Archive for “February, 2020”

Mercury Names Six New Partners

Class of 2020 partners represent firm leaders in strategic communications, government affairs and digital practices from the California, New York, and Washington DC offices

Washington, D.C. – Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm, announced the addition of six new leaders to the firm’s growing partnership. The individuals promoted into senior leadership in 2020 are: Dan Bank, Ben Feller, Jan Feuerstadt, Nicole Flotteron, Bryan Lanza, and Jennifer Wlach.

“I am proud to announce six new members have been elected to the Mercury partnership, the largest class in the history of the firm,” said Kieran Mahoney, Mercury’s Chief Executive Officer. “This group represents the best of Mercury — they are smart and relentless, leaders in their respective fields, while also embodying and espousing Mercury’s culture and spirit of collaboration. Their advancement highlights Mercury’s increasing capabilities and geographical strength.”

Mercury NYC

Dan Bank provides strategic counsel to Mercury’s global clientele on a range of communication matters, with a focus on anticipatory issues management, crisis response and reputational challenges. Dan serves as an advisor to Fortune 50 chief executives, advocacy leaders and entrepreneurs, and he has cross-sector experience in various industries, including agriculture, consumer retail, defense, education, financial services, real estate and technology. Dan joined Mercury in 2013 after working for nearly eight years as a producer at FOX News Channel.

Ben Feller is a leader of messaging and media strategy at Mercury, where he has built a practice of helping people and organizations tell their stories. An award-winning writer, Ben offers strategic counsel on communications after a 20-year journalism career in which he distinguished himself as one of the finest reporters in the nation. Ben specializes in crafting powerful messaging for corporations, universities, and foundations, and in managing fast- moving media campaigns. He joined Mercury in 2013 after serving as the chief White House correspondent for The Associated Press, where he covered Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush and led presidential reporting for the largest news organization in the world.

Jan Feuerstadt has run a multitude of successful government relations campaigns across New York City and State for more than a decade. With a portfolio spanning fintech, energy, environmental sustainability, education and advocacy, Jan has secured millions in the New York State budget each year. She has advised medium to large scale corporations as well as non-profits, helping them navigate significant wins in public policy and business development. Jan joined Mercury in 2015, helping grow and lead government relations capabilities in both New York City and Albany. Prior to Mercury, she served in the Clinton and Bush administrations, in the Department of Housing and Urban Development working for HUD Secretary and current NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo. Jan’s pro-bono work includes the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Eating Disorders Association, as well as serving on the University of Massachusetts – Amherst Alumni Board of Directors and as Founder and current Board Member of UMASS Women Into Leadership.

Mercury Washington DC

Nicole Flotteron joined Mercury in 2014, where she leads the firm’s global digital practice. In this capacity, Nicole advises and executes integrated digital campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, executives, and international advocacy organizations across a number of sectors, including energy, technology, healthcare, foreign policy and education. Now based in Mercury’s Washington, D.C. office after four years in New York City, Nicole has made digital a core component of the firm’s strategy to solve complex public affairs challenges. She previously served as a digital operative on political campaigns throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Bryan Lanza serves clients as a Republican strategist with extensive experience in political campaigns, policy and media relations, Bryan provides key leadership for clients across Mercury’s U.S. and international offices. Bryan joined Mercury in 2017 after serving as Communications Director for President Donald J. Trump’s Transition Team and Deputy Communications Director for the Trump-Pence Presidential Campaign. Bryan was named by The Hill as one of the top lobbyists in 2018 and 2019. Mercury California

Jennifer Wlach leads Mercury’s San Francisco office, specializing in media strategy, thought leadership, executive consulting and public affairs campaign management. Jen joined Mercury in 2013, helping to launch the firm’s media strategy capability. She advises leading companies, trade associations, philanthropic organizations and advocacy groups across all policy sectors. In 2019, Jen moved to San Francisco, establishing the firm’s presence in the Bay Area, and building upon Mercury’s strong presence in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Prior to her tenure with the firm, Jen worked for a decade in broadcast journalism as a network news booker and producer for ABC News.

Bank, Feller, Feuerstadt, Flotteron, Lanza, and Wlach all previously served as Managing Directors in their respective offices.

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, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Tennessee, as well as international offices in London and Mexico City. Mercury is a part of the Omnicom Public Relations Group.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

Contact:
Hannah Kikano
[email protected]

Mercury Continues Rapid New Jersey Growth

Welcomes former Senate Chief Al Barlas, Healthcare Strategist Randy Minniear, and Murphy Administration Education Expert LaVar Young

 

WESTFIELD, NJ – Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm, today announced the additions of three diverse seasoned professionals, adding even more bipartisan government experience and policy expertise to its ranks.

Veteran GOP senate chief of staff and political strategist Al Barlas, healthcare expert Randy Minniear, and education and local government expert LaVar Young have joined the firm. All three will serve in senior roles at Mercury’s Westfield, New Jersey office.

“We are thrilled to add three unique and talented leaders to our New Jersey team,” said Mercury Partner Mike DuHaime.

“Al Barlas, Randy Minniear, and LaVar Young bring diverse policy and political expertise that will help our clients continue to navigate the ever-changing public affairs world in New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC,” said Mercury Partner Michael Soliman.

Al Barlas comes to Mercury with over 15 years of experience in government and Republican politics in New Jersey. Barlas began his career in Trenton as Legislative Director for then- Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon before serving as Chief of Staff to State Senator Kevin O’Toole. Upon Senator O’Toole’s retirement from the legislature to become Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Barlas then served as Chief of Staff for State Senator- Elect Kristin Corrado. Barlas’ political career also includes roles as County Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee and campaign manager for multiple legislative and county races in northern New Jersey.

Randy Minniear spent over two decades in both healthcare and state government affairs. Most recently, Minniear served as Executive Vice President of External Affairs for the Hudson County- based integrated health system, CarePoint Health, where he managed day-to-day operations. Prior to CarePoint, Minniear served for over a decade as the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy for the New Jersey Hospital Association. He started out his career in state politics as Legislative Director and then Chief of Staff to former State Senate President John Bennett.

LaVar Young brings nearly 20 years of proven success in advising local municipalities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and political campaigns. Prior to Mercury, Young served as the Director of the Office of Civic and Social Engagement for the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) in Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration, where he was responsible for supporting the Governor and Education Commissioner in executing an operational blueprint and serving as a liaison between NJDOE and New Jersey’s 661 school districts. Additionally, Young served as the New Jersey State Director for the Black Alliance for Educational Options (NJBAEO). Under his leadership, NJBAEO was successful in recruiting and mobilizing New Jersey parents to actively support parental choice to empower families and increase quality educational options for working-class families.

“Bringing this team into our operation is critical to our growth in New Jersey and beyond,” said Mercury Partner Mo Butler. “Each brings an expansive knowledge from both a local and a state government perspective, which will help our clients in the fields of healthcare, education and beyond.”

Barlas, Minniear, and Young join a growing list of Mercury hires in 2020. Since the new year, Mercury has hired former US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), former Congressman Jeff Miller (R- FL), and former communications adviser to President Obama and Pennsylvania Governors Wolf and Rendell, Andrea Mead.

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, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Tennessee, as well as international offices in London and Mexico City. Mercury is a part of the Omnicom Public Relations Group.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

Contact:
Emily D’Alberto
[email protected]
908-519-7208