Personnel note: Joe Garcia to join global strategy firm Mercury

Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm, is adding former U.S. Congressman Joe Garcia to expand its Miami team and capabilities both in Florida and across the firm’s national offices.

Garcia, who served Florida’s 26th Congressional District, joins the team at Mercury as co-chairman based in the Miami office.

“We are excited to welcome Joe Garcia to the Mercury family. His extensive policy experience will be invaluable as we expand our footprint in Miami, and across the Sunshine State,” said Mercury Partner Ashley Walker.

“I am thrilled to join Mercury, known across the country for their exceptional work across the public affairs, policy and political arenas,” Garcia said. “I look forward to growing the Mercury brand in Miami, and bringing my expertise to help clients achieve success.”

During his time in Congress, Garcia served on the Committee on the Judiciary, including the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Border Security, and the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law. Garcia was also an integral member of the Committee on Natural Resources, including its Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources; Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs; and Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

Before his time on Capitol Hill, Garcia served in the executive branch. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed – and the United States Senate unanimously confirmed – Garcia to the Department of Energy as Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. Garcia is also former Chairman and member of the Florida Public Service Commission, where he served on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC,) and vice chair of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (SEARUC.)

Throughout his career, Garcia held positions on a wide variety of state and federal projects, including: an adviser on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Joint Board. Garcia also served as board member and executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, an advocacy voice for human rights issues, and as director of the Cuban Exodus Relief Fund, a refugee resettlement group organization.

Garcia is a member of the Florida Bar, and holds both his BA and JD from the University of Miami.

“We are pleased to welcome Congressman Garcia to the Mercury team. His extensive policy experience in the energy and utility sectors, as well as his deep relationships in Washington, will be a tremendous asset to our clients,” said Mercury co-founder and CEO, Kieran Mahoney.