Dean Debnam, President

Founder of Public Policy Polling, Dean Debnam has over 30 years experience in creating and growing businesses. Since 1972 he has turned ideas into successful businesses and still acts as CEO of several of them, including PPP. His interest in politics led him to create PPP to measure and respond to public opinion.

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.

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.