Staff Profiles

We acknowledge the challenges of a political application that must also maintain bias control. VotingSmarter is dedicated to open and transparent leadership. For all those interested, below are profiles of our current staff. To see the graphics created — check out our Instagram highlight @VotingSmarter.

Listed below are the current and former team members. The above map is a graphic from the Fall of 2020.

(Updated: Feb 2, 2021)

CURRENT TEAM —

Executive Team:

Terry Crandall

Terry is the founder and CEO of VotingSmarter. He brings experience in the worlds of presidential campaigning, economics, entrepreneurship, and real estate to the team. By day, he loves to hike, and at night you’ll find him enjoying a glass of good wine. Terry is interested in education policy (after all, he is the father of twins) and supports vouchers for K-12 schooling.

Natasha Romero-Salas

Natasha is a graduate of Chapman University and Co-Founder of VotingSmarter. As CMO, she currently leads the marketing and public relations team. Natasha enjoys finding the best places to eat and going to drive-in movies, and would love it if all immigrants had an easier pathway to becoming U.S. citizens.

Anchit Roy

Anchit works on the Executive team, analyzing our finances and data. Alongside VotingSmarter’s finances, Anchit keeps an eye on the national debt, which he worries is a risk to the economy. With a background in engineering, he still likes to keep up with industry trends while sipping a cup of coffee.

Anubhav Tripathi

Anubhav is VotingSmarter’s CRO and a co-founder of the company. He has a medical background, and has interned in hospitals across the world, including a half-year stint in Africa. Alongside his work with VotingSmarter, he is pursuing studies in law and economics. When he isn’t working hard, you’ll find him relaxing with a good book. His love of literature has led him to a firm belief in free speech.

Robin Cain

Robin is one of VotingSmarter’s co-founders and our COO. She likes to stay active and help others — that often involves baking cookies! A lover of the great outdoors, she loves dogs and wants to protect gun rights for hunting and sports.

Advisory Board:

Scott Cohen

Scott is an advisor on VotingSmarter’s board. As an entrepreneur with years of experience in the business world, Scott values fiscal conservatism. As an active, extroverted person who loves to engage with people from all over, he has a socially liberal political outlook.

Martin Gomez

Martin has a background in corporate law and works as an advisor to VotingSmarter’s team. In life and in his politics, he loves to see an even playing field; his favorite sport is soccer, and his political passion is for economic equality!

Marketing Team:

Trevor Conway

Trevor is a graduate from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. in Business Administration and he works on the Instagram team with VotingSmarter. He was born and raised in Costa Mesa, CA and loves going to the beach and traveling. He can also talk endlessly about anything UFC. Trevor believes freedom of speech is our most important freedom and should always be protected. He also welcomes open dialogue no matter the stance and thinks it will cultivate a better, more understanding society.

Caroline Chang

Caroline is a senior at the University of California, Irvine majoring in International Studies and works with VotingSmarter’s marketing and Tiktok team. She moved to the states from Taiwan when she was 15 and loves to try out as many restaurants as she can. She doesn’t just like to dine out, she also enjoys taking snapshots of the food and blasting it across social media. To finish off the night, a good scary movie is her favorite to watch. Caroline believes that healthcare is a human right and should be free for all to benefit.

Sean Duffy

Sean is a graduate from Arizona State University with a B.A. in creative writing and is a content writer with VotingSmarter. He loves to write, plus talk about politics a little too much. He’s also a big cinema and gaming nerd. He can easily go on a tangent about any movie or game, and ramble your ear off for hours. Sean is a self-professed Bernie bro and believes the government should focus on providing free healthcare, education, and housing instead of focusing on the whims of the ultra wealthy.

Yamato Eguchi

Yamato is a sophomore at California State University studying Marketing and Economics and works with VotingSmarter’s marketing team. Yama was born in Japan but grew up in Irvine, CA and fell in love with all things skating and the culture behind it. He’s an outdoorsy guy who also loves to sit down and read a good book, whether it be biographies, science fiction, or romance. But his true passion? Food! He’ll chow down on anything and everything. Yama wants climate change to be a frontline issue and something everyone should acknowledge; his other top priorities include education and healthcare.

Megan Johnson

Megan is a student at Chapman University and works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. She loves cats, coffee, and Criminal Minds, but she hates climate change and wants the issue to be a top priority.

