MERCURY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Acting National Director for National Action Network / Ran Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Named Partner

Ashley is a seasoned political professional with over a decade of experience in public affairs at the national, state, and local level. She applies her winning political record, public affairs knowledge, and professional network to the needs of her clients. Walker is the First Female Partner of the Global Public Strategy Firm → Ashley Walker is a seasoned political professional with over a decade of experience in public affairs at the national, state, and local level. At Mercury Florida, she applies her winning political record, public affairs knowledge, and professional network to clients' public affairs needs. Prior to joining the firm, Ashley served as the 2012 State Director for Obama for America in Florida, overseeing all of President Obama's efforts to win the state's 29 electoral votes. As state director, Walker was responsible for building the most expansive grassroots organization that Florida politics has ever seen, including managing nearly 800 full-time staff and a $50 million budget. Prior to being appointed as Obama For America-Florida State Director, Walker served as the Organizing for America-Florida State Director where she oversaw the grassroots efforts to support President Obama's policy priorities including passing Wall Street reform, Affordable Care Act and ending Don't Ask Don't Tell. In 2010, Walker served in a senior leadership role as the 2010 Coordinated Campaign Director. Ashley served as the Deputy State Director for the 2008 Obama campaign in Florida. As the campaign's ‘number two' in the state, Ashley oversaw a multi-million dollar operation that drew on the strength of over 500 employees and 20,000 volunteers. As a result of her leadership in Democratic politics and her involvement in President Obama's organization since early 2007, Campaigns and Elections magazine named her as one of the Top 50 Democratic influencers in Florida politics. Before coming to Florida, Ashley served the Obama campaign through a variety of senior roles in early primary states. In the 2006 campaign cycle, Ashley managed the successful state senate campaign of Jeremy Ring, who toppled an entrenched incumbent in Broward County, Florida. Prior to this, Ashley worked in the Tallahassee and Miami Lakes offices of U.S. Senator Bob Graham. Ashley earned a B.A. in Sociology from Indiana University and a M.S. in International Affairs from Florida State University. A native of Indiana, Ashley is married to Tyler Brunelle and lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Job Titles:

• Partner / Former Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Joins Mercury As Co - Chair of New York, Expanding Mercury 's Growing Bipartisan Team

Charlie has dedicated more than 25 years of his life to serving New York in both the public and private sectors across a variety of roles, which he brings to his clients in the form of deep political knowledge. Mercury is home to more than one hundred experts that collaborate on local and global high-stakes challenges. Charlie King has been a fixture in New York politics, government, and advocacy for the African American community. He has been an informal advisor to New York Governors, Members of Congress, elected officials, Mayors, and served as the State Director for the New York State Democratic Party. During his extensive career, he served as Acting National Director for the National Action Network, one of the nation's leading civil rights organizations, and as an advisor to Reverend Al Sharpton. He also was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as the top official for the New York and New Jersey region of HUD in 2000. In 1998 and 2002 King ran for Lieutenant Governor, and for Attorney General in 2006, reelected a private citizen each time. One of his proudest accomplishments is being the founder of "Gun Violence Awareness Month" in New York. New York was the first state in the nation to dedicate an entire month to gun violence awareness. King is a graduate of Brown University and NYU Law School, where he graduated as a Root-Tilden-Kern Scholar. He is a long-suffering Giants fan and has a wife, Vanessa, and two daughters, Nicole and Caroline.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director
• 222 West State Street / Suite 301
• Public Affairs & Government Relations Executive

