Partners
Dave Hageman
CEO
Dave is a battle-tested strategist for the modern campaign era, having commanded operations from the state house to the U.S. Senate. As CEO, he instills a culture of relentless execution, ensuring that every piece of the Victory machine pushes your campaign closer to the win number. When he isn’t steering the firm’s national strategy, he is raising the next generation of leaders with his wife and four children.
Brian Dumas
Chairman
Brian is the architect of the Victory philosophy, having built the firm on the belief that winning requires both aggressive strategy and creative dominance. As Chairman, he provides the high-level counsel that has guided hundreds of candidates, companies, and causes through their most critical battles. He remains a fixture in the political landscape, recognized not just for winning races but for shaping the map itself.
Steve Michael
President
Steve acts as the operational backbone for campaigns across twelve states, translating national political trends into local wins. As President, he oversees the intricate logistics of the firm’s political operations, ensuring that no detail is missed in the heat of the cycle. From the South Carolina coast to the Midwest, his footprint is defined by a track record of disciplined, hard-fought victories.
Christian Hulen
Chief Development Officer
Christian is a veteran strategist who connects local campaigns with national firepower. As Chief Development Officer, he leverages deep relationships with major organizations like the RAGA, RGA, and RSLC to ensure our clients have the resources and air cover they need to survive. A native Missourian with a national scope, he treats every campaign with the intensity of a championship round.
Kelli Grubbs
Chief Financial Officer & General Councel
Kelli brings the exacting standards of a former attorney to the financial helm of the company. As CFO, she manages the complex fiscal and legal health of the enterprise, ensuring that Victory’s growth never outpaces its stability. She balances the demands of a multi-state corporation with the same precision she applied to her legal career and raising her four children.
Wayne Yocum
Chief Creative Officer
Wayne holds a Juris Doctorate, bringing a rigorous legal framework to the chaotic world of political design. As Chief Creative Officer, he ensures your campaign’s message is not only visually dominant but structurally sound, blending the art of persuasion with the logic of the law. He leverages that rare combination of creative and analytical thinking to produce work that doesn’t just look good—it wins arguments.
Consultants
Matthew Pagano
Vice President of Political Development
Matthew operates as a multi-theater strategist, having orchestrated campaigns across nine states from the Southwest to the Midwest. He specializes in the high-stakes machinery of Independent Expenditures and ballot measures, translating complex coalition data into decisive victories for State Parties and candidates alike. Based in North Texas, he applies the lessons of military history to modern political strategy, spending his downtime studying the great campaigns of the past or exploring the American outdoors.
Brett Dinkins
Vice President of Political Operations
Brett specializes in winning the “unwinnable” fights in high-stakes districts. He combines data-driven targeting with old-school trench warfare to flip seats and protect majorities. A winner of multiple Pollie Awards for Political Campaign Excellence, he approaches every election and general campaign with the singular goal of outworking the opposition.
Brit Schiel
Wisconsin State Director and Digital Communications Strategist
Brit operates as a dual threat, bridging the gap between on-the-ground field operations and digital air superiority. As Wisconsin State Director, he adapts the firm’s messaging strategies to fit the rapidly shifting landscape of the upper Midwest. He brings an adaptive, resilient mindset to the work, ensuring that when the political environment changes, your campaign stays one step ahead.
Operations Team
Briana Langlois
Technology Director
Briana is the builder of the digital infrastructure that powers our clients’ success. As Technology Director, she translates complex technical requirements into user-friendly platforms, ensuring your campaign’s web presence is robust, secure, and effective. She leads the tech division with a focus on problem-solving, ensuring that your message never goes dark when voters are looking.
Kevin Cartwright
Creative Director
Kevin translates political strategy into visual dominance. As Creative Director, he builds cohesive brand identities that stand out in a crowded news feed, ensuring your campaign looks like the front-runner from Day One. His mastery of every medium—from print to Virtual Reality—ensures that your narrative remains consistent and compelling across every screen.
Cory Done
Research Director
Cory is the architect of your opponent’s worst day. As Research Director, he specializes in forensic vetting, translating complex legislative records into plain-English attack lines that actually move voters. He gives clients the benefit of high-level intelligence without the bloat, turning raw data into the ammunition needed to define the race.
Leslie Pike, CMA
Director of Business Operations
Leslie serves as the guardian of the firm’s operational efficiency. As Director of Business Operations and a Certified Management Accountant, she ensures that client accounts are managed with absolute transparency and precision. She brings a competitive grit to the back office, channeling the same intensity she uses in amateur roller derby to keep the firm’s numbers in line.
Josh McInnes
Web and Virtual Reality Developer
Josh operates at the bleeding edge of political technology, turning abstract ideas into immersive experiences. As Web and VR Developer, he builds the digital worlds that allow candidates to bypass traditional media and connect directly with voters. He is passionate about solving the unique technical challenges that come with a growing, modern electorate.
Jared Allen
Web Developer
Jared builds the logic that keeps your digital campaign running smoothly. As a Web Developer with a strong foundation in Computer Science, he optimizes the backend performance and search engine visibility of your online assets. He treats code with the discipline of a craftsman, ensuring that your site is fast, functional, and ready for high-traffic surges.
Ben Muehleisen
Head of Production
Ben captures the 3-second visual hook that defines an entire campaign narrative. As Head of Production, he specializes in making candidates feel authentic on camera, turning hours of raw footage into streamlined, emotional ads that resonate. He is a master of visual storytelling, ensuring that the human element of your campaign always shines through the lens.
Charlie Puyear
Director of Content
Charlie builds the teams that build the narrative. As Director of Content, he deploys innovative media strategies that cut through the noise, a skill that earned the firm a Pollie Award for best digital campaign. He leads with a “fight first” mentality, organizing creative assets to ensure maximum impact when the campaign enters the red zone.