Brandon W. Winfrey

Founder & CEO, WinCo Fundraising LLC

Winfrey’s path to the nation’s capital started in the Lone Star State, where he attended the University of Texas at Austin, interned in the State Legislature, and was a fundraising assistant for the Republican Party of Texas. After graduating in 1993 with a B.S. in Government, Brandon moved to the Washington, DC area to further pursue his interest in politics. He worked on Capitol Hill for a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, became an independent contractor for multiple fundraising firms, and launched his own firm, Winfrey & Company (now WinCo Fundraising) in 1995.

While growing his business and family in Alexandria, VA, Winfrey earned an M.A. in Political Management from the George Washington University with a focus on leadership training and emerging trends in political advocacy. The program equipped Winfrey with the tools and relationships to build a successful brand in a new era of campaign finance reform and social media.

WinCo has since become one of the most successful and reputable names in political fundraising.  The firm has raised more than $100 million for Republican campaigns, leadership PACs, State Party Committees, and RNC events. WinCo has represented House, Senate, and Gubernatorial candidates in more than 20 states and is proud to be engaged in its 15th election cycle.  

Winfrey currently serves as the DC and National Finance Director for Senator Deb Fischer (NE) and Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-4). He also serves as the Executive Director of the GOP Farm Team and Bipartisan Inaugural Agriculture Committee, raising funds and producing events that promote American agriculture and GOTV efforts in Rural America.

Brandon and his wife Shazalynn split time between Austin, TX and Washington, DC maintaining their respective businesses and supporting their two kids in their own entrepreneurial pursuits.

Annette Vinton Johnson

Director of Operations, WinCo Fundraising LLC

A Nebraska native, Annette has called the nation’s capital home for nearly a decade. Annette graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs (concentration in political-military relations) and moved to DC to pursue a career in the private sector. Over the past decade, she has held various client relationship management, fundraising/sales, business development, and operations roles at a large Fortune 500 company and a start-up technology company with considerable experience managing executive client relationships, overseeing events, marketing/outreach, and operations, and developing and executing marketing and sales campaigns. Vinton joined WinCo in May 2024.  

A proud Nebraskan, Annette’s ties with the agricultural community run deep as the 5th generation of a family of cattle ranchers that have called the Nebraska Sandhills home since the late 1800’s. Vinton’s interest in politics started at an early age. In college, she served on the executive board of multiple on-campus political organizations and was involved in multiple Wisconsin state campaigns, including supporting Scott Walker’s team during the 2012 Gubernatorial recall election. 

In her free time, Annette sits on the steering committee of the Jeté Society, the young professional group supporting The Washington Ballet, and is a member of The Junior League of Washington. She and her husband Cole reside in DC and enjoy traveling the world together.