Expertise

• Media relations
• Writing
• Strategic planning
• Donor relations
• Shareholder relations
• Community relations
• Crisis/issues management
• Internal/external corporate communications
• Grant identification, writing
• Web site development

Industries/Organizations Served

• Nonprofit
• Health care
• Education
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Technology
• Insurance/banking
• Commercial real estate

Prior Professional Experience

• Editorial manager for the Aegis Group, a publishing subsidiary of Lintas: Campbell-Ewald Advertising
• Editor, Chevrolet-Pontiac-Canada Group’s (General Motor Corp.) monthly magazine.
• Adjunct professor, Grand Valley State University, School of Communications
• Freelance articles for The Chicago Tribune, The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Valley Magazine and numerous trade publications

Awards

• Gold Quill Team Award, International Association of Business Communicators
• Applegate Award, outstanding journalism senior, Michigan State University
• American Society of Magazine Editors internship, Advertising Age, New York

Education

• Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism

What do you consider to be your greatest PR or business accomplishment?
Definitely working with one particular client continuously for more than 10 years, helping this specialty hospital bolster awareness in the community and throughout the country.

What do you see as your primary area of expertise?
Creativity – whether that’s applied to writing, ideas or in identifying otherwise overlooked media opportunities for clients.

What do you love most about S&A?
The diversity and richness of the staff’s experiences and opinions and how that translates into great client results.

What is the expression you use most often at work?
Sounds Good!

Who is your most admired leader and why?
I define a leader as a hero, and that hero is my son Michael who lives with juvenile diabetes, a chronic, life-threatening illness for which there is no cure.

What is the company you most admire and why?
All of the small, mom-and-pop businesses out there trying to make it! I grew up watching my grandparents operate a small, rural grocery store. The hard work and commitment were amazing life lessons.

How do you define success?
Family and friends

What is your general philosophy on life and work?
See the good in every person and every thing!

What are your favorite sports or recreational activities?
Skiing, hiking, biking and water sports.

What is your favorite movie?
Walk the Line

What is your favorite food?
Anything Italian, followed by White Castle hamburgers

What is your greatest vice?
Lake Michigan, the Ann Arbor Art Fair and red licorice

What is an interesting “factoid” about yourself?
I love music and grew up playing electric guitar, a hobby which morphed into playing local gigs with two bands. Now, I love everything from rock to Bach.