OUR TEAM

MANAGING PARTNER / FOUNDER

TJ Helmstetter is a political strategist, campaign leader, and communications pro with 20 years experience. He cut his teeth on congressional campaigns and at progressive organizations including the Working Families Party and Progressive Change Campaign Committee. In the 2016 cycle, he held multiple roles at the Democratic National Committee, where he oversaw regional media in a dozen states, led rapid response against multiple Republican candidates, and managed hundreds of media events — generating thousands of news stories. TJ then helped to define the “Trump Tax Scam” as communications director for Americans for Tax Fairness. Since then, he has consulted and partnered with dozens of progressive campaigns, PACs, advocacy groups, and allied organizations. He’s based in Washington, DC.  

PARTNER

Rich Mintz is a strategist and copywriter with 30 years’ experience in advocacy, fundraising, marketing, and engagement. He’s worked for over a hundred nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and institutions, a dozen consumer brands, public agencies, and national and local political candidates, since his start in California environmental and Democratic politics in 1992. For more than a decade he served as Executive Vice President at Blue State (formerly Blue State Digital), the company that set the global standard for effective digital engagement, where he ran the academic and cultural practice. Rich lives in New York City, where he is a visible advocate for transit funding and safe streets. In 2017 he was appointed to Manhattan Community Board 6, where he chairs the Housing and Homelessness Committee.

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Sophia Wilson is a cause-driven communicator with experience working in government, academia, and the non-profit sector. She is skilled at translating complex policy into clear messaging. Most recently, she advised progressive state and local candidates, advocacy organizations, and PACs as an associate at the political consulting firm 50+1. She previously served as a press liaison for As You Sow, the shareholder advocacy organization. Sophia got her start in politics interning for her home state senator, Jon Tester. She lives in Oakland, CA.

MEDIA STRATEGIST & BOOKER

Eva Grant is a media relations expert specializing in rapid response and TV/radio/digital/podcast booking. Before joining Propulsion Strategies, she was an Account Director at Fenton Communications, where she secured top-tier placements for clients including the ACLU, 866-Our-Vote, National Nurses United, The Economist, and more. Before that, Eva was press secretary at the Center for Global Development, where she landed primetime television interviews as well as top-tier op-ed placements on issues including migration, gender and inequality. Eva’s journalism experience includes a stint as a Lifestyle Writer for Bustle. She lives in Washington, DC. 

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Sacha has worked and consulted on some of the most competitive political campaigns in the nation, advising Democratic candidates on how to win cross-pressured persuadable voters. She has held high-level roles at the DCCC, American Bridge 21st Century, House Majority PAC, statewide and congressional races, and on the Hill. In 2020, she ran American Bridge’s Trump Battleground State paid media program in WI, MI, PA, and the GA runoff, deploying a paid TV, digital, and mail campaign to persuade former Trump voters in rural areas.

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Matt Herdman has worked on all aspects of campaigns, from field and research to communications and management. Matt works with candidates, ballot propositions, and advocacy groups to craft winning messages and — equally importantly — find the best ways to get those messages to the right audience. He writes speeches, op-eds, and more for candidates and community leaders, and he has extensive experience working with reporters and editors to influence news coverage and win the narrative.

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Margarida is a 30-year veteran of union, political and issue advocacy campaigns. As architect and Executive Director of Health Care for America Now (HCAN), she led a landmark 47-state campaign to pass, implement, and defend the Affordable Care Act. She successfully adapted the same model as Campaign Director of Lower Drug Prices Now, which won historic Medicare reforms. She’s held leadership roles at SEIU, the Women's Equality Center, the bipartisan Clean Slate Initiative, and Americans for Tax Fairness. Before pivoting to national campaigns, Margarida spent 12 years as a union organizer working in the states.

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Lizzy is a strategic communications leader with more than 15 years of experience. Most recently, she led the partnerships program for accountability organization Accountable.US. Previously, she was National Communications Director of For Our Future, and gubernatorial communications director for American Bridge 21st Century. During the 2016 cycle, she served as Surrogates Director and Deputy Communications Director for Correct The Record. She has also worked for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee, on campaigns, and in Congress.  

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Holly Shulman is a public affairs professional with experience leading communications strategy for global non-governmental organizations, political campaigns, for corporations, and in the public sector.  Holly’s experience includes leading communications roles for political organizations including the Democratic National Committee, at advocacy organizations including the Sierra Club, global NGOs including the Center for Global Development, and at the U.S. Treasury Department.