Our Advisers
Dirk Defenbaugh has decades of experience in marketing and advertising. Currently, he is the owner and CEO of UnTempo Marketing. His prior experience includes executive positions with GSW Advertising, Interbrand Design Forum, WD Partners, Smart Revenue, Fitch, and Big Red Rooster. He received a B.A. in Marketing and Communications from The Ohio State University.
Noteworthy campaign experience: One of Dirk’s most successful marketing campaigns involved the creation of the UPS Store, which was a new retail concept designed to counter the aggressive pricing strategy of a UPS competitor, Mailboxes, Etc. (MBE). The first UPS Store was located across the street from one of MBE’s most successful franchises. Six months later, the UPS Store's success led that MBE franchise to close shop—and not long after, UPS won the war outright by acquiring MBE.
DemsWin readiness: Dirk’s current learning goals include consumer behavior, behavior data science, and political decision-making. He advises DemsWin because:
“Democrats, for the most part, represent the mainstream opinions of most Americans, but they have done an absolutely miserable job of telling their story. I am interested in helping to change the narrative.”
Barb Giamanco has spent the last 14 years learning what does and doesn’t work in using social media as part of business, sales, and marketing strategies. Currently, she is the founder and head of Social Centered Selling. Her prior experience includes founding Talent Builders, Inc. and serving as National Sales Director for Microsoft. She is the co-author of The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media and the author of an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “Tweet Me, Friend Me, Make Me Buy.” Barb received a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix; she is a certified Business Coach and a certified DiSC behavioral assessment facilitator.
Barb has been recognized as a Top 25 Influential Leader in Sales, a Top 25 Sales Influencer on Twitter, one of Top Sales World’s Top 50 Sales and Marketing Influencers and one of the world's Top 65 Women Business Influencers by Tenfold, along with Arianna Huffington, Sheryl Sandberg, and Melinda Gates.
Noteworthy campaign experience: In November 2017, Barb helped Deborah Gonzalez win a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives (GA HD 117) by providing funding and marketing support via newsletters and social media channels—despite not living in the candidate’s district. Barb reminded voters that even if they could not vote for Deborah, they could and should support her because she will represent all Georgians.
DemsWin readiness: Barb’s current learning goals include new trends in social media, influencer marketing, artificial intelligence technology, and leadership development. Barb advises DemsWin because:
“I’ve had enough of Republican old, white men making decisions for Americans based on their own selfish agendas and motivations. We need new leadership. We need leaders focused on working for the people. I’m also very interested in helping strong, qualified women get elected, as I did with Deborah Gonzalez. Women often bring a more balanced, reasoned point of view to dealing with issues.”
Diane Hite recently retired as a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Auburn University, and currently works as a self-employed consultant in environmental economic analysis. During her academic career, she conducted dozens of funded research projects on environmental effects on housing prices, sustainable land use, school choice, and many other environmental, educational, and agricultural issues. Prior to entering academia, she worked as an analyst at American Electric Power, Nationwide Insurance, and Ross Laboratories. Diane received a B.F.A. in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from The Ohio State University.
Noteworthy campaign experience: Diane provided data analysis and expert testimony for a number of legal suits involving environmental impacts of proposed rock/gravel mines on residential property values. On more than one occasion, her testimony successfully halted the opening of mines near residential neighborhoods.
DemsWin readiness: Diane is interested in applying her expertise in focus group design and mediation, analysis of Big Data, and assessing environmental impacts to the needs of political campaigns. Diane advises DemsWin because:
“I welcome the opportunity to work at the grassroots level to help Democratic candidates take back and keep local and state offices.”
Connect: Email
Audrey Light is a professor in the Department of Economics at The Ohio State University (OSU). Prior to joining OSU, she held a faculty position at SUNY Stony Brook and a visiting position at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. As a labor economist, Audrey has studied college-going decisions, school desegregation, determinants of marriage and divorce, life-cycle wealth accumulation, the labor market value of non-cognitive skills, and many other policy-relevant topics. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Spencer Foundation, American Educational Research Association, Kauffman Foundation, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. She received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Economics from UCLA.
