Laura Cocivera
EXPERIENCE: Percepture Travel, LC Communications, and AKA Public Relations
EXPERTISE: Media Relations and Public Relations
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: Muse; Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
Laura Cocivera is a senior communications and media-relations strategist with over 15 years of PR experience specializing in consumer lifestyle, travel and hospitality, nonprofit, author, and tech client categories.
Operating from one of the most competitive media markets in the world, Laura's talent for creative storytelling and building strong media relationships has led to enhanced brand awareness, significant impact, and recognition through award-winning PR campaigns. Her notable media placements include ABC Good Morning America segments broadcast live from the top of a mountain and feature stories for NBC Nightly News highlighting various picturesque shores across the country.
Throughout her career in public relations, Laura has directed successful campaigns for a range of clients, including some of the nation's most historic resorts and travel destinations, national nonprofit organizations backed by celebrity supporters, and acclaimed best-selling authors.
Laura’s expertise encompasses both traditional PR tactics and digital and social media strategies, including orchestrating press events, coordinating hotel and restaurant openings, managing media relations, and establishing partnerships with social influencers.
For more information about Laura, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-b-cocivera-a9029512/
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Bart Casabona
EXPERIENCE: PepsiCo, MasterCard Worldwide, Porter Novelli, Pitney Bowes
EXPERTISE: Creative concepting, digital marketing strategy, brand storytelling, social media engagement, event marketing, team leadership, and revenue growth
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: AC/DC; Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
Bart is a strategic brand-building executive with over two decades of experience in communications, digital marketing, social media, employee advocacy, event planning, and team development. In leadership roles at renowned companies such as PepsiCo, MasterCard, Porter Novelli, and Pitney Bowes, Bart has successfully spearheaded multi-channel marketing and communications initiatives that enhanced brand awareness, audience engagement, and business growth.
In his most recent role as Senior Director of Channel Marketing at Pitney Bowes, Bart led global marketing functions, including social media strategy, web strategy, event marketing, and creative services. He developed and implemented comprehensive digital strategies across corporate functions and business units, focusing on brand awareness, client engagement, content creation, and sales enablement. Bart directed a social selling initiative that resulted in $11.5 million in influenced revenue and orchestrated a global events strategy, managing over 60 events annually, which led to $22 million in sourced revenue and $74 million in influenced revenue.
Before joining Pitney Bowes, Bart founded ELEVATE XS, a boutique agency specializing in social and digital marketing and content development. There, he crafted tailored business growth strategies for diverse clients, delivering innovative marketing solutions to drive brand awareness, advocacy, and sales.
Bart's earlier experience includes serving as Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Porter Novelli, where he directed marketing strategies for P&G male grooming brands, executing integrated campaigns across North America to enhance engagement and sales. At PepsiCo, he held multiple roles, including Senior Manager of Communications and Social Media, where he designed and implemented innovative publicity and social media campaigns for key brands such as Pepsi-Cola and Mountain Dew.
With a proven track record in digital marketing, media relations, client engagement, and content creation, Bart is an accomplished and passionate leader with extensive experience managing teams, building partnerships, driving growth, and creating data-driven business strategies.
For more information about Bart, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartcasabona/
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Brian Conway
EXPERIENCE: Weber Shandwick, American Airlines, Royal Caribbean, and TGI Fridays
EXPERTISE: Media, Crisis, and Social Communications
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: Metallica; Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
A natural storyteller since childhood, Brian has transformed this enthusiasm into over 16 years of professional PR and Communications experience. He has collaborated with brands of varying public visibility, expertly identifying and showcasing their unique narratives in a manner that prompts audiences to engage through the brand journey.
As the Founder and Owner of Ascent Public Relations, Brian leads an agency dedicated to developing effective PR and Communications strategies, crisis communications, content strategy and creation, and media relations.
Brian’s expertise includes crafting and maintaining on-brand PR and Communications architectures with consistent messaging while managing corporate crisis communications and issues management from the planning stage through to response and recovery.
Notably, Brian’s strategic account leadership for Breathe Right Nasal Strips (GSK) during the Belmont Stakes in 2014 earned a Cannes Bronze Lion Award for generating significant national media and consumer attention, which resulted in a remarkable 22% increase in sales for the brand.
In addition, Brian has offered high-level strategic counsel to clients focused on enhancing their reputation and refining their issues management programs. His expertise encompasses crisis team and framework development, corporate crisis planning, audience listening and analytics, and training clients to respond effectively during crises. His crisis experience includes collaboration with major brands like American Airlines, Royal Caribbean, Asurion, Cathay Pacific, and Marine Well Containment Company. He played a crucial role in American Airlines' response to the highly-publicized incident involving Alec Baldwin and Words With Friends.®
Brian's media relations background covers various sectors, including Technology, Aviation & Travel, and Food & Restaurant. He previously served as the head of Corporate Communications & PR at TGI Fridays and held the position of Digital Director at Weber Shandwick. His past client experience includes working with American Airlines, the U.S. Army, Unilever, The Vision Impact Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, the United States Postal Service, Essilor of America, and Royal Caribbean.
