GrassrootsLab is led by Mike Madrid and Robb Korinke. 

Mike Madrid 

For over fifteen years, Mike Madrid has been changing the outcomes of political campaigns throughout the country. His active involvement in local, state, and federal races has helped him to develop a keen insight into the successful characteristics of winning campaigns.

Mike Madrid is a nationally recognized expert on Latino voting trends. The completion of his thesis at Georgetown University in Washington DC on Latino voters became the basis for his pioneering work on Latino communications and outreach strategies in California, Texas, Florida and nationwide. He has served as the press secretary for the California Assembly Republican leader and as the political director for the California Republican Party. In 2001 he was named as one of Americas "Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business Magazine.

Since 2000, Mike Madrid has developed an expertise in local governments in California. He serves as the public affairs director to the League of California Cities and as a strategic adviser to the California Redevelopment Association. In that role he was instrumental in the passage of Proposition 1A (The Local Taxpayer Protection Act) a historic achievement that constitutionally protected local government revenues from state raids. The measure received 84% of the vote - one of the highest percentages in California history. He was also a key adviser in the defeat of Proposition 90 (The Taxpayer Trap).

He founded the California Ballot Measure Training Academy (CBMTA) in 2005 to better educate city officials on the legalities and best practices of public information programs and how they are different from ballot measure advocacy. Over 100 California Cities have participated in the training program. He is a sought after speaker and trainer for cities throughout California. Madrid & Associates is regularly sought out by statewide campaigns seeking local government messaging and support.

Mike Madrid is also responsible for the "League Partner" program, an organization of private industry groups that works to better the financial and civic health of cities in California. Madrid & Associates also represents private sector clients in their outreach efforts with city governments.

Robb Korinke

Robb Korinke is a former Communications Director for the Orange County Business Council and a veteran of candidate and ballot measure campaigns across California and beyond.

He began his political work on Capitol Hill with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  Upon returning to California he worked legislative and local campaigns before signing on with the League of California Cities during their effort to pass Proposition 1A in 2004. 

In 2007, he joined the Orange County Business Council as Communications Director, overseeing all aspects of the organization’s interaction with local and statewide media.  He also crafted messaging for advocacy efforts on behalf of the business community in Orange County – the nation’s fifth largest county. 

Throughout his career, Korinke has honed his skills as a writer and an expert in political communications.  He has published op-eds under his own name, as well as under those of clients, in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Orange County Register, the Orange County Business Journal as well as numerous trade and online industry publications. 

As a web designer, his work includes California City News.org, CaliforniaPropositions.org and CalFantasyLegislature.com.  He has also completed web projects for clients including Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and the California Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians.

He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he studied English Literature and Public Policy.  He lives in Orange, California.