Conor is a seasoned public affairs & government relations executive with over 25 years of experience at both State and Federal levels. He regularly engages on a wide cross-section of issues, with special emphasis on energy, housing / land use, education, gig-economy, supply chain, and economic development policy. Conor G. Fennessy serves as a Managing Director in Mercury's New Jersey offices. He has worked in politics and government for over twenty-five years and has been recognized by InsiderNJ as one of New Jersey's Top 100 Policymakers. Conor's clients have included some of New Jersey's largest corporations, higher education institutions, gig economy companies & apps, real estate developers, commercial property owners, trade associations, and supply chain management organizations. He regularly counsels clients in areas of government relations, public affairs, coalition building, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Mercury, Conor served for 11 years as the head of legislative, policy and political affairs for a major New Jersey real estate trade association. At the State House in Trenton, he has worked for two governors, an Assembly Speaker, and two Senate Presidents. Early in his career, he spent two years in Washington, D.C., as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill. He has managed successful lobbying and public affairs campaigns to defeat numerous State and local legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives which would have created unsustainable compliance and paperwork burdens, increased costs of construction, and dissuaded long-term investment in commercial real estate. Conor served on Gov. Corzine's Housing Policy Task Force (2007-08), and Gov. Christie's NJ-HMFA's post- Superstorm Sandy flood insurance reform task force (2013-2014). Additionally, he has participated on various panel discussions and policy forums hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NJ State League of Municipalities, New Jersey Future, American Planning Association - NJ Chapter, NJ State Bar Association, NJ Apartment Association, NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, International Council of Shopping Centers, Institute of Real Estate Management, and the NJ Dept. of Law & Public Safety, Division on Civil Rights. A veteran of numerous political campaigns, Conor has served in senior staff capacities in U.S. House, U.S. Senate, NJ State Senate, and NJ General Assembly races. He has also taught political fundraising techniques and best practices to state and national trade associations. Conor received his BA in Political Science from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, where he played both ice hockey and lacrosse (Division III). A native of Bergen County, he currently resides in Pennington, Mercer County, with his wife and two children.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director
• Communications Strategist
• State and Local Government Consultant

Derek Jansen is a political and communications strategist with extensive experience working for political, government, and nonprofit clients facing electoral and advocacy challenges throughout California. He leads Mercury's expansion into the Sacramento political, government relations, and communications market. As a political advisor and media consultant, Derek has led tough winning campaigns in San Francisco, delivered effective, winning paid media for winning State Senate and Assembly campaigns throughout Northern California, and managed statewide ballot measures, including the successful Prop 68, a $4.1 billion water, parks, and natural resources bond. Derek is also an experienced state and local government consultant, currently leading communications strategy for the State of California's first-ever mandated health data exchange, the Data Exchange Framework. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Derek was tapped to develop grassroots and paid communications programs to build public confidence in vaccines for the State of California and the City of Berkeley, and helped lead communications for the City and County of San Francisco to fully replace an investor-owned electricity grid with a publicly owned electric utility. In the nonprofit sector, Derek recently worked with Sacramento's civic leadership organization Valley Vision and California Jobs First to establish the brand and communications strategy for an initiative to spark a more inclusive and resilient economy in the eight-county Capital region. He also recently led the strategy, branding, and messaging of a campaign by the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California to build momentum and support for affordable housing in the Bay Area. Derek has also supported government relations for Teach For America, Computer Science for California (CSforCA), and various nonprofit and corporate clients over the years. Known for quickly understanding complex challenges, over his career Derek has led and supported campaigns on issues including educational equity, climate action, economic development, public health, tobacco control, criminal justice, and affordable housing. He also has extensive experience leading advertising and creative projects, from branding and web development to digital marketing and video, along with tried-and-true political advertising through direct mail, radio, and TV. Prior to joining Mercury, Derek worked for a leading California issue advocacy and political communications firm for nearly a decade. Before that, he served in a senior political role for Tom Steyer's NextGen Climate, cut his teeth in crisis communications at Singer Associates Public Relations, and helped lead Ed Lee for San Francisco Mayor in 2011. Derek began his career teaching elementary school in Brooklyn, New York as a Teach For America corps member. Derek grew up in Davis, California, graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Kalamazoo College in Michigan, and now lives in Sacramento with his wife, Victoria Hassid, and their daughter, Olivia.

