State Offices

California

Jennifer Ortega, California State Director

Jennifer Ortega joined America’s Edge as its California State Director in April 2010.  Prior to that, Ms. Ortega was the Associate Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, where she oversaw the Communications and Membership departments and played a key role in the organization’s strategic planning.  She joined Fight Crime: Invest in Kids in 2008 as its Communications Director.  Previously she worked as a Marketing Manager and Communications Specialist for Raley’s, a privately held supermarket chain based in Sacramento, CA.   Ms. Ortega got her start in public relations at the non-profit Association of California Water Agencies, where she focused on member outreach campaigns to publicize important legislation.  Upon graduating from UC Berkeley in 1999 with a BA in Mass Communications, Jennifer honed her journalism skills as a writer, reporter and associate producer in a variety of print and broadcast media outlets, including ABC 7 News, TechTV and Bay City News Service. In 2005, she received a certificate in Public Relations from UC Davis.

Illinois

Alena Chaps, Illinois Policy Associate

Alena worked at Hope Community Inc. with youth, young adults, and residents of mixed-income housing prior to joining our staff in February 2010.  As a founding member of SPEAC (Sustainable Progress through Engaging Active Citizens,) she worked with community listening projects and also is the primary author of a report to build community support around investment in a local park and to document funding inequalities within the Minneapolis Park and Recreation System.  In her work as an Americorps full-time volunteer, she worked with The Advocates for Human Rights in the Women’s Human Rights Program and also coordinated basic education classes and an English language learning program for adult students.

Maine

Kim Gore, Maine State Director

In 2009 Kim Gore expanded her work to serve as State Director for America’s Edge in Maine as well as working as Maine State Director for Fight Crime: Invest In Kids.

Ms. Gore has been with Fight Crime: Invest In Kids since December 2006 and during that time she also directed law enforcement activities in Connecticut and Massachusetts as New England Regional Director.   Previously, she worked as a legislative assistant to former Maine Governor Jock McKernan and as a staff member on U.S. Senator Olympia’s Snowe’s 1994 and 2000 campaigns.  Ms. Gore also worked as Development Director for Spurwink, one of Maine’s largest mental health agencies and did fundraising and events at the University of Southern Maine.  Early in her career, Ms. Gore worked in the White House Press Office during the Reagan Administration and as Assistant Press Secretary to Senator Mitch McConnell.  She is a graduate of Indiana University with degrees in Journalism and Political Science.

Michigan

K.P. Pelleran, Michigan State Director

Kathy “K.P.” Pelleran expanded her work in 2010 to serve as State Director for America’s Edge in Michigan, as well as working as the State Director for Fight Crime: Invest In Kids Michigan, where she has been since March 2001.  Pelleran has worked in public policy development for more than 30 years.  She worked for retired Michigan State Senator Mitch Irwin, U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), and was press secretary for a Member of Congress.  Pelleran also directed several statewide non-governmental organizations involving crime prevention, consumer, health, environmental, and insurance policy issues.  Internationally, Pelleran served as a program officer and trainer for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs based in Moscow, where she conducted leadership development training programs for members of parliament, political parties, civic leaders, and candidates for public office throughout the former Soviet Union.  She was an elected trustee for Lansing Community College for seven-and-one-half years, including four years as Vice Chairman, and has served on several other statewide nonprofit organization boards.  Pelleran received a gubernatorial appointment to the Michigan Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Advisory Board for a three-year term through 2012.  She holds a BA degree in Social Science from Lake Superior State University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University, and is currently in a doctoral program at Western Michigan University.

Montana

James R. Fleischmann, Montana State Director

James opened our Montana state office for America’s Edge in 2010. He brings us over 25 years of work in Montana. In 2008 he served as the campaign manager for the re-election campaign of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), and as the senator’s campaign field manager in 2002. He has also worked on a wide range of issues affecting Montanans, including housing, credit, aging, and public safety. He has extensive nonprofit management and fund raising experience, as well as many years as a trainer of nonprofit staff and managers. James is a graduate of Harvard University.

New York

Lori King-Kocsis, New York State Director

Lori joined America’s Edge in July 2009, as the New York State Director.  Ms. King-Kocsis has over 25 years experience in the corporate, not-for-profit, and technology start-up arenas with expertise in the areas of member relations, marketing, business development and workforce development.   She has developed and grown nationally recognized leadership and business programs.  As Director of Workforce Development and Programs with the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce she was involved in areas of internships, leadership programs and membership.  While with the Center for Economic Growth, as Director of Membership and Development in Albany, Ms. King-Kocsis launched several programs involving students, technology and a CEO mentorship program.  She also led the organizations’ Capital Campaign towards a raise of $11 million.  In the private sector, Lori served as V.P. and Chief Marketing Officer for a high-technology start-up, Auxilia, Inc., and owned her own consulting business.

Washington State

Laura Wells