Staff
Virginia HQ
Aubrey Blankenship
Director of Communications
Aubrey Blankenship is the Director of Communications for American Majority. She has a background in writing and editing, social media marketing, public speaking and grassroots activism.
Aubrey graduated with highest honors in 2009 with her bachelor’s degree in Journalism followed by her master’s in Media Communications in 2011. She published a master’s thesis analyzing how the news media frames political news. Aubrey has worked as editor-in-chief for an online magazine that examines politics and culture for young professionals and content writer and editor for a legal defense firm. From 2009-2011 she taught public speaking and communications classes to over 200 college students.
Her grassroots experience includes leading a campus organization with the goal of educating students on grassroots activism and policy issues. She led GOTV teams across the country, supervising hundreds of volunteers on key campaigns including Bush/Cheney in 2004 and candidates for the Florida House (2004), US Congress in Illinois (2006) and Virginia House and Senate (2008-2010).
Courtney Herron
Vice President of Development
Courtney Herron is the Vice President of Development for American Majority.
Courtney joined American Majority in March 2013. An experienced fundraising professional, Courtney has launched many successful fundraising programs in her tenure with non-profits.
Prior to joining American Majority, Courtney served as Director of Development for Americans United for Life and for five years as a member of the development team at Family Research Council. Before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2002, Courtney worked at the UCF Foundation and served on multiple political campaigns in Florida.
Courtney earned her Master of Arts in Political Management from Regent University (2009) where she also participated in the Oxford University study abroad program. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business from the University of Central Florida (2002).
Ryan Tait
Development Coordinator
Ryan Tait is the Development Coordinator for American Majority.
Prior to joining American Majority, he was on the development staff at Americans United for Life. Working through the Koch Internship Program, Ryan was a development and journalism intern for Radio America and the American Veterans Center.
A fifth generation Florida native, he holds a degree in Political Science and has worked on multiple campaigns in Florida’s crucial I-4 corridor including Daniel Webster for Congress and the local chapter of President Bush’s 2004 campaign.
An avid college football fan and political junkie, Ryan lives in Northern Virginia and complains about the state income tax.
Jaoni Wood
New Leaders Project Director
Jaoni has been with American Majority since 2008, first as the Director of Administration in the National Office, and she is now managing the organization’s New Leaders Project. Previously, she taught seventh and eighth grade history, and worked in office administration. A graduate of Liberty University, Jaoni studied history and government, interned at the White House during the Bush Administration and began volunteering for political campaigns and organizations as a teen. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two young sons, following the Washington Nationals and Redskins, and holding onto hope for a championship someday.
Florida
Dena Espenscheid
Florida Field Representative / Trainer
Passionate. That is the one word that people often use to describe Dena Espenscheid. She is passionate about her causes, not the least of which is the restoration of American Exceptionalism and American Values. “We must reach outside of our comfort zones and communicate with those who are different from us. I think that the majority of Americans still love our country and believe in the American Dream. Let’s welcome people into our ‘big tent’ by demonstrating our shared traditions, morals, values and ideals so that they work with us instead of voting against their own interests.” During trainings, Dena shares her experiences and knowledge gained through numerous political campaigns, grassroots activism efforts, and as a paid lobbyist.
Lonny Leitner
Executive Director of American Majority Florida
Lonny started working for American Majority at its launch in 2008.
Lonny has worked on several campaigns in Minnesota. He led the charge in 2004 as a Regional Field Director for Bush-Cheney and was Political Director for Congressman Mark Kennedy’s U.S. Senate bid in 2006.
Lonny has also worked on Federal campaigns in Wisconsin, Texas and Washington State and most recently as campaign manager for Adam Hasner’s U.S. Senate race in Florida.
Lonny attended Cretin Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, MN and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, with a B.A. in Political Science.
Montana
Jeremy Carpenter
Executive Director of American Majority Montana
Jeremy Carpenter has served as the Executive Director for American Majority in the State of Montana since July 2012. From November 2011 to June 2012 Carpenter served as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Neil Livingstone, a gubernatorial candidate during the 2012 primary in Montana. During this time he also served as the President for the College Republicans at Montana State University. From 2007 to 2010 Carpenter served as the Director of Research and Assessment for Success Profiles & Healthcare Performance Solutions, a business consulting firm and advisory service that has developed businesses across the United States and assists in the improvement of organizational performance.
