FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colin Bishopp, Raven Brooks, Josh Orton Join Former YearlyKos Convention Team

November 8, 2007—Netroots Nation organizers announced today the hiring of Colin Bishopp as director of development and political outreach, Raven Brooks as director of finance and operations, and Josh Orton as director of political affairs and communication.

Gina Cooper, executive director of Netroots Nation, formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention, says the organization's recent growth reflects the changing landscape of progressive politics.

"The old models of media, activism, and organizing are dying, and more people than ever before are going online to build communities and engage politically," Cooper said. "Building Netroots Nation with people of diverse experience, backgrounds, and perspectives will help us better support these new progressive voices through a broad program that operates 365 days a year, in addition to continuing the ongoing work of organizing the preeminent conference of online progressive politics."

Netroots Nation, which will be held in the summer of 2008, rebranded in August 2007 in an effort to more accurately reflect the makeup of its audience and mission of implementing new programs that teach and empower Netroots communities to affect change in the public sphere.

Bishopp will play a key role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting financial support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources. Brooks will oversee financial management and day-to-day operations of the organization and build the support infrastructure necessary to operate a non-profit corporation. Orton will manage the organization's political operation and both local and national communications and outreach.

Most recently, Bishopp served as Christine Jennings' campaign manager in Florida's 13th Congressional District during the recount and legal challenge that followed the 2006 general election. He began his political career in 2001 working as an intern in the district office of current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. He has also worked as a field director, finance director and campaign manager for political campaigns across the country. Bishopp earned his masters degree at the University of Chicago and his bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

Brooks got his start in politics by co-founding and leading BuyBlue.org, a revolutionary website that encouraged consumers to "vote with their wallets" by gaining crucial information about the internal ethics and political giving practices of popular companies. He currently serves on the advisory board of the The Blue Fund and has a background in software development and design, management, business consulting, and project management.

Orton has worked in and around online politics most of his career. Most recently, he was deputy director of new media for the Obama presidential campaign. Previously, he was the online and Nevada press secretary for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, executive producer of Air America Radio's "The Majority Report" with Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo, and communications director for Gwen Moore's (WI-04) campaign in 2004. Orton graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

For more information about Netroots Nation, visit www.netrootsnation.org.

ABOUT NETROOTS NATION
Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person forum for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Netroots Nation gathers, teaches and empowers Netroots communities to affect change in the public sphere.

 NN 2008