Kieran Mahoney is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and one of the most highly sought after political and public affairs strategists in the nation.
The New York Times calls him one of the “best political strategists of his generation.” Mr. Mahoney has managed races in more than thirty states for clients including Senator Gordon Smith, presidential candidate Bob Dole and presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole. In addition, he possesses an unrivaled knowledge of New York politics with Governor George Pataki and former Senator Alfonse D’Amato among his clients. Furthermore, Mr. Mahoney has managed successful public affairs campaigns, proxy fights and public relations battles for industry leaders in telecommunications, healthcare, energy and transportation, among others.
Gregory Strimple is a Founding Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and the firm’s director of public opinion research and advertising.
Mr. Strimple has conducted hundreds of local, state, national and international public opinion surveys for corporations, business coalitions and political campaigns. Altogether, he has conducted survey research in forty-nine states and several foreign countries, including Argentina and Panama.
Kirill Goncharenko is a Founding Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and leads the firm's operations in Washington, D.C., California, Texas, St. Louis and Minneapolis. In addition, Mr. Goncharenko manages FHGR, the national lobbying firm owned by Fleishman-Hillard and managed by Mercury Public Affairs.
Prior to founding Mercury Public Affairs, Mr. Goncharenko worked in international relations in the United States Senate, served as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for a $3 billion healthcare company with 65,000 employees and as an Executive Vice President of global crisis communications at Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations firm.
Thomas Doherty is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and heads the firm’s lobbying and government relations practice in Albany, NY.
Drawing from his 20-plus year career in local, county, state and federal government, Mr. Doherty provides strategic consulting and issues management to various corporations as well as state agencies and authorities. He has firsthand knowledge of the people and politics that drive the State’s decision-making process—giving his clients unmatched representation in New York. As the former Deputy Secretary of Appointments for Governor George Pataki, he oversaw all appointments to state departments and agencies, commissions, committees, task forces and boards. Mr. Doherty’s other assignments include serving as Executive Director of “Victory 98” for the New York State Republican Committee, Eastchester Councilman, and Public Information Officer for the Westchester Department of Environmental Facilities.
Michael McKeon is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and handles crisis communications and strategic consulting for numerous corporations, New York State officials, agencies and authorities.
Mr. McKeon has seven years of experience working at the senior levels of government in New York State, most recently as Communications Director for Governor George Pataki. As a top advisor for Governor Pataki, Mr. McKeon helped shape critical public policy and strategic decisions for the state. In the aftermath of September 11th, he worked closely with Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani, state officials and the Bush administration to manage the State’s response to the attacks. Recently, Mr. McKeon served as a member of the distinguished panel of judges for the International World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition that selected the memorial for Ground Zero. Before joining the Pataki administration, Mr. McKeon was an award-winning reporter for several New York newspapers, including the Albany Times Union.
Terry Nelson is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and runs our Washington, D.C. office.
Terry Nelson has consistently demonstrated high levels of success in both the strategic and tactical areas of campaigns. He has played a senior role in the last three elections and was named one of "Politics Fabulous Fifty" -- a listing of the fifty most influential political operatives in Washington. He is currently Senior Advisor to Straight Talk America, Senator John McCain's political action committee.
Steve Schmidt is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs and leads the firm's operations in California.
Recognized as one of the top political strategists in the country, Mr. Schmidt provides high-level counsel to political candidates, elected officials, and major corporations and organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood studios and professional sports teams. He most recently served as a Senior Advisor to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign. Prior to joining Mercury, Mr. Schmidt served as Campaign Manager for the re-election of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. Before the Schwarzenegger campaign, Mr. Schmidt served as a member of the White House senior staff as Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor to the Vice President. He was also one of the top strategists on President Bush's 2004 re-election and was a member of the senior strategic planning group that directed the campaign.
Adam Mendelsohn is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs.
Prior to joining MPA, Mr. Mendelsohn served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to the Associated Press, "Mendelsohn was a key member of the team that helped Schwarzenegger refashion his image." Governor Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, called Mendelsohn "one of the best communications strategists I've ever worked with."
The Honorable Fabian Núñez is a Partner of Mercury Public Affairs.
Fabian Núñez recently joined Mercury Public Affairs as a Partner in the firm’s growing California operation. Mr. Núñez is the former California Assembly Speaker and one of the country’s most dynamic Democratic leaders. Recognized for his unique ability to lead and find bi-partisan solutions to complex public policy challenges, Mr. Núñez was named “Legislator of the Year” in 2007 by Governing Magazine. He authored AB 32, landmark climate change legislation that has become a blueprint for other states and the U.S. Congress in addressing environmental challenges.
