Our Team

David Flaherty

CEO & Founder

David Flaherty is the founder of Magellan Strategies, a public opinion survey research firm serving local governments, school districts, special districts, and public policy organizations since 2007. David has spent three decades designing and managing thousands of ballot measure surveys, community surveys, and public policy research projects accurately measuring public and voter opinion. Furthermore, David is an expert public opinion pollster, focus group moderator, and ballot measure consultant.

David learned the art and science of public opinion research working in Washington, DC, for fourteen years, from 1992 to 2006. He mastered questionnaire design, qualitative research, and message development strategies and practices during that time. Furthermore, he held positions of responsibility working at the Republican National Committee, the U.S. House of Representative Oversight Committee, and Americans for Prosperity.

David is very proud to have helped hundreds of Colorado governments, school districts, special districts, and policy groups achieve voter approval for various ballot measures funding a wide array of government services, capital projects, and district operations.

David is a native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and a 1991 graduate of the University of Delaware. He lives in Broomfield, Colorado, with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons, Jack and Bobby.

Courtney Sievers, MPA

Director of Survey Research

As Director of Survey Research at Magellan Strategies since 2009, Courtney Sievers brings over a decade of expertise and a proven track record in delivering actionable insights through survey research. With a specialization in public policy, ballot measures, and community analysis, Courtney has successfully managed hundreds of projects, making her the go-to expert for organizations looking to gauge public opinion on complex legislative and policy issues.

Courtney’s mastery lies in her ability to craft questions that accurately capture voter opinion, even for the most nuanced topics. Whether you aim to secure funding through a ballot measure, test campaign messaging, or understand voter priorities, Courtney’s keen analytical skills and strategic approach ensure that your survey will produce reliable, clear, and effective results.

Her commitment to building strong, personal relationships with every client sets Courtney apart. She’s not just a consultant for the project’s duration — she’s a partner invested in your long-term success. By taking the time to understand your organization’s needs deeply, she tailors every project to align with your goals, ultimately helping you communicate the value and impact of your initiatives in a way that resonates with voters.

If your organization needs an expert to guide your next survey project, message-testing initiative, or focus group, Courtney Sievers is the strategic partner you want by your side. Let her expertise turn your data into a roadmap for success.

Courtney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with a Concentration in Statistics from Colorado Mesa University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. She resides in Arvada with her husband, Jake, and their two children, Riley and Sammy. When she’s not helping clients navigate complex survey projects or chasing her two young kiddos, you can find her hitting the slopes, watching the Broncos, praying for the Rockies, or cheering on the Nuggets and Avs.

Ryan Winger

Director of Survey Data Analysis & Polling Project Manager

Ryan Winger has been an indispensable leader at Magellan since our founding in 2007 and now serves as Director of Survey Data Analysis and Polling Project Manager. With over a decade of experience, Ryan is an expert in data analysis, helping communities better understand their residents and voters to create effective outreach and campaign strategies. His experience spans voter data development, survey development, ballot measure campaign consulting, and ballot language strategy—offering our clients the knowledge and expertise they need to succeed.

Throughout his career at Magellan, Ryan has managed a vast array of ballot measure surveys, assisting school districts, local governments, and public policy organizations across the state. He has deep experience leveraging survey research to develop compelling messages to educate residents and voters.

What our clients appreciate most about Ryan is that this experience is combined with a collaborative approach that respects and acknowledges the specific details of each project, ensuring that their strengths and assets are translated into winning strategies that drive community outreach, engagement, and education.

In particular, he has deep experience managing bond measures and MLO campaigns for Colorado school districts. He is most proud of his work for 27J Schools in 2022, helping guide the “I Am 27J” campaign to a successful mill levy override after over 20 years of setbacks.

Ryan understands that no two projects are exactly alike. The most enjoyable part of his job is learning about your unique strengths and the challenges you are facing and then helping you develop the right messages to tell your story and achieve your goals. Whatever your needs may be, reach out to Ryan today to get started on the path to success.

Ryan is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Political Science. He resides in Frederick with his wife, Vicki, and their three children, Emmalyn, Easton, and Everly.

Dr. Chris Fiedler

Dr. Chris Fiedler is a 30-year educator serving four school districts during that time. For the first eleven years, Chris served as a principal and superintendent in small, rural school districts in Colorado – Limon, Gilpin County, and Deer Trail School Districts – before making the move to 27J Schools in 2005, where we served for nineteen years, the final twelve years as superintendent and retiring in 2024.

27J Schools experienced tremendous student enrollment growth during his time as superintendent, from 16,163 students in the fall of 2012 to 23,108 students in the fall of 2023 – an increase of 43% (nearly 7,000 students) making 27J Schools the fastest growing school district in the Denver Metro area during that time frame. 27J Schools is the second-largest school district in Adams County and the twelfth-largest in Colorado.

Due to the generosity of the voters in the municipalities within 27J Schools boundaries, successful bond elections occurred in 2015 and 2021 totaling $764 million to build numerous new schools and renovate and expand existing schools, including three new career and technical education centers at all three comprehensive high schools opening in the fall of 2023.

In the fall of 2022, the voters of 27J Schools were again generous in passing a $17.65 million mill levy override to provide additional staff compensation, school safety personnel, and career and technical education opportunities for students.

Chris credits the work and expertise of the Magellan Strategies team with a major reason for the district’s successful elections in 2021 and 2022.

In November of 2023. Chris was elected to the Brighton City Council and began his service as a Ward 3 representative in January of 2024.

Chris also serves on the boards of the Adams County Education Consortium and the Community Reach Foundation, is a member of the Rocky Mountain Partnership Executive Committee, and is the current President of the Colorado Association of School Executives.

Jennifer Flaherty

Principal & Co-Founder

Jennifer Flaherty is a principal and co-founder of Magellan Strategies. She is considered to be one of the most experienced redistricting and political data consultants in the Republican community as a veteran of the 2001, 2011 and coming up 2021 redistricting cycles. Jennifer’s career began in the fall of 2000 working in the Republican National Committee Redistricting Department.

In this role she mastered redistricting mapping software and building complex political databases containing voter files, precinct election return data and census data. Jennifer has worked with countless Republican legislative caucuses and state parties across the country, supporting their mapping and redistricting needs.

Jennifer is a native of Houston and is a graduate of the University of Texas. She and David Flaherty are the proud parents of two boys, Jack and Bobby. They reside in Broomfield and enjoy skiing, hiking, fly fishing and mountain biking when the grandparents are in town and watching the kids.