Our Story
Over the last 23 years, Stones’ Phones has been the top high-quality, strategic telephone consulting firm strictly serving Democrats and progressive causes. We focus on being responsive to changing strategies and technology and constantly look ahead towards the future of campaigning.
We want to help make our world a more fair, equitable, and eco-conscious place. We know the only way to do that is to win campaigns. That’s what we do better than anybody else.
Our Team
Dedicated, Diverse, and Driven
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Emma Agüero
Data Specialist
Emma joined the Stones’ Phones Data Team in September 2022, bringing with her a robust background in computer information systems and maintenance. A 2018 graduate of Pima Community College, she has spanned her career in various fields from commercial construction to natural gas distribution and copper mining. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Emma now lives in Arizona. During her free time, she enjoys playing video games with her sister and friends. She also loves playing soccer, binge-watching the newest TV series with her loved one and cooking Mexican food that reminds her of home.
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Saphace Asamoah
Assistant Account Executive
Saphace joined Stones’ Phones in March 2020 just a week before the pandemic hit. Saphace loves adventure and travel and has lived all over the Eastern United States. She received her Bachelor’s in Management and Marketing with a minor in Spanish at the University of Kentucky and went to The Ohio State University where she received her Master’s in Public Administration. After building experience in policy research and non-profit work, she wanted a change of pace and decided to give politics a try. Outside of the office, you can find Saphace chatting about espresso with baristas, doing various fitness activities and writing Yelp reviews.
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Alex Cmaylo
Assistant Account Executive
Alex joined the Stones’ Phones team in March 2020. She graduated from High Point University in 2019 with a degree in Political Science and minors in Communications, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Philosophy. Her university studies sparked a passion in the areas of civil rights and women’s rights leading her to pursue a career in the political arena. Originally from Massachusetts, Alex has previously had internships at the State House for democratic state representatives and has also worked on presidential campaigns. When Alex is not working, she likes to read, paint, and spend time with her friends and family.
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Hope Davenport
Lead Project Manager
Hope joined the Stones’ Phones team in June 2021 after graduating from the University of Arkansas. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and International Studies, with a minor in German Language. After serving in student government, she went on to hold office in a municipal advisory committee before interning with the US House of Representatives. When Hope is not working, she enjoys exploring Washington, DC restaurants as well as crocheting and cooking for family and friends.
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Peter Duffy
Account Executive
A proud Virginia Tech graduate and loyal “Hokie”, Peter’s interest in Democratic politics stems from his internships with the National Education Association. After graduation, he spent his first two years helping several membership associations with database management and organization. His expertise in working with a variety of database software lead him into the government contracting world; assisting subcontractors and program management solve: contract setup, time and expense reporting issues. Peter’s hobbies include home bartending, running and finding the best rooftop bars DC has to offer.
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Christy Fenik
Senior Account Executive
Christy joined Stones’ Phones in July 2019. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from High Point University with a degree in Political Science with a Marketing minor. Christy is especially motivated by education and criminal justice work and loves that Stones’ Phones enables her to be able to make real change. In her time at Stones’ Phones, she has worked on multiple critical campaigns and issues. When not working Christy loves to travel frequently, take her dog Teddy to new parks, and get involved in community events.
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Benjamin Fernandez
IT Data Specialist
Benjamin H. Fernandez grew up in the Coachella Valley of California, where his mother worked in the “La Uva” fields picking grapes and his father worked construction. After graduating from Indio High School, Ben went on to fulfill his dream of working with computers by graduating from a career college with a degree in Electronic Communication Engineering Technology. Ben watched his parents start and grow a successful small business and he learned the value hard work and perseverance. Since 2012, Ben has been applying his technical skills while working at Stones’ Phones on the Operations side of the company.
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Rachel Garcia
Vice President of Operations
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Rachel is the Operations Manager for Stones’ Phones. She started at the firm in 2002, bringing years of experience editing tracks for the music industry to provide technical assistance editing automated messages. In 2007 Rachel took a leave of absence and began work as the Administrative Director for America Votes in Madison, WI. She worked closely with state director in creating a great team of canvassers in helping to elect President Obama. After the election in 2008, she went on to work for another forward thinking organization, Wisconsin Progress as Program Coordinator, where she helped train and recruit progressive leaders to run for office in Wisconsin. Never one to sit still for very long, she also did a lot of campaigning for the 2010 election cycle. As of 2011, Rachel returned to the Stones’ Phones team as Operations Manager and works out of her office in Wisconsin. She enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers and loves taking her daughter to Milwaukee Brewers games.
