Our team

Charlie Kirk was the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to identifying, organizing, and empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government. With a presence on more than 3,000 high school and college campuses nationwide, over 650,000 lifetime student members, and 450 full- and part-time staff across the country, Turning Point USA grew into the largest and fastest-growing conservative youth activist organization in America. By the age of 30, Charlie had logged thousands of media appearances, and his commentary and writing were featured in outlets including Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, Newsweek, The Washington Times, Breitbart, American Greatness, Daily Caller, The American Mind, The Washington Post, and Human Events.

He was named to the Forbes “30 under 30” list and became the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention, later serving as the opening speaker at the 2020 RNC. He authored four books, among them the #1 Amazon and New York Times best-seller The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future from Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. In 2022, he released The College Scam: How America’s Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America’s Youth from Winning Team Publishing. His final book, Rightwing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West, was released in the spring of 2024.

Charlie’s social media platforms reached over 100 million people per month, and Axios listed him among the “top 10 most engaged” accounts in the world. He hosted The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, which surpassed 120 million downloads in a single year and consistently ranked in the top 10 on Apple News podcast charts. The show was also nationally syndicated on 150 radio stations and simulcast on Real America’s Voice News. Every day, more than 1 million people listened, watched, or streamed The Charlie Kirk Show.

Charlie’s passing marked a turning point for the movement he sparked. In the weeks that followed, more than 120,000 students reached out seeking to launch new high school and college chapters, determined to carry forward what he built. His passing also sparked a wave of Christian revival that spread far beyond the United States, igniting prayer gatherings, worship events, and renewed faith commitments. In cities across America and in countries around the world, hundreds of vigils and memorials were held in his honor—spontaneous expressions of gratitude for a life that emboldened young people, challenged cultural norms, and called a generation to courage. His influence did not end with his life; it accelerated.

Erika Kirk is the CEO and Board Chair for Turning Point USA. Erika was appointed to these roles following the September 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk, Erika’s husband, Turning Point USA founder, and one of the most consequential conservative activists in American history.

Under Erika’s leadership, Turning Point USA continues to be the largest, fastest-growing, and most-impactful conservative youth organization in America. With a presence at 5,000+ high school and college campuses nationwide, 8,000+ church partners, 1,000,000+ student members, billions of content views annually, its own White House correspondent, and 400+ staff nationwide, Turning Point USA is the undisputed heartbeat and workforce of the grassroots pro-America movement.

Erika also leads Turning Point Action, the 501(c)(4) organization that Charlie Kirk founded in 2019. Turning Point Action has become a force to reckon with in the conservative movement, hosting massive rallies across the country, leading the Right’s grassroots movement, giving individuals the opportunity to run for office, and providing voters with critical information surrounding their leaders and elections.

In addition to leading Turning Point USA, Erika leads her BIBLEin365 ministry, which aims to encourage individuals to read the entire Bible in one year. Erika’s entrepreneurial spirit also led her to create PROCLAIM, a Christian clothing and lifestyle line. These brands serve as an extension of Erika’s mission to inspire others to boldly live out their faith.

Erika earned her J.M. in American Legal Studies from Liberty University, as well as her undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations from Arizona State University.

As a widow to her beloved husband and as a mother to their two children, Erika is committed to Biblical leadership and inspiring others to live with purpose, driven by the love of Christ and love for America in every aspect of life.

David Engelhardt is the founding attorney of Engelhardt Law in New York and lead pastor at the Manhattan congregation Kings’ Church.

David’s legal focus is on working with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits in the areas of business litigation and transactions. He has handled complex civil litigation and argued and won before New York’s First Judicial Department Appellate Division on a case with more than $30 million in controversy. David has consulted on best business practices for both domestic and international transactions throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. David has been quoted in publications such as Forbes, Business News Daily, and Inc. Magazine.

As an entrepreneur, David launched Cohesive Design—a branding and graphic design company, which has served businesses in the formation of brand identity and communication. In the non-profit sector, David has worked with NGOs and churches in a number of different roles since 1998. In the community, David has acted as a pro-bono representative of the Bowery Mission and coached the 2017-18 Mock Trial Team at The Kings College. David joined the TPUSA board of directors in 2020 and resides in New York with his wife and three children.

Doug DeGroote is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with an MBA in Financial Planning, and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Before establishing De Groote Financial Group he founded the United Wealth Management division of United Capital. Prior to that he was a partner at Crowell, Weedon and Co. He regularly contributes to a variety of financial and general media as needed.

After graduating high school, Mike Miller received his degree in Pharmacy; however, his love for gems and precious jewels never dimmed. By 1970, Mike had established himself in Barrington, IL, and sold jewelry in the back of Esh Pharmacy while also working as a pharmacist. As time went on, the jewelry inventory grew and eventually more space was needed. Mike Miller’s jewelry company, M.J. Miller & Co., then moved from the Esh location in June of 2000 to its current location on Main Street.

Tom Sodeika is the President/CEO and owner of Precision Payroll of America in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Precision Payroll takes great pride in that the first employee and first client are still working together. Serving over 1,800 companies in 42 states, Precision Payroll offers payroll and tax services, human resource solutions, web-based input systems, and so much more.

