Biography

In the Beginning

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As a child, I would pretend to be a DJ (I can’t imagine the angst this caused my working-class parents), setting up the next record on my first of many turntables. Growing up in New York City, my heroes were the personalities on radio stations that took chances and introduced new artists when others simply played the latest hits. And when I landed in college, I finally fulfilled my dream and got to be an evening DJ at the campus radio station. 

 

Once I graduated, though, the scarcity of DJ slots quickly set in and I did what the majority of aspiring DJs do…other things. I worked a series of stepping-stone jobs, from telemarketing for the Daily News to serving as the manager of a local record shop. 

 

After meeting an executive of a leading public relations firm who happened to be a friend’s father-in-law, I soon dove into the field. As my new mentor put it: “You can string together coherent sentences and you’re fearless on the phone. Give it a shot.”

 

Armed with confidence bolstered by the approval of a seasoned professional, I decided to take what I liked about the profession – strategizing, copywriting, press contact and event management – and put those skills to use for clients in markets for which I had a natural passion: consumer technology, commercial A/V, and mass communications. I quickly landed a job with a midsize agency, where I became part of the team working on Sony Consumer Products. I was tasked with gaining exposure for Sony’s magnetic media, or “tape” as most (all) people referred to it. 

 

This is when I met what has been one of the longest relationships of my life. In January 1989, I attended my first Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Working with blue chip companies at a show as large and as competitive as CES, the biggest consumer tech trade event in the world, was arguably the greatest learning experience a young public relations professional could get. Even when your clients had big news, you still had to fight through the competitive cacophony to ensure  they were heard. At times I  had to literally run, jump, lift, and whatever else it took to ensure my clients’ messages reached their target audiences. 

 

I also learned the importance of being on the front line where it matters most. I take great pride in representing my clients at high-profile events, in person, to provide hands-on support and ensure that they make the most of their investment in these platforms. It’s easy to phone it in from afar these days, or send a junior staffer. But whether it’s an international trade show or a regional event, I firmly believe in the importance of being on-site, as someone who understands the technology and has a personal relationship with the editors, reporters, bloggers, and influencers followed by my clients’ customers. 

 

And while my commitment to client service never wavers, a lot of the other ways I provide support have changed with the technology and the times. Press relations and copywriting are still prerequisites, but content marketing and social media outreach share equal billing, including SEO support, along with promotional events, ad placements, and media monitoring. 

 

As with any business, the tools continue to evolve, but the goal remains the same: to put my clients in front of the audiences that matter most to their business and make sure their messages – whether about their company, technology, products, service, or support – are communicated efficiently and effectively.