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Our Story
Elevate Strategies was founded by three Utahns, to show that fighting for what is right is worth it. The goal is straightforward: to help build a bench of talented campaign staff and candidates to bring balance to the state of Utah. The founders of Elevate all have national campaign experience and have found themselves back home in Salt Lake City professionalizing Democratic campaigns, innovating, and bringing tactics to a place that has very seldomly seen local campaigns do more than put up yard signs. Elevate strives to deliver a high quality of work and demonstrate that professionalized campaigns, organizations, and public servants can exist even in places where people least expect it.
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We all have two things in common: our love of Utah and intense optimism.
Gabi Finlayson
Senior Partner
Gabi has experience working in some of the highest-profile political battlegrounds in the country. She worked on multiple campaigns in Utah, in the U.S. Senate, and in Iowa for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign. She ran a statewide campaign in New Hampshire focused on youth engagement for President Biden’s General Election race. She stayed in New England, running two campaigns in Boston: a mayoral race and a state Senate special election. After working in the State House as the youngest Chief of Staff in modern Massachusetts history, Gabi moved back to Utah with the goal of giving candidates and elected officials the elevated management and guidance they deserve.
Jackie Morgan
Senior Partner
Jackie is a seasoned political strategist, with years of experience working on political and issue campaigns, public affairs, and legislation. She has worked in Utah politics for over 10 years, helping numerous campaigns, candidates, and causes including as the Deputy Communications Director on the Mike Weinholtz for Governor campaign, Volunteer Director on Better Boundaries, and Campaign Manager or Senior Advisor for more than 25 local candidates. She most recently served as the National Campaigns Director at Stand for Children where she worked with nonprofit and advocacy organizations to drive educational equity and racial justice across the country.
Ben Haynes
Senior Partner
Ben is a former candidate himself and most recently the Communications Director for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. He got his start in local politics working on a number of races before spending two years working during the primary for Hillary Clinton in UT, NH, ME, WI, and PA. Ben brings a unique lens to his work by combining his experience in strategic communications with the heart of an organizer. Widely known as the best communications strategist in the state, Ben has earned that title with hundreds of successful media events, near-daily coverage, and excellent relationships with reporters.
Ben Anderson
Communications Director
A born and raised Utahn, Ben grew up in Logan and graduated from Weber State with a political science degree. Ever-optimistic, Ben has been working to create change and build progressive power in Utah for more than half a decade. With experience working on campaigns and causes from the local to the statewide level, and skills in strategic communication, he is dedicated to creating the long-term infrastructure needed to win in Utah and across the country. In his free time, he enjoys music (mostly Taylor Swift), spending time in nature, and playing with his dog, Finley.
Tia Jochimsen
Operations Director
Although a Utah transplant, Tia is invested in change-making and enacting fair and equal representation for all Utahns. Tia is originally from Wisconsin but ventured to Utah to attend Weber State University, graduating with a degree in Communication with an emphasis in Civic Advocacy. She brings professional experience from corporate businesses and internships with the Wisconsin State Legislature and The Borgen Project. Tia takes great pride in prioritizing candidate relationships and efficiency across the Elevate team. Tia has recently learned to ski and also enjoys spending time throughout the year on hiking trails and traveling. On most days you can find Tia wrapped in a blanket watching reality shows and planning her next adventure with her partner, Joseph.