Charlie Kirk was the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to identifying, organizing, and empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government. With a presence on more than 3,000 high school and college campuses nationwide, over 650,000 lifetime student members, and 450 full- and part-time staff across the country, Turning Point USA grew into the largest and fastest-growing conservative youth activist organization in America. By the age of 30, Charlie had logged thousands of media appearances, and his commentary and writing were featured in outlets including Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, Newsweek, The Washington Times, Breitbart, American Greatness, Daily Caller, The American Mind, The Washington Post, and Human Events.

He was named to the Forbes “30 under 30” list and became the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention, later serving as the opening speaker at the 2020 RNC. He authored four books, among them the #1 Amazon and New York Times best-seller The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future from Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. In 2022, he released The College Scam: How America’s Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America’s Youth from Winning Team Publishing. His final book, Rightwing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West, was released in the spring of 2024.

Charlie’s social media platforms reached over 100 million people per month, and Axios listed him among the “top 10 most engaged” accounts in the world. He hosted The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, which surpassed 120 million downloads in a single year and consistently ranked in the top 10 on Apple News podcast charts. The show was also nationally syndicated on 150 radio stations and simulcast on Real America’s Voice News. Every day, more than 1 million people listened, watched, or streamed The Charlie Kirk Show.

Charlie’s passing marked a turning point for the movement he sparked. In the weeks that followed, more than 120,000 students reached out seeking to launch new high school and college chapters, determined to carry forward what he built. His passing also sparked a wave of Christian revival that spread far beyond the United States, igniting prayer gatherings, worship events, and renewed faith commitments. In cities across America and in countries around the world, hundreds of vigils and memorials were held in his honor—spontaneous expressions of gratitude for a life that emboldened young people, challenged cultural norms, and called a generation to courage. His influence did not end with his life; it accelerated.

Erika Kirk is the CEO and Board Chair for Turning Point USA. Erika was appointed to these roles following the September 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk, Erika’s husband, Turning Point USA founder, and one of the most consequential conservative activists in American history.

Under Erika’s leadership, Turning Point USA continues to be the largest, fastest-growing, and most-impactful conservative youth organization in America. With a presence at 5,000+ high school and college campuses nationwide, 8,000+ church partners, 1,000,000+ student members, billions of content views annually, its own White House correspondent, and 400+ staff nationwide, Turning Point USA is the undisputed heartbeat and workforce of the grassroots pro-America movement.

Erika also leads Turning Point Action, the 501(c)(4) organization that Charlie Kirk founded in 2019. Turning Point Action has become a force to reckon with in the conservative movement, hosting massive rallies across the country, leading the Right’s grassroots movement, giving individuals the opportunity to run for office, and providing voters with critical information surrounding their leaders and elections.

In addition to leading Turning Point USA, Erika leads her BIBLEin365 ministry, which aims to encourage individuals to read the entire Bible in one year. Erika’s entrepreneurial spirit also led her to create PROCLAIM, a Christian clothing and lifestyle line. These brands serve as an extension of Erika’s mission to inspire others to boldly live out their faith.

Erika earned her J.M. in American Legal Studies from Liberty University, as well as her undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations from Arizona State University.

As a widow to her beloved husband and as a mother to their two children, Erika is committed to Biblical leadership and inspiring others to live with purpose, driven by the love of Christ and love for America in every aspect of life.

Justin Streiff serves as Turning Point USA’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Justin oversees Turning Point USA’s fundraising program, as well as some administrative and programmatic areas of the organization.

Immediately prior to Turning Point USA, Justin was an executive partner at a national consulting firm that supports nonprofits’ fundraising. Previously, Justin oversaw the fundraising programs for the Foundation for Economic Education and the Goldwater Institute. Earlier in his career, he directed the fundraising, operations, and GOTV efforts for various political campaigns, PACs, and nonprofits. Justin started his career working on public policy issues in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

To-date, Justin has been involved in raising hundreds of millions of dollars through major gifts, capital campaigns, grants, planned giving, and direct response fundraising, including phone, mail, P2P, and digital programs.

Justin grew up in New Jersey and Saint Louis. For over a decade, he and his wife have lived in Arizona raising their five young children.

Marina Minas, a true Californian at heart, has roots deeply embedded in Fresno, California, where she was born, raised, and educated. She earned her degree in Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism from CSU Fresno before embarking on an adventurous journey that led her to Washington, D.C.

In the nation’s capital, Marina’s career took flight with a summer internship at the Fund for American Studies Program of Journalism. Since then, she has become an integral part of the esteemed Fox News Channel’s Washington, D.C. Bureau. Marina’s tenure at Fox has been diverse, spanning from roles in the Assignment Desk to the Media Production unit and producing on “Fox News Sunday.”

Throughout her time at Fox, Marina has been immersed in the pulse of American politics, covering pivotal moments including the tail end of Obama’s Presidency, the dramatic 2016 Election Cycle, the Trump administration, and the intense 2020 Presidential Election. Notably, she played a key role in facilitating Chris Wallace’s interviews with notable figures like President Trump and Russian President Putin during the Helsinki Summit.

