ABOUT
Groundwork Strategies is a certified women-owned and operated public affairs and political consultancy firm with offices in Haddonfield, NJ and Philadelphia, PA.
Founded in 2016 by Tricia Mueller and Michelle McCormick, Groundwork Strategies believes that building strong relationships with our clients enables them to crystalize and realize their goals.
We use research and information to create winning strategies and employ a systematic, data driven approach to getting results. Groundwork Strategies operates in a collaborative culture and has a strong track record of building women-led and diverse teams.
Our large network allows us to reach influencers, thought leaders and decision makers to solve clients’ problems and meet their objectives. Let us provide the expertise and resources to do the same for you.
Meet the Team
Tricia Mueller
Founder and CEO
Tricia Mueller is Founder and CEO of Groundwork Strategies. She works with clients to define political strategy, develop issue advocacy and public affairs campaigns and build stakeholder engagement.
Tricia is the former long-standing political director for the carpenters union. She rose to the title of National Political Director for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners in America before becoming a state director for Obama for America in 2008. Tricia has run successful candidate campaigns and independent expenditure operations throughout the country. Today, Tricia serves as a labor liaison, helping businesses to understand the language of labor unions.
Tricia has been repeatedly identified by the media as one of the best-connected and most powerful influencers in politics. She is a leading voice on labor issues and women’s issues and her experiences give her keen insight into the construction industry and markets which she brings to bear for clients. She is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants and Vice-Chair of the National Board of Directors for the New Leader’s Council.
Tricia is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. She and her daughter live in New Jersey.
Michelle McCormick
Founder and CFO
Michelle McCormick co-founded Groundwork Strategies in 2016 and today oversees client communications and business operations. Michelle works with clients to set organizational goals, set creative direction and design, and focuses on long term initiatives that involve strategic communications planning and reporting.
Her client work also includes creating and defining branded materials, launching and managing websites and developing and facilitating in-person and virtual conferences and panels.
Michelle takes special pride in keeping goals, budgets, and policies on track while maintaining a flexible mindset to recognize when circumstances dictate a pivot.
Prior to co-founding Groundwork Strategies, Michelle worked for several companies as a business administrator and a project manager and led research and communications for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters at the regional council and district level.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University. She lives with her husband in New Jersey.
Jill Horner
Communication and Media Specialist
Jill Horner works to build strong relationships with Groundwork Strategies’ clients and focuses on development and implementation of effective communications strategies. Jill creates social media, web and print content, produces visual content including graphics and video, and helps clients to create messaging that develops and reenforces their brand.
Jill has worked as a television reporter, host, voiceover artist and producer for two decades. Her work has appeared on CNN, CNN Headline News and CN8. She has worked for News 12 New Jersey, WTXF-TV, WPSJ-TV and for The Comcast Network in the Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. markets. She hosts Comcast Newsmakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Jill is a recipient of the New Jersey Civilian Meritorious Service Medal and the Alice Paul Equality Award. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degrees from Rutgers University. Jill lives with her husband and sons in New Jersey.