Divided We Fail - Organization

Divided We Fail - Organization
Launched in Jan. 2007 as a joint effort of AARP, the Business Roundtable (BRT) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to urge action from elected leaders on the issues of health and long-term financial security. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) joined Nov. 1, 2007.
updated January 14, 2008

NATIONAL
AARP CEO Bill Novelli, BRT president John Castellani, SEIU international president Andy Stern, and NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer.

AARP

Group Executive Officer, Office of Social Impact Nancy LeaMond

Joined AARP in late 2001. Previously chief of staff to U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. During President Clinton’s first term, LeaMond was a member of Ambassador Kantor’s senior policy team, serving as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs. She also advised then Secretaries of Commerce Mickey Kantor and William Daley on legislative, policy and management issues. Workd for five years as president of the Congressional Economic Leadership Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group focusing on international trade, technology and tax issues related to U.S. competitiveness. Several years on Capitol Hill as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mary Rose Oakar. Worked in the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Education. LeaMond started her career at the Public Health Service and the Medicaid Program in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and also worked at the Office of Management and Budget. Bachelor’s degree in sociology and urban studies from Smith College and a master’s degree in city planning from Harvard University’s J.F. Kennedy School of Government.

Director, Divided We Fail Lisa Davis

Joined AARP in Oct. 2001 and has worked as Associate Director of Policy Integration and as Acting Director of AARP's Office of International Affairs. Prior to joining AARP's Davis worked for seven years at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare as the Senior Policy Analyst for income security issues, including Social Security, pensions, tax and budget issues; she also served on the National Committee's PAC Advisory Board and assisted with political and elections strategy. Davis has worked on Capito Hill for then-Rep. Pat Williams and with the Whitman-Walker clinic's legal services department. J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University; B.A. in English Literature and French from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

note Prewett left after a year and two months for another opportunity

Associate Director of Media Relations and Social Impact Cecelia Prewett

(announced Nov. 29, 2006 to Dec. 2007) Joined AARP from the office of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich (D-IL) where she served as senior communications manager for the Governor’s Office of Communication and Information starting in May 2005. Previously worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), and Bob Filner (D-CA). Also served for seven months as deputy communications director at the National Environmental Trust. Master's degree in political management from The George Washington University, 1997. Undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, 1993.

Senior Manager, Media Relations Andrew Nannis

(announced Feb. 15, 2007) Previously press secretary to U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO). Communications director for U.S. Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA). Has worked for U.S. Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR) and did special projects for Sen. John Kerry during his presidential campaign. Director of public affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America. Has worked for Ketchum Public Relations and Eisner Petrou and Associates as a director.

Senior Project Manager Khelan Bhatia

Bachelor's degree in government and psychology from the University of Texas,Austin.

and
Fleishman-Hillard

AARP IOWA ...DWF launched March 28 and 29, 2007 >
Headquarters: 600 E. Court Ave., Suite C, Des Moines, IA 50309 Telephone: 1-866-554-5378

DWF Campaign Manager Bruce Koeppl

On temporarily leave from his duties as Iowa AARP state director to head up the effort. Koeppl started as Iowa State Director in 1999, has worked with AARP since 1992, starting as a legislative representative in Chicago, Kansas City, and Washington, DC. Prior to joining AARP, he worked as a political consultant in Des Moines.

DWF Senior Field Coordinator (R) Pete Jeffries

(announced March 23, 2007) Most recently Senior Counsel for the Nussle for Governor campaign. Joined the staff of then-Chief Deputy Republican Whip Dennis Hastert in late 1997 and served as communications director to Hastert when he became Speaker. Press secretary to Congressman Bill Emerson (R-MO), 1991-96, and then to his wife Jo Ann when she succeeded him. Senior political correspondent at a CBS affiliate in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. B.S. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa, 1986.

DWF Senior Field Coordinator (D) Betsy Shelton

(announced March 23, 2007) Previously Chief of Staff to First Lady Christie Vilsack. Director of major gifts for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, and she coordinated the 2004 “Stand Up For Choice” Iowa Caucus campaign for Planned Parenthood. Prior to that she was a field coordinator for the Iowa Democratic Party.

DWF Senior Field Coordinator Mark Fetterhoff

Previously worked in a communications position with the New York Academy of Medicine. Before that Fetterhoff was a writer and researcher for Reach the World, an educational-based nonprofit organization. Graduate of Drake University, 2005; interned in the AARP Iowa office in his senior year.

Program Assistant Erin Haafke

Previously Human Resource Associate at the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. Graduate of Iowa State University.

and others on the AARP IA team:
Associate State Director-Communications Ann Black
Associate State Director-Member Engagement Connie Eastman
Associate State Director-Advocacy Anthony Carroll
Associate State Director-Community Outreach Becky Groff
Senior Operations Administrator Valerie Rasmussen

AARP NEW HAMPSHIRE ...DWF launched June 25, 2007
Headquarters: 900 Elm Street, Suite 702 Manchester, NH 03101 Telephone: 1-866-542-8168

DWF Campaign Manager Lance Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick has been with AARP over five years, first as Senior Legislative Representative within the Grassroots & Elections section of the advocacy department, then as Senior Project Manager for Prescription Drug Strategies within the Office of Social Impact. Previous to AARP, Kilpatrick worked with the League of Conservation Voters; The Accountability Project; the National Association of Letter Carriers; CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000; and the New York State Assembly.

DWF Senior Field Coodinator (R) Steven Griffin

Griffin most recently was a non-lawyer/lobbyist working for a law firm in NH. During fall 2006 he worked on a Republican State Senate campaign. He worked for then-Rep. Jeb Bradley as a legislative assistant in his congressional office, and on his 2004 campaign doing field work.

DWF Senior Field Coodinator (D) Kris Schultz

Most recently worked with John Jameson at Winning Connections in Washington, DC. Briefly served as executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party in 2003. Campaign manager for Mark Fernald's gubernatorial campaign in New Hampshire in 2002.

DWF Communications Director Joseph Elcock

Managed Charlie Wilson's successful congressional campaign in OH-06 in 2006, a top-tier contested seat. Elcock has worked at the DCCC, DNC, four presidential cycles, and served as the research and policy director for the NHDP in 1995. He also ran now-State Senate President Sylvia Larson’s very first state senate race in 1994. He has a small speaking role in the movie “The War Room.”

DWF Field Coodinator William Redding

In 2006 Redding was Vice President Sales, Northeast for the San Francisco-based direct mail firm Winning Directions. In 2005 he worked on “Quality Care for Massachusetts,” two victorious ballot initiative campaigns. Northeast Regional Operations Director for the Lieberman for President campaign, based in Manchester, 2003-04. A regional GOTV director on the 2002 New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

DWF Senior Advisor - part-time Kristyn McLeod

(An overall strategic advisor and oversees DWF outreach to New Hampshire’s colleges and universities). Presently a Dartmouth Business School graduate student. Finance director for John Lynch’s successful 2004 gubernatorial campaign; political director for John Edwards' 2003-04 NH primary campaign. Worked for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, both in the Office of the Governor and on her 2002 U.S. Senate campaign.

and others on the AARP NH team:
State President Ally McNair (volunteer)
State Director Kelly Clark
Associate State Director-Communications Jamie Bulen
Associate State Director-Advocacy Bill Hamilton Jr.
Associate State Director-Community Outreach Doug McNutt
Senior Operations Administrator Deborah Fenton

AARP NEVADA ...DWF launched on April 25, 2007 >