Marina Minas transitioned to an impactful role as the Chief Marketing Officer at Turning Point USA, where her accomplishments have been remarkable. Marina oversees a multifaceted portfolio at TPUSA, including Digital Marketing, Social Media, Productions, Graphic Design, The Merchandise Store, Public Relations, Live Feed, Frontlines Division, and Live Event Coverage. Under her leadership, Turning Point’s social media platforms have experienced exponential growth, with a staggering increase of 90-110% year over year. Furthermore, Marina initiated the Frontlines Division at Turning Point USA, where groundbreaking stories have garnered mainstream media attention, accumulating over 200 million views.

Commissioner Justin Olson was appointed to the Commission by Governor Doug Ducey in October 2017.

Commissioner Olson began his public service in the Arizona State House of Representatives where he served from 2011 to 2017. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Commissioner Olson chaired the House Appropriations Committee and the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility Committee. He also served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Government and Higher Education Committee, and the Employment and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

In addition to his public service, Justin’s private sector experience includes work as a tax analyst for the University of Phoenix processing corporate income tax returns.

Prior to running for office, Justin advocated for taxpayer friendly policy at the state and local level as a Senior Research Analyst for the Arizona Tax Research Association and worked on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Aide for Arizona Congressman Trent Franks.

Justin is a native of Arizona where his family’s roots go back many generations. He was born and raised in Mesa where he and his wife Karyn are currently raising their five boys and four girls.

Dr. Hutz Hertzberg has served as the Chief Education Officer for Turning Point Academy since July 2022. Hutz gives leadership to all of the Academy’s initiatives and staff. Prior to his current role, Hutz served at Christian Heritage Academy (PreK-12 college preparatory school) in Northfield, Illinois, appointed as President July 2017. During his tenure, Christian Heritage Academy was ranked each year as the number one Best Christian High School in Illinois by niche.com. Hutz’s organizational leadership experience includes serving as President of Christian Union, Director of the Orchard Network, and Executive Pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. Hutz has also served for two decades in higher education administrative and faculty positions, including at Trinity International University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Wheaton College, Judson University and the College of DuPage. For 20 years Hutz served as a Chaplain in the United States Naval Reserve serving mostly with the United States Marine Corps and he continues to give leadership to the Protestant Chaplaincy at Chicago O’Hare and Midway Airports. Hutz is a licensed and ordained minister with academic degrees from Wheaton (IL) College (BA, MA), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (MAR, DMin, PhD)

Lauren Toncich is a San Diego, California native, yet has always had a passion for conservative principles thanks to her father. During her two years at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was a D1 cheerleader and MLB rally girl, Lauren’s passion for the conservative movement grew after witnessing first hand the left’s bias and indoctrination on college campuses. Following her sophomore year, Lauren moved back to San Diego to pursue a career in event planning where she planned and executed national and international events with over 20,000 people while finishing her degree online full time through Liberty University.

Shortly after, she saw an advertisement on facebook for Turning Point USA’s 2017 Student Action Summit- excited about the opportunity to be surrounded by hundreds of like minded young adults, Lauren applied for the event and then found the careers tab. Lauren attended SAS 2017 where she had her final interview for TPUSA, was hired as an entry-level Events Administrator shortly after, and a year later was promoted to the role of Events Director.

Throughout her time at TPUSA Lauren has grown tremendously personally and professionally, has made lifelong friendships with co-workers and activists, and has had the privilege of hosting historic, record breaking events featuring speakers such as: President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Jared Kushner, Ambassador Nikki Haley, Donald Trump Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Secretary Betsey DeVos, and many more. Lauren could not be more thankful to play a small role in this organization, and more importantly the conservative movement that is much bigger than just one person- and that is saving the future of our country for generations to come.

Andrew D. Sypher serves as the Vice President of Field Operations at Turning Point USA, where he oversees a nationwide team of nearly 200 staff responsible for supporting more than 2,000 high school and college chapters and 800,000+ student activists across the country — largest political grassroots operations in the country. A proud alumnus of Arizona State University, Andrew was recognized as an All-Arizona and All-USA Academic Scholar while earning his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Policy.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Andrew’s leadership journey began early with a heavy emphasis in civic involvement and grassroots activism. Following a two-year ecclesiastical mission in São Paulo, Brazil, he moved to the Phoenix Valley in 2013. A lifelong conservative, Andrew has actively worked in Arizona’s political environment and served in community-based organizations, earning numerous awards and recognitions for his commitment to public service.

Andrew began his tenure with Turning Point USA as one of the first employees back in 2016 as a part-time Field Representative – Community College Specialist. Through hard work, strategic vision, and a relentless dedication to TPUSA’s mission, he advanced to become the National Enterprise Director, and ultimately, to his current executive leadership role. Today, Andrew remains passionate about safeguarding America’s future by investing in the next generation of leaders.

Frank serves as Turning Point’s General Counsel. In this role, Frank oversees all of Turning Point USA’s legal and compliance functions.

Before joining Turning Point, Frank served in various legal roles spanning from in-house counsel at a major medical device company to General Counsel and VP of Operations for a start-up legal tech company. Frank has advised multinational Fortune 100 companies on proactive compliance matters, guided businesses of all sizes as lead counsel on dozens of bet-the-company cybersecurity incidents and successfully negotiated disputes across the United States as well as in Italy, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Before becoming an attorney, Frank worked for The Heritage Foundation where he aided founder and president Dr. Ed Feulner and helped launch Heritage Action for America.

