Upper Midwest Leadership Summit Speaker Bios

Lonny Leitner specializes in political training, campaign management, and voter education. He is currently the Chief of Staff at American Majority, Inc.

Lonny brings 14 years of public and private sector experience to American Majority. He worked for many years as a political operative, public relations public affairs specialist and his background in campaign management helped hone excellent leadership and motivational skills.

Lonny previously served as a Regional Director for American Majority and a 501(c)4 American Majority Action. During that time, he worked with candidates on media training and campaign management. Lonny headed up American Majority’s efforts in the upper Midwest as well as in the battle ground state of Florida. In the 2010 election cycle he helped train 100 candidates in Minnesota running for local, state, and federal offices, of which 94 won their primaries.

That same election cycle, Lonny spearheaded American Majority Action’s Get Out the Vote Efforts in Wisconsin, working successfully with local media outlets to further the movement. The group targeted a U.S. Senate race and three U.S. Congressional races, winning 3 out of the 4 contests. In 2012, Lonny oversaw the Get Out the Vote efforts in 6 target counties in Florida where they saw increases in the Conservative voter turn out compared to the 2008 results.

Lonny has worked on several campaigns in Minnesota. He worked for U.S. Senator Rod Grams in 2000 and Mark Kennedy’s successful re-election campaign in 2002. He led the charge in 2004 as a Regional Field Director for Bush-Cheney and was Political Director for Congressman Mark Kennedy’s U.S. Senate bid in 2006. Lonny has also worked on Federal campaigns in Texas for Congressman Henry Bonilla and Washington State for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and most recently as campaign manager for Adam Hasner’s U.S. Senate race in Florida.[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_toggle title=”Read Jennifer’s Bio” style=”round” color=”sky” size=”lg”]Jennifer, Minnesota Executive Director of American Majority, is currently serving her second term as an elected Commissioner of the Three Rivers Park District representing 174,000 residents.

As a well-known political operative in the State of Minnesota, Jennifer has been a political analyst on local and national political program as well as a contributor to numerous local and state legislative campaigns offering data-driven advice regarding campaign strategy and micro-targeting, volunteer recruitment, fundraising best practices and efficient and effective campaign operations. Jennifer served as the MN Deputy State Director for Newt Gingrich for President. In 2016, Jennifer was Minnesota State Director for CARLY for America,the Super PAC supporting Carly Fiorina. She is also the co-founder of Voices of Conservative Women, a non-profit Super PAC supporting the women running for office. Jennifer lives in Maple Grove with her husband and four children. Jim has been involved with Minnesota politics since 2005. He has worked on races from the School Board and City Council to the Minnesota House and Senate and all the way up to the United States Senate. He has served in a variety of roles, including Treasurer, Political Director, and Campaign Manager.

He has been elected himself four times, served four years as a School Board Member, 3 years on the City Council and is currently in his second term as Mayor of Waconia, MN. He also serves on the Ridgeview Hospital Board of Directors.

Micah Olson serves as the Greater Minnesota Outreach Director at the Center of the American Experiment.
Before joining the Center, Micah worked on numerous local and statewide political campaigns throughout Minnesota. Additionally, he gained legislative experience working at the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Micah graduated from the University of Northwestern—St. Paul with a degree in Communication Studies.

Lisa Schneegans is the co-founder and CEO of Buzz360, a software platform for political parties and candidates, advocacy groups and small businesses. Lisa is a serial entrepreneur with deep experience helping politicians succeed through innovative use of technology and social media.  Her last venture, Praxis Software Solutions, was sold to SAP AG.

Lisa Schneegans has been a conservative activist in Minnesota most her adult life and is a leader in her congressional district.