he has served as a top-ranking official of the 3.2 million-member National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest union, with a $330 million budget and 555 staff.  As NEA's Deputy Executive Director, John has spearheaded top policy, political and membership priorities and mobilized its ranks in support of improving the federal No Child Left Behind law, transforming its political organization, and building new strategic alliances to champion public education.In 1988, Stocks successfully ran for State Senate in Kootenai County,Idaho, defeating a four-term incumbent.   He and his wife, Connie, have two children, J.T. and Emily.

Ellen Susman

Ellen Susman is President of the Susman Family Foundation, which supports a national progressive agenda specifically in the areas of justice, the environment and media.Previously, Ellen was the producer and host of “ Balancing Your Life”, an award-winning national PBS television program that celebrates the strength of women as they work to balance career and family. A 25 year broadcast veteran, Ellen frequently addresses women’s groups on the issues of career and family through topics like   “Media and Motherhood”, and” Second Acts, New Beginnings.  Ellen’s interest in human rights and women’s issues led her to found the Houston branch of Human Rights Watch in 2009.Ellen edited a memoir based on her late sister’s life as a photojournalist in the Middle East. The University of Texas, published “Danger Pay: Memoir of a Photojournalist in the Middle East, 1884-1994” in November 2008.A community activist, Ellen has served on local community and charitable boards for over 20 years. She is a member of the deToqueville Society of the United Way, The National Speakers Association, Women In Film & Television, and the American Leadership Forum.The boards she currently serves on include the Texas Tribune, the Blanton Museum , and The Yale School of Forestry and Environmental  Studies.Her blog appears regularly on The Huffington Post. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband Steve. They have a blended family of four children and two dogs.

S. Donald Sussman

S. Donald Sussman has worked in alternative investments for more than 25 years. He is the founder of Trust Asset Management, the Paloma Funds, and New China Capital Management LLC. He was the recipient of Institutional Investor’s Alternative Investment News Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Mr. Sussman is a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee and co-chair of the Investment Committee of Carnegie Hall, a member of the Board of Trustees and chairman of the Investment Committee of Skidmore College, and Honorary Chairman of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Mr.Sussman is a Board member of the Center for American Progress and a Trustee of the University of the Virgin Islands. He attended Columbia College and received a B.S. and an M.B.A. from New York University as well as an Honorary PhD. from the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Ted Trimpa

Ted Trimpa practices in all areas of federal, state, and local legislative law, with a special concentration on public policy, political strategy, and political participation. He has extensive multistate experience and handles legislative matters on behalf of firm clients before the Colorado General Assembly and legislatures throughout the country.

Ted is a sought-after advocate resulting from his deep understanding of the national and multistate political and nonprofit landscape. He has been recognized in national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, National Review, The Advocate, and The Weekly Standard for his central role in designing cutting edge public policy strategies.

Prior to joining Hogan & Hartson, Ted was a shareholder with a national firm where he was responsible for matters before the Colorado General Assembly and had a multistate public policy practice. Ted has orchestrated the successful passage of several public initiatives, including major social policy changes and landmark reforms to state fiscal policy. He also previously served as the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Assistant General Counsel for a prominent lobbying firm in Colorado. Before attending law school, Ted served as a legislative aide for United States Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum.

Michael Vachon

Michael Vachon has extensive experience in politics, communications, and philanthropy. He currently serves as George Soros' political director. He advises Mr. Soros and the Soros family on political contributions and maintains contact on their behalf with the individuals and organizations they support. Mr. Vachon also manages Mr. Soros' media relations, public appearances, and publishing activities and serves as the spokesman for the Soros family and for Soros Fund Management (SFM). Prior to joining SFM, he was head of public affairs and a member of the executive committee of The Commonwealth Fund. Before that he was director of communications at the Open Society Institute. Before joining the foundation he worked as a journalist. Mr. Vachon holds an MA in international relations from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches a graduate course in communications strategy.

