Our Team
Catina Voellinger
Executive Director
She/her
Born into a biracial family in Texas, Catina's unique perspective greatly informs her role at Ground Game Texas. Raised by a mother who experienced extreme poverty in Central Texas and a father from a working-class family in North East Texas, Catina directly experienced economic and racial inequality. The insight she gained from her upbringing spurred a career dedicated to challenging injustices, advocating for workers' rights, and promoting racial equity.
Prior to joining Ground Game Texas, Catina co-founded the first worker-owned political consultancy cooperative in the U.S., advocating for campaign workers and replacing a disposable culture with one that values every team member. Catina utilizes her versatile expertise in campaign management, compliance, fundraising, design, and communications to actively confront and deconstruct systems that suppress underrepresented communities. She first came on to the team at Ground Game in early 2022, and achieved an array of essential accomplishments, including building our institutional fundraising program, overhauling our communications materials, taking charge of our largest ballot measure campaigns, and generally building a focused, constructive, and collaborative culture.
Catina’s deep dedication, paired with her strategic approach, make her a vibrant force at Ground Game Texas and an inspiring leader in our shared goal of building a more equitable and just world.
Matt
Krausse
Data Director
He/him
Matt began his career in politics in the field working for candidates up and down the ballot. He has managed and worked on multiple campaigns, including as the Digital & Communications Director for Mike Siegel, Campaign Manager for Derrick Crowe for Congress and Lewis Conway Jr’s bid for Austin City Council. Matt has also been a data consultant for numerous campaigns, organizations, and companies, including the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA). Matt is currently a community advisory board member for the Parsons Project, an open-source python project for the progressive community. His love of technology and computers led him to become a data expert.
Matt develops robust systems and analysis that help guide Ground Game Texas through tough problems. Born and raised in Texas, he now lives on the road in the Mountain West, skiing, rock climbing, fishing, and (more recently) playing pickleball.
Karen
Salazar
Rio Grande Valley Campaign Manager
She/her
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley to a single-parent household, Karen came to politics out of love for her culture and community. Although RGV politics have been notoriously plagued by corruption, and the border is often discounted and demonized in mainstream political discussions, Karen knows from experience its potential for transformation.
Karen joined Ground Game in 2022 as a field organizer for the Living Wage campaigns in the cities of Alton and Edinburg. She has since assisted other campaigns, knocking doors in El Paso for the Climate Charter campaign and serving on the data verification team for campaigns in San Antonio and Lubbock. Through these campaigns, she discovered her passion for organizing and witnessed firsthand the power her community holds. Karen is currently the Campaign Manager for the McAllen Anti-Corruption act, a ground-breaking anti-corruption, pro-democracy ballot proposition.
Tristeza
Ordex
Dallas Campaign Manager
She/her
Triste is a mom, activist, and retired Marine Corps Staff Sergeant. Growing up as the daughter of migrant farmworkers in Oregon, Triste worked in the fields with them until her senior year of high school. In 2004, she joined the US Marines and did two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She also served as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor before retiring in September 2014.
Triste began doing organizing work on student veteran issues and veterans suicide awareness in 2015 as a student in Tarrant County Community College. In 2016, she was recognized with the Veteran Student of the Year award. The following year was awarded Congressional Veterans Commendation Award for Texas’s 33rd Congressional District.
In 2018, Triste made her foray into electoral politics knocking and making calls for progressive candidates in the DFW area. In 2020, she joined the Working Families Party to build a veterans project that organized veterans across the country. In 2021, Triste launched her political consulting firm, Fuerza Strategies LLC, leading an all-Latina staff. In 2024, Fuerza launched a student internship program that supported Dallas candidates in primary challenges and social media campaigns for nonprofits.
As Dallas Campaign Manager, Triste and her team successfully put marijuana decriminalization on the city’s ballot, Ground Game’s largest campaign yet.
Natalie
Marquez
Dallas Field Director
She/her
Natalie grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where she first honed her organizing skills, including volunteering with Angry Tias and Abuelas to assist asylum-seeking families in safely navigating through Border Patrol. In 2020, Natalie co-founded RGV Mutual Aid, raising $45,000 to aid 49 families impacted by Hurricane Hanna, with a particular focus on those undocumented and unsupported by FEMA. She has served as District Director for State Representative Terry Meza, GOTV Director for Councilman Zo Qadri, and Political Director for Rochelle Garza’s Attorney General campaign. Natalie’s wealth of dedication and strategic insight make her an invaluable leader in her role as Dallas Field Director.
Sophia Reyes
Development Manager
She/her
Sophia Reyes (she/her) is an Austin native and UT Austin alum with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Business and Public Policy. She brings over four years of experience in fundraising, political strategy, and campaign management, supporting progressive candidates and organizations across Texas and beyond. Her work includes roles with José Garza for District Attorney, Vanessa Fuentes for Austin City Council, Rochelle Garza for Texas, Amanda Edwards for Congress, and others.
Before consulting, Sophia served as Special Projects Coordinator at Annie’s List, helping recruit, train, and support progressive women running for office in Texas.
Sophia is an avid runner and hiker who loves exploring the outdoors with her dog, Maverick. She is grounded in community, advocacy, and the belief that strategic organizing and resource-building create lasting change.
Sarina
Gharbi
Digital Organizing Fellow
She/her
Sarina is an Austin native and a current student at The University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a double major in Political Communications and Social Work. Growing up in a Persian American single-parent household, she experienced firsthand the systemic barriers faced by women and immigrants. Her unique background is what ignited her passion for advocacy, equality, and social justice.
She began competing in Social Media Marketing Strategy through the Future Business Leaders of America in 2022, placing first in Texas. In 2024, Sarina was selected as a fellow for the Youth Justice Alliance, where she was mentored by lawyers and community leaders on legal advocacy. At the University of Texas, she works as a member of the Sustaining Democracy Action Team, where she advocates for civic engagement, constitutional governance, and awareness of the current threats facing our democracy.
Sarina is a driven advocate for equality, committed to using her Ground Game fellowship to bring greater visibility to public issues and injustices through digital communication.