Dean Debnam, President
Dean Debnam has over 40 years’ experience in turning ideas into successful businesses and stills acts as CEO of several of them. In 2001 he founded Public Policy Polling to help provide accurate and affordable survey research to political campaigns, organizations, and businesses of all shapes and sizes. Over the last 10 years he has built PPP into one of the most prolific and well respected polling organizations in the country, earning plaudits for its work from places like the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Politico. Under his direction PPP now has a broad national client base ranging from US Senate campaigns to major progressive advocacy organizations to major league baseball teams.
He has also served as the CEO of Workplace Options, Inc. since 1993 and over the years has transformed WPO from a consultancy and management company, into the one of the largest global work-life companies. He believes that each one of his businesses informs the other and uses the best practices from each to enhance the other.
Tom Jensen, Director
Tom Jensen is the Director of Public Policy Polling and oversees its day to day operations. During his time at PPP he has been a frequent guest for television and radio stations across the region, and has been called on for expert analysis by publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and US News and World Report. He writes PPP's blog and Twitter account in addition to crafting the content for most of its surveys. He is an honors graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where he wrote his senior thesis about black candidates for statewide office across the country in the early 21st century. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he can be contacted by e-mail at tomj@publicpolicypolling.com or phone at 919-744-6312.
Dustin Ingalls, Assistant to the Director
Dustin Ingalls is a native of Frankfort and Ilion, NY, but is a longtime Triangle resident. He holds a BA from UNC Chapel Hill in political science with a history minor, and managed a State House race in 2008. As the Assistant to the Director of Public Policy Polling, he participates in poll creation, media communications, updating the website, and client recruitment, among other duties. He also oversees the message delivery service. He can be reached at dustin.ingalls@publicpolicypolling.com or 919-324-4900.
Jim Williams, Issue Polling Specialist
Jim Williams is a longtime Triangle resident. He holds a BA from UNC Chapel Hill in political science and sociology. He has a rich research background, including work on several presidential and statewide political campaigns as well as time working in NC state government. At PPP, he helps drive poll creation and analysis, media communications, and client recruitment and relations. He can be reached at jim.williams@publicpolicypolling.com or 919-985-5380.
Jim Shields, Research Director
Public Policy Polling Research Director James Shields, Ph.D., taught opinion survey methodology for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Subsequently he served as both Research Director and as Lobbyist for the Nevada State Education Association. Then as a member of the National Education Association's West Coast Organizing Team, he organized numerous opinion surveys for state affiliates in support of both political and organizing campaigns.