Rob Stein - Founder

Mr. Stein's critical research about the funding, management, and overall infrastructure of the conservative movement over the last three decades led to the formation of the Democracy Alliance. An attorney, Mr. Stein served as chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Commerce and chief of staff at the Washington office of the Clinton-Gore Transition. He also was a senior strategic advisor to Ron Brown, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (1989-1992), and has founded and led several non-profit organizations. Mr. Stein currently is actively involved, as both Founder and board member, in the Democracy Alliance.

Staff

Joycelyn Bassette Blizzard - Manager, Membership Development

Joycelyn Blizzard has an extensive background in both state and local politics, and experience in both public policy and fundraising. Joycelyn is responsible for supporting the Partner and Investment Services teams and will assist with events and researching Alliance investment opportunities. Prior to joining the Alliance team, Joycelyn worked for Governor Timothy Kaine of Virginia as Special Assistant for Constituent Services and in the office of the Secretary of Administration. There she worked on numerous projects including Governor Kaine's Small, Women, and Minority Business initiatives and dedication events for the Civil Rights Memorial. Committed to improving the lives of young people, Joycelyn currently serves as one of the youngest board members of the Commonwealth Girl Scout Council and initiated and led the fundraising efforts for inner city youth leadership development programs in Richmond, VA. Joycelyn also developed and implemented a youth leadership curriculum.
Joycelyn obtained her B.A. in Leadership Studies and History from University of Richmond and is currently earning a Masters of Public Administration at Virginia Tech University. She is married to Linwood Blizzard, II and enjoys traveling, swimming, and live jazz.

Anathea Chino - Manager, Partner Services

Anathea Chino came to the Alliance with significant political and fundraising experience at both the state and local level. Her responsibilities include helping to develop the strategic plan for member engagement and facilitating collaboration between Alliance members and recommended organizations.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Anathea worked as the Development Director at NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico and as President and founding Board Member of Emerge New Mexico, a women's political leadership program. Anathea began her business career in retail management at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas, NV and launched her career change in 2004 by moving to Nea Makri, Greece.

Anathea is committed to public service and continues to advocate for women and her Native American community as an Ambassador for Americans for Indian Opportunity. She has worked extensively on promoting civic engagement within the Native American communities in New Mexico and nationwide.

She received her Bachelor's Degree from New Mexico State University. As a transplant to Washington, DC Anathea enjoys all things DC.

Kelly Craighead - Managing Director

As a member of the founding management team, Ms. Craighead has helped provide the leadership, strategic vision, and management capacity necessary to grow the Alliance into one of the largest drivers of progressive activist funding supporting institutions that strengthen democracy and build the overall capacity of the progressive movement. Ms. Craighead joined the Democracy Alliance after working as a strategic consultant to Media Matters for America, where she delivered critical seed-financing during its start-up phase. Prior to that, she worked for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during both her tenure as First Lady and later at her leadership PAC after she was elected to the United States Senate. In the White House, with the rank of Deputy Assistant to the President, Ms. Craighead was the Director of Special Projects and managed special domestic and international initiatives on behalf of the President and First Lady. In addition, Ms. Craighead spent 1992-2000 directing all aspects of Mrs. Clinton's travels abroad and in the United States, and has traveled herself to more than 100 countries. She lives with her family in Washington, DC.

Kimberly Douglas - Office Manager

Kimberly Douglas has experience in customer service, special events, meeting planning, administration, operations and systems management in both nonprofit & corporate organizations. While attending Frostburg State University, Kimberly worked at WPGC 95.5 FM as a broadcast news intern. After graduation, Kimberly worked at the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, where she served as ACRPs 1st Education Services Representative. Kimberly was instrumental in helping design and implement ACRP's Customer Service Center. In 2005, Kimberly joined the Forum for Youth Investment as their Office/Meetings Manager and served as the primary liaison between staff and external vendors. Kimberly also worked as the Administrative Director for the Population Institute.

