Who We Are
Experts in Phone-Based Outreach
CampaignHQ is the top Republican phone vendor in America.
For nearly three decades, our team has helped campaigns and advocacy organizations make smart use of their budgets by delivering their message to the right people, at the right time, with messages that change outcomes. We’re trusted for live calls, telephone townhalls, and full-service texting when speed, accuracy, and reliability matter and there’s no room for missteps.
Meet the CampaignHQ Family
Nicole Schlinger
President
Nicole Schlinger has over 25 years of experience in grassroots voter contact, issue mobilization, and strategic campaign consulting. After cutting her teeth on two Congressional races and as Finance Director for the Republican Party of Iowa, Nicole founded CampaignHQ in 1999 with the goal of helping conservative candidates sprint across the finish line and win their elections.
She played a key role in four Presidential campaigns, including Mitt Romney’s 2007 Iowa Straw Poll win and Ted Cruz’s 2016 Iowa caucus victory. Under her leadership, CampaignHQ has grown to serve thousands of conservative causes and Republican campaigns, delivering millions of high-quality, effective live calls and text messages. Nicole has twice been named a “Top Political Influencer” by Campaigns & Elections magazine, and named one of the “50 Most Wanted Republicans” by the Des Moines Register. Nicole Schlinger was born in New York and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, but she considers herself an Iowan at heart. Nicole is dog-mom to Martha Waffles, a spunky rescue wiener dog who serves as CampaignHQ’s Chief Canine Officer. In her (admittedly rare) free time, Nicole enjoys reading, shopping for Kate Spade handbags and shoes, and spending time with Waffles. When it comes to winning, Nicole certainly knows what’s fashionable.
Walter Haynie
Chief Operating Officer
CampaignHQ’s resident jack of all trades, Walter Haynie, has held many roles at the company after joining the team as a Campaign Director in late 2017. Now serving as Chief Operating Officer, Walter brings all the pieces of his experience together to make the CampaignHQ experience ideal not only for fellow employees, but clients, voters, and constituents alike.
Originally from Utah, Walter now lives on a small acreage in Iowa with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in the great outdoors. At CampaignHQ, Walter will leave no stone unturned to help our clients win.
Ken Tracy
Chief Client Officer
Ken Tracy brings nearly two decades of telephone voter contact experience to CampaignHQ, but that’s not all. A proven leader and problem-solver, Ken has helped countless clients and organizations find success, even when the odds were stacked against them. Originally from Minnesota, Ken first joined the CHQ team in 2016, and now serves as Chief Client Officer.
By garnering a firsthand understanding of the frustrations that campaigns face, Ken has become an expert at delivering clients’ messages efficiently and effectively. In his free time, Ken enjoys spending time with his family and watching his daughter play competitive ice hockey. When it comes to winning elections, Ken ensures that CampaignHQ’s clients are never on thin ice.
Spencer Flake
Executive Vice President of Client Success
Spencer has a proven track record of success in fundraising, campaign management, and operations & logistics, and at CHQ, he is known for his strategic mindset and ability to manage complex projects. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing with his wife and three children. Once a fishing guide in Alaska, Spencer has what it takes to help clients catch a big one.
Kyle Adams
Senior Vice President of Client Success
A Connecticut native, Kyle Adams has been interested in politics for as long as he can remember. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut with his degree in Political Science and Economics, Kyle left the Constitution State and moved to Washington, D.C.
There, he joined a conservative, data-minded consulting firm and built several years’ worth of experience in political data, project management, and client services. After that, he joined the CampaignHQ team as Vice President of Client Success in October of 2023. In his free time, Kyle enjoys hiking, cheering on the Chicago Cubs, and consuming New Haven-style pizza.
Nick Elliott
VP of Strategic Growth
Nick has spent the last decade of his life working with numerous campaigns and organizations in the United States and across Europe. A native of the Netherlands, Nick got his Bachelor’s degree from Saxion University in Deventer and an MBA from Ole Miss.
In his role at CampaignHQ, Nick partners closely with clients to deliver tailored solutions and strategic insights. He is known for his thoughtful approach, reliability, and commitment to helping clients succeed.
Dan Grasso
VP of Client Success
Dan was born and raised in California. He graduated in the top 10% of his class and has spent time in the trenches on multiple campaigns. Outside of work, he enjoys backpacking, tennis, and growing bonsai. With Dan on your projects, they’ll be bearing fruit in no time.
Jessica Wilcox
Director of Support
The team knows they can count on Jess at the drop of a hat. She claims that she makes a great trivia partner. When it comes to helping clients win, she knows all the right answers.
Heather Ibanez
Executive Assistant
Heather is originally from the lone star state and brings over a decade of experience as part of an administrative support team. A return Peace Corps Volunteer from Ecuador (2022), she has a passion for travel and an unwavering dedication to making things run smoothly.
Henry MeMatteo
Campaign Director
After graduating from Boston College, Henry dove straight into campaign life and never slowed down. He’s worked on some of the biggest races in conservative politics, including Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign and Alex Mooney’s Senate run. Those experiences taught him how to move fast, stay sharp, and deliver under pressure. Before joining Campaign HQ, Henry got his start in conservative radio—learning how to connect with audiences and craft messages that cut through the noise. Now, he brings that same energy and focus to help clients win.
Madelynn McLaughlin
Campaign Director
A recent Liberty University graduate, Madelynn brings fresh energy and a passion for helping campaigns hit their goals. She thrives on being part of the action—making sure every project runs smoothly and every detail moves the mission forward. Outside of work, you’ll find her unwinding with a good book or spending time in her garden. Whether she’s digging into data or dirt, Madelynn approaches everything she does with focus and heart.
Christian Pavik
Support Team Supervisor
Christian came to CampaignHQ after years working in international higher education and is an alumnus of Catholic University of America. He is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer—Cameroon 2012, and Philippines 2024. He has a passion for international relations, foreign languages, and travel. He is proud to support your campaign’s success across all 50 states.
Margaret Knee
Full Stack Engineer
Margaret is a software developer with a background in biomolecular sciences and a knack for breaking down complex challenges. A New York native, she taught herself to code and previously worked on public sector software that had to stay up to date with changing state and county legislation. She brings a sharp, analytical mindset and a love of solving complex puzzles to CampaignHQ’s work.
Malungisa Mndzebele
Data Management Specialist
Malu hails from the Kingdom of Eswatini in Africa. Working at CampaignHQ, Malu and the team get to work on a wide range of issues that make a significant impact. In his free time, he loves to go for a run. Malu will go the extra mile to make sure you get your high quality data back FAST.
Steven Theobald
Data Management Specialist
With a Master’s in Applied Politics from the University of Akron and nearly a decade of campaign and data experience, Steven knows what it takes to win. He’s spent years in the trenches of political operations—building strategy, managing data, and helping candidates turn numbers into results. At CampaignHQ, Steven brings that deep campaign insight to every project. He’s detail-driven, dependable, and knows how to keep things moving fast without missing the small stuff.
Jennifer Johannes
Office Administrator
Jennifer has years of knowledge and experience in office administration and she loves combining that expertise with her passion for politics. A fun fact about her is that she has only flown on an airplane a couple of times. With Jen in charge of the office, our planes are always on time.
In Loving Memory
Sue Helleso
Martha Waffles
Chief Canine Officer
Waffles loves Greenies, bacon, and zoomies—in that order. This spunky little rescue dog keeps things exciting around the CampaignHQ office. No one keeps elected officials in line and makes them heel better than Waffles and the CHQ team.
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