Carpenter has authored many white papers and case studies for businesses across the United States. Carpenter’s exclusive methodologies and best practices have been accepted and published in quarterly peer-reviewed journals such as American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration.
Carpenter holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee and also holds two separate Master’s Degrees, one in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee and the other in Public Administration from the University of Montana.
Northeast
Martin Gillespie
Northeast Regional Executive Director
Martin Gillespie is the Northest Regional Executive Director of American Majority. He previously worked at the Republican National Committee in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 cycles, serving as the Deputy Director for Grassroots Development and Coalitions (2003-2006). While at the RNC, Martin specialized in conducting outreach to conservative activists and Catholic voters. He has held key management roles in other campaigns, ranging from Political Director for the Brownback for President campaign (2007) and Campaign Manager for Congressman Chris Smith (2008-2009).
A native of New Jersey, Martin graduated from Rutgers University in 2000 with highest honors majoring in political science. While at Rutgers, he was a recipient of the Ralph Bergen Allen Prize for English composition and the Jack Marvin Weiner Prize for highest academic average among political science majors.
Wisconsin
Matt Batzel
Executive Director of American Majority Wisconsin
Matt opened American Majority, Inc.’s Wisconsin office in October 2010. Under his leadership, American Majority Wisconsin has trained over 1,200 candidates, campaign managers and activists at more than 35 trainings across the state. During the height of the 2011 union protests in Madison, Matt organized American Majority’s “I Stand with Walker” rally that gathered more than 10,000 patriots to show the nation their support for the Budget Repair Bill. Prior to both recall elections, Matt executed training blitzes, to equip hundreds of activists on how to help their candidates at many locations across Wisconsin. Matt has also deployed a massive online army through co-creating a Twitter hashtag – #Wiright – designed to mobilize grassroots conservatives online in an unprecedented way.
Batzel also ran American Majority Action’s (AMA) Get out the Vote Operation prior to the Walker Recall Election. Under his guidance, AMA volunteers and staff knocked on more than 7,000 doors and contacted over 42,000 voters in key counties. In the three main counties AMA targeted, turnout increased 14.8%, which was more than double the average increase of turnout compared to 2010.
Batzel has appeared on Fox News’ “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” WTMJ-TV (Milwaukee), WISC-TV (Madison), FOX 6 Milwaukee, WPR’s The Big Question with Joy Cardin, and The Jerry Bader Show. He has been quoted in numerous print and online publications including ABCNews.com, FoxBusiness.com, Reuters.com, CNBC.com, MSNBC.com, Washington Examiner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Green Bay Press Gazette, The Capital Times, Sheboygan Press, Appleton Post-Crescent, Fond du Lac Reporter, Wausau Daily Herald, WisOpinion.com, and WisPolitics.com. He also writes a diary for RedState.com that is frequently promoted to their Front Page and has been included in their Morning Briefing.
Prior to joining American Majority, Matt gained experience at the state and federal levels, including in all three branches of the federal government. He has a tax law background, having practiced in the private sector for over two years following his graduation from law school. He lives in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin with his wife and four children.
Michael Spoke
Wisconsin Campus Director
Michael Spoke began working for American Majority- Wisconsin in August of 2012 as a field office director through American Majority Action. Coordinator of over 50,000 doors knocks, 30 interns, and 3 different satellite offices, Michael was instrumental in helping the Get out the Vote efforts. In November, 2013, he become Campus Director of Wisconsin for American Majority. Prior to joining American Majority, Michael interned in the Wisconsin State Capitol and for a US Senate Campaign.
Michael is a 2012 graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin with a B.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude) and will be graduating with a Masters of Intercultural Studies, Islamic Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, in December of 2014.
Michael enjoys traveling around the country and the world. He has been to India, United Arab Emirates, and Oman for various mission trips. He can also speak some Arabic. He is actively involved in his community through being an adult volunteer in YoungLife for the past three years. He enjoys the relationships by mentoring high school kids and reaching them on their level.