Noteworthy campaign experience: Audrey’s first campaign experience occurred long before she was old enough to vote, when she distributed pamphlets in support of her earliest political hero, Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana. Her most recent campaign experience involved working with colleagues to maintain funding for the National Longitudinal Surveys — a series of federally funded, large-scale surveys that she helped run for 20 years, and that support countless social science research projects.The “Save the NLS” campaign involved messaging, mobilizing the research community, working with lobbyists, and enlisting the support of well-positioned government influencers. Happily, Birch Bayh was elected and NLS funding was continued.
DemsWin readiness: Audrey is interested in learning how to apply her knowledge of survey methodology, statistics, and data analysis to the needs of political campaigns. She advises DemsWin because:
“The Democratic Party has no shortage of sane, qualified, committed candidates with great policy ideas. If we can convince left-leaning voters to participate in every primary and general election—even for low-key, local races, and even when it rains—good things will happen at every level of government. I intend to do whatever I can to help get out the vote.”
Connect: Email and LinkedIn
Sandra López is an active community leader with a passion for bringing people together to develop ideas and solve problems. She currently serves as a Legislative Analyst in the Division of Community Engagement of the Columbus City Council. Her team’s mission is to serve as the connector between the residents of Columbus and their council members in order to learn what is working and what needs improvement in Columbus neighborhoods. Prior to taking this position in 2016—and subsequent to migrating to Columbus from the Dominican Republic—Sandra spent 10 years in international sales and the next 10 years as a program administrator or legislative analyst for a variety of state and local government agencies. She has been a mentor for the Latina Mentoring Academy since 2010, and is a founding member of Latinas in Ohio: Facing Challenges, Taking Action, a group dedicated to fostering conversation among Latinas of different backgrounds to share experiences, understand common needs, and develop a network of support. She received a degree in Marketing from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (Santiago, Dominican Republic).
Noteworthy campaign experience: Sandra has worked on campaigns for many candidates. She is particularly proud of her work as an organizer for Sandy Hook Promise, which funds programs that prevent gun violence by educating children and youth.
DemsWin readiness: Sandra wants to help others effectively advocate for their own needs and wants. She advises DemsWin because:
“When Dems are in power, we achieve tremendous social progress that we consistently lose because we don’t educate the voters: (think Obamacare, or NRA and the Second Amendment). Campaigning is expensive, so how can we create an effective message that shows voters what’s at stake when they don’t vote?”
Kelly Novak is an experienced nonprofit professional. She is currently the Director of Education and Outreach at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, where she oversees a team of more than 25 educators statewide and manages a $1.3 million annual budget. Her team delivers education and outreach programs to a wide variety of populations. Her previous experience includes working in various countries such as Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and Romania. She has a B.A. in Journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University, and also attended National University of Ireland at Galway. She is a graduate of LEAD Ohio and is currently a fellow with the Rockwood Leadership Institute Fellow.
Noteworthy campaign experience: In 2015, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio sued the Ohio Department of Health over an unconstitutional law that would have drastically reduced access to safe and legal abortion in Ohio, and curtailed educational and outreach programs. Kelly worked intensively to fight against the bill and support the lawsuit. Thanks to the efforts of Kelly and others, Planned Parenthood won the lawsuit and continues to serve patients and participants throughout Ohio.
DemsWin readiness: Kelly’s current learning goals include social justice policy work, focusing on areas of reproductive health and access. She is also interested in racial and housing justice. Kelly advises DemsWin because:
“To sustain Ohio even as a purple state, we need to step up our campaign and election game, ensuring rigorous preparation of candidates and robust engagement with constituents. I am also interested in working with candidates on messaging regarding reproductive health, as well as the nuances (words, tone, body language, etc.) of message delivery.”