In college, notably before the rise of Turning Point, Frank served as the state Executive Director of Texas College Republicans and was active in local conservative organizations throughout south Texas.

Frank is married to his high school sweetheart and they have two children. When they are not supporting the fight for freedom, you can find them golfing together as a family.

As Chief Development Officer, Aaron Brown oversees Turning Point USA’s fundraising program—including its grassroots donor army, direct response, major donors, grants, and sponsorships. Aaron has over 13 years of fundraising and communications experience in the conservative policy and politics arena.

Prior to joining Turning Point USA in March 2026, Aaron served as the Chief Development Officer for Do No Harm. Simultaneously, Aaron worked as American Culture Project’s Senior Vice President, helping design and execute multiple state-level GOTV efforts and issue messaging campaigns.

Previously, Aaron was a Senior Director at AmPhil, a leading provider of fundraising consulting services. In his years at the firm, he worked with dozens of organizations at the national and state levels to improve their fundraising programs and increase their annual revenue to better achieve their missions. He worked directly with executives and board members while leading multiple teams consulting on donor prospecting, major gifts, strategy development, grant writing, donor
communications, and direct mail.

Aaron also served as a major gifts officer and director of development at the Foundation for Economic Education. He began his career at Americans for Prosperity, working his way up to become the organization’s foundations fundraising manager and was also responsible for managing key donor communications and briefings on key national elections and policy efforts. Aaron graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from the University of North Georgia, where he was a cadet in the senior military college’s esteemed Boar’s Head Brigade. He serves as a board member of the UNG Corps Advisory Council and was recognized as one of UNG’s “20 Under
40” accomplished alumni in 2025.

Pierre Wilson, a graduate of Liberty University with a master’s degree, serves as Vice President of Community Engagement at Turning Point USA, where he oversees the development and national expansion of TPUSA Communities, a division of Turning Point USA focused on building a nationwide grassroots infrastructure that activates individuals and families at the local level.

Pierre began his journey at the ground level, helping launch and scale a national grassroots network that grew to become the largest minority conservative grassroots network of its kind in the country at the time. From its earliest stages, he played a central role in building its national strategy, chapter system, and leadership pipeline, leading to a presence in every state and engagement with hundreds of thousands nationwide.

Over the years, his leadership has driven the creation of a nationwide network of city chapters and major community-based initiatives focused on leadership development, cultural engagement, and strengthening families. His work has consistently centered on building scalable systems that produce real impact, not just visibility.

Raised in Maryland and shaped by adversity, Pierre’s life is proof that a victim mindset does not have to define anyone’s future. His personal transformation fuels his mission to empower others to reject limiting narratives, embrace faith and personal responsibility, and pursue lasting success.

Today, through TPUSA Communities, Pierre is focused on building a unified, national model for grassroots engagement that extends beyond campuses and specialty programs, creating a clear pathway for everyday Americans to lead and take action within their own communities.

He is also the host of the podcast Unchained with Pierre Wilson, where he speaks boldly on faith, culture, leadership, and the issues shaping America today.

Above every title and accomplishment, Pierre considers his greatest blessing to be his family. He is a proud husband and father of three, and his work is grounded in the belief that strong families are the foundation of a strong nation.

Chris serves as the College Enterprise Director at Turning Point USA, where he oversees all personnel and field operations within the College Department—the organization’s oldest and most foundational division. In this role, Chris leads a team of over 60 full-time staff who support Turning Point’s student leaders on campuses across the country, working to grow the movement’s presence, influence, and impact at the collegiate level.

A proud graduate of Wayne State University, Chris earned his degree in Political Science with the intention of one day pursuing law. After receiving an outreach email from TPUSA, he quickly became a devoted activist—serving as Chapter President and Campus Coordinator—and spent his college years building one of the most prominent conservative student organizations on his traditionally liberal campus. His journey as a student leader fundamentally reshaped his path; realizing he didn’t need to attend law school to make a meaningful impact, Chris found his true calling in the movement and committed fully to advancing the cause of liberty through TPUSA.

Chris began his full-time career with the organization in 2020 as the Motor Field Representative, later becoming the Great Lakes Regional Manager, and eventually rising to his current leadership position in 2023. Throughout each role, he has remained deeply committed to building up the next generation of student leaders—championing big goals, high standards, and bold ideas.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Chris draws strength and purpose from his role as a father, fueling his dedication to protect and preserve America’s founding values for his daughter and her generation. Known for his passion, drive, and unrelenting energy, Chris is inspired daily by the students he serves and the future they are working to secure.

Josie Mitzel serves as the Field Administrative Director at Turning Point USA, where she oversees the administrative operations of the National Field Program, the organization’s oldest and most foundational department. In this role, she leads the College and Club America administrative teams, supporting over 150 staff members and more than 2,000 student-led chapters nationwide.

A proud graduate of the University of Arizona, Josie holds a bachelor’s degree in Law and served in key campus leadership roles, including Vice President of Recruitment and Chapter President of the Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. Originally from Colorado, she was raised in a traditional household that instilled the values of hard work, personal responsibility, and achievement through merit.

