The Team
Who We Are
Katy Langenfeld
President
Katy Langenfeld founded Langenfeld & Associates in 2022. From 2015-2022, she worked for KJD Strategies as a fundraiser and later as Vice President. Katy has raised millions of dollars for winning campaigns of statewide and state level candidates, county commissioners, aldermen, as well as non-profit foundations. After graduating from Drake University, she worked for AKPD Message & Media on Barack Obama’s '08 Presidential campaign. She has a background in field, and has managed campaigns for Illinois legislators and Chicago aldermen. She previously worked in Springfield developing legislative priorities and strategic communications for House Democrats.
Ersilia Melchiorre
Finance & Operations Manager
Ersilia Melchiorre joined Langenfeld & Associates in Spring 2022. She worked previously as a campaign manager and fundraiser for a democratic candidate for Indiana State Senate. Ersilia was a Lead Middle School Humanities teacher for Success Academy Charter Schools in Harlem, NYC from September 2017 to June 2019. In this role, she was honored in 2019 with a Success Academy Excellence Award for Growth. Ersilia has a Masters in Public Policy with a focus in International Policy and Development and Global Conflict Studies from University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She also has a Bachelor of Art degree in Classical Civilizations from Loyola University Chicago.
Raymond Ready
Events Coordinator & Finance Assistant
Daphne Karlin
Deputy Finance Director
Daphne started at L&A at the end of 2023. She works to make sure our whole operation runs smoothly, from emails and outreach, to research and data, managing special projects and events, as well as training and supervising staff & interns. She has a Masters in International Affairs from Loyola University Chicago.
Stacey Smith
Senior Finance Consultant
Stacey Smith is a senior consultant for L&A. Previously, Stacey was Vice President and a senior fundraiser at KJD Strategies. She worked as the Deputy Finance Director for US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and was a member of the Candidate Fundraising team at the DCCC, raising money for targeted Democratic incumbents and candidates across the country. Stacey has worked on multiple congressional and senate campaigns in the Chicagoland area in both fundraising and field. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Stacey has also spent time as a Dunn Fellow in the Office of the Illinois Governor and as an intern in U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s Washington, DC office.
Katelynd Duncan is the Founder of KJD Strategies, Chicago. In 2010 at the age of 24, Katelynd Duncan created a company that has quickly emerged on the forefront of Chicago political fundraising services and produces events frequently attended by the most elite political insiders and in demand donors. KJD Strategies has raised more than $50 million for political action committees and non-profits. Katelynd serves as a confidant and political strategist for some of Illinois' top political leaders. KJD Strategies' clients include former Mayors, Governors and Senators as well as a range of state and municipal electeds. In 2018, Katelynd was the recipient of the “ Dawn Clark Netsch Straight Talk” Award by Reform for Illinois for her work on addressing sexual harassment in government in politics.
Katelynd Duncan
Senior Finance Consultant
Ryan Hurley
With a decade of experience in Illinois politics spanning all over the state, Ryan has a proven track record of electing Democrats in competitive races and driving successful outcomes. He launched his career working to elect Democrats to the Illinois House and then spent nearly five years with the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund, where he led winning strategies for primary and general elections. Ryan brings an in-depth understanding of organized labor and excels at building broad coalitions that power successful campaigns. He marries his experience in running successful campaigns with a strategic approach to fundraising, delivering results at every level, from Illinois House and Senate races to local elections.
