Pawlenty picks national fundraising team

Former governor and likely 2012 presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty has assembled his national fundraising team. A Pawlenty aide said Pawlenty will introduce the team to major supporters on a conference call this morning. The aide said Pawlenty's fundraising will begin in earnest in April with a push for major-donor fundraising. Below are the names and bios of the people who will be helping Pawlenty bring in the millions he'll need to run:

Brian Haley, National Finance Director

Brian Haley recently served as the National Finance Director of Freedom First PAC, chaired by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Prior to this, he held a similar position at Country First PAC, chaired by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Friends of John McCain, Senator McCain's reelection campaign. Brian served as the Deputy National Finance Director for McCain-Palin 2008, where he helped devise and execute a national finance strategy that resulted in the most successful fundraising efforts ever for a Republican presidential candidate.

Katie McBreen, Deputy National Finance Director

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McBreen spent the last two years as the Finance Director for Senator Jerry Moran's successful race in the 2010 cycle. Previously, she worked for Governor Mitt Romney's campaign in 2007 and 2008, and was the Finance Director for Kansas State Senator Nick Jordan's U.S. Congressional race in 2008.

Trisha Hamm, Minnesota Finance Director

Trisha Hamm served as finance coordinator and then political director on the Pawlenty for Governor campaign and was the Minnesota finance director on Governor Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC. Prior to that, she worked for the Minnesota State Senate and was the finance director for the Senate Victory Fund.

Chrissy Scherer, Associate Finance Director

Chrissy Scherer recently served as the Associate Finance Director for Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson's successful campaign in 2010.

Andrea Evans, Finance Consultant (Focus: Arizona)

Andrea Evans' past and current clients include Carly Fiorina for U.S. Senate, Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, McCain Palin 2008 Presidential Campaign, First Things First, Arizona State University, the Phoenix Indian Center, the Governor's Office of Children, Youth & Families, Arizona Latino Research Enterprise, Northern Arizona University, The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Foundation for Women, UNITY, Inc., Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America and INROADS, Inc.

Paige Lance Hahn, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: Mid-Atlantic)

Paige Lance Hahn currently serves as President of Hahn Group Inc, a fundraising firm she founded in Arlington, Virginia. Over her thirteen year fundraising career, she has worked for numerous high profile political figures and national Republican committees, focusing on both individual and corporate major donors as well as the management of on-line and direct marketing campaigns. She recently managed the fundraising operation for Governor Bob McDonnell's successful bid for Governor of Virginia. Prior to starting her own firm, Paige served as Development Director for American Solutions, a grassroots organization founded by Newt Gingrich.

Ann Herberger, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: National Outreach)

AnnHerberger is the President of The Woods Herberger Group, Inc., a fundraising consulting business whose client list has included the Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Florida, the Republican Governors Association, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, International Republican Institute, Bush-Cheney 2000/2004, Foundation for Florida's Future, Inc., Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc., Romney for President, Inc., The Diaz-Balart Florida Victory Committee, The 2008 Congressional Trust as well as McCain-Palin Victory 2008 , Senator John Thune for U.S. Senate, National Republican Congressional Committee, Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate and Boehner for Speaker Committee among others. In addition, Ann's has served as the Bush family fundraiser (President George W. Bush, President George H.W. Bush & Governor Jeb Bush) in Florida for the past 13 years

Pam Kinsey, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: Midwestern States)

Pam Kinsey has over 30 years of fund raising experience for Republican candidates across the midwest. She has served as counsel to numerous Congressional and Senate candidates, in addition to serving a role in every Presidential cycle since she began her career during the Reagan administration. Most recently she served as the midwest consultant for the McCain campaign and as fund raising counsel to numerous Illinois Congressman, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Paige Marriott, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: National Fundraising and Donor Initiatives)

Paige Marriott has over 16 years of grass-roots communication, government affairs, fundraising and strategic business development experience. In the 2010 Paige served as the National Finance Director for Carly for California and in 2008 she served as the Western States Finance Director for the McCain-Palin 2008 Campaign.

Alison McIntosh, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: Texas)

Alison McIntosh is the President of the McIntosh Group, one of the premier fundraising and business development firms in Texas. Some of her most notable past or present clients include: Senator John McCain, Texas U.S. Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, Congressman Pete Sessions, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, The National Republican Congressional Committee, The National Republican Senatorial Committee, Governor Bobbie Jindal, and Attorney General Greg Abbott. Alison served as the Texas Finance Director for the McCain-Palin 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Rick Nelson, Finance Consultant (Focus: Minnesota and National outreach)

Rick Nelson has raised funds for for John Thune, Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Saxby Chambliss, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, John Hoeven, Jim DeMint, David Vitter, Kelly Ayotte, Roy Blunt, Chuck Grassley, Ron Johnson, Pat Toomy, Rob Portman, Richard Burr, Norm Coleman and Dan Coats. He raised funds for the Presidential campaigns of George H. W. Bush, Bob Dole, and George W. Bush. In 2007 and 2008, Rick worked with business and political leaders to raise $ 25 million to host the National Republican Convention in St. Paul.

Gretchen Picotte, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: Florida)

Gretchen Picotte has over 15 years of fundraising experience working in Florida politics. Most recently, Picotte was an integral member of the fundraising team for Governor Rick Scott, which raised over $50 million in the 2010 election cycle. During the 2008 Presidential Election, she served as Florida Finance Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee; Mayor Giuliani led all candidate fundraising for five consecutive quarters raising over $5 million. She also worked for Team McCain 2008 and has had the privilege of fundraising for Senator Mel Martinez and Congressman Clay Shaw.

The Starboard Group, Finance Consultants (Focus: Colorado)

The Starboard Group, co-founded by Katie Behnke and Kristin Strohm, is based in Littleton, Colorado. The Starboard Group is a fundraising and campaign management consulting firm with vast experience ranging from contested U.S. Senate races, competitive Congressional challengers, local statewide races, to national committees.

Cassandra Vandenberg, Senior Finance Consultant (Focus: California)

Cassandra Vandenberg is the President of Vandenberg & Associates, Inc. Her firm is one of California's most effective and trusted fundraising management firms, specializing in corporate, non‐profit, and political fundraising. In 2008, she led the successful California fundraising efforts of John McCain for President. Her client list has included the National Republican Congressional Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, several US senators, governors, and statewide campaigns and initiatives.

Shanna Woodbury, Finance Consultant (Focus: Minnesota and National outreach)

Shanna Woodbury worked for Presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and John McCain and has also raised funds for nearly all top tier US Senate and Congressional Candidates in Minnesota and from around the country.

Sue Walden, Finance Consultant (Focus: Texas)

Sue Walden, Walden & Associates, is based in Houston, Texas. She started her political fundraising consulting firm in 1991 and has worked with candidates and elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. Sue managed Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Houston fundraising efforts and was an integral member of Senator McCain's Texas fundraising team.