Josie began her professional career as a Personal Injury Paralegal with plans to attend law school, but the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her path and brought her to TPUSA in 2022 as a Field Program Administrator. Since then, she has risen through a series of leadership roles including Senior Administrator, Administrative Manager, and College Administrative Director by building efficient systems, executing high-impact initiatives, and expanding TPUSA Students’ digital presence.

Known for her energy, attention to detail, and results-driven leadership, Josie has played an essential role in strengthening the infrastructure and scalability of TPUSA’s field operations. She remains committed to empowering the next generation of student leaders and ensuring TPUSA continues to thrive on high school and college campuses nationwide.

Cassidy Smith serves as the Strategic Director of the College Department at Turning Point USA, where she leads the College Strategic Specialist team responsible for organizing hundreds of medium-to-large campus events each year, coordinating national speaker circuits, and developing personnel and activist resources for thousands of student leaders across the country. Her work plays a central role in ensuring TPUSA’s presence is not only visible but dominant across D1 through D3 universities, helping make conservatism synonymous with the modern college experience.

Cassidy began her journey with Turning Point USA as a student activist at Louisiana State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics and was actively involved in Greek Life and Student Government. As chapter president, she hosted one of the largest tour stops in TPUSA history at the time—an early glimpse into the large-scale campus leadership she would later bring to the national team.

After graduation, she joined the College Department full-time and quickly made an impact by launching the Volunteer Territory in Tennessee, chartering over 23 new chapters in just a few months. As Southeast Regional Manager, she built and led one of the most reputable teams in the country, consistently excelling in key national metrics and cultivating a high-performing culture rooted in bold campus presence and successful large-scale events.

In 2024, Cassidy was selected to join the College Strategic Team as a Specialist, where she developed national initiatives, strengthened the department’s infrastructure, and helped lead major campus engagement campaigns. Today, as Strategic Director, she continues to invest in the future of the movement by identifying, equipping, and elevating the next generation of conservative campus leaders. A lifelong conservative, Cassidy is driven by a deep belief in the importance of preserving American values for the next generation and equipping young people with the courage and conviction to defend them.

Michaela Moriarty serves as the Director of Tours at Turning Point USA, where she oversees the strategy, planning, and execution of TPUSA’s national high school and college campus tours. In this role, Michaela leads the Tours department that is responsible for executing dozens of major campus tour events each semester, reaching thousands of students in person and influencing billions online.

Michaela earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Arizona State University, where she was actively involved in student leadership and civic engagement. She served as the Vice President of Chapter Operations for Alpha Phi International Women’s Fraternity, where she gained early experience in event coordination, team development, and values-driven leadership. After graduation, she launched her professional career in Washington, D.C., before returning to her grassroots roots in 2020 to join TPUSA.

She began as a Field Representative in Los Angeles during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, one of the most difficult environments for student organizing in the country, and quickly proved herself through her initiative, and results. Her performance earned her multiple promotions through TPUSA’s National Field Program, culminating in her current national leadership role.

Michaela remains deeply committed to empowering the next generation and making sure no campus is left in the dark when it comes to freedom, truth, and what makes America worth fighting for. Under her leadership, TPUSA’s tour program has become one of the most effective tools for Gen Z engagement and cultural influence in the conservative movement.

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Nick comes from a family of proud Italian immigrants who came to America in pursuit of the American Dream. Growing up in a family of small business owners, Nick witnessed firsthand how high taxes and burdensome regulations stifled opportunity—experiences that shaped his conservative convictions at an early age.

His passion for political activism began as a high school senior, when he volunteered for campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. In January 2016, he joined Turning Point USA as a Field Representative and quickly distinguished himself by organizing and expanding college chapters across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and West Virginia.

In 2018, Nick was promoted to Great Lakes Regional Manager, where he led a team that significantly expanded TPUSA’s footprint throughout the Midwest. His success in this role laid the foundation for his current position as the first Enterprise Director of the High School program.

Now, Nick channels his own formative experiences into building a movement of high school students who are bold enough to voice their values, lead with conviction, and make an impact in their communities. Under his leadership, Club America has grown into a national force, equipping thousands of young Americans to defend freedom and preserve the values that make this country great.

Brandon is the Strategic Director for Club America, powered by TPUSA. He joined TPUSA directly out of college in 2015, graduating from Dixie State University with a BS in Business Administration. In college, he spent three years as President of the College Republicans, striving for TPUSA’s mission before chapters were common – hosting the largest conservative campus events in the state and implementing an early voting precinct added to the university.

Brandon started part-time as the Utah Field Representative and then quickly into a full time role as the Nevada Field Representative. Within 6 months, he was promoted into a management role as the, then, Mountain Regional Manager in Denver, CO. Turning Point USA’s first large College events were first pioneered in the Mountain region – a current process followed to this day with TPUSA tours. During the pandemic, he then served as Southwest Regional Manager before taking on his current position of Strategic Director – overseeing the growth of a new High School program, and now Club America.

