Our Team
Mike Butler
President/Founder
Mike founded Proponent to lend his knowledge from 30 years+ in the healthcare space to new and exciting companies. He also currently advises the private equity firm Welsh Carson Anderson Stowe (WCAS) on acquisitions, operations, and strategic alliances. Mike led Providence strategy and operations for 22 years retiring as President in 2020. Providence achieved unprecedented growth during Mike's tenure, going from a $2 billion organization to $25 billion today.
Matt Brand
Head of Research & Market Strategy
Matt comes from an academic Psychology research background with over a decade of applied market-research and brand strategy under his belt, having worked for agencies, vendors, and end-clients big and small. He most recently spearheaded Lyft's market research team in the company's rapid growth phase, then went on to drive global research and strategy for Facebook's Social Good products (Fundraising, Blood Donations, Crisis Response).
Joey Butler
Head of Operations
Joey assisted Mike in the founding of Proponent, creating and coordinating the foundation and core operations of the company. Along with managerial operations he also assists Matt with Research & Market Strategy tasks. He has a background in Communication Studies and Operations Management within the music industry.