The Winning Team

Jay Connaughton served as a Media Advisor to President Donald Trump’s campaign. Connaughton is a leading national political ad strategist who has worked on many major campaigns over the last 20 years. His creative strategies have helped shape and win elections for Republican U.S. Senators, Congressmen and elected leaders at all levels of State Government. Connaughton is managing partner of People Who Think, an advertising agency with three core divisions: Innovative Advertising, Innovative Politics and Fridge.

Under Connaughton’s leadership, Innovative Political has grown into one of the region’s largest advertising firms and one of the country’s most successful boutique creative political firms. They’ve amassed a record of impressive victories across the Southeastern United States including campaign, caucus and issue advocacy experience, plus six different presidential races, U.S. Senate races and Congressional campaigns.

In addition to winning elections, Connaughton’s work wins awards too. Over 15 National Pollie Awards, including sweeping direct mail in 2008 winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place and Best Viral Video of the Year. Jay Connaughton’s work has scored more than 100 Addy awards, including a National Addy award, two Best of Show Awards, and a People’s Choice Award.

Innovative Politics continues to thrive with 30 employees and clients from all over the US with concentrations in Louisiana, Atlanta, North Carolina and Washington DC.

Jay Connaughton met and married his wife Jennifer when they both led the Republican Party of Louisiana to some of the most significant wins in state history. Together, with Jay running the political shop and Jennifer managing the finance department, they shattered previous fundraising records, gave the GOP their biggest gains ever in the State Legislature and helped elect the second Republican Governor in a hundred years.

Connaughton is a native of Louisiana and a proud LSU alumnus. He and his wife Jennifer have three children.

If Jay Connaughton’s creative energy inspires People Who Think, his wife and partner Jennifer’s financial and operational management skills are the engine that keeps us moving forward. She plays a pivotal role in the company’s ability to grow, thrive and succeed for our clients in the future. On the home-front Jennifer expertly manages two school-age children, a toddler, two cats and an unruly miniature golden-doodle named Mollie.

Gordon Reese leads People Who Think’s political division, Innovative Politics. He is a trusted, behind-the-scenes advisor to leading advocacy groups, donors and politicians at every level of government. His dedication to the political and legislative process led Gordon to Washington, D.C. where he developed winning strategies for candidates, associations and government relations organizations.

After Hurricane Katrina, Gordon took a yearlong sabbatical where he raised over $1.5 million to rebuild homes and small businesses in coastal Louisiana.

Since joining People Who Think in 2007, Gordon has played an instrumental role in helping conservatives achieve super majorities in the Mississippi Legislature, Arkansas Legislature, North Carolina State Senate and Kentucky Legislature.

Gordon has also led the Innovative Politics team helping to elect U.S. Senators and members of Congress, and has successfully managed advocacy campaigns to further education reforms and educate citizens about free market principles.

Gordon served on the Board of Regents for his alma mater, University of Holy Cross. He was also selected as a fellow at the Loyola University Institute of Politics.

Gordon is an avid sportsman and conservationist. He is a native of Louisiana and resides in Covington, LA  with his incredible wife and three children.

Jamie Miller has enjoyed a more than 20-year career in Florida, working at nearly every level of politics in the state. He previously served as executive director for the Republican Party in Tallahassee. He has managed several statewide campaigns in Florida and has also served as a consultant for campaigns in West Virginia, Mississippi and North Carolina. His deep expertise positions him to lead Innovative Politics in winning victories for candidates, issues and organizations in the Sunshine State.

Beth has a way with words. Candidates love what she writes and opponents fear her. With a track record of winning campaigns on her resume, including crafting television ads for President Donald Trump, Beth has the ability to tell your story in a way that wins votes, earns media coverage and creates results. Television, radio, direct mail including campaign, caucus and issue advocacy experience, presidential races, US Senate races and Congressional campaigns – Beth has written for them all. Candidates in the crosshairs have called her work “despicable,” “savage” and “infuriating the Clinton campaign,” and that makes Beth very happy. 

Joe Caldwell specializes in creating political mailers and doorhangers for local, state, and federal races. His keen understanding of voter demographics and messaging strategies allows him to develop materials that drive engagement and boost turnout in highly competitive elections. By focusing on strategies that encourage voters to the ballot box, Joe effectively applies his BA in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Outside of work, Joe is a proud cat dad to a 2-year-old blue-point Siamese and an avid outdoorsman.