Wyly Walker

Wyly Walker is a Digital Marketing Director on our digital team, where he guides Convergence’s digital client programs on creative content and how best to integrate performance marketing techniques into digital campaigns. 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

Kathleen Ashmore is a Digital Marketing Manager 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

Michelle Barrientos is a Client Strategy Manager 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

Highlights:
  • Interned on the DeSantis for Governor Campaign
  • Digital Marketing Intern for Harris Media

Michael Bonilla

Michael Bonilla is a Client Strategy Manager 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

Tyler Q. Houlton

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.
Houlton is nationally recognized for his successful navigation of high-profile issues in the press. At the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Houlton served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs and Press Secretary. In this capacity he was a “trusted adviser” to multiple former Secretaries of Homeland Security and successfully “managed the department’s public response during a number of high-profile security incidents, the midterm elections and hurricane season.
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

Austin Fiala is Senior Director of Digital Marketing 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

Mark Jennings is a Client Strategy Manager 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