Tyler Melvin is the Operations Coordinator at Convergence. Day to day, Tyler handles all scheduling for the partners of the company, communicating with campaign teams across the country. Additionally, he handles managerial tasks at the Convergence office in Alexandria. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in History in 2022.
Highlights:
Presidential lifetime achievement award recipient for community service in 2018.
Social Media Manager and President for the Mississippi State speech and debate team from 2019-2021.
Wyly Walker is a Client Strategy Manager at Convergence. As a member of the Digital team, Wyly brings a combination of campaign and digital experience to the table. He graduated from Patrick Henry College with a degree in American Politics and Policy and currently lives in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Highlights:
Wyly developed a passion for politics at 11 years old and has been volunteering and working for campaigns ever since. Notable campaigns include: Ted Cruz for President (2016), Bryce Reeves for Lt. Governor (2017), Nick Freitas for U.S. Senate (2018).
Wyly enjoys hiking, campaign, and all things outdoors.
Kathleen Ashmore is a Prospecting Analyst at Convergence. As a member of the Digital team, Kathleen helps run internal email/peer-to-peer list offerings, coordinates with external prospecting vendors, and monitors email and peer-to-peer deliverability. Kathleen emphasizes the importance of data driven decision making in order to increase fundraising efforts for all digital clients. Kathleen graduated from Wofford College with a degree in both Humanities and Spanish and lives in DC.
Highlights:
Ecommerce intern at SCOUT bags where she analyzed the retail website daily and worked with the e-comm platform Magento
Marketing intern at the Hughes Agency in Greenville, SC where she learned all things behind PR, marketing, tracking data, and graphic design
Interned with US Congressman Trey Gowdy in the Greenville, SC office where her communication skills as well as verbal and written skills were strengthened
Michelle Barrientos is a Client Strategy Analyst at Convergence. As a member of the Digital team, Michelle assists with developing and executing strategic marketing campaigns. Michelle graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a degree in Public Relations and Political Science and currently lives in Arlington, VA
Michael Bonilla is a Client Strategy Analyst at Convergence. As a member of the Digital team, Michael works to drive engagement for clients by employing various marketing and design strategies. Michael graduated from Boston College with a degree in Political Science and Film and currently lives in Alexandria, VA.
Highlights:
Interned in Convergence’s Production department
Interned in Rep. Joe Wilson’s (SC-02) congressional office, leading constituent tours of the U.S Capitol
Assisted in production of multiple documentaries focused on WWII Germany and Hitler’s Mein Kampf to be distributed in Europe through the Boston College Film Department
Megan Pariseau is a Content Manager at Convergence Media. As a member of the Digital team, she is responsible for crafting effective fundraising messages and utilizing data analytics to lead copywriting, creative and content strategy. Megan currently lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
Highlights:
Produced fresh, innovative work that translates into compelling digital experiences and print materials for audiences in all 50 states
Trained, hired, and oversaw a team of creative copywriters at Majority Strategies
Established writing department standards as it relates to production, quality, and productivity
Tyler Q. Houlton is the Vice President of Public Affairs at Convergence and has worked at the intersection of public policy, media relations and politics throughout his career in a wide variety of senior level positions in the Executive Branch, on Capitol Hill and on political campaigns.
Houlton is a skilled communicator with nearly two decades of public affairs and issue advocacy experience navigating the most difficult media environments, driving strategic communications goals, leading crisis management, and shaping and defending public policy on the international stage as well as the local, state and national levels.
After managing the Office of Public Affairs at DHS, Houlton served as DHS Deputy Chief of Staff, where he oversaw and managed the daily operations of the Office of the Secretary. Houlton also oversaw the External Affairs of the Department, including the Office of Public Affairs, the Office of Legislative Affairs, and the Office of Public Engagement. For his service to our nation, Houlton was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Department of Homeland Security’s highest honor.
Houlton previously served at the U.S. Department of State where he advised the Department on critical foreign policy issues and helped shape our nation’s response to global challenges in both foreign and domestic media markets. Prior to his service in the Trump Administration, Houlton was a Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives and a spokesman and policy advisor for the National Republican Congressional Committee. He has a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University and a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Highlights:
Served in multiple senior level roles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, and Press Secretary
Senior Advisor at the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, U.S. State Department
Chief of Staff, U.S. House of Representatives
Spokesman and Policy Advisor, National Republican Congressional Committee
Maverick PAC’s Future 40
Author of Presidential Politics and the Ayatollah: The Impact of the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis on the U.S. Presidential Election of 1980.
Austin Fiala is a Director of Client Strategy at Convergence Media. Specializing in housefile fundraising, new donor acquisition, and voter engagement, Austin provides a data-driven approach to help our clients meet their fundraising and political needs. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with degrees in both Public Policy Leadership and French. He currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Highlights:
Managed strategy for all channels of the RNC’s Digital Fundraising program in 2021
Managed and executed nationwide peer-to-peer prospecting SMS for Donald J. Trump for President in 2020
Former Student Body Attorney General and member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of Mississippi
Mark Jennings is a Client Strategy Analyst at Convergence Media. As a member of the Digital team, Mark assists in developing fundraising programs for various clients. He graduated from the University of Arizona and currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Highlights:
Served as 3rd Vice Chair of the Arizona LD9 Republican Party
Assisted with grassroots operations for Yvette Herrell’s successful 2020 campaign and served as her Staff Assistant in Congress
Assisted with grassroots operations in Northern Virginia for Glenn Youngkin’s successful campaign for governor in 2021
Makenzie is an Associate Writer/Producer at Convergence. Makenzie researches, collects assets, writes scripts and develops concepts. Prior to joining Convergence, Makenzie worked as an elements producer and scriptwriter for a national political talk show on One America News Network.
She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Strategic Communications and Public Relations and will be graduating with a Master of Science in Marketing from Liberty University. Makenzie worked at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and interned for the Republican Party of Louisiana. She now resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