Lead Pastor of Nfluence Church and Senior Director of TPUSA Faith, as well as an accomplished author, speaker, and media producer. A prominent voice in the fight against wokeism and cultural Marxism, Pastor Miles offers clear biblical insights on faith, politics, and the culture war. As an accomplished author, speaker, and media producer, he has written several books addressing the intersection of faith and culture and has been featured on numerous platforms for his thought-provoking commentary. Through TPUSA Faith, he is helping unite the church around primary doctrine while working to eliminate woke ideologies from the American church, inspiring believers to stand boldly for truth and live out their faith in every aspect of life.

Director of Pastoral Relations for TPUSA Faith and a retired police officer with over 25 years of service in metro Atlanta, where he rose to the rank of Division Commander. After relocating to Florida, Chip joined TPUSA Faith in 2023 as the Central Florida Representative, bringing his dedication and leadership to the organization. Passionate about supporting pastors and encouraging civic engagement, he inspires bold preaching and mobilizes faith communities to carry their values into the public square. Promoted to his current role in 2024, Chip now leads a new division launching in 2025, focused on equipping pastors and empowering churches to drive lasting cultural impact.

Director of Field Operations for TPUSA Faith and an alumna of Roger Williams University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communications. Kalasia joined TPUSA Faith in its inaugural year, 2021, and has held several key leadership roles within the department. Beginning as the New England Faith Representative, she advanced within the organization and ultimately achieved her dream role within the Faith Department. Her leadership reflects a steadfast commitment to her faith, coupled with a deep desire to see the American Church defend biblical truth with both boldness and compassion. By keeping the mission at the forefront, Kalasia works to lead those around her to engage with conviction, while ensuring that compassion and integrity remain at the forefront of every interaction. In her role, she oversees a team of more than 20 full-time staff members, all dedicated to equipping and engaging the American Church across the nation. Kalasia currently resides in Massachusetts with her husband.

Matt Hay serves as the Creative Director for TPUSA Faith, bringing more than two decades of ministry experience to his role, including years as both a Business Manager and Worship Pastor. Matt oversees creative efforts that reach millions of believers across social platforms, podcasts, courses, and national events. Known for his leadership and creativity, he continues to lead worship and serve in the local church, blending his deep faith with a commitment to equipping Christians to boldly live out biblical truth in every sphere of life. Matt is honored to help carry forward Charlie Kirk’s vision of a bold, faithful Church rooted in Scripture and truth. He and his wife live in Phoenix with their five children, where they remain dedicated to fostering a legacy of faith and discipleship.

Michelle Todd is the Events Administrative Director for Turning Point USA. As an Arizona Native, she started at TPUSA right after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Restaurant Management from Northern Arizona University. Michelle started her journey as an Events intern in 2019 and, from there, was hired full-time. She has been an integral part of this organization as our events and department have grown rapidly over the last few years. In August of 2020, she became the organization’s first event manager and helped oversee all event registration, venue, and speaker logistics. In September of 2022, she officially became our Events Administrative Director leading a team of outstanding administrators at Turning Points Headquarters.

Elizabeth, a first-generation American raised in Santa Barbara, California, was shaped by her family’s escape from Soviet persecution and the conservative values they instilled in her. Bilingual in English and Russian, she carries a deep appreciation for American freedoms and opportunities, which continue to inspire her both personally and professionally. Her educational journey began at Point Loma Nazarene University, but she transitioned to a full-time role as Executive Assistant to the COO of Turning Point USA in 2020. Demonstrating strong dedication and resilience, she completed her degree at Grand Canyon University while working in this demanding position.

Elizabeth’s passion for event planning emerged during her tenure as Executive Assistant and led her to officially join the events team in 2022. Now serving as Administrative Director of Events, she oversees administrative operations and helps manage major national and departmental events. She has played a key role in executing some of the country’s largest conservative gatherings, featuring high-profile speakers such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and others. Deeply committed to Turning Point USA’s mission, Elizabeth is passionate about preserving freedom and opportunity for future generations.

Kelsey Raymer is a California native and graduate of Carroll College in Helena, Montana, with a passion for creative strategy and digital communications. She began her marketing career freelancing for small businesses and later spent three years in the health IT industry, specializing in content development, partner marketing, and email strategy. Kelsey joined Turning Point USA in 2022 as Senior Digital Marketing Administrator. She progressed to Digital Marketing Manager and now serves as the Digital Marketing Director. In her current role, Kelsey oversees TPUSA’s email and SMS communications, paid media efforts, and marketing automation and data operations.

Audrey joined Turning Point USA in 2022 as a Social Media Administrator and later advanced to Social Media Manager before being promoted as Social Media Director.
In her role, Audrey oversees the organization’s overall social media strategy, platform growth, original content initiatives, and the coordination of social media efforts across primary and affiliated accounts. She develops and implements strategic plans to promote organizational priorities and works cross-departmentally to ensure cohesive messaging and effective digital communication.

Stacy Sheridan is the Senior Advancement Director for Turning Point USA. A California native, Stacy began her career at the Pepperdine University School of Law working directly with Dean Kenneth W. Starr.  She served as Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs before being promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor. Following her 8 years at Pepperdine University, Stacy helped renowned actor, Gary Sinise launch the Gary Sinise Foundation, which was created to support America’s active duty military, veterans, first responders and families of the fallen.  Stacy served as the Gary Sinise Foundation’s first Director of Development before she went on to serve as Executive Director of the Open Hearts Foundation, founded by actress and philanthropist Jane Seymour. Most recently, Stacy served as the Director of Major Gifts at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, in Simi Valley, CA. Stacy resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and children.