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Chris Hayler
Partner
A Partner with Stones’ Phones, Chris has worked on local, state and national campaigns in California, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, Washington and Washington DC. He specializes in primaries (Senator Kerry, Governor Gregoire, Senator Bayh and Senator Clinton) and recounts (Governor Gregoire and Senator Maria Cantwell). He also has significant experience in grassroots organizing for candidates and issue campaigns. Prior to joining Stones’ Phones in 2008, Chris worked with Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign where he served as her Iowa Political Director and as a leader in her Congressional Affairs office. Chris has also worked for Senator Evan Bayh’s All America PAC, ran field operations for Governor Chris Gregoire’s campaign and recount efforts, helped lead Senator John Kerry’s come-from-behind Iowa Caucus victory, and worked for the State Democratic Party in Iowa, Louisiana and Washington. Chris has a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Political Management from The George Washington University. When Chris is not strategizing for his clients, he’s playing with his two young children.
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Katie Kavanaugh
Strategist
Katie joined Stones’ Phones in April 2018. She’s a native Michigander who graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Health Science and a passion for helping people. After working with non-profits to provide post-hospital at-home visits to patients throughout Metro Detroit, Katie moved to Washington, D.C. She spent a year at the Peace Corps headquarters in the Office of Strategic Partnerships and the Office of Global Health & HIV, before pursuing a growing passion for progressive politics. If not in the office, you can find Katie out exploring D.C.’s restaurant scene or staying in with a movie and a fresh bowl of popcorn.
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Rachel Kershaw
Lead Account Executive
Rachel Kershaw has been with Stones’ Phones since June 2019 after graduating with a Master of Public Administration at American University. Before Stones’ Phones, Rachel was a Program Coordinator at AU’s Women & Politics Institute where she helped to run the Institutes’ campaign training program for young women, WeLead. She has also previously served as the USF Campus Organizing Director at For Our Future during the 2016 election. Rachel cares deeply for women’s issues and reproductive rights, volunteering as a clinic escort at Planned Parenthood and other clinics. Rachel hails from Florida and got her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida where she studied Political Science. In her free time, she is learning Spanish or playing with her dog Leo.
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Monserrat Machado
Director of Business Operations
Monserrat Machado provides administrative support for the California operations team. As a Coachella Valley native Monserrat has worked for local nonprofits such as the Ophelia Project and the Palm Springs International Film Society. Monserrat holds a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from California State University of Fullerton. Outside of the office Monserrat enjoys Zumba, indoor cycling, supporting her alma mater’s sporting events and volunteering.
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Steffen Newman
Project Manager
Steffen joined the Stones’ Phone team in March of 2022. Living most of his life in the Midwest, Steffen graduated from Denison University in 2021, double majoring in Political Science and Classical Studies. His studies, alongside an intellectual campus environment, led him to pursue positions in law and politics throughout his educational years. Interning for both a city prosecuting office and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Steffen has a strong desire to learn from a variety of perspectives. Outside of work, Steffen enjoys exercise, time spent in nature, listening to music, and having lots of coffee.
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Aimee Simon
Operations Program Manager
Another Wisconsin native, Aimee has been a seasonal employee of Stones’ Phones since 2012. As of 2016, she joined the team in a permanent position as Recording Specialist. Aimee is an active charity organizer in her community and serves as Secretary of her local Odd Fellows chapter. She has three amazing children whom she is inspired by and in her free time she enjoys traveling and the arts.
