Tim Carpenter, Co-Founder and National Director, is a social and political activist who has worked for peace, nuclear disarmament, single payer health care, campaign finance reform and more for more than 35 years. Tim graduated from Cal State University Fullerton (CSUF) with Bachelors Degrees in History and Political Science, and earned a Masters in History, then taught U.S. History and Government at the high school and community college levels in California. Tim was a key organizer for the presidential campaigns of Rev. Jesse Jackson (1988), and Gov. Jerry Brown (1992), and he served as Deputy National Campaign Manager in the Kucinich for President campaign (2004). Tim was was a national DNC delegate, and addressed the 1992 Democratic National Convention. Tim is a regular guest on TV and radio, appearing on: CNN, MSNBC, Democracy NOW!, The Big Picture, The Thom Hartmann Show, Fox News, and many other local, state, and national radio and television programs. In 2007, Tim was named "Democrat of the Year" in Northampton, MA, and Progressive Activist of the Year by the Nation magazine. Tim lives in Florence, MA with his wife Barbara Considine and their daughters, Sheila and Julia.
Conor Boylan, Deputy Director and Field Director is a native of Ireland and moved to the U.S. in 2006. After spending nearly 10 years in the high tech industry, most recently as an engineer in the semiconductor world, Conor decided to ditch machines to pursue his real passion, politics. He worked on the Obama primary campaign in Oregon and then worked as a field organizer in Ohio for the general election. Turnout in his turf increased by 800 votes, a critical swing in helping to deliver Ohio, given that Kerry lost by only 9 votes per precinct statewide. Conor lives in Chicago with his “professional-trouble-making” wife Nora, who works in the labor movement.
Kimberly Buchan, Administrative Coordinator, has been volunteering and working for PDA since 2004. Since moving to Arizona in 2003, Kimberly discovered her inner progressive and volunteered with the Kucinich Campaign and later the Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Therapy. While living in Phoenix, she provided home-based music therapy services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Kimberly recently returned to her home state of Michigan, where she lives with her husband, Bryan, and adorable baby boy, Elliot James and daughter Cora.
Andrea Miller, IT Director and Deputy Field Director, was the Democratic Nominee in 2008 for House of Representatives in the Virginia 4th District. Running on a Medicare for All and clean energy platform, Andrea was endorsed by PDA, California Nurses and The Sierra Club. Prior to running for office, she was a part of Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s presidential campaign, first as Statewide Coordinator for Virginia and subsequently as Regional Coordinator. From 2006 until leading the VA Kucinich campaign Andrea was MoveOn.org’s Regional Coordinator for Central, Southwest and Hampton Roads areas of Virginia and West Virginia. Andrea is also the PDA Virginia co-chair as well as the Technical Director.
Janis Kay, Social Media Coordinator, has always had a longterm interest in progressive politics and social justice issues. In relocating to many states, due to her husband Mike's career, she has had the opportunity to see politics up close and personal in many areas of the country. This only intensified her interest in progressive politics and the need for grassroots activism. In 2008, she was a volunteer for the Obama campaign while living in FL. Soon after Janis answered the call to PDAmerica Florida to manage their Facebook page and Twitter accounts. Early in 2011 upon relocating to the state of Washington, Janis added the responsibilities of the PDAmerica Washington Facebook and Twitter pages and soon afterward helping with the PDAmerica National social media as well. Janis and her husband currently live in Eastern Washington State.
Judy Hess, Field Coordinator, attended San Diego State University and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She retired from a 30 year career in the insurance industry. Among her positions was National Litigation Manager of a California based property and casualty insurance company.
She has become a full time activist, founding the Metro San Diego Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America in January 2006, and the Fresno Chapter of PDA in January, 2010. She ran and won as an Assembly District Delegate to the California Democratic Party in 2007 in San Diego, and in 2011 for the 29th District in Fresno, and is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club.
She has recently accepted an appointment as Regional Coordinator of 5 counties for the Campaign for a Healthy California.
Mike Hersh, Communications Coordinator, was born and raised in upstate NY. He earned an AB in Government from Cornell University where he was on the Dean's List and served in the Student and University Governments. He earned a JD from the Washington College of Law. Hersh has experience building coalitions on the state and federal levels to achieve progress. He has worked developing and implementing issue organizing and campaigns, and managing web-sites and online communications. He has helped progressive candidates win elections on the local, state and federal levels. In addition to working with the national staff for Progressive Democrats of America, Hersh serves as Executive Director and co-founder of the Keep Our Promise coalition and the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, as well as on the Steering Committee of the Maryland Progressive Working Group.
Mike Fox, National Fundraising/Phonebanking Coordinator, is an activist and progressive candidate campaign manager. Since running PDA-endorsed Samm Simpson's congressional campaigns in 2006 and 2008, Fox has run numerous successful races for local progressives in the Tampa Bay area, and has been the PDA Florida State Coordinator for the last 3 years, helping to build 9 chapters across the state, with more coming in 2012. Known as PDA's phone banking specialist, Fox has run very successful national phone banks for PDA-endorsed candidates, as well as fundraising efforts via the phone. Fox has his Masters' in Mass Communication, has done post graduate work in Political Science, and has taught at 3 universities. He now works full time as an activist and campaign manager.
Mike is a board member of his local Democratic Executive Committee, is active with the Awake The State and Occupy movements in Florida, and as Florida State Coordinator, is a firm proponent of PDA's "Inside-Outside" strategy.
Kurt Bateman, Labor Coordinator,is a progressive union advocate, has sought a state universal care plan for Ohio, helped fight back unionbusting legislation in 2011 and organized with other state organizations pursuing single payer care in their states. In addition he helps coordinate the PDA Healthcare for All Issue Organizing Team with Dr. Bill Honnigman of California. Championing the need for universal care is a passion for Kurt.
Kurt and PDA national will be working together more formally in the coming months on priorities set during the upcoming National PDA gathering in Winslow, Arizona at the end of February. He will work with the National team and our other regional and state organizers to craft policy and action plans for building a Progressive Midwest Strategy. We will actively fight voter suppression and roll back the oppressive ALEC-inspired state legislation as well as advance the need for further reform in healthcare access.
