Mike has worked at the nexus of business, politics, and education for over 25 years. In his role as Managing Director at Purple, he brings the art, science, and insights gained from a career providing strategic counsel to political campaigns, public affairs, non-profits, higher education, and Fortune 500 corporations. His bipartisan career began in the DC office of The Gallup Organization as Senior Research Director, then joining Republican presidential pollster Tony Fabrizio as Vice President of Public Affairs, and later with Democratic presidential pollster Mark Penn, as Microsoft’s DC Polling Team Lead.

Mike publishes Congress in Your Pocket, which launched with the first iPhone and continues to be the mobile standard for advocacy on Capitol Hill. He teaches graduate courses in communications research and writing, qualitative methodology, and digital political strategy at Johns Hopkins University. Mike is the author of Modern Political Campaigns: How Professionalism, Technology, and Speed Have Revolutionized Elections (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021). He is a member of the Hall of Fame and a triple alumnus of the University of Florida, where he earned a B.S. in Communications, an M.A. in Mass Communication and Political Campaigning, and a Ph.D. in Political Science.

“While most professionals in D.C. are either Red or Blue, I’ve lived a very Purple career. In working with and for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, I’m able to see multiple sides of an issue from conflicting perspectives, which brings valuable insight to our clients.”

“The very best part of my role at Purple is the opportunity to learn something new every day, not only what we learn through our research but in tight integration with our campaign teams. We have some of the best professionals and people in the business.”

“The most useful skill you can develop in business, politics, and academia is creative problem solving. It is the essence of insight, progress, and excellence.”