Tom Bowen, Managing Partner, started New Chicago Consulting after a decade of experience in some of the top races across the country. He focuses on all aspects of successful organizations including management, self-assessments, communications, and public affairs.
He has managed six campaigns ranging from Chicago City Council to U.S. Senate and has worked and consulted on more than 75 local and federal races across the country, including the 2008 presidential campaign for Barack Obama. In 2011, Tom was the deputy campaign manager for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s first new mayor in 22 years. He later established and managed his leadership political campaign committee. In 2019 and 2023, he served as a senior member of the campaign for Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. In 2020, he was named to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon's political team where he serves as a political spokesperson.
Tom regularly provides commentary as an expert source on political issues for Chicago-based media organizations and is often quoted in national publications for his expertise in politics. He has provided commentary and analysis for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, National Journal, POLITICO, Newsweek, and the NY Daily News.
He lives in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife Aviva and their daughter.
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Christina Nowinski Wurst, Managing Partner, established the fundraising services of New Chicago Consulting in 2014. Christina has spent over a decade focusing on development for nonprofits and political races for federal, state and local offices. She manages finance operations for clients raising funds in Chicago, Illinois, and throughout the country.
Some of her most notable projects include Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, and Congressman Mike Quigley. She’s also worked on projects including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis prior to her time with NCC.
Christina also serves as the Co-Executive Director of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership Training Academy with the New Chicago team. Prior to her independent work, Christina served in a leadership role with Nancy Kohn Consulting, a national fundraising firm headquartered in Chicago.
A native Chicagoan, she and her husband are raising their toddler "twinblings" and newborn in Logan Square.
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Tracy Mayfield, Managing Partner, has spearheaded a variety of high profile fundraising projects for NCC. She was a key advisor during the effort of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s stunning victory in the 2019 runoff election and 2023 reelection effort, led the 2018 Attorney General finance operation of Illinois Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz, and coordinated the 2018 Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation Gala.
Prior to joining NCC in 2017, Tracy served as a Senior Advisor at Progressive Turnout Project. In the 2015-16 cycle, she worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a Regional Candidate Fundraising Director. In this role, she helped top-tier congressional races in the Midwest launch, staff up, and reach fundraising goals, as well as coordinated national surrogate travel.
Before that, she worked on the fundraising staff of four multi-million dollar campaigns in northern Illinois, including as the Finance Director on Congressman Brad Schneider's winning 2012 campaign and record-setting 2014 campaign. Tracy currently serves on Haymarket Center’s Associate Board.
Briana Collins, Partner, brings 20 years of experience in nonprofit, small business, public sector, community programming, and events management to the team. Prior to her move to Chicago in 2012, Briana worked in New York City politics, appointed as the Executive Director to the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues in 2007 and later serving as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Mayor, where her portfolio included oversight of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, NYC Department of Records, Civil Service Commission, and Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. In addition to the number of political campaigns on which she’s worked, including serving as Illinois’ Director of Operations for Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 Presidential campaign, her other notable projects with the New Chicago team include her work with the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation and the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation.
Maddie Jackson, Senior Finance Associate, has been involved in politics since knocking doors and attending rallies with her mom as a kid. Her experience includes working with 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s office, the Missouri Democratic Party, and local campaigns in her hometown of St. Louis. Outside of work, Maddie enjoys filling her time with as many hobbies as possible, including reading, cheering on women’s sports teams, going to the movies, and doing dog sports with her pit bull, Nova.
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Anthony Nissen, Finance Associate, graduated from DePaul University with a major in Sociology and a double minor in American Politics and Public Policy. He is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, but he moved to Chicago to attend college. He is proud to be the biggest Vikings fan in the world and can name every player on the team from the past ten years. Trust us, we have tried to trip him up.
Bryce Najm el-din Bezirgan, Finance Associate, is a Chicago native and proud son of an immigrant from Iraq. Bryce is a graduate of George Washington University with a BA in Political Science and Philosophy. He interned for 314 Action, The American Kidney Fund, The American Federation of Teachers, Fulkerson Kennedy & Co, and the AARP before joining NCC as an Associate. Outside of work, you can find Bryce coaching soccer, going to the movies, or hanging out with his two cats, Lailah and Noora.
Teagan Flanagan, Finance Associate, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Political Science and Honors History. During her time in Wisconsin, she canvassed for Planned Parenthood of WI, interned at the Wisconsin State Legislature, and worked on Tammy Baldwin for Senate’s victorious re-election campaign. Prior to working at New Chicago Consulting, she interned at McGuireWoods Consulting. Teagan’s favorite thing about working at NCC is sharing a pod with Una.
Una Cleary, Finance Associate, graduated from DePaul University in 2026 with an Honors BA in Political Science and History. During her time at DePaul, she interned with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and the Chicago Housing Authority. She also served as an editor for her college newspaper, covering Chicago politics, and gained interest in international politics while studying abroad in Cork, Ireland, where she wrote on Irish elections. Una’s favorite thing about working at NCC is sharing a pod with Teagan.
Cassidy Lopez, Finance Associate.
Nick Weller, Finance Associate, graduated from the University of Utah in 2026 with a BS in Political Science and minors in Mathematics and Strategic Communications. He has previously worked as an Organizer with Sim Gill for Salt Lake County District Attorney, and interned for Elevate Utah, Tissot Solutions, NSL4A, and the Utah State House. Outside of the office, you can find Nick spending time with his dog, watching the Bears, or developing indie games in his free time.
Ally Witt, Finance Associate, graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BA in Political Science and Economics. During her time at Loyola, she interned in Rep. Foster’s DC office and in Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth’s office. After graduating, she worked on a congressional campaign as a Field Organizer in Illinois’ 2026 primary cycle. She’s originally from the southwest suburbs of Chicago. In her free time, you can find her coaching age-group club swimming, lifting weights at the gym, watching the newest Netflix documentary, or spending time with her friends and family.
Alyssa Manthi, IWIL Training Academy Program Director, graduated from the University of Chicago in 2026 with a BA in History, concentrating in Human Rights, and a minor in Religious Studies. At UChicago, Alyssa served as Co-Chair of W+, a civic engagement group for women and gender minorities in public service, and interviewed Mayor Brandon Johnson on the intersection of religion and politics.