WHO WE ARE
We are an experienced team of political operatives who know that successful campaigns are defined by the ability to connect with voters and persuade them to act. With combined experience in political and public affairs campaigns across the US, Blitz Canvassing will take your issue to the next level.
Katelyn Roberts
Kate Roberts has worked as a strategist and operations specialist for a slew of corporate and political campaigns, including presidential campaigns and Super PACs, the office of a United States Senator, and multiple Fortune 500 companies. Roberts’ client focus is on issue campaigns and advocacy; over the last three cycles she managed the day-to-day operations of the successful Proposition DD campaign (2019), Amendments Y and Z constitutional campaign (2018) and Raise the Bar (Amendment 71) constitutional campaign (2016) in Colorado. Roberts also oversaw the statewide ballot chase program opposing Proposition 112 in Colorado and the GOTV program for Iowa’s successful Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2018. She was named to the 16 Rising Stars in Denver Politics on Denverite’s 2018 “Who’s Next” list. In 2012, Roberts received an MBA from the University of Denver. She also holds a BS degree in international business from Ithaca College in her home state of New York. She currently lives in Denver with her husband Logan Bobzien, and daughter Harper.
Josh Penry
Since joining Blitz Canvassing, Penry has become the go-to guy for businesses, trade groups, conservative and good government organizations locked in tough political or public relations fights. Penry has been identified by a host of national publications as the prime mover in Colorado politics. A native of Grand Junction, Penry served in the Colorado General Assembly for six years – first in the State House and then in the Colorado Senate, where Penry was elected Minority Leader of the Senate. Penry was one of the youngest ever elected to the State Senate and was among the youngest to ever serve as an elected party leader in the legislature’s upper chamber. As party leader, Penry brokered several large bipartisan deals with his top political rival, then-Democratic Governor Bill Ritter, including major reforms of the state’s public pension system, reform of statewide education standards, strengthened penalties for sexual predators, and a broad re-engineering of state policy, prioritizing natural gas-powered electricity, to comply with Clean Air requirements in a way that protected consumer energy bills. Prior to his time in the legislature, Penry was the Chief of Staff for a subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee in Congress. As a Principal at EIS, Penry has run some of the most successful Congressional and ballot initiative races in the country. As chief strategist for Congressman Mike Coffman’s landslide victories in 2014 and 2016, both efforts were hailed as among the best campaigns in the country by Roll Call and National Journal. In 2016, Penry was also the architect and chief strategist of the successful Raise the Bar (Amendment 71) campaign, helping pass a historic and bipartisan constitutional reform ballot initiative in Colorado. Penry has a long history with this effort. As a legislator, he was at the forefront of multiple efforts to make it more difficult to amend the state’s constitution. In energy, Penry casts a large shadow. Penry has drawn the ire of Greenpeace, WildEarth Guardians and other extreme environmentalist groups trying to ban fracking – a tribute to Penry’s leadership on helping defeat various anti-fracking measures in an array of key battlegrounds. Anti-fracking groups have dubbed Penry and his wife Kristin Strohm, a top political fundraiser, the “first couple of fracking.” In partisan politics, Penry has been a leading voice calling for the Republican Party to modernize on important issues like immigration reform and gay rights. Penry is the father of four – Chase Emme and twin girls Sophie and Caroline. Penry, Strohm and the kids live in the south Denver suburbs. A college quarterback at Mesa State College, in 1998 Penry was named the national scholar athlete of the year by the American football coaches association – an award won the prior year by Peyton Manning.
Jake Zambrano
Jake Zambrano, Principal, Blitz Canvassing: has specialized in state government relations, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and political campaign management for over 20 years. He has represented numerous clients at the Colorado General Assembly including Colorado Mesa University, Medtronic, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Extraction Oil and Gas, Community Financial Services Association and Mile High Racing and Entertainment to name a few. Prior to joining Blitz Canvassing, Jake was a senior manager with two other firms specializing in lobbying, project management, campaign development and government affairs. His government experience saw him as the Director of Government Affairs for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and he served previously as the Director of Operations for former Colorado Governor Bill Owens. Over the years, he has also managed governor, congressional, mayoral, and state legislative campaigns across the Rocky Mountain West. Jake serves as an Arapahoe County appointee to the board of directors to the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. He also recently served on the University of Colorado Presidential Selection Committee as a Regent appointee. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and makes his home in Aurora, Colorado.
Tim Pollard
Tim Pollard is regarded by leaders on both sides of the aisle as a fixer who gets things done. A CU law grad, Pollard served as a senior executive in the Owens Administration, and since coming to EIS nearly a decade ago has played a top role in dozens of candidate campaigns, Super PACs, non-profit advocacy efforts and other policy battles from Denver to Washington, DC. Pollard has overseen the evolution of EIS from boutique energy firm to one of the largest public affairs firms in the Western U.S. At EIS, Pollard’s portfolio includes telecom, healthcare, energy development, federal lands, non-profits, ballot issues and candidates. During his time in the Owens administration, as Deputy Executive Director at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Pollard was responsible for leading complex political negotiations, developing and implementing policy solutions, and external communications. Tim and his wife Kristi have three young boys and live in Denver.
Trevor Donarski
Trevor Donarski leads the door-to-door canvass and signature collection efforts for Blitz Canvassing. Starting in 2014 as a signature collector himself, Donarski now oversees these day-to-day operations. In the past four years Trevor has had the opportunity to lead multiple teams across the country working for various Super PAC’s and committees. He has worked on everything from local municipal elections to the 2016 Presidential Race along with several statewide ballot measures. In 2018, Donarski oversaw multiple projects that collectively knocked on over one million doors. More recently, he managed a statewide signature collection effort, which broke the state record for the most signatures submitted to the Colorado Secretary of State. Growing up in Powell, Wyoming Trevor moved to Colorado to wrestle and attend school at Colorado Mesa University. Upon graduation, he immediately started his work with Blitz Canvassing. When campaign season slows down, Trevor enjoys spending his time outdoors with his wife Cadence and Golden Retriever, Tigger.
Michele Haedrich
Michele Haedrich has been with the Blitz Canvassing family since 2011 working her way up to her current position as Project Manager. She has managed community outreach projects for Presidential candidates, Super PACs, US Congressional and Senate races, Governor races as well as ballot initiatives. She serves in all aspects of community engagement and education. Michele spent her first 15 years as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch and moved into the community affairs and campaigns programs in 2009. She served as Finance Director for a US Senate candidate, US Congress candidate and Governor’s campaigns both in and out of Colorado. Michele also spent 2 years as an aide to 2 State Representatives during 2 legislative sessions. She then moved into public advocacy and community engagement in 2011 when she came to work for Blitz Canvassing. Her last 5 years in the Blitz Canvassing family has been devoted to managing teams of people who focus on person to person contact with the community to educate and engage them in elections, ballot initiatives, and community issues.