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Training Presenters

Michael Cook – Finance
Michael Cook is a veteran of more than 25 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. 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. In 2006, he managed the first winning Democratic campaign for Arkansas Lt. Governor in sixteen years. Michael is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and holds a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter.

Bridget Dooley – Field & Citizen Lobbying
Bridget is a political consultant specializing in field work and a union organizer.  She has served as Field Director and Campaign Manager on a variety of Congressional and local races throughout the Midwest, taking on ruthless Republicans, timid Democrats, and the Chicago political machine. Bridget currently is works for AFSCME Council 31 in Illinois on a strategic campaign to organize the employees of one of the largest healthcare systems in the Chicago area

Bryan Hageny – Planning & Volunteer Management
Bryan grew up in the fiercely contested swing state of Wisconsin, and is proud of its progressive tradition.  While attending the University of Wisconsin he worked for Howard Dean, John Kerry, and Tammy Baldwin.  Following graduation he served in a number of political and activist roles.  To this end Bryan worked as an Assistant Director of a large canvassing office in Boston, then as an Organizer of Power Shift 2007 (the first ever student global warming conference at the University of Maryland), and most recently as a Community Organizer in Pennsylvania. Bryan was recently hired as DFA's Deputy Training Director.

Don Weigel- Communications
Don Weigel has been in professional politics since 2002. In 2003 he helped coordinate the first ever full ticket campaign for Peekskill City Council, efforts which elected the second Democrat in over twenty-five years to the City Council. In 2004, Don served as Press Secretary for Samara Barend for U.S. Congress in New York's 29th district. In 2006 he won a special election in Buffalo, NY before moving on to be Deputy Exec. Director for the House Caucus in Colorado. Don has worked in campaign communications, field, or management consultant for numerous national Democratic / progressive organizations and causes, four congressional races, and dozens of state senate and house races. He currently serves as the Executive Director for the Colorado State House Caucus overseeing every state house race in Colorado.