About Us

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Christopher Merola is the President of Red Momentum Strategies.  He is the son of Italian immigrants, whose

parents' lives were saved by the US Army during WW II.  He was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania in a blue-collar, working-class family.  His father worked as a steelworker for almost 27 years, while his mother owned her own small business working as a seamstress for several decades.

At the age of 17, after graduating high school, Chris joined the US Army in order to earn tuition for 

college and give something back to the organization that made his life possible.

Upon returning to Western Pennsylvania after his enlistment ended, Chris joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard where he became a Sergeant (E-5) and a team leader at the age of 22.  He put himself through college attending part-time for ten years, while working and serving in the Army National Guard.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling

(Counseling-Psychology) from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
 

A former Capitol Hill staffer, he conducted press operations and communications for a Republican 

Member of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  While working for the Congressman, he wrote op-eds, talking points and House Floor speeches.  He also led new media outreach to the Congressional District.

Following his time on Capitol Hill, he conducted business development projects and political communications for several communications companies in the Washington, DC area.  While working in that capacity, Chris designed the Internet strategy for political campaigns, the writing of various campaign advertisements and email outreach to raise money for clients, and “get-out-the-vote” efforts for various candidates.  During this time, he also served as a guest columnist for Townhall.com, writing politically relevant articles.
 

In all, Chris has worked on 34 political campaigns at the state and federal levels, including his 

own run for the Virginia State House of Delegates in 2009. 

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Tressa Harper Merola is the Senior Consultant of Red Momentum Strategies.  She is also a native of Western Pennsylvania.  A Scots-Irish lass whose family has a long history in Western Pennsylvania, she is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications-Public Relations.
 

Tressa spent nine years working on Capitol Hill.  During her time on Capitol Hill she managed the Congressional office, balanced a budget of almost $2 million, conducted interviews of staff members and interns, and 

arranged all travel and scheduling for a Republican Member of Congress.  

Following her time on Capitol Hill, Tressa worked for a trade association in Northern Virginia.  

In all, Tressa has worked on more than a few political campaigns over the years, including her husband's run for the the state house in Virginia, where she handled logistics for the campaign.  Tressa also managed campaign volunteers, served as the editor-at-large for all campaign materials, and conducted field operations.