DFA Campaign Academy Trainers and Their Background

You may be wondering just who will be teaching us how to become effective activists at the DFA Campaign Academy. Here is the faculty list.

KENDRA-SUE DERBY – FIELD (ROSWELL, GA)

Over her career, Kendra-Sue Derby has fought for progressive causes and candidates. She focuses her work on administrative and field activities. In recent years she was the Obama Senior State Advisor for New Mexico and Senior Consultant to the Jon Tester for Senate and Montana Democratic Party. She also worked at Alliance for Justice from 2001 through 2006 as the Director of Field Operations. She trained thousands of activists and campaign employees when she worked for The Ron Brown - Paul Tully Institute for Political Action and as an independent contractor Kendra-Sue has worked on campaigns of all sizes, ranging from City Council to Presidential, including the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Democratic presidential campaigns. In 2004 she ran the Democratic Party of Oregon’s coordinated campaign.

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MARIO PISCATELLA – COMMUNICATIONS (BURLINGTON, VT)

After managing one Congressional campaign and consulting on another during his final semester at San Diego State University, Mario has been all over the country working on federal and coordinated campaigns, touching thirty five states in 2008 after spending nearly all of 2007 in Iowa. Mario spent eleven months learning the ins and outs of caucuses, an experience he would apply as a lead trainer for the Nevada Democratic Party during the final weeks of their caucuses and later to a unanimous caucus victory in a Virginia Congressional Primary. Mario spent the final months of the 2008 campaign on an idealistic crusade, assiting the Obama Coordinated efforts in Florida and Ohio while assisitng the victorious red to blue campaigns of Alan Grayson, Jim Himes and Mary Jo Kilroy. With experience in all aspects of campaigning, Mario focuses on strategy, communications and field and is always in search of good, proud, Democratic candidates to help.

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MICHAEL COOK – FINANCE (LITTLE ROCK, AR)

Michael Cook is a long-time veteran of public policy and political campaigns at the local, state and federal level. During his tenure as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas he helped revitalize and re-organize the state party. His work there earned him recognition by the National Journal's "Hotline" as one of Arkansas' Rising Stars in 2003, and the Arkansas Times proclaimed him the "Wizard of Voter Turnout" during the hotly contested 2004 campaign season. He is the only Arkansas Executive Director who has simultaneously served as Coordinated Campaign Director, overseeing the Democrats' most intensive field operation ever in a presidential election year. In 2006, he managed the first winning Democratic campaign for Arkansas Lt. Governor in sixteen years. Michael served as a consultant to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Committee in 2008 and was instrumental in that's campaign's ultimate success. He was a member of then-Governor Clinton's campaign staff during the 1992 presidential race, serving both in New Hampshire and at the fabled Little Rock headquarters. Michael previously served as consultant with Southern Strategy Group, a political and governmental consulting firm in Little Rock. He formerly served as the Chief of Staff for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. Michael was recently named to Arkansas Business' "40 Under 40" list and currently serves as a movie critic for the Little Rock NBC affiliate KARZ-TV. Michael is the owner of Cook Consulting, a public affairs and strategic communications firm based in Little Rock.

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MONIQUE TEAL – NATIONAL FIELD ORGANIZER, DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA (BURLINGTON, VT)

Monique began organizing while attending college? working on a number of city and statewide issues and for progressive candidates ranging from former Ashland City Councilor, Cate Hartzell to Oregon’s current Secretary of State, Kate Brown. Monique joined DFA in 2011 after two years as the National Field Director for the US Student Association (USSA). While with USSA, she worked to hold state and national leaders accountable on key progressive issues, such as education, healthcare, immigration reform and labor rights by mobilizing college and university campuses. For the 2010 election, she organized voter registration, education and get-out-the-vote efforts on over 100 campuses resulting in over 70,000 registered voters. Monique now works as a National Field Organizer for DFA.

Seating is limited, so be sure to Register Now!