BIOS
Paul Ambrosino
Paul Ambrosino founded the firm with Michael Muir in 1990 and has created winning direct mail for Presidents, Senators, Governors and third party groups all across the United States.Ambrosino's past clients include President Bill Clinton, Jim Hoffa, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Tom Daschle (SD), Tim Johnson (SD), Fritz Hollings (SC) and Tom Carper (DE), Governors Jim Doyle (WI) and Ed Rendell (PA), and Members of Congress Joe Kennedy III (MA), Sandy Levin (MI), and Lynn Woolsey (CA).
In 2012, he also worked for both House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC.
He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and resides in Newport, RI.
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is a firm principal in the Democratic direct mail firm
of Ambrosino, Muir, Hansen and Crounse. He has been a partner in
the firm since its inception as Ambrosino & Muir in 1990 and
has created powerfully persuasive, image-driven and winning mail
for more than 20 years.
Muir’s past clients include Governors Jay Inslee (WA) and Martin
O’Malley (MD), U.S. Senators Harry Reid (NV), Claire McCaskill
(MO), Mark Udall (CO), Chris Murphy (CT), Patty Murray (WA), Mark
Pryor (AR) and Debbie Stabenow (MI).
He has also created the mail for victorious House candidates in
competitive races across the country, including Suzan DelBene in
Washington and Dina Titus in Nevada, among others.
His experience extends to many statewide and local ballot
measures, including the passage of Question 7 in Maryland in 2012
and Measure J in Santa Clara, CA in 2010 that allowed the San
Francisco 49ers to build a new stadium.
Prior to founding the firm with Paul Ambrosino in 1990, Muir
worked on numerous campaigns, including managing New Hampshire for
presidential candidate Bruce Babbitt in 1988.
He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and
resides in San Francisco, CA.
Joe Hansen
Joe Hansen joined Ambrosino & Muir as a partner in 1999.
Joe takes pride in creating impactful mail that makes a difference, and is also an active partner in designing winning campaign plans and implementing best campaign practices on the ground.
Joe is uniquely suited to play that role for his clients, as he has previous experience as a successful campaign manager for four U.S. Senate races, Executive Director of the DSCC, Senior Political Advisor for the DSCC for 3 election cycles, chief of staff for a member of Congress, field director, and as a field staff person on a number of races at the beginning of his career.
In 2012, Joe wrote the mail for U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Heidi Heitkamp and was the firm lead on the mail created for President Obama’s campaign, a role he also played in 2008.
Other notable clients include U.S. Senators Harry Reid, Tom Daschle, Mary Landrieu, Herb Kohl, Tom Carper, Maria Cantwell, Tim Johnson, Mark Begich, Bill Nelson, and Joe Manchin, as well as Governors Earl Ray Tomblin, Chet Culver, Brian Schweitzer, John Lynch and John Baldacci.
Joe is a graduate of the University of Iowa and resides in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Susan and his son Miles.
Jim Crounse
Jim Crounse is recognized as one of the top Democratic mail consultants in the country. He has produced winning and creative political direct mail for over 25 years across the country.
In 2008, and again in 2012, Jim captained the team that did direct mail for President Barack Obama. Jim ’s mail was used nationwide and specifically helped the President win targeted states. After the 2008 election, Jim was called upon by the Obama transition team to head the confirmation team of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelieus, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
Jim has also produced direct mail for President Bill Clinton and presidential candidates Al Gore, John Kerry, Bob Kerrey, and Joe Lieberman.
Mr. Crounse has been the direct mail consultant for several U.S. Senators including Evan Bayh, Joe Donnelly, Max Baucus, Tim Johnson, Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan, Ben Nelson, Chris Dodd, Blanche Lincoln, Kyrsten Sinema, Jack Reed, and for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. Jim’s partners at AMHC have also produced mail for winning Senate races in Washington, Nevada, Montana, Missouri, Alaska, Arizona, West Virginia, and for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
Jim has worked on several Governor’s races in Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Florida, and New Mexico, and his partners have worked in Nevada, Montana, Iowa, Missouri, Washington, New Hampshire, Florida, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
He’s also worked extensively with candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and House Majority PAC to produce winning direct mail for congressional campaigns all over the country.
Some of Jim’s congressional clients over the years include Steny Hoyer, Gabby Giffords, Rahm Emanuel, Steve Israel, David Trone, Andre Carson, Baron Hill, Brad Ellsworth, Jim Matheson, Ben McAdams, Scott Peters, Nita Lowey, Maurice Hinchey, Don Beyer, Peter Hoagland, Brad Ashford, Martin Frost, Vic Fazio, Tim Walz, and many others.
Mr. Crounse has also been a key part of teams to elect Mayors, State Legislators, other local candidates, and winning ballot measures in several states. He also produces direct mail for Democrats endorsed by the National Association of Realtors.
Jim is a frequent lecturer about the art of direct mail and has trained and mentored many other talented people who now work for other direct mail firms.
Jim served two stints on the Hill as Chief of Staff to Congressman Peter Hoagland from Nebraska, and Senator Max Baucus from Montana.
Mr. Crounse is Chair of the Board of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a venerable nonprofit that was started by James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The Committee’s mission is to protect and enhance Social Security and Medicare through legislation, and through supporting candidates dedicated to keeping these systems strong.
Jim was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He has a political science degree from the University of Nebraska. In 2008, Jim was honored by the university with an award called “Alumni Master” - for outstanding achievement in his political career.
Jim and his wife Patsy started a lecture series at the University in honor of Jim’s mentor, Congressman Peter Hoagland. The lecture series on integrity in politics has had several prominent speakers including Ted Sorensen, David Axelrod, Jim Messina, Jeff Zeleney, Senator Mark Kelly, Peter Hart, and Harrison Hickman. They have also started scholarship funds in honor of family members that benefit political science and law students.
Jim has a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jim’s parents, Paul and Bernice Crounse, were active in the local Democrat party, and his father ran for the state legislature. Jim’s grandfather Jacob F. Crounse was the first Jewish State Representative in the state of Nebraska, elected to two terms in the 1930’s.
Michelle Gajewski
Michelle Gajewski has a unique breadth of experience as a high-profile campaign manager and strategist across local, state and federal elections in all parts of the country.
Her recent clients included Unite the Country, the only national superPAC recognized by the Joe Biden campaign in the primaries, where she played a pivotal role in multiple states for the President, including his tide-turning victory in South Carolina, and created millions of pieces of mail for his general election victory, including both persuasion and educational GOTV mail on new voting methods in the crucial swing states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
She's served as a trusted advisor to party committees and EMILY’s List and as a statewide manager shattered national fundraising records, executed over $25 million in paid communications while leading over 100 staffers to create an unprecedented grassroots organizing program.
And she’s proud to have served as Senior Advisor and General Consultant to Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell - the history-making first South American immigrant ever elected to Congress - and her record-breaking $20 million+ congressional race in Miami’s majority-minority 26th district.