Mario Morrow Sr.

Mario Morrow is the President and CEO of Mario Morrow & Associates (MMA), a leading communications and public relations firm based in Southfield, Michigan. Born and raised in Detroit, Morrow is a proud product of Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Mumford High School in 1977. He earned his B.A. in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and later obtained a master’s in educational administration from Wayne State University in 1992.

Morrow began his career as a teacher with the Detroit Board of Education, working with gifted and talented students. Over the next 35 years, he held various leadership roles in education, business, and government, including principal, assistant superintendent of communications for Detroit Public Schools, and superintendent of Albion Public Schools. His experience spans roles at Alma College, SMART Transportation, and Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services.

As a respected political consultant, Morrow has advised high-profile figures across the political spectrum, including former Detroit School Board Members Mary Blackmon, Penny Bailer, Frank Hayden, David Olmstead, Larry Patrick, Joe Blanding,  Detroit City Council Member Gil Hill, Michigan Supreme Court Justices Kurtis Wilder and Beth Clement, and Governors Jennifer  Granholm Rick Snyder, and Gretchen Whitmer.

Mario Morrow & Associates’ past and present corporate, government and nonprofit clientele include the Wayne County Executive and Treasurer’s Offices, the Detroit Institute of Arts, First Independence Bank, EPIC Health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Detroit Urban League of Southeastern Michigan, Road to Michigan’s Future, Harper Woods Schools,  Wayne-Westland Community School District,  Detroit Association of Black Organizations, Ilitch Companies, The District Detroit, First Independence Bank, the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, Wayne County Community School District, Clean Jobs for Michigan, City of East Lansing, City of Kalamazoo and Habitat for Humanity Detroit, among others. Morrow is also highly recognized for his community outreach relationship building particularly among members of the faith-based community across the state.

In 1993, Morrow made history as the first African American and youngest person to serve as the top political analyst for NBC/Time-Newsweek at WDIV/Channel 4. For over 20 years, his sharp political insights led him to be the most quoted political analyst in the Midwest, regularly featured by The Detroit News, The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post, providing expert analysis on key political events and trends.

Expanding his reach into media, Morrow recently launched the video series Casual Conversations, where he interviews local business, political, and civic leaders in Southeast Michigan, offering viewers a more intimate and personal look at these leaders.

Morrow’s accomplishments have earned him several prestigious recognitions, including the 2023 DBusiness Corporate Culture Award for Workplace Flexibility and the 2024 DBusiness Corporate Culture Award for Teamwork. He was also honored by the Public Relations Society for Public Service and named a 2024 Notable Black Business Leader by Crain’s Detroit Business.