The Honorable Max Sandlin served eight years (1997-2005) in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democratic Congressman representing Texas District 1.
Congressman Sandlin was a member of senior House leadership, serving as Majority Chief Deputy Whip to current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and subsequently to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Sandlin was also an elected and later a leadership representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee – the committee that sets the agenda for the Democratic Caucus and makes committee assignments. He was one of a small group of legislators chosen for the Parliamentary Group, representatives called upon for rapid parliamentary and procedural action on the floor of the U.S. House.
The Honorable Fernando Ferrer is a Co-Chairman of Mercury Public Affairs/IGR Group.
One of the top Hispanic leaders in America, Mr. Ferrer brings 30 years of public policy experience to Mercury Public Affairs’ government affairs arm, IGR Group.
Mr. Ferrer served as a member of the New York City Council, where he authored key laws making New York a leader in public safety, civil rights and anti-discrimination, including the first Civilian Complaint Review Board Law. During his 14-year tenure as Bronx Borough President, Mr. Ferrer designed and oversaw the largest urban rebuilding effort in the country and is nationally recognized as an architect for revitalizing American cities.
The Honorable Emil Jones, Jr. is a Senior Counselor of Mercury Public Affairs.
Emil Jones, Jr. joined Mercury Public Affairs in 2009 and leads the firm’s operations in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Jones served as President of the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2009, a position that culminated more than three decades of service in the Illinois legislature. Recognized as one of the most effective political leaders in Illinois state history, Mr. Jones left an unparalleled legacy of achievement, making lasting contributions throughout the state, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare and criminal justice.
Mr. Jones was the first Senate President in recent history to establish a bipartisan select committee on Education Funding Reform. In 2007, he secured an additional $600 million in public education funding, the largest increase in the state’s history, increasing funding for every public school student by $400. Mr. Jones also led efforts to reduce the number of uninsured citizens by spearheading the Governor’s “All Kids” initiative to offer healthcare to all children. In 2008, he passed legislation allowing the elderly and disabled throughout Illinois to travel on the state’s mass transit system for free. And he established a prescription drug discount program that reduced prescription drug prices for the elderly and disabled by up to 40 percent.
John Lonergan is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
At Mercury since 1999, Mr. Lonergan has garnered deep experience in the public affairs, political consulting and New York State government relations practices by providing counsel to leading corporations and coalitions such as Pfizer, Sallie Mae, Greyhound Bus Lines, Lockheed Martin, the American Health Care Association and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Most recently, Mr. Lonergan has primarily worked as a strategist advising corporate clients engaged in public affairs campaigns in New York State. Drawing upon his extensive experience on the campaign trail and his knowledge of policy positions, Mr. Lonergan develops communication strategies and tactics that will most effectively persuade lawmakers, administration officials and other opinion leaders in order to achieve a client’s business objectives. His approach to public affairs is based on integrated communications – encompassing a full range of tactics including public opinion research, advertising, public relations, lobbying and grassroots/grasstops mobilization. Mr. Lonergan also serves as a registered lobbyist in New York State, representing the interests of a variety of clients before the legislature and state agencies.
Jonathan Greenspun is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
Prior to joining Mercury, Mr. Greenspun was appointed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to serve as Commissioner of the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit. Mr. Greenspun was the youngest Commissioner in the Bloomberg administration and among the youngest commissioners in New York City's history.
Brian Jones is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs in the firm’s Sacramento, California office.
Jones heads Mercury’s strategic communications practice, advising and developing media campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, associations, political campaigns, and non-profit organizations.
Jones has more than 15 years of public affairs experience, having previously served as the Communications Director for Senator John McCain’s Presidential campaign and the Communications Director at the Republican National Committee. While overseeing a staff of 30 at the RNC, the National Journal wrote that Jones is “one of the best managers in the GOP communications business.”
Michael DuHaime is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
Mike DuHaime joined Mercury Public Affairs after more than a decade of work running political campaigns at all levels of American politics, including the highest-profile national campaigns. Mr. DuHaime is particularly noted for combining genuine grassroots politics with creative campaign communications, strategies and tactics. According to former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ken Mehlman, “Mike DuHaime is a huge talent - politically smart, excellent manager, exceptional at grassroots and experienced at building and managing a hundred-million dollar budget."
Trygve Olson is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
For the past twenty-years, Trygve has provided political strategy and counsel for public affairs campaigns, political parties and candidates seeking all levels of public office around the world. He has worked in over thirty countries on five continents.