Job Titles:

• Managed Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Strategic Consultant

Jay Propes is a Partner in Mercury's Austin, Texas office and has represented private companies, individuals, quasi-governmental entities and professional trade associations in over a quarter century as a governmental affairs specialist and lobbyist. He has represented interests before the Texas legislature, state agencies and the United States Congress. Jay Propes is a political/strategic consultant and lobbyist with over three decades of public-affairs and governmental relations experience at the state and federal levels. After graduating from Baylor in 1990 (B.A., Political Science & Economics), Propes began his career on Capitol Hill working for his hometown Congressman, Ralph Hall, and moved to Austin in mid-1992. He served 8 years as Director of Governmental Affairs and Executive Director for the Texas Ophthalmological Association, representing nearly 900 of Texas' eye physicians and surgeons before the Texas Legislature, agencies, and the U.S. Congress. Since 2000, Propes has represented a myriad of clients simultaneously in governmental relations, public affairs strategies, and crisis management across almost all business and professional sectors. For over twenty years, he has helped professional associations, affiliated interest groups and corporations assemble legislative and public affairs teams across the United States and coordinate their work across the geographies to develop consistent messaging and strategy to assist in their successes. He advises political action committees in their formation, governance, and operational effectiveness. Propes is a partner in the public affairs firm Mercury, a subsidiary of Omnicom, with fifteen offices across the United States. Jay lives in Austin with his wife and two teenage sons.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Founder

Kieran is one of the nation's leading political and public affairs strategists, using his extensive political experience and unrivaled knowledge of New York politics to provide his wide variety of political and business clients counsel with an edge in their toughest battles. He is one of the nation's leading political and public affairs strategists, providing counsel to a wide variety of political and business clients. Mr. Mahoney founded Mercury in 1999, growing the company from a boutique communications firm in New York to the largest bipartisan strategic consultancy in the industry, with over 100 strategists in offices nationwide. Mr. Mahoney founded Mercury after a distinguished career in politics. He served as the U.S. House of Representatives Chief of Staff from 1986 to 1989, and the U.S. Senate Chief of Staff from 1990 to 1992. Working as a consultant and pollster from 1992 to 1999, Mr. Mahoney has run elections and conducted polling in over 30 states. Nationally, Mr. Mahoney managed Senator Alfonse D'Amato's comeback re-election victory in 1992, and was instrumental in Senator Gordon Smith's come-from-behind upset Senate election in Oregon in 1996. A chief consultant for Senator Smith, Mr. Mahoney helped take the toss-up race and break it wide open, with Smith winning by sixteen points. He went on to consult for many hotly contested races in 2002, continuing to achieve historic victories for the U.S. Senate. Mr. Mahoney is also a prominent figure in New York politics, where he served as a senior adviser on all three of Governor George Pataki's campaigns: first in 1994 as a top strategist and manager of Pataki's first gubernatorial campaign that ended Democrat Mario Cuomo's twelve-year reign. He subsequently led Pataki to an unprecedented victory in 1998, winning the highest margin of victory in state history, and advised on Pataki's re-election bid in 2002. Also in 2002, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the Republican Leadership Council (RLC) sought out Mr. Mahoney's expertise. As media consultant for the NRSC, Mr. Mahoney worked on the successful independent expenditure campaigns for John Sununu in New Hampshire, Norm Coleman in Minnesota, and Lamar Alexander in Tennessee. Mr. Mahoney was also a national political advisor to the 1996 Dole for President campaign. Dubbed one of the "best political strategists of his generation" by The New York Times, Mr. Mahoney's clients have included many well-known companies in the Fortune 500 including Microsoft, AT&T, Lockheed Martin and industry leaders in telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and transportation. He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife Sara, three sons and daughter. Kieran Mahoney is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mercury.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Michael Soliman is a Partner at Mercury, where he leads the New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices and is a principal voice in the firm's national strategy, operations and business development. Soliman is also an Adjunct Professor at The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Highly regarded as a political powerhouse in both New Jersey and Washington, DC circles, Soliman advises several elected officials at both the state and federal levels. Additionally, his knowledge of New Jersey government and his relationships with key players make Soliman a trusted resource for anyone trying to navigate the state's unique political landscape. Soliman works closely with the New Jersey Congressional delegation and is a top political advisor to Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Congressman Rob Menendez. His impressive career spans more than two decades and includes key positions in several high-profile government offices and political campaigns. For several years, Soliman served as Senator Robert Menendez's top political advisor and led his successful re-election campaigns in 2012 and 2018. In addition to serving as the Senator's State Director and New Jersey Chief of Staff, he was also District Director for U.S. Congressman Steve Rothman and a political advisor to U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, former Governor Jon Corzine and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, among others. He also served on New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's transition team in 2017. In 2013, Soliman joined Mercury - a high-stakes public strategy firm that works with successful Fortune 500 companies, governments, advocacy groups and public figures. His extensive expertise in politics, campaign management and crisis communications make Soliman one of the most sought-after advisors in the private sector and has earned him a client roster which includes some of the most influential people and businesses in the world. Respected across party lines for his thoughtful counsel, Soliman is widely recognized as one of the most powerful operatives in New Jersey politics and is consistently named to Power Lists published by ROI-NJ and the New Jersey Globe, among others. Soliman holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Saint Peter's University and a master's degree in Public Administration and Politics from The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• Managing Director
• Managing Director in the Albany

