HOME >> ABOUT US >> STAFF

Team

Tom Vellenga, President, was senior advisor on national security to then-White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and on environmental cleanup, health, and safety to then-Secretary of Energy Federico Peña in the Clinton Administration.  Most recently, he led public programs at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute.  Previously, he was executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.  He directed then-Congressman Panetta's legislative staff after serving U.S. Senators Paul Sarbanes and Tom Eagleton.   A product of St. Paul’s public schools, he earned his M.A. at the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University and his B.A. at Williams College.

Scott Beutel, Development Consultant, has raised funds for nonprofits and political candidates in Oregon and Minnesota.  He is working toward a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. 

Kim Couch, Financial Manager, handles Heartland Democracy’s finances as a contractor.  By day, he is Finance and Benefits Manager for Wellstone Action! and Wellstone Action Fund. 

Peter Fleck, IT Consultant, is a consultant and blogger (PFHyper) on the worldwide web, blogging, and wireless networks.  He is a former web manager at the University of Minnesota. 

Erin Sapp, Policy Consultant, is a policy project and web consultant to Heartland Democracy.  She directed our Election Reform project and wrote our first report, 21st Century Voter Registration, and continues to be available for policy and website projects.

Phyllis Stenerson, Fellow, serves as a discussion leader and adviser with Heartland Democracy.  She writes for her Web site, ProgressiveValues.Org, where she articulates what is progressive and stores wise thoughts by progressive thinkers through the ages.  Previously, she was a longtime aide to now-retired U.S. Rep. Martin O. Sabo.