Building a lasting political ecosystem in California—one that empowers values-driven leaders and changemakers to drive bold, coordinated progress.
Our Vision
Convening
pipeline organizations and building the state’s Pipeline Network
Uplifting
leadership support and opportunities throughout the network
Providing
space and frameworks for data-driven strategizing, opportunities to collaborate among organizations, and support to fill gaps along the pipeline needs
Building
the Pipeline through data tracking, training, and streamlined communication
Our Team
Lindsay Bubar
Director
Lindsay Bubar is a California based political consultant who has worked with a broad-range of clients for nearly 15 years, driven by a commitment to delivering real solutions to our biggest challenges. Notably, Lindsay successfully flipped some of the longest-held Republican seats in Los Angeles County, including CA-25 (now CA-27) in the historic 2018 election and AD40 in 2022, the only state race that election cycle where a Democrat unseated a Republican. Lindsay has led campaigns at the federal, state, and local level, as well as supported state, county, and city ballot initiatives. In addition to leading electoral campaigns, Lindsay works with nonprofits and organizations to expand their capacity and execute their vision for change, including serving as Training Director for Emerge California for 10 years, building their Southern California program and training nearly 250 alumnae, many of whom currently serve in office.
Board Members
Molly Daniel
(formerly Watson)
Founder
Molly has been organizing movement work in the CA local and state landscape since 2017 as an operative, fundraiser and funder. With an eye toward convening efforts and organizations across multiple tax entities, she has been lead on launching the official CA Pipeline network in-state to become an affiliate of the national Pipeline Fund. Along with directing the launch of CP, Molly is the Chief of Staff and Development for the American Experiment Project x Project 68, a culture-first new media narrative producer and amplifier house, and she serves on the board of RegisterHer. Molly is an Alumna and Class Rep of Emerge California 2019, a Scout for Close the Gap California, the founding President Emeritus of the Greater Long Beach Black Democratic Club and a former Board member of the Black Women’s Democratic Club of Los Angeles County and Long Beach Forward.
Melanie V. Ramil
Board Chair
A self-described “relentless idealist,” Melanie has spent the last 20 years in the political, nonprofit and public sectors, driven by a deep intentionality to change the world with like-minded leaders. She serves as Deputy Executive Director for the California Democratic Party, and previously served as Executive Director for Emerge California. In its first year, Authentic Consulting was honored to support values-aligned organizations with similar missions: equity, justice and representative democracy. She serves as Chief Development Officer for Close the Gap, trains Democratic women across the country to run for elected office with Emerge America, recruits progressive candidates to run for school board, and provides executive advising, strategic planning, and policy coaching to local, statewide and national Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander nonprofit organizations. Prior to founding Authentic Consulting, Melanie held several executive positions, including as Executive Director of Emerge California and Deputy State Director for then-US Senator (now Madam Vice President!) Kamala D. Harris.
Melanie is the proud daughter of Filipino immigrants and was named one of the nation’s top AAPI Political Operatives and Public Affairs Professionals Under 40 in 2021. Her most authentic self centers joy, love, adventure, service and community.
Susannah Delano
Board Vice Chair
Susannah Delano has achieved important wins on the frontlines of California’s movements for gender equity, racial justice, and health care access for over 20 years. Since she joined Close the Gap as Executive Director in 2018, women’s representation in the California State Legislature has rebounded from just 22% to an all-time high of 48% and counting. Today, California is the only Top 10 global economy to have effectively achieved gender parity, and more than doubles the national average for percentage women of color serving in its state house. In recognition of her driving role, Susannah has been named to Capitol Weekly’s “Top 100” most influential figures in state politics every year since 2023. Susannah’s leadership is rooted in her early experience bargaining groundbreaking contracts and defeating proposed budget cuts alongside SEIU homecare workers from 2002-2010. From 2010-2017 Susannah led Planned Parenthood Northern California’s advocacy and electoral work, mobilizing to deliver key votes that expanded access to reproductive health care during a time of reinvigorated national assault.