Our Team

KAREN HICKS

Founder, CEO

As an internationally regarded strategist and manager, Karen Hicks has designed and run national and state based campaigns that combine a winning strategy with a plan to build lasting power through leadership and skill development. Hicks recently designed and ran a large-scale consumer outreach and engagement campaign, “Covering New Hampshire,” to enroll uninsured residents in the Health Benefits Marketplace and Medicaid. The multi-channel campaign won national recognition as one of the most effective in the country. Hicks also led the successful advocacy effort to expand and reauthorize Medicaid in New Hampshire.

Hicks has run and had leadership positions on electoral campaigns, including multiple Presidential, statewide and local campaigns. In 2008, Hicks served as a Senior Advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton with a focus on the early nominating states. In 2004, Hicks served as the Field Director for the Kerry Campaign and oversaw the campaign’s $80 million grassroots mobilization effort in the battleground states. In 2005, Hicks advised British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour Party as they sought and won a historic third term, primarily advising the Party on organization building efforts, voter targeting, as well as design and implementation of a voter contact plan.

In addition to the numerous statewide and local political races, Hicks has extensive policy experience at the state level. She served as Governor Jeanne Shaheen’s Health Policy Advisor for 3 years and as the Director for Policy at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Hicks also served as Executive Director of New Hampshire Citizen Action and has worked with dozens of progressive organizations to strengthen planning, advocacy, and organizing capacity.

Hicks serves on the board for Community Catalyst, Chairman for Community Catalyst Action Fund, and Vice Chair for NARAL Pro Choice New Hampshire.

TANYA BELLETETE

Office Manager

tanya@civixstrategygroup.com

As office manager of Civix Strategy Group, Tanya keeps the firm running in tip-top shape. Tanya’s work history reflects her passion for helping others, including her work with the Keene Housing Authority where she helped provide resources to low-income families, people with disabilities, and seniors.

Tanya volunteers at the Friendly Kitchen in Concord and is an active member of her community of Henniker, NH. She loves spending time with her large, close-knit family including her three children. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing the art of photography.

CODY JACOBSEN

Data Manager

cody@civixstrategygroup.com

A recent Plymouth State University (PSU) graduate, Cody Jacobsen holds a Bachelors of Science with extensive training in GIS software. While studying at PSU, Cody worked at the Draper and Maynard Museum managing their database and archives.

As Civix Strategy Group's Data Manager, Cody ensures our clients have access to the highest quality data and the tools and expertise to use data wisely. Cody's interest in national and local politics began in high school when he served as the Student Representative on the Oyster Rive School Board. As a native of New Hampshire and an avid outdoorsmen, Cody is passionate about preserving the beauty of New Hampshire as well as economic justice and access to high quality education for everyone.

JASON MILLER

Principle Consultant

jmiller@thepivot.com

Jason is a Senior Vice President and Partner at The Pivot Group, a leading direct mail and analytics firm that’s proud to partner with Civix.

For more than a decade, Jason has developed outreach and mobilization strategies for dozens of candidates and advocacy organizations, including SEIU, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Covering New Hampshire, and the Virginia Senate. Previously, Jason put hundreds of thousands of miles on his car working on campaigns across the country. Today, Jason can be found at his home in Florida, in his office in Washington, DC, or waiting for his next flight in the Atlanta airport.

HILARY NACHEM

Director, Digital

hilary@civixstrategygroup.com

As the firm’s Digital Director, Hilary oversees all online engagement efforts for clients and projects at Civix.

Hilary Nachem has been working in digital since 2009 and it’s taken her from Capitol Hill to Wisconsin, where she ran the digital program for Tammy Baldwin’s history-making US Senate campaign, raising more than $4 million – roughly a quarter of the campaign’s budget. Most recently, Hilary worked at EMILY’s List where she served as the first-ever Digital Advisor to federal and statewide campaigns in more than 25 states over two cycles.

Named as one of eight “Women to Watch” in politics and tech by MSNBC, Hilary is a graduate of the University of Maryland. Her sworn enemy is the two-space copywriter.

AMANDA SEARS

Director, Campaign for a Family-Friendly Economy

amanda@civixstrategygroup.com

As Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, Amanda is working to build momentum for policies that help New Hampshire people make ends meet and be there for their families when they need to be. Prior to joining Civix Strategy Group, Amanda co-founded the Environmental Health Strategy Center -- a public health advocacy organization based in Maine --and the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, a coalition working to phase out use of persistent chemicals from consumer products in favor of safer alternatives.

Additionally, Amanda is a past President of the Maine Public Health Association; accepted the Giraffe Award from the Maine Children’s Alliance for her previous organization’s efforts “sticking their necks out” for Maine kids; and is a board member of the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Amanda is a third generation resident of Deerfield, NH, where she lives with her husband Brad and their three children.

LAURA THIBAULT

Chief of Staff

laura@civixstrategygroup.com

A native of New Hampshire and graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Laura’s background includes nearly two decades of nonprofit management, grassroots organizing, and advocacy in the state, with a focus on women’s rights. Previous positions include Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire and Assistant Director of the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire.

Laura is a graduate of Leadership New Hampshire (’12) and is actively involved in her local community. She has served on several nonprofit committees and boards including her current role on the Board of the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Additional volunteer leadership roles include serving as one of the founding parents of the Mountain Village Charter School in Plymouth, NH and as founder and Chair of Support SAU17, a parent group advocating for greater community support for public education in the Sanborn Regional School District. Laura lives in Kingston, NH with her partner and two sons.