Josh Thifault has followed Jesus since 1997, and has been a leader in the conservative movement since 2012, when he managed 280 door knockers and phone bankers during the Presidential race. He was a Sophomore in college at the time, and recruited this team in 48 hours. Josh met Charlie Kirk at a Tea Party rally in 2014 and joined Turning Point USA. Over the last decade, Josh has worked tirelessly to build Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action into the two most powerful conservative organizations in America. Today, he serves as Senior Director of Major Gifts for both TPUSA and TPA. Josh lives in the Nashville area with his beautiful wife, Brenna, and their children.

For nearly 15 years, Joe has been involved in some of the biggest political races, worked on some of the largest programs in the country, and has driven winning strategies for clients working for and leading agencies. 
 
He consulted with and advised countless congressional campaigns at the NRCC during the 2020 cycle to implement new strategies to improve on their direct response programs, leading to an extraordinarily successful 2020 outcome. He continued this work by staying on with the NRCC for the 2022 cycle where he and his colleagues led their members to retaking the U.S. House of Representatives. 
 
Joe’s experience does not stop at big-budget political committees. Prior to his time at the NRCC, Joe led the Membership and Development programs at a center-right non-profit, creating new fundraising channels and improving membership marketing to legislators across the states.   
 
Joe’s work has earned his client base numerous awards including Pollie Awards, Reed Awards and Maxi Awards.  He also owns individual awards as recognized by his Peers such as the AAPC 40 under 40 distinction, multiple DMAW recognitions and other acknowledgements. 
 
He prides himself on being a student of the industry, while ensuring he gives back. He is an accredited Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and continues to learn from his peers. He formerly was on the Board of the DMAWEF and now sits on the Board of the DMAW. 
 
Joe is originally from Long Island, New York and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Jillian (his UConn sweetheart since they were both 19), their two young children, and their energetic dog Harley Quinn.

Chrissy Pacheco was born and raised in Illinois, went to Illinois Institute of Art and graduated from Daley College in 2017. Her shipping experience included being a supervisor at UPS and managing a UPS Store in downtown Chicago. Production experience includes learning the fundamentals at Curie’s graphic arts program, working at both a screen printer as well as a broker printer.

Chrissy started as the shipping associate in May of 2016 and advanced to her current position as the Strategic Director, located in Lemont over seeing both Lemont and Phoenix operations. Each semester this team produces the collateral materials to create and send out over 2,000 packages every semester including chapter banners, chapter promotion materials and a variety of kits. This team handles the coordination for events such as Culture War, CPAC, and Politicon as well as the production and logistics for all national and regional conferences held across the United States.

Bryce was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school. Following two overseas deployments and recognition as a key leader on his team, he transitioned his technical skills into civilian life, returning to Arizona to join a major semiconductor manufacturer. There, he became qualified on a wide range of advanced systems and was promoted into leadership positions. He later chose to pursue opportunities more closely aligned with his values, focusing on applying his skills and experience toward meaningful, mission-driven work.

Ryan Meyer serves as the Director of Asset Management at Turning Point USA. Ryan attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and earned a degree in Engineering Management, which he applied when he began working as an engineer in the Aerospace Industry. After two years of working in that business field, he received a note from someone asking him to consider applying to Turning Point. After deliberating with his wife and examining his deep passion for the conservative movement, he decided to apply and was subsequently offered his current role within the company.

Ryan oversees all facilities and fixed assets at Turning Point. He ensures that all departments have what they need so that they can operate efficiently and effectively to help share the conservative message that changes hearts and minds. Dwelling on his experience in process improvement and project management, he plans to strengthen the Asset Management Department to best serve the organization.

​A born Arizonan, Ryan lives in Southern Phoenix, where he and his wife are raising their first baby. He and his family are devoted to defending faith, family, and freedom since he believes the greatest change one can make takes place within his own home.

Marcus Wada is the Director of Strategy of Productions at Turning Point USA. Marcus has spent a decade in film/television production, working on films that were internationally distributed, and television shows such as Miss Universe. Marcus worked to raise financing for films, and producing films / tv.

Marcus left Hollywood to work in the conservative movement – producing and directing Turning Point USA’s documentary series Border Battle and The Great Global Reset.

Ramon Tangiora joined Turning Point USA in 2021, bringing more than a decade of experience in graphic design. He began his tenure in the Development Department, where he played an instrumental role in creating high-level creative assets that support TPUSA’s fundraising efforts, including donor collateral across print, digital, and large-format applications.

Prior to joining Turning Point USA, Ramon served on the Communications and Digital Solutions Team for Welfare Services at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this role, he contributed to the development of digital content for a variety of welfare and humanitarian initiatives, supporting large-scale charitable efforts through strategic visual communication.

