Mercury Public Affairs, LLC

We’re expanding! We’re so excited to announce that Chicago-based Serafin + Associates is merging into our Illinois business, which will expand our public affairs + strategic communications capabilities in the Midwest + nationwide. Founded by former reporter + political strategist Thom M. Serafin, Serafin + Associates has been a prominent leader in public affairs communications for nearly 40 years, serving political, public sector, nonprofit + corporate clients across Illinois + the nation. Our Illinois team is led by partner + former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., who served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. With offices throughout the U.S. including New York, Washington, DC + Los Angeles, this partnership enables us to strengthen our Chicago + Illinois statewide operations, leveraging Serafin’s deep knowledge of the Midwest + strategic resources from coast to coast! #mercuryrising https://shorturl.at/C5S2b

With more than 130 political and media professionals across the United States, we continue to expand our talented team of experts — bringing in industry leaders who shape conversations on every platform. We are proud to welcome Vice President of Digital Communications Jack Scordato, who is leading the development of digital solutions for our wide range of high-profile clients. With more than 10 years of experience, Jack specializes in supporting public affairs campaigns that incorporate data-driven strategies and dynamic content. With a laser-focus on social media management, analytics and creative storytelling, Jack excels in bringing major brands and institutions to life, driving new awareness and business opportunities. Prior to Mercury, Jack excelled in the advertising industry, working with business leaders in the tech, higher education, financial services and fintech sectors. “Mercury has some of the industry’s most talented people, and it’s a privilege to work with these experts as we support our clients and help them engage with new audiences worldwide,” Jack said. And we agree! #mercuryrising

Congratulations to our Partners Charlie King, Jan Feuerstadt + Jake Dilemani for being named to City & State’s 2024 Top 50 Lobbyists in New York State! Thanks to their leadership across the Empire State, along with our elite team of experts including Jonathan Greenspun, Patrick McCarthy, Lisa Reid, Gregory O. Smiley, Deanne Braveman, Alexander Gleason, Edu Hermelyn, Racquel Saddler + Wesley Clayton, our New York offices have continued to expand + thrive, enabling our clients to create new business opportunities that improve the lives of millions of New Yorkers! #mercuryrising https://shorturl.at/3zB3m

Office reno in New York City! #mercuryrising

Congratulations to Partner Michael Soliman, who was named to ROI-NJ’s 2024 Champions of the C-Suite — a list of the top business leaders in the Garden State. As the political powerhouse leader of Mercury’s New Jersey + Pennsylvania offices, Michael joined the firm in 2013, and since then, he has driven new business growth, expanded our networks nationwide + played a critical role in ensuring our continued success! #mercuryrising https://shorturl.at/kboZW

Great to see two senior members of our New York City team, Managing Director Gregory O. Smiley and Senior Vice President Candace Sandy, supporting the New York League of Conservation Voters at their reception last week in Manhattan! The group is the only statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy and open space through non-partisan political action. #teammercury #mercuryrising

Great to see the Mercury team participating in the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K Run + Walk in New York City today — led by our very own Matt Coleman, Michael Nitzky, Jonathan Greenspun, Alexander Gleason, Carolyn M. Riggs + Melanie Aguilar! The annual event symbolizes New York City Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the foot of the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers + honors pays the firefighters, law enforcement officers + thousands of civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s programs, including those benefitting first responders and catastrophically injured service members. #neverforget #runtoremember #letusdogood #teammercury

Congratulations to the industry leaders in our New York City office for being named to Schneps Media + PoliticsNY’s 2024 list of Power Players in Public Relations + Lobbying! As one of the nation’s leading public affairs firms, our success is a direct result of their expertise, skills + tenacity — and we’re lucky to have them on #teammercury! Congrats to Jonathan Greenspun, Michael Hardaway, Karen Mústiga, Gregory O. Smiley + Tony Sclafani!

Go Kuae! We’re so proud of our VP of Media Relations Kuae Noel Kelch, who recently discussed her time with Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University as line sisters in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the oldest sorority founded by African American women and one of the Divine Nine organizations. “Everyone knew that Kamala was calm and cool and collected under stress, under deadlines, under anything that we had to do together,” she told the Bay State Banner. “Kamala had leadership from the very beginning. We saw it and we knew it.” https://shorturl.at/vGjAS

One of the keys to Mercury’s success over the past 25 years has been our dynamic suite of services – from government relations to media strategy to digital communications. And our digital team continues to grow with the recent hire of Senior Vice President James Anderson! As a top digital marketing and public affairs strategist based out of our Washington, D.C., office, Jim brings more than 20 years of experience in branding, marketing, political and advocacy campaigns. As Founder and CEO of Wholecrowd, a cutting edge and innovative digital marketing company, Jim developed successful marketing campaigns for a wide range of clients – from Fortune 100 companies to some of the nation's largest not-for-profits and trade associations.?Jim is the former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa, former Deputy National Political Director at the RNC, has served in the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Department of Commerce under the Bush Administration and worked on the presidential campaign for George W. Bush.?He is a member of the Board of Directors at Volunteers of America, Chesapeake and Carolinas, as well as the Disaster Services Corporation, and?is a graduate of James Madison University where he was a member of the Division 1 men’s baseball team. “For a quarter-century, Mercury has advised some of the world’s most successful corporations, organizations and campaigns, and I’m thrilled to have joined this exemplary team of strategists to expand our digital services and help our clients continue to succeed.” #mercuryrising