Kimberly has a Masters degree in Organizational Communications and Human Resources from Bowie State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications, Ballet and Modern Dance from Frostburg State University.

Matt Ewing - Director of New Media Ventures

Matt Ewing is the director of New Media Ventures, a Democracy Alliance project focused on investing in early stage new media organizations. Previously he was the national field director at MoveOn. Over his 5 years at MoveOn, Matt developed the organization's innovative national grassroots organizing model and helped to design and direct the 2006 and 2008 GOTV campaigns. He is a graduate of Grinnell College and Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing. He is also a former Senior Fellow at the New Organizing Institute.

Kathryn Greenberg - Senior Vice President, Partner Services

Kathryn Greenberg joined the Alliance with an extensive background in development, communications, and public policy. As the Director of Partner Services Kathryn will design and implement a strategy to develop and grow the partnership, facilitate building the Partner network and community, and manage overall Partner services efforts and activities.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Kathryn was the Director of Development and External Affairs at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities where she worked to strengthen institutional fundraising and outreach efforts; she was the Managing Director of Internal & External Communications at the Chicago Housing Authority where she helped to transform Chicago's public housing by directing resource development, policy, and communications; and Kathryn directed school health and public housing health initiatives for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Kathryn brings extensive management experience having overseen large departments at both the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Kathryn received her Bachelor's degree from New York University and has a Masters in Public Administration from New York University's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service.

Dominic Lowell - Analyst, Investment Services

Dominic Lowell conducts research and analysis for the Investment Services team. Prior to joining the Alliance, Dominic attended Swarthmore College where he was active in local and campus politics, organizing students during the 2008 presidential primary and serving as his senior class' president. He comes to the Alliance from the Center for Progressive Leadership where he was a New Leaders Fellow.
Dominic is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, but his heart now belongs to Washington, DC where he enjoys long-distance running, winter bowling leagues, and far too many political blogs. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College where he received his B.A. in sociology/anthropology.

Ashindi Maxton - Director of Research and Special Projects

Ashindi coordinates Alliance research efforts, and manages special project efforts. Ashindi came to the Alliance from the NAACP where she was the National Policy Manager for the NAACP, and was responsible for coordinating the cross-cutting work of multiple departments including civic engagement, education, health, international affairs, economic empowerment, and criminal justice. Ashindi's diverse career path also includes positions as the National Policy Director for Teach for America, where she helped set the research and policy agenda of a national organization dedicated to eliminating the educational achievement gap; and as the principal of an arts charter school in Washington DC, implementing a curriculum focused on the visual arts, music, poetry, and architecture.

Ashindi is proud to have been a Spanish bilingual teacher in East Oakland, California, and is amazed that the students she taught in 5th grade are already graduating from high school. Prior to becoming a teacher, Ashindi was a Fulbright Scholar to the Dominican Republic where she completed the first national study of "Race Consciousness in Dominican Children". She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with a degree in Africana Studies and holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Shannon Roche - Chief Operating Officer

Shannon Roche oversees staffing, financial management activities, Board communications, and works with the Managing Director on organizational development and to implement the strategic plan for the Alliance staff. Prior to joining the Alliance, Shannon led the fundraising efforts of NYC2012, the committee that worked to bring the 2012 Olympics to New York, and has served in various organizational management, member services and fundraising roles for the DNC, Gore2000 and the Advisory Board Company. Shannon has also consulted in a range of economic development-related capacities for several organizations, including the Enterprise Social Investment Corporation (ESIC), New York City's Department of Small Business Services and the host committee for the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Shannon received a B.A., cum laude, from Duke University and an M.P.P. from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government with an emphasis on organizational management and urban development. In her free time, she enjoys reading contemporary fiction, practicing yoga and is an ardent foodie. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and their son.