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Marty Stone
Founder
Campaigns and politics are part of the DNA of the Stone family. Marty brings to his client’s decades of political experience in both the legislative and electoral fields. Marty did five election cycles at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (his mother called it “the employer of last resort”!) He also served as the finance director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Marty’s first “real” job was as a media consultant with Laguens, Hamburger, Stone. A former U.S. Congressional candidate himself (Marty came in second), he brings insights and deep experience to his clients’ efforts. He has served as Vice President for government relations for AGRISystems, a firm dedicated to reducing soil erosion and chemical inputs into farming. He lobbied for Environmental Action and the Americans for Democratic Action. At Americans for Democratic Action he worked on Foreign and Defense policy issues before Congress. On a pro-bono basis, Marty has worked with the National Democratic Institute in Bosnia, Croatia, and Azerbaijan. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, he is the proud father of Stella Quincy Stone, a tenth grader. If campaigning gets into her blood, it won’t be a surprise. Marty’s grandmother, Lillian, was a suffragette who practiced civil disobedience and his mother still runs city council races. Drawing on his roots and a wide range of political and strategic experience, Marty, along with his brother Paul, launched Stones’ Phones in 2000.
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Paul Stone
Founder
Paul Stone is co-founder of Stones’ Phones, overseeing the program setup, execution and the operations office in our California location. Raised in Southern California, Paul and his family would sit around the kitchen table discussing politics and the local issues of the day. He grew up under the assumption that all mothers were campaign managers and all kids made phone calls, knocked on doors and wore campaign buttons on their t-shirts to school. Paul started his career as a field staffer for Sacramento Representative Vic Fazio’s re-election efforts, and went on to serve as the Western Field Director for the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC). Upon completion of his tenure at NJDC, Paul decided to leave sunny California to explore the political wonders of Washington, DC. Paul split his time in DC between the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the consulting firm of Lazlo and Associates. Taking a break from the political arena, Paul honed his business skills in the corporate world by managing an assisted living facility for Sunrise Senior Living, the nation’s largest provider of assisted living facilities. He also worked for various insurance agencies as a risk assessor. Paul was raised to have the business of politics and affecting change run through him as he took cues from his mother’s advocacy and involvement in local campaigns and community action groups. After receiving his B.A. from California State University, Sacramento in Cultural Anthropology he married his college sweetheart and started a family and soon, with his brother Marty, Stones’ Phones, as well. When not taking care of client’s phone programs he often can be found cheering on his daughter as she plays varsity volleyball, reading biographies, and participating on local nonprofit community boards. He often devotes his free time to volunteering. Being raised with a strong sense of always giving back to the community, Paul enjoys being a part of the process of change and growth both in the industry and locally.
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Tess Whitehurst
Project Manager
Tess joined the Stones’ Phones team in March of 2022. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022, majoring in Political Science with a concentration in International and Comparative Politics and a minor in French. Born and raised in Toledo, OH, Tess found her passion for politics through political demonstrations for women’s rights and mental health in her city and by interning with various state senators and representatives in college and has been furthering her passion through her work with Stones’. Other than spending time with her beautiful son, Tess loves to teach herself new things (recipes, hobbies, languages, you name it), listen to music, sing, and play with her cat, Percy.
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Norah Wimer
Administrative Specialist
Norah Wimer joined Stones’ Phones in September 2022. She has bicameral experience having worked in the district offices of Senator Mazie K. Hirono as a Community Liaison, and Congresswoman Susan Davis as a Community Representative. Before moving to San Diego, she worked on state, congressional, and presidential campaigns, and as a Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill. Norah grew up in Portland, Oregon and graduated from Portland State University before leaving for Washington D.C. She is a proud Marine Corps wife, which has given her the opportunity to live in almost every corner of the country. In her free time Norah enjoys spending time with her family, fostering dogs through a local rescue, and running.
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Will Wrigley
Vice President of Campaigns & Strategy
Will Wrigley joined the Stones’ Phones team in March 2014. Known as the office “environmental guy” and dad joke aficionado, over the last decade he’s worked with environmental groups all over the country, labor unions, civil rights groups, animal rights organizations, and has helped candidates at the local, state, and federal level win election. That includes helping Senator Cortez Masto win reelection in 2022, and President Biden win the primary and White House in 2020. A native of the Washington, DC-area, Will grew up surrounded by politics, and studied Political Science at Emmanuel College in Boston. Along with a passion for justice and politics, Will can be found cheering on Washington and Baltimore area sports teams (and has grown accustomed to bitter disappointment) and Chelsea FC. He enjoys biking his way around the city, obsessing over his crazy dog Luna, and recording pretentious indie rock music. He lives in Silver Spring with his lovely wife, Caitlin.
Consulting & Strategy Offices
Washington, DC
202-393-4626
Columbus, OH
202-368-0065
Operations Office
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-773-9019