GRC PR 360

After a career working in advertising, PR, sales, the events industry, and the dotcom world, Michael Gallagher founded the Stevie Awards in 2002 to honor the millions of business executives and workers worldwide who quietly accomplish innovative and extraordinary things in the workplace every day. Michael’s commitment to honoring excellence was sparked during his tenure as Vice President of The Ne...

Sean O’Leary is a communications professional with nearly two decades of experience in journalism, marketing, and public relations. He’s the Vice President of Susan Davis International, which handles communications for military and veterans’ groups, the federal government, and technology and healthcare organizations. Previously, he served as Director for the Merritt Group, a marketing and PR agenc...

John Patton is a 25-year marketing and communications executive and entrepreneur who has worked in public health for the last 13 years. Currently, he’s the Executive Director of the ProVention Health Foundation and a Vice President of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. He is also the author of "Brainless Health: Simple Health Habits for Smart People." Here, he talks about the i...

As the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Mower PR & PA Group, Rick Lyke implements a full range of communications programs. He is also part of the Mower Reputation Management Team, which prepares clients for media interviews, key stakeholder presentations, and potential crisis situations. In his career, Rick has developed award-winning campaigns for Freightliner Trucks, Troy-Bi...

Arielle Nissenblatt is the Community Marketing Manager at Descript and founder of the EarBuds Podcast Collective. With a diverse background in the podcast industry, she has experience as a studio manager, an in-app curator at Castbox, a festival organizer at Outlier PodFest, and more. She is also part of the organizing team behind the Podcast Taxonomy project, an international, multidisciplinary c...

David McAlpine is the Global Head of External Communications at Illumina, a biotech company that develops, manufactures, and markets integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. He has also worked as the Director of Broadcast Media Relations at General Motors and as a producer for CBS and Fox News. Here, David discusses the challenges of educating the public ab...

Jeff Beringer founded and oversees Golin's global digital team and has spent more than two decades helping companies earn attention online to build brands and drive demand. In the earliest days of the internet, Jeff helped some of the world's biggest corporations plant their first flags on the web, and today he's helping them embrace AI to do the some of their best work ever. Here, he discusses ho...

Shelby Janner, Chief Publicity Officer at Zilker Media, is passionate about helping thought leaders and brands share their stories. Over the past 11 years, Shelby has managed publicity campaigns for three New York Times bestselling books and the immensely popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, along with dozens of others. Here, Shelby discusses her work with “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” getti...

Karen Gamba is a PR, networking, and business strategist as well as the CEO and co-founder of the ExV Agency. With locations in Atlanta, New York, and Hong Kong, ExV Agency creates out-of-the-box digital events, elevated branded narratives, and distinctive visibility campaigns for clients looking to expand their reach, reputation, and revenue. Here, she discusses the importance of authenticity, th...

Nancy Luong is a successful Fortune 500 senior marketer, financial content creator, keynote speaker, university educator, and DEI advocate. Currently, she is a Digital Program Manager at Salesforce and the Leader in Residence at Cal State Long Beach, where she advises students on how to start their careers. A proud first-generation daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants, Nancy recently beca...

Joe Zappa is a content marketer, journalist, and academic who has spearheaded content programs for dozens of businesses. As the founder of marketing agency Sharp Pen Media, Joe approaches content and PR through a three-step process of narrative building, editorial planning, and content creation. From 2018 to 2023, he was the editor of Street Fight, a prominent martech trade publication. Prior to t...

Mickie Kennedy is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. He founded eReleases over 22 years ago after realizing that small businesses desperately needed a press release service they could actually afford, with access to the media and to a national newswire—all with a personal touch. His press releases have resulted in articles being...

Steve Rohr is a Hollywood publicist, media expert, and author. He served as the Show Publicist for the Academy Awards from 2015 – 2019 and is the founder of Lexicon Public Relations, a boutique entertainment firm representing award-winning actors and recording artists. As a communication expert, Rohr co-authored “Scared Speechless: 9 Ways to Overcome Your Fears and Captivate Your Audience.” Here,...