In 2016, Ramon and his wife launched a successful clothing business, where he led all creative direction, branding, and social media strategy. Following the COVID-19 shutdowns and their impact on small businesses, Ramon developed a renewed commitment to advancing freedom and individual opportunity.
Today, Ramon applies his creative expertise and leadership in support of Turning Point USA’s mission, uniting strategic design with grassroots conservative principles to help continue building Charlie Kirk’s legacy and advancing the fight to save America.

Scott Polender has a broad ministry background, working in varied ministry and leadership roles. He was Director of Communications and Outreach at Caring Network Illinois, one of the nation’s largest pro-life/pregnancy help organizations, from 2019 to 2023. Previously he served in pastoral ministry at the historic St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, as University Minister at Holy Trinity Church Chicago and most recently as Lead Pastor at Bethany Chapel in Wheaton, IL. Scott has experience working in full-time ministry in Kathmandu, Nepal and in East Africa. He has worked in ministerial training as the Director of Training at the Charles Simeon Trust based in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and as an International Trainer at Leadership Resources International. Scott has vast campus ministry experience, including serving as a campus chaplain at the University of Chicago where he ran the “Text and Truth” lecture series with leading scholars in the different academic disciplines. He has worked with The Gospel Coalition in their TGC Learn initiative. He is a founding member of the Chicagoland Gospel Network. Scott is devoted to working for virtuous education that focuses on God as the foundation of education. He has an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and M.Div. and ThM degrees from Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. Scott lives outside Chicago with his wife Jodi and three children.

Ty responded to the gospel message at the age of 10. As a youth, he excelled at sports and ended up playing on back-to-back Big Ten football championship teams at Northwestern University. During college, Ty’s maturity in Christ grew as his understanding of God’s word began to shape his passions and pursuits, culminating in becoming the student president of a group that oversaw all the Christian ministries on campus. Since 2002, Ty has served as a theologically conservative pastor in mega, medium, and small church settings. He planted and pastored a local congregation for 13 years, during which time he counseled other local pastors and raised up numerous interns. In the area of athletics, Ty has worked for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), overseeing the region of Chicagoland, has been recognized as an Illinois state award winning athletic director for a private Christian school, and still serves as a Northwestern football mentor. In Christian education, Ty has taught high school senior bible, given direction to bible departments in local Christian schools, trained bible teachers, and instructed a college senior class on biblical leadership. Ty continues to work passionately to train and develop current and future Christian leaders, first and foremost, through Christ-centered character and sound doctrine. Additionally, he has written articles, created ministry resources, served as an election judge, and is a part of the We Love Police organization as a Trusted Advisor in Barrington, IL. Ty holds degrees from Northwestern University (BS), Moody Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctorate – under the late Haddon Robinson). Ty has been faithfully married to his wife since 2000. They committed to homeschooling their now young adult daughters to ensure a Christian foundation and biblical worldview, and also to train their children to live under the authority of scripture in all aspects of life. Over the years, the Gooch’s have distinctively opened their home and shared their lives with the next generation providing structure, discipline, and spiritual support. Ty’s greatest ministry is to his family, and his greatest calling is striving to count Christ as more significant than anything else (Philippians 3:7-11)

Renata DaSilva serves as the Director of Field Operations for TPUSA RISE, where she leads national field strategy, execution, and leadership development across a rapidly growing grassroots network.

Previously, she oversaw the launch and expansion of key national initiatives, helping build and scale leadership systems that activated communities across the country. She also played a pivotal role in supporting Pierre Wilson during the growth of what became the largest minority conservative grassroots network in the nation, contributing to its operational structure and national impact.

Renata is the creator of a national leadership development program designed to equip emerging leaders with the tools and confidence to lead at the local level. She also serves as an Ambassador for Berkeley County District Schools in South Carolina, impacting over 40,000 students.

Originally from Brazil and a self-taught English speaker, Renata’s journey reflects resilience, discipline, and purpose. As a wife and mother, she is deeply committed to strengthening families, developing leaders, and building communities that last.

Raquel Arias serves as Administrative Director of TPUSA RISE, she leads administrative operations and supports a national network of over 220,000 grassroots leaders and volunteers. She also oversees the organization’s digital ecosystem, ensuring platforms, data systems, and communication channels are aligned to support scale, efficiency, and engagement.

Raquel brings a cross-functional approach that integrates operations, workforce strategy, and analytics. Her experience includes leading full-cycle recruitment, developing organizational policies, and implementing systems that optimize performance, streamline communication, and enhance decision-making.

As a first-generation American, she brings a perspective shaped by opportunity, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility—values that inform her leadership and commitment to building high-performing teams and scalable systems.

Raquel holds a Master of Science in Information Technology Management and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. Grounded in her faith, she is a proud wife and mother of two, and considers her family her greatest achievement.

Hailey graduated from Biola University and has been involved in TPUSA since 2020 after the start of COVID. Having been a Conservative Christian growing up in California, she felt immediately encouraged by Charlie’s boldness in facing cultural issues after feeling isolated in her values growing up.

She began attending events and shortly after launched her career in the HR department. Hailey is passionate about growing the mission of Turning Point USA through the growth and professional development of staff and supporting the organization by bringing a trusted voice to this department.

Hailey is first and foremost a follower of Jesus and desires everyone to come to saving faith in Him. Turning Point USA has changed her life and hopes its mission will bring others to know true freedom.