Patrick leads the Albany office and guides his lobbying clients throught the sometimes complex world of New York State politics and goverment. McCarthy brings his many years of experience dealing with the media to develop sound crisis management strategies. Patrick McCarthy is a Managing Director in the Albany office. During his more than 10 years at Mercury he's worked on dozens of diverse client issues, from legalizing medical and adult-use marijuana, gaming, assisting not-for-profits, energy and technology, local government, procurement, economic development and media relations. McCarthy has done extensive work in cannabis in New York, beginning his involvement more than 10 years ago at the earliest stages of the fight to legalize medical marijuana. He was recently recognized as a "Cannabis Power Player" by PoliticsNY. Prior to joining the industry, Patrick worked in New York State government in the Legislature and the Executive, and worked on and advised political campaigns at every level, from County Executive to Governor. McCarthy was a member of Governor George Pataki's Senior Staff where he served Deputy Secretary for Appointments and Government Affairs. In this position, he advised the governor on all appointments to state agencies, commissions, committees, task forces and boards. This experience brings a unique perspective to the inner working of state government. Patrick was the Executive Director of the New York Republican State Committee. Patrick served as Deputy Press Secretary to Governor Pataki. In that role, more than 20 state agency communications offices reported directly to him on messaging, event coordination and external communications. Patrick also served as Traveling Press Secretary, working directly with media outlets and local elected officials in every part of the state. McCarthy is able to deliver effective traditional lobbying at the State Capitol and simultaneously help shape craft a media plan to reinforce the message of the clients goal. In Albany's increasingly competitive world, earned media is essential to achieving success. Having begun his career in the Senate Office of Media Services, The skills he has honed in public service, along with the personal relationships he has built with key political media, and policy makers are all evident in the results achieved for his clients. Patrick lives in Rensselaer, NY with his wife Erin. He has three children.

Job Titles:

• Senior Vice President
• Senior Vice President in Mercury 's Washington

Trent Lefkowitz is a Senior Vice President in Mercury's Washington DC office, where he conducts policy research and provides strategic guidance to companies, foreign governments, and other private sector entities. In this position, Trent monitors congressional activity, analyzes think tank commentary, and provides recommendations on how clients can more effectively conduct government relations campaigns to reach their objectives.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner and Co - Chair

Veronica Perez is Partner and Co-Chair at Mercury, where she leads their California business. Veronica Perez has a unique skill set and breadth of experience, with over 23 years in the Los Angeles political, business and legal sectors. She has fostered substantive public and private sector relationships and possesses a heightened understanding of the challenges facing regulated industries. Prior to joining Mercury, Veronica founded Veronica Perez & Associates, one of the leading woman and Latino-owned public affairs firms in Los Angeles. VPA was named one of the LA Business Journal's "Top Lobbying Firms" for over 10 years. Previously, Veronica led the West Coast Public Policy and Regulation practice group as a Partner at international law firm Holland & Knight. While at H&K, Veronica represented Fortune 500 companies, California corporations and trade associations on a variety of lobbying and legal matters, including legislative and government counsel, policy advocacy, land use, development and public contracting (at agencies including Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles Community College District). Veronica joined Holland & Knight from the Central City Association, a leading business advocacy organization representing 450 corporations, trade associations and nonprofits. She led CCA's Legislative and Legal Affairs Department, where she worked closely with Los Angeles City, County and State decision makers. While at CCA, she successfully advanced the organization's public policy agenda on a broad range of issues, including housing; transportation; labor; sign regulations; rent control and tenant relocation; grocery, restaurant and retail; municipal lobbying regulations; telecommunications; banking; entertainment; and hospital issues. Prior to CCA, Veronica served in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office as the Managing City Attorney of the American Dream Program, a strategic partnering of the public and private sectors to facilitate development of vacant nuisance properties. She launched the program to six projects in development, with 45 units of affordable and market-rate housing and live/work space in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles. Previously, Veronica practiced litigation at two international law firms in Los Angeles, where she gained broad-based experience in complex commercial matters in both state and federal courts. Named a "Rising Star" by Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, Veronica received her B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her J.D. from Columbia University Law School. While at law school, she was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Job Titles:

• Commissioner
• Senior Vice President
• 230 State Street / Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101

Vince brings over 15 years of experience working on national, state, and local campaigns. Consistently recognized as one of PA's top political strategists, he represents some of the nation's most influential businesses and organizations on legislative and public relations matters. Vincent Galko is Senior Vice President for Mercury, and heads up its Pennsylvania operations. With over fifteen years of experience working on national, state and local campaigns, Galko is regarded as one of the top political operatives in Pennsylvania. He returned to consulting after serving as Regional Administrator for the United States Department of Education. In addition to being a top political adviser, Vincent has represented some of the nation's most influential businesses and organizations on legislative and public relations matters. These range from matters of health care to municipal financing to transportation and infrastructure and technology copyrights. PoliticsPA.com named Vincent as one of the "Top Ten Operatives" in the State of Pennsylvania and Politics Magazine named Vincent as one of the "50 Most Influential Republicans" in Pennsylvania. Campaigns & Elections Magazine named Vince as one of their 10 "Rising Stars" throughout the United States. In 2014, Vincent served as General Consultant to Congressman Ryan Costello's victorious campaign in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District and served as adviser on the successful campaign of State Senator Tom McGarrigle. In 2012, Vincent served as General Consultant and Senior Adviser to Congressman Jim Gerlach for his successful re-election to Congress in the always difficult Philadelphia suburbs. He also managed PA Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi's web advertising for his campaign. Vincent also oversaw efforts in several Congressional Districts in New York and New Jersey for the American Action Network; an effort that resulted in the re-election of four incumbents in NJ3, NY11, NY19, NY22 and a pick-up in NY27. In 2010, Vincent served as Regional Director for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and directed Lt. Governor Jim Cawley to victory in a seven way primary. U.S. Senator Pat Toomey also tapped Vince as a senior advisor with a focus on business and coalition development. Vincent was also general consultant for Congressman Lou Barletta and a senior advisor to Congressman Pat Meehan. In 2009, Vincent managed Chester County Judge Paula Ott's winning campaign for a seat on Pennsylvania's Superior Court. Galko began his career in politics in 1996 making fundraising calls from the basement of the Republican National Committee. Galko has served on the staffs of United States Senator Arlen Specter and former Senator Rick Santorum. In 2000, he was Political Director for Senator Rick Santorum's victorious reelection effort. In 2001, he went on to become Political Director for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. That year, the GOP swept seven out of seven statewide appellate court seats, including the decisive seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In 2004, Galko served as Deputy Executive Director of President George W. Bush's reelection campaign in Pennsylvania. He was the first member of the Bush-Cheney `04 Pennsylvania team, which went on to shatter PA political milestones for petition signatures, volunteers recruited, doors knocked and calls made. Galko served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania in 2005 and served as Campaign Manager for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum in 2006. He served as Regional Political Director for Mayor Rudy Giuliani's Presidential campaign directing efforts in 14 states. In 2008, he served as Campaign Manager for Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta. Vincent is a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. He is a member of Scranton Preparatory School's Board of Trustees. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government and has been a guest lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and at the Leadership Institute. Vincent holds a B.A. from Saint Joseph's University, M.A. from the University of Scranton and MGA from the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Megan reside in Pennsylvania with their five children.