Patrick Baskette is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
Patrick Baskette is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs. A nationally-recognized expert in grassroots advocacy and coalition building efforts, Mr. Baskette brings more than twenty-five years of experience as a senior Democratic Party operative and public affairs strategist to the firm.
Dan Gonzalez is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs.
Dan Gonzalez is a Managing Director in the Washington, DC office of IGR Group, the government relations arm of Mercury Public Affairs. Prior to joining the firm in 2009, Mr. Gonzalez served for nearly four years as Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Chairman Kevin J. Martin and served for over a decade in various senior staff positions throughout the FCC.
Patrick Muttart is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs/IGR Group.
Patrick Muttart is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs and leads the firm’s Canada-United States practice. Working with Mercury’s team in Washington, he provides strategic counsel to governments, companies and associations on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. He also works with Mercury’s team of experienced international campaigners, providing political and strategic services to clients worldwide.
Reed Galen is a Managing Director of Mercury Public Affairs in the firm’s Sacramento office.
Prior to joining Mercury Public Affairs, Reed served as Senior Consultant at Goddard Claussen Strategic Advocacy. While there, Reed worked extensively in the California public affairs sector and managed several ballot initiative campaigns; involved in all aspects of research, strategy and message development. Bringing a wealth of campaign experience to the firm, Reed has worked on both the state and national level in Texas, Pennsylvania, California and Washington, DC.
Glenn Gritzner is joining Mercury Public Affairs as Managing Director of the Los Angeles office.
Mr. Gritzner joins Mercury after a nearly two decade career at the intersection of policy, politics, and business in Southern California and throughout the State of California. Mr. Gritzner joins Mercury from the Public Law & Policy Strategies Practice Group of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal. He advises corporations, nonprofits, and local governments on an array of government matters and legislative efforts. He specializes in political outreach, policy analysis, communication and media strategy, education, and urban planning and development issues, maintaining a specialty in the Southern California political environment.
Rodney S. Capel is a Senior Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs/IGR Group.
Prior to joining Mercury, Mr. Capel served as New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn’s Deputy Chief of Staff for state and federal affairs.
In this capacity, Mr. Capel assisted the New York City Council Speaker on all matters pertaining to New York City’s State and Federal legislative issues by serving as the City Council’s lead lobbyist. Following the controversial Sean Bell shooting, Mr. Capel led the City Council’s efforts to improve police/community relations by organizing citywide clergy roundtables and community forums. These efforts led to significant reforms in the New York Police Department’s “stop and frisk” and “use of force” procedures.
Liliana Esposito is a Senior Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs.
Prior to joining Mercury, Ms. Esposito served as Public Affairs Manager for the U.S. division of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's largest food manufacturers. Ms. Esposito was responsible for Crisis & Issues Management, State & Federal Government Affairs, Corporate Communications and Community Relations activities for the company's corporate headquarters and multiple manufacturing sites.
Maureen Sheffler is a Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs.
Ms. Sheffler is responsible for managing the firm's public opinion research operations. Since joining Mercury in 2001, Ms. Sheffler has managed the firm's opinion polling projects for both political and corporate clients. By conducting extensive preliminary research and carefully crafting questionnaires and messaging documents, Ms. Sheffler ensures that the survey results provide meaningful insights into a client's challenges and opportunities that can be translated into an effective campaign strategy. Ms. Sheffler applies her expertise to the firm's development of leading-edge public affairs campaigns that utilize a variety of political campaign-style tactics, including grassroots outreach, stakeholder engagement, direct mail, issue advertising and earned media relations.
Jonathan Berrier is a Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs.
Mr. Berrier brings to Mercury a portfolio of professional experience in local, state, and national politics, as an operative with the Republican National Committee, and as a political appointee in the Bush Administration. Since joining Mercury, he has been responsible for coordinating several successful and ongoing multi-million dollar public affairs campaigns involving survey research, paid media, grassroots, lobbying and other communications disciplines.
Chip Englander is a Vice President in Mercury’s Sacramento, California office.
Chip advises Fortune 500 companies, associations, and political campaigns in a variety of matters including public affairs, politics, and public opinion research. Before joining Mercury in 2007, Mr. Englander worked inside government and on political campaigns for Governor, United States Senate, United States Congress, State Legislature, and local races in California, Virginia, Michigan, and Oklahoma. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to California State Assemblyman Joel Anderson.
Vanessa Frances Rodriguez is a Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs.
Prior to joining Mercury Public Affairs LLC, Vanessa served as Public Policy Manager for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in Los Angeles County representing more than 1,600 member companies and serving the interests of more than 235,000 businesses across the Los Angeles region.