Maria Jordan is the founder of Fireflies Management, a global communications agency that specializes in propelling both established organizations and startups to new heights by evolving and promoting their brands. Over her decade of experience in PR, Maria has successfully collaborated with renowned businesses such as Lamborghini, Wimbledon, and MyHeritage, delivering compelling and tangible resul...

Funmi Lijadu is a creative communications specialist who loves pop culture. She has both agency and in-house PR experience across a range of sectors, including art, publishing, finance, tech, real estate, and retail. Currently, she's an account executive at MSL in the UK. Recently, she finished her dissertation on a rather compelling topic that compares reality TV with classic literature. Here, sh...

Shawn Smith has served in senior communications roles with Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company, developing multimillion-dollar campaigns for global brands and franchises. She has also served as the global head of communications with Osmo, one of the world’s leading ed-tech companies. Here, she discusses the current state of DEI in PR, the joy of working with iconic IPs, and why she's stepping...

In this special episode of PR 360, we look back at how to build a strong personal brand using tips from experts we've spoken to over the last few months. Sana A. Ahmed discusses how to build a "monster brand with monster plans." Rob Aurelius tells us how his love for pro wrestling taught him key branding insights, and Shawn P. Walchef explains why people should "lean into their crazy." Plus, forme...

This week on PR 360, we welcome  Harvey Hudes , the founder and CEO of  Caliber Corporate Advisers , one of the preeminent marketing communications firms in fintech and financial services. Since its founding in 2010, Caliber has assisted more than 270 portfolio companies, including asset management firms, growth-stage startups, and investors. Harvey shares how Caliber has succeeded at th...

Jeff Fenster is an award-winning serial entrepreneur who credits his success to one thing: the art of building and maintaining relationships. He’s the founder of the Everbowl superfood chain, the WeBuild Stuff manufacturing and fabrication firm, and SuperFuel Coffee. Here, he discusses why his five core values are the foundation for success, his relationship with NFL legend Drew Brees, and how to...

Jessy Klein Fofana is the CEO and Founder of LaRue, a New Jersey-based public relations and affiliate marketing agency. Fofana and LaRue are trailblazing a new kind of PR strategy that leverages the power of earned media while maximizing performance-driven press opportunities. Here, she discusses her company’s unique approach to affiliate marketing, working with news organizations, and the brand a...

Linda Zebian has the very meta position of Senior Director of Communications and Community at Muck Rack, where she manages its internal and external communications strategies. Previously, she spent ten years at The New York Times developing and executing communications strategies for the company’s business division. Here, she discusses how AI technology is being used throughout the PR world and wh...

Our guest today is Andy Nguyen, a self-described “serial restaurateur” who is pushing boundaries by bringing together food and the world of Web3. Andy has co-founded such brands as Afters Ice Cream, Dough & Arrow, Matte Black Coffee, Hello Kitty Café, Bored and Hungry, and Trill Burgers (which DJ Khaled said is the best burger he’s ever tasted). Here, Andy talks about the importance of visual...

Back for his second appearance on PR 360, Jon-Stephen Stansel is an award-winning social media professional with over a decade of experience managing, building, and creating content for branded social media accounts. He has run profiles for Amazon Prime's “Invincible” animated series, Hyper RPG, Better Place Forests, and the University of Central Arkansas. He is currently the Director of Social Me...

Jason Wells is the CEO of AI Dev Lab, a machine learning development consultancy, and the managing director of MWest Ventures, an organization making early-stage investments in AI, 5G IoT, and Media Tech. Jason has developed over 20 AI products and worked and lived on six different continents. Here, he provides a clear description of the current state of AI, its potential, and how AI Dev Lab is pu...

Becky Wilson and Patrick Hamilton, the brains behind the "We Write Good" creative content shop, write promos and taglines for some of the biggest shows on television, such as “Abbot Elementary,” “Jeopardy!,” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Here, they talk about their wild ride from Universal Studios tour guides to marriage to running their own creative shop. They also explain their creative approach...