Media Strategies
for

Media Strategies
for

At SpeakEasy, we know that even the best message will fail unless you can reach the right audiences, in the right places, at the right time.

OUR
APPROACH

As a company rooted in the rigor of political campaigns, and tested by the high-stakes brand management of Fortune 500 companies, our team helps clients successfully navigate difficult media terrains and come out victorious on the other side.

Our Solutions

We work with campaigns, causes, and brands to manage multi-channel digital media campaigns – from one place, with one team. We provide our partners access to premium inventory, digital expertise, and preferential pricing to easily launch the most sophisticated ad campaigns.

With up to a staggering 90% of online ad spending going to waste, we help our clients make their media persuasive by making sure audiences see information that they find relevant – not an annoyance. From AI-driven targeting to tailored audience development, we help you find an audience that wants to hear the story you’re telling.

We don’t “fire and forget.” We continually optimize your ads in market to give you the greatest impact at the lowest cost. And our reporting dashboards mean you always have analytics and insights into your programs.

Our experienced media strategists (and the predictive tools and algorithms they employ) can help your online fundraising, build community, create your own “influencer” lists and help you turn “clicktivists” into ongoing activists to fuel your campaign or cause.

Perhaps it comes from our political background where budgets are always tight – but we hate to let a single dollar go to waste. From negotiating better rates for our clients, to keeping them away from junk inventory, to employing powerful ad-fraud prevention tech, to making sure we are constantly optimizing for better results – we make your budgets go farther.

Our Solutions

We work with campaigns, causes, and brands to manage multi-channel digital media campaigns —  from one place, with one team. We provide our partners access to premium inventory, digital expertise, and preferential pricing to easily launch the most sophisticated ad campaigns.

With up to a staggering 90% of online ad spending going to waste, we help our clients make their media persuasive by making sure audiences see information that they find relevant – not an annoyance. From AI-driven targeting to tailored audience development, we help you find an audience that wants to hear the story you’re telling.

We don’t “fire and forget.” We continually optimize your ads in market to give you the greatest impact at the lowest cost. And our reporting dashboards means you always have analytics and insights into your programs.

Our experienced media strategists (and the predictive tools and algorithms they employ) can help your online fundraising, build community, create your own “influencer” lists and help you turn “clicktivists” into ongoing activists to fuel your campaign or cause.

Perhaps it comes from our political background where budgets are always tight – but we hate to let a single dollar go to waste. From negotiating better rates for our clients, to keeping them away from junk inventory, to employing powerful ad-fraud prevention tech, to making sure we are constantly optimizing for better results – we make your budgets go farther.

Our Expertise

Campaign Advertising

Whether you’re educating, persuading, or mobilizing – our campaign expertise will engage and galvanize your audience.

Stakeholder Engagement

Engaging decision-makers is essential. We understand the nuances of stakeholder communication and tailor strategies to build meaningful connections, both on and offline.

Behavior Change Campaigns

From boosting census participation to increasing voter registration – our research-driven mythologies ensure campaigns can motivate audiences into action.

Rapid Response

In 2024, timely responses are non-negotiable. Our rapid response work triages the challenges of today, while building a path for tomorrow.

Innovation-Driven Optimization

With a comprehensive suite of tools – from AI-driven optimization engines to in-house analytics – our media team drives performance daily.

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Tools Built for All*

For teams looking to build digital & direct mail programs in house – our direct to campaign media tools serve Democratic* races up and down the ballot. Take them for a spin here.

Leverage Our Expertise with Powerful Self-Service Media Tools

Our team has built self-service media tools to power campaigns of all sizes. With customizable media templates, voter data integrations, and access to leading online inventory - SpeakEasy's campaign tools have powered over 500 local races to victory.

OUR WORK

525+

campaigns

campaigns

48+

states

states

70M+

in media placed

in media placed


OUR TEAM

Our team brings together the expertise of strategists, designers, and media buyers to drive audience-moving media campaigns.

From winning political campaigns to spearheading multi-channel media programs for Fortune 500 companies, our team’s deep expertise helps our partners achieve and exceed their goals.

OUR PARTNERS

Co-Founder & Managing Partner
DANIELLE WINTERHALTER
As Managing Partner of SpeakEasy, Danielle Winterhalter specializes in multi-channel advertising, creative development, and rapid response communications – providing strategic campaign guidance and tactical media implementation to a client portfolio including Democratic causes, candidates, and impact-driven brands.

Passionate about increasing civic engagement and political access, Danielle founded SpeakEasy to support Democratic initiatives with effective media strategies up and down the ballot. Since inception, SpeakEasy’s tech-enabled ad tools – and tested political experience – have been leveraged by races in over 38 states, from school board to United States Senate.

Prior to SpeakEasy, Danielle served as a Campaign Manager, Policy Director, and political consultant where she scripted speeches, developed bipartisan policy initiatives, and executed comprehensive communication campaigns for Democratic candidates and organizations.

Outside of the office, Danielle is involved with Team Fox – the grassroots fundraising arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation – where she raises funding and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease. A graduate of the University of San Francisco, she holds dual degrees in Politics and International Studies.
CEO & Co-Founder
BERGEN KENNY
Bergen has nearly twenty years of experience consulting on behalf of candidates and large organizations. Before starting SpeakEasy, she worked as a campaign operative, organizer, spokesperson and communications director for multiple members of Congress. Bergen has written, directed and produced hundreds of television and digital ads for Democratic candidates and organizations, and served as a media advisor to several state legislative caucuses. She has managed numerous legislative and congressional campaigns for Democrats across the country. Bergen was named a 2013 Rising Star by Campaigns & Elections magazine, one of the 40 Under 40 by the American Association of Political Consultants.
Head of Campaign Strategy
KEES NORDIN
Kees Nordin – a proud Kentucky native – first got involved in politics on Governor Steve Beshear’s 2011 campaign – and has since been hooked. After graduating from Hobart College, Kees served for two years as a political strategist for James Carville – before joining the Democratic Party of Virginia for three cycles as the Statewide Political Director from 2015-2017. Kees went on to manage congressional, state senate, and advocacy campaigns throughout the country.

His experience fighting for labor issues, navigating non-profit fundraising, and managing local, state, and federal races contributes to his work as SpeakEasy’s Head of Campaign Strategy. When he’s not helping to sort out a thorny political issue, he enjoys throwing sticks for his black lab, Derby, at his home in Bainbridge Island in Washington state.
Head of Growth Operations
ISABELLA JAYE
As SpeakEasy’s Head of Growth Operations, Isabella works closely with both internal and external stakeholders to leverage the SpeakEasy platform to increase citizen engagement and reduce the barriers to entry for new voices in politics. From large-scale digital executions to producing compelling organic social content, Isabella specializes in planning and overseeing communications across a wide range of channels. Isabella brings extensive practical experience in advertising and social media marketing, including impact-driven behavior change engagement work around 2020 Census participation and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. A San Francisco native, Isabella holds a degree in Marketing with a minor in Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business in New Orleans.
Senior Media Strategist
ANAM KHAN
Anam’s sharp eye, push for innovation, and obsessive attention to detail serves SpeakEasy’s clients in her work as our Senior Media Strategist. Each day, she leverages the latest digital media buying tools and marketing strategies to launch & optimize impactful programs for candidates up and down the ballot.

Focused on leveraging emerging media and tech solutions to elevate the voices of marginalized communities, drive voter engagement, and influence inclusive policy – her previous experience includes deep engagement in state politics, working for CA State Senator Ben Allen, and from her prior involvement in local community organizations. A Los Angeles native, Anam holds a degree in Political Science and Public Behavior with a minor in Human Rights from the University of California, Berkeley.
Media Strategist
SARAH JOHNSON
As a Media Strategist, she works to ensure clients have access to the most efficient and effective ads on the market. Before joining SpeakEasy, Sarah spent time on campaigns, at PACs, and in a small consulting firm. Over the years, she managed finances and compliance for campaigns and PACs across the country, built dynamic budgets, and organized fundraising events and call time programs for congressional and municipal races in California. Sarah was born and raised in California, but currently resides in Washington, DC. She earned a BA in Political Science from University of California, Riverside. In her free time, you can find Sarah experimenting in the kitchen or cuddling with her cat, Aubrey.
Teshome Headshot
Full Stack Developer
KATHRYN TESHOME
As a Full Stack Developer at SpeakEasy, Kathryn builds and maintains tools and apps to support campaigns and causes across the country. Using precision and focus, she aims to create a seamless and intuitive user experience for all clients. Her extensive travels and previous career as an English teacher have enabled her to solve problems and learn quickly. Kathryn was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and she earned her MA in Literature at Duquesne University.
Design Lead
JIAR FONG
Jiar is a self-described creative multi-hyphenate who cares about intentional design and creating a holistic brand experience – will serve the DLCC IE’s as a graphic design lead. With a design, visual communications, and marketing background from Disney, Sony, and Epson – to name a few – Jiar works to effortlessly weave powerful visuals and cohesive design stories across print, digital, and physical spaces.
Su Chon
Media Operations Associate
SU CHON
As a Media Operations Associate, Su Chon brings strategic campaign planning, meticulous attention to detail, and thoughtful analysis to shape and execute dynamic advertising campaigns across a spectrum of channels for an array of clients. With a background in communications, digital marketing, NGO, and local government campaigns, Su embodies a versatile skill set in digital marketing and project management. Inspired by her work with community leaders in her hometown in Alaska, Su is passionate about driving positive change and ensuring that impactful messages reach their target audiences. In her free time, Su loves to explore different parks and trails and dabbles in the arts. She is an alumni of The Ohio State University and now is based in San Francisco.
Jessica
Senior Media Strategist
JESSICA CULLEN
As a Senior Media Strategist, Jessica builds and executes digital campaigns on behalf of clients. Obsessed with data, she is constantly working to optimize the reach and impact of progressive causes, no matter the size.

Hailing from Iowa, politics has always been in her blood whether she liked it or not. Having worked in campaigns and for private companies, Jessica brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team along, iced coffee in hand no matter the time of year.

She holds a Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Missouri and a Masters of Science in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics. When not at home in Washington, D.C., she is traveling to visit friends or family around the world.
Senior Media Manager
ANNA BORSOS
Anna first joined the SpeakEasy team from 2017-2020 and has returned in 2022 as Senior Media Manager. At her time away from SpeakEasy, Anna worked with national political campaigns, international sport teams, Fortune 500 retailers, and energy providers allowing her to return with a diversified strategic approach to political media. Anna and her pup, Georgia, have returned to San Francisco after a short stint in Austin, TX. Anna grew up in Sacramento, CA and studied Marketing at the University of San Francisco.