Christopher Putlock

Christopher is a student at Loyola Marymount University and works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. He is pretty cynical, especially when considering the power that big tech companies have accumulated. When he’s not thinking about politics, he enjoys walks on the beach and eating sunflower seeds.

Political Research Team:

Marisa Turner

Marisa is a student of international relations at the University St Andrews and works on VotingSmarters political research team. Marisa loves to stay active; she is a scuba diver and competitive highland dancer. She supports a woman’s right to choose.

FORMER TEAM —

Ana Alfaro

Ana is an intern on the marketing team. She enjoys reading, drinking espresso, cycling around her home city of Los Angeles, and advocating for universal basic income!

Britney Aliaga

Britney, a rising high school senior, is an intern in VotingSmarter’s marketing team. She gets pretty passionate about gun legislation, but her mastery of Spotify playlists helps her to stay chill.

Ziba Atak

Ziba is an MBA student at Chapman University and works with VotingSmarter’s Marketing team. She loves animals, fancy drinks (tea by day, champagne by night), and Avatar: The Last Airbender. She doesn’t identify with any political party; she just wants the world to be fairer and an end to systemic racism.

Laura Bea

Laura is a freshman at the University of Miami, and works with VotingSmarter’s marketing and political research teams. As a musician, traveller, blogger and student, she loves to live life to the full — and wants migrant children on the border to have the same opportunities.

Annie Brennan

Annie is VotingSmarter’s resident graphic design maestro, and is currently pursuing her BFA at Chapman University. She is passionate about criminal justice reform — although it’s best to wait until she has had her cup of tea to talk about it!

Logan Derbes

Logan is a student at the University of Alabama, and works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing team. She is an organized person who loves to plan parties and organize to promote women’s reproductive rights. To relax, she enjoys walking on the beach and a good glass of wine.

Connor Dobson

Connor is a content writer for VotingSmarter. He’s a smart guy; while at Wagner College, he got good grades in science classes he didn’t even attend! Speaking of science, Connor has seen the data on climate change, and wants the government to do more about it!

Audrey Dilig

Audrey is a business marketing student at CSU Fullerton and is bringing her talents to VotingSmarter’s marketing team. She holds strong opinions on divisive issues: she wants increased funding for sex education and Planned Parenthood resources, and she thinks that soy milk and pugs are just awesome!

Alexander Ding

Alexander is an App Developer for VotingSmarter. He loves baking and classical music, and is interested in reforming America’s voting systems.

Joanna Falla

Joanna is a political research analyst who studies environmental science and political science at Chapman University. She wants the global community to put climate change at the top of the agenda. For anyone asking, her sun sign is Gemini, her moon sign is Taurus, rising Leo (#iykyk).

Hannah Fetherstonhaugh

Hannah is a sociology student at Chapman University and works as an intern for VotingSmarter. Politically, she aligns with Bernie Sanders, and sees climate change as the biggest priority facing the world. When she isn’t worrying about the environment, she enjoys sampling snacks at Trader Joes!

Ingelbert Figueroa

Ingelbert is an application developer for VotingSmarter. He’s still on the fence about the political parties, but he knows that healthcare shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg during a pandemic! He likes to relax by playing video games and snacking on alfajores.

Michael Galati

Michael Galati is a student at New York University who works on VotingSmarer’s Political Research team. While he is confident in his views, he loves to engage with different opinions. This applies to political issues like healthcare, but also to cultural icons like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande!

Adam Gernandt

Adam brings a background in Minneapolis campaign politics to his role as a political researcher with VotingSmarter. No stranger to the complex outcomes of elections, he favors abolishing the electoral college. While he waits for that to happen, he’s at his happiest sipping a glass of kombucha.

Breanna Guo

Breanna is a member of VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. A student of International Politics and Economics at Middlebury College, she loves to travel and learn new languages. She also has a passion for sports like skiing, and believes that female athletes should receive the same pay as their male counterparts.

Sydney Kerl

Sydney is a student at Chapman University and works with VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. She is a strong supporter of equal pay for equal work, and is determined to break the Glass Ceiling. She likes to relax by dancing and baking banana bread.

Derick Kim

Derick works on UI/UX design for VotingSmarter. As a resident of Southern California, he loves to take long walks on local beaches. As a graduate of U.C. Irvine’s UI/UX Bootcamp, he wants more emphasis on vocational and technical schools.