Brian earned a BA degree in Public Relations from Loyola University New Orleans and actively participates in both PRSA and the Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about Brian, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrconway/
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Jim Faulkner
EXPERIENCE: Northwest Airlines, Air France, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA), and Horton’s Kids
EXPERTISE: Corporate PR, Media Relations, and Crisis Communications
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: AC/DC; It’s Not Right, But It’s OK (Thunderpuss Mix) – Whitney Houston
An established airline communications leader and community activist, Jim Faulkner boasts over 25 years of diverse experience that spans brand advertising, crisis communications, and social responsibility. Faulkner has a strong background working with major airlines including Northwest Airlines, Air France, American Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, as well as WMATA and the D.C.-based non-profit Horton’s Kids, where he advocated for students in underserved communities.
As chief spokesperson for Frontier Airlines and Air France, he developed key media relations strategies. At Northwest Airlines, Faulkner served as hub spokesman, overseeing the airline’s crisis communications response plan. His role at American involved leading integrated communications efforts with alliance partners alongside the network planning and corporate real estate departments, where he was also a trained member of American's Go-Team.
In brand management, Faulkner launched the “hub value” brand identity for Northwest Airlines, resulting in nearly a 3 percent increase in hub traffic market share. He also guided the brand strategy for a Los Angeles-based non-profit through the Taproot Foundation.
Faulkner's dedication to social activism was evident at Air France, where he successfully negotiated the first-ever agreement with the American Red Cross, generating $70,000 for volunteer transportation to Africa. This partnership led to vaccinations for approximately 245,000 children against measles.
Currently, Faulkner is overseeing public engagement outreach for WMATA, coordinating with digital, events, government relations, and media relations teams to ensure that the voices of residents from underserved communities are included in the agency-wide bus network redesign.
In his spare time, Jim Faulkner has performed improv with the Washington Improv Theater and has secured acting roles in shows on HBO Max and Discovery TV, including We Own This City, often finding himself cast as a cop. What does that say?
For more information about Jim, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdfaulkner/
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Elizabeth Gaerlan
EXPERIENCE:: Weber Shandwick, American Airlines, Emirates, Ritz-Carlton, and Toys R Us
EXPERTISE: Corporate, Media, and B2C Communications
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: Queen; Somebody to Love
Elizabeth, affectionately known as Liz by her colleagues, boasts over 21 years of extensive experience in marketing, media relations, corporate communications, and event management. Throughout her career, she has successfully created and managed programs across various sectors, including food and beverage, packaged goods, consumer health, retail, fashion, beauty, travel and tourism, and non-profit areas. Liz has developed effective communication strategies to engage both the general market and targeted niche populations. Her diverse client portfolio features renowned brands such as Starbucks Coffee Company, Hershey Foods, and Georgia-Pacific. Notably, she also served as the Director of Corporate Communications for Toys R Us.
Before her consulting journey, Liz held the position of senior vice president at Weber Shandwick, where she led communications and media relations campaigns for significant travel and lifestyle brands, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Royal Caribbean International, Ottawa Tourism, and Ontario Tourism. Additionally, Liz was integrated into the Corporate Communications department at American Airlines in New York, a critical hub for the airline and a primary international gateway. In this role, she served as the main liaison with headquarters in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, providing counsel to local leadership and operations teams on marketing and communications strategies, encompassing messaging, story angles, sponsorships, sales promotions, and content distribution to the press, the public, and internal audiences. She also built vital relationships and managed outreach to government officials, community leaders, and press, securing favorable coverage for American Airlines in top-tier local and national media.
Previously, Liz was the senior vice president at a boutique travel public relations agency, where she provided senior counsel and led teams on high-profile accounts including the prestigious Emirates airline, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Singapore Tourism Board, and LodgeWorks Hospitality. Her remarkable work earned her two Gold Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and a Cushman Award from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from New York University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Baruch College’s Zicklin Graduate School of Business.
For further details about Liz, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethgaerlan/
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Aurora M. Gonzalez
EXPERIENCE: M Booth, Ketchum, and PepsiCo
EXPERTISE: Corporate Reputation, Issues/Crisis Management, Influencer Relations, Stakeholder Education
FAVORITE BAND & FAVORITE SONG: Steely Dan/Donald Fagan; America (Simon & Garfunkel)
Aurora’s career features a balanced blend of agency work and in-house corporate experience. Most recently, Aurora served as the senior director in corporate communications at PepsiCo, where she dedicated 14 years to advancing the company’s corporate reputation. In her final role, she was the first global communications lead focused on corporate issues and crises. Aurora collaborated with global partners on a wide range of issues, including litigation, regulatory affairs, public policy, product liability, and corporate reorganizations and restructuring.
Before taking on the issues and crisis management role, Aurora worked at Frito-Lay, contributing significantly to pivotal corporate initiatives in health & wellness and sustainability. The corporate reputation projects she led involved leveraging influencer outreach, media relations, internal communications, and stakeholder education to positively shift perceptions of the company and its products. Aurora began her career at PepsiCo on the company’s inaugural health & wellness team, focusing on strategies to navigate the evolving landscape of the food industry.
Prior to her tenure at PepsiCo, Aurora was with Ketchum in New York City for nine years, specializing in their Food & Nutrition practice. While at Ketchum, she worked with an array of clients, ranging from Roche Vitamins (B2B focused) to Frito-Lay, where she pioneered some of the company’s first health & wellness programming. Before her time at Ketchum, Aurora supported a partner at M Booth & Associates, assisting with a diverse roster of clients, including Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital.
Aurora proudly graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in Theater, embodying the belief that all the world’s a stage.
For more