Ryan Rodriguez - Director of Meetings and Special Events

Ryan Rodriguez is responsible for coordinating the Democracy Alliance's semi-annual conferences, assisting with regional events, and working on other partner engagement activities. Prior to joining the Democracy Alliance, Ryan was the National Events Manager for EMILY's List, where he organized their national conferences, their major annual DC luncheon, and a variety of other fundraising events around the country. Ryan has significant fundraising experience, having worked as the finance director and on the finance staff for a number of congressional races including Gwen Moore (WI-04, the first African American woman elected to the US House from Wisconsin), Eleanor Jordan (KY-03), and Christine Jennings (FL-13). Before getting his start in politics, Ryan spent several years at the Smithsonian Institution where he secured corporate sponsorships and organized opening receptions across the country for the Smithsonian's traveling exhibition service. Ryan has a B.A. in political science from the American University. Ryan is a native of Wisconsin and currently lives in Washington, DC. In his free time he enjoys reading historical non-fiction about the War of 1812.

Andi Ryder - Director, Membership Development

As Director of Membership Development, Andi is responsible for managing and executing a strategic plan to grow and expand the Alliance Partnership. Prior to joining the Democracy Alliance, Andi worked at National Park Foundation managing their donor relations and Stewardship Circle program. She has a long history in fundraising, having previously worked at United Way of Buffalo to strength the Leadership giving program; regional theatre where she helped to create a membership/patron program; and Planned Parenthood in Niagara County where she managed development and public affairs initiatives.

Andi is a recent transplant to Washington, DC from Western New York. She received her BA in political science from Niagara University.

Frank Smith - Consultant (Investment Services)

Francis Smith has been involved in political and public policy issues throughout his career. He is President of a Cambridge, Massachusetts consulting firm specializing in election and non-profit law and policy work. He has served as an Assistant District Attorney in Boston and worked on a number of political campaigns, including two Presidential elections. He is co-author of a recent book on the American healthcare system and writes a monthly newsletter on American politics. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Boston College Law School, and a member of the Massachusetts Bar. He has served on a number of non-governmental organization boards.

Alexandra Visher - Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships

Alexandra Visher is responsible for developing and managing the Alliance's internal and external strategic communications plans. Prior to joining the Alliance, Alexandra was the deputy communications director and policy director for a United States Senate campaign. In that capacity she was responsible for managing the strategic communications plan for earned and paid media, as well as developing comprehensive policy papers on education, healthcare, and energy. In between campaign adventures, Alexandra worked in the development office of a progressive think-tank and advocacy organization, and assisted with their major gift solicitation efforts. During the 2004 presidential campaign Alex worked as a press secretary in Wisconsin during the general election, and worked on voter mobilization and outreach efforts during the Iowa caucuses. Before heading out on the campaign trail, Alexandra spent several years at a leading media consulting firm where she helped provide a range of strategic communication consulting services to candidates and issue campaigns. Alexandra is a native of Oakland, California and now lives in Washington, DC. She has B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and studied at the University of Paris, La Sorbonne. In her free time, Alex enjoys yoga, reading, traveling, volunteering, and spending time outdoors.

Felicia Wong - Senior Vice President, Investment Services

Felicia Wong manages the research and development of the Alliance's strategic investment portfolio and has led the restructuring of the DA's investment process over the last year.

Prior to joining the Alliance, she was Vice President, Operations and Vice President, Product Development at Teachscape, a K-12 education services company. In these roles, she was responsible for the company's annual operating plan and the development and delivery of all company products. Felicia served as a White House Fellow in the Office of the Attorney General and held a political appointment in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. Felicia has extensive classroom experience, having taught on race and politics at U.C. Berkeley as well as high school history and philosophy in Oakland, California. She and her husband also taught English to Tibetan children in Tagong, Ganze Prefecture, China.

Felicia holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, where she specialized in international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. Her doctoral dissertation, which focused on the politics of race and framing in K-12 urban education reform, received the 2000 American Political Science Association award in Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. She received her undergraduate degree with Honors from Stanford University and lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and two children.