Caleb Knapp

Caleb is a student of history and politics at Oberlin College, and works on VotingSmarter’s political research team. His top political priority is protecting Social Security. He always loves to hang out with friends, watching the sunset.

Harrison Lee

Harrison is a recent graduate of UC Riverside and works with the VotingSmarter Marketing Team. He loves to get out and about, whether it’s through exercise or photography, and is an avid Lakers fan. He is open-minded on politics, but holds onto his principles, including every human’s right to healthcare.

Carolena Lund

Carolena is a student at the University of Dubuque and works with VotingSmarter’s Political Research team. She is an advocate of women’s rights, a lover of dogs, and a keen player of video games!

Josh Martinez

Josh is the co-founder and CTO of VotingSmarter. He loves yoga, surfing, and pardons for nonviolent drug offenders. He’s happy to share books, playlists, and recommendations for campaign spending reform.

Riley McMackin

Riley is a Public Policy student at USC and works on VotingSmarter’s Political Research team. She loves spontaneous adventures, and wishes more people could be free to take them — which is why she wants to end mandatory minimums for prison terms

Brynna Mitchner

Brynna is a student at the University of Alabama who works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing team. She loves to go to concerts, and supports the legalization of marijuana.

Ryan Nahmias

Ryan is a student at Chapman University who studies political science and Leadership. He works on VotingSmarter’s political outreach and research team. He loves to help people, loves sports, and spending time with family.

Aubrey Nguyen

Aubrey is a student at U.C. Irvine and works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. Politically she prioritizes women’s equality and rights, and looks for candidates that best match those interests. In her free time, Aubrey likes eating out, hiking and going to music festivals.

Isaac Oh

Isaac is a recent graduate of CSU Fullerton who works with VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. He loves team sports and watching movies. While he has a committed relationship with the political right, he opposes building the border wall, but he supports moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Thuyvi Pham

Thuyvi recently graduated from CSU Long Beach with a B.S. in marketing and minor in public relations. She loves to explore her food palette and is always up for a cheesy rom-com or action-filled romance. Thuyvi strongly believes that minorities, especially women should have equal rights and fair workplace treatment.

Dominic Puntoriero

Dominic studies economics and Mandarin at Chapman University and works on VotingSmarter’s Political Research Team. He is a foodie who loves to try new tastes, and supports constitutional gun rights.

Madelyn Rairdon

Madelyn is a student of business and education at Chapman University, who works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. She is outgoing and loves to hike and explore new places. Her education studies have led her to think that the education system needs reforms and equal pay for all.

Alexis Rindner

Alexis is an economics student at Boston University, and works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing team. She has a lot of strong opinions on issues like free trade policies, but the real deal breaker for her is cats — love ’em or leave!

Julian Sanchez

Julián works on VotingSmarter’s Political Research team. A student of political science at Northwestern University, he recognizes the need for bipartisan cooperation, especially in order to tackle climate change for future generations

Divya Sasidhar

Divya is a political science and psychology student at NYU, and works with VotingSmarter’s political research team. She identifies as a Democrat, and opposes laws that disenfranchise felons. She has used her time in lockdown learning to crochet!

Samantha Szuhaj

Samantha is a student of political science, international studies, and Spanish at the University of Michigan and works with VotingSmarter’s research team. She identifies as a left-leaning Democrat, a supporter of free healthcare, and a dog lover!

Ruairi Vaughan

Ruairi is a content creator at VotingSmarter. Before coming onto the team, he was an elections analyst for a progressive think tank in the Pacific Northwest. Ruairi loves (and I mean, loves) dogs, and is passionate about ending U.S. foreign wars.

Jen Zavala

Jen is a recent graduate of Cal State Fullerton University who works on VotingSmarter’s Marketing Team. Jen supports decriminalizing marijuana and closing the gender pay gap. She loves to chill out at the beach and enjoy a glass of red wine in the evenings.

Ada Zhong

Ada is a student at Northwestern University and works on VotingSmarter’s marketing team. She believes urgent climate action is essential to build a sustainable future. In her free time, Ada loves rom coms and shopping at Trader Joe’s.

Compiled by the VotingSmarter Marketing team.

Edited by: Connor Dobson (Blog Editor & Podcast Producer), Sean Duffy (Content Writer) and Natasha Romero-Salas (CMO)