Archive for “February, 2016”

Modia “Mo” Butler Joins Mercury

Mercury Welcomes Modia Butler, Longtime Advisor to Cory Booker

Westfield, New Jersey – Mercury, a leading national, bipartisan public strategy firm, announces the addition of well-known political advisor Modia “Mo” Butler to the firm’s New Jersey team as managing director. Butler most recently served as chief of staff in New Jersey to U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), overseeing all of Senator Booker’s state operations.

Mo Butler has been a tremendous asset to Senator Cory Booker over the years and we are thrilled to welcome him to Mercury,” said Mike DuHaime, a partner at Mercury.  “The addition of Mo brings incredible talent and leadership to our team, further enhancing our bi-partisan, best-in-class operation. Mo has an exceptional reputation as someone who brings people together to get things done, and we know that his years of experience in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. will serve our clients well.”

“I am excited to join such a well-respected and highly effective firm like Mercury,” said Mo Butler. “I have a deep understanding of the political landscape both here in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. through the various community organizations I have led in Newark to my time as Senator Booker’s chief of staff in New Jersey. I look forward to applying my experience in local, state and national issues to achieve successful outcomes for our clients.”

“I have worked with Mo for many years and have seen firsthand just how effective he is at bringing about successful outcomes in any challenge he has taken on,” said Mike Soliman, managing director at Mercury. “His knowledge of policy and politics is second to none. Mo has deep ties within New Jersey, as well as on Capitol Hill, and I have no doubt that his ability to bring organizations together to solve problems will prove invaluable to our work here at Mercury.”    

Prior to his tenure as chief of staff, Butler served as senior and strategic advisor on Senator Booker’s 2014 and 2013 campaigns for U.S. Senate.  Butler played major roles in Cory Booker’s mayoral campaigns and was the co-chair of his 2006 mayoral transition team.  In addition, Butler served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Newark Housing Authority from 2006 to 2015, improving the agency’s performance which resulted in its removal from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)’s “troubled list”.  Butler also served as President and CEO of Newark Now from 2003 to 2008, a civic leadership and empowerment organization that benefits thousands of Newark residents every year.  Under his leadership, Newark Now raised millions of dollars to establish important resource centers and initiatives including the Newark Comprehensive Center for Fathers, Family Success Centers and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Butler also served as Executive Director of Do Something, an after-school program in Newark that promotes youth development.  Under his leadership, Do Something’s budget tripled and programming expanded from 17 to over 60 schools.  In addition, Butler is a former board members of the Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC) which encourages economic development throughout the city.

Butler has received several awards and recognitions over the years including: PolitickerNJ’s list of “Power 100” from 2009 to 2015; the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award; the Gustav Heininberg Fellowship; the Newark Little League Larry Doby Award; the Freedom Foundation’s Best Men’s Award; the Leadership Newark 2008 and 2014 Distinguished Fellow Award.  He appeared in both seasons of the Sundance Channel’s Brick City television show.

Butler received his Masters Degree in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers-New Brunswick and obtained his Bachelors Degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

Mercury, a high-stakes public strategy firm, continues to expand nationwide and across the globe, most recently through the addition of offices in London and Mexico City.  Mercury’s New Jersey office is led by Mike DuHaime, Chris Christie’s top political advisor.  Mike Soliman, who is Senator Bob Menendez’s top political advisor, joined the firm in 2013.  The addition of Butler brings the top political advisors to all three statewide elected officials under one firm.

About Mercury

Mercury is a high-stakes, bipartisan public strategy firm. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services that includes federal government relations, international affairs, digital influence, public opinion research, media strategy and a bipartisan grassroots mobilization network in all 50 states. Our firm is not just led by top talent — we distinguish ourselves by having senior talent deeply engaged in each project from start to finish, a promise we keep to clients. The firm has an established global presence, with U.S. offices in Washington, DC, New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina, and international offices in London and Mexico City.

Mercury is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.