The Bergmann Zwerdling Direct team has decades of experience winning campaigns and producing award-winning direct mail for Democratic candidates and elected officials at all levels of office.
Our partners and strategic staff have managed direct mail for presidential campaigns and massive independent expenditure programs. We produced landmark wins for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Governors Association. We have won competitive primaries and defeated Republicans in general elections despite being outspent. We have run state Democratic parties, coordinated campaigns, and progressive organizations, and recruited and trained candidates across the nation.
Over the last two election cycles, our creative work has won more Gold Pollie Awards than any other Democratic direct mail firm and our strategic expertise brought home the top four awards for best overall mail program.
ACHIM BERGMANN
PARTNER
A veteran Democratic strategist and campaign manager who got his start on Clinton-Gore ‘92 in California, Achim has managed campaigns and programs in all 50 states from city council to president, including the direct mail program for Al Gore’s presidential campaign. He served as a key state strategist for the DNC, DGA, and the DCCC. Recognized as a top Democratic direct mail strategist for 15 years, Achim has provided analysis for national media outlets including The New York Times, Politico, Roll Call, and the Associated Press.
BEN ESCOBEDO
VICE PRESIDENT
Raised in El Monte, California, Ben brings his winning insights with expanded direct mail, digital media, and advocacy services to clients across the southwest. Throughout his career, Ben has run successful campaigns for Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes, Congressman Gil Cisneros (ret.), L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón, and Alhambra Councilwoman Sasha Renée Pérez. He has also served on the staffs of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Assemblymember Mike Eng, and as the campaign manager for Congresswoman Grace Napolitano.
RYAN BULLEN
PRODUCTION MANAGER
With several years of experience in the print and production industry, Ryan manages BZD’s production team with a relentless focus on quality assurance. Ryan’s relationships with union printers across the nation ensures that our clients’ mail is printed locally and delivered on time and on budget.
BRENDAN WELCH
SENIOR STRATEGIST
Born in Kansas and raised in Connecticut, Brendan is a veteran of battleground campaigns and Capitol Hill. He served as a spokesman for Members of Congress from Illinois and Minnesota, and worked on Congressional campaigns in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. Brendan was most recently the Communications Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, leading a comms team that generated key negative press for President Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot in 2020’s tipping point state. Brendan is a graduate of Syracuse University and is based in Philadelphia.
KRISTI MATSUIDARA-YEE
CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE
Kristi, experienced in American politics and campaigns, began early by volunteering in Presidential and Congressional campaigns and later worked with Congressman Gil Cisneros. She contributed to the Elizabeth Warren 2020 Presidential Campaign in Iowa before joining 2M Strategies where she managed various successful campaigns in Southern California, focusing on direct mail, voter targeting, and digital strategy. Kristi holds dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and Sociology from UC Berkeley, where she engaged in research, taught a course on women in politics, and contributed to the California Digital Library. She thrives on bridging gaps between teams and tracking political behavioral trends.
ALEX ZWERDLING
PARTNER
Alex is a Massachusetts native who has been winning tough campaigns for over 20 years as a campaign manager, union organizer, and strategist. A veteran of the DCCC Independent Expenditure, where he directed $24 million in political communications in 21 targeted districts across the country, Alex also ran House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s political and candidate fundraising operation. Today, he serves as a direct mail and strategic consultant for campaigns, labor unions, and progressive organizations from coast to coast. Alex lives in Washington, DC.
MICHELE SAKELLARIS
ACCOUNTING & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Michele is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in operations and accounting. Working across various industries for over 30 years, she has honed her expertise in managing and optimizing business processes, overseeing collections, and driving organizational efficiency. Michele's passion fuels her dedication to streamlining operations and continues to be a driving force in ensuring BZD's operational excellence.
CELINA MEDINA
DESIGN DEPARTMENT MANAGER
Celina was exposed to civic engagement early in her life while growing up in Phoenix, AZ. While studying photography and pursuing it professionally, she began to work in politics serving as a field organizer for local campaigns and as senior national scheduler for the Bernie 2020 presidential campaign. Celina manages BZD’s design department and is now based in the Bay Area and helps develop award-winning programs for BZD clients throughout the nation.
CLARISSA CERVANTES
SENIOR STRATEGIST
A veteran campaign organizer and current Riverside City Councilmember, Clarissa started knocking on doors with her parents at the age of 8 and has gone on to work on presidential, congressional, state legislative, county, and municipal campaigns throughout California. She has also served as a legislative field representative, managed voter registration drives for the California Democratic Party, and organized for nurses and healthcare professionals through SEIU 121RN. Clarissa is the 2nd Latina and openly LGBTQ+ councilmember ever elected in Riverside.
HANNAH LOWDER
CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE
Hannah is from rural North Carolina, where she learned from an early age the importance of elevating progressive voices. With a background of representing down-ballot candidates and a passion for protecting voting rights, Hannah hopes to use that know-how at BZD to win elections for progressives across the country. Hannah earned her postgraduate degree in International Relations from the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals in Barcelona, Spain. She also holds a BA in International Studies from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
CHARLY NORTON
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Based in Metro Detroit, Charly has 15+ years’ experience leading communications programs in the private sector and for campaigns at every level of the ballot. She served on multiple presidential campaigns including President Obama’s re-election, Rahm Emanuel’s first campaign for Chicago mayor, led communications on a top-targeted Kentucky U.S. Senate race and statewide ballot measure in California, and managed the progressive 501c4 Florida Strong that helped win legislative seats. She also worked as a media executive for Edelman and as Director of Market Communications for clean energy fintech company Renovate America. In 2021, Charly was named one of the country’s top political professionals under 40 by the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC).
CHRISTOPHER MATTOX
ART DIRECTOR
Christopher brings over 25 years of graphic design and production experience to BZD. He rose through the ranks in New York boutique agencies creating ads, collateral, signage, and direct mail for clients in finance, fragrance, luxury goods, beverages, and technology. Christopher now focuses on designing complex book projects, public policy advertising, and award-winning political direct mail.
NATALIE REYES
SENIOR STRATEGIST
Based in our Los Angeles office, Natalie has extensive experience leading field operations at the local and state level. Her background includes organizing on the Coordinated Campaign in Nevada for the 2016 general election, working in the district office for a California State Senator, and managing field programs for multiple local and legislative campaigns in Southern California. She holds a BA in Political Science from Cal Poly Pomona.
KATIE NG ROSS
CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE
Katie is a native New Yorker who comes to BZD with a diverse background in advocacy and policy-based non-profits focusing on education, human trafficking, immigration, and public health. Leveraging her educational background and insight into social issues, Katie is now using that knowledge and her deep-rooted commitment to progressive causes to help elect Democrats across the country. Katie is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC and holds a BA in Political Science and History.
THOMAS MILLS
STRATEGIC PARTNER
Thomas Mills is a political and communications consultant with more than 25 years’ experience working in high-profile congressional and statewide campaigns. His work has been recognized with numerous awards including best presidential mail. A native North Carolinian, he has worked on races across the country. Since 2013, Mills has published PoliticsNC, a go-to source for information about politics in the Old North State. Mills was a carpenter and social worker before entering politics. When he’s not advising campaigns, he can be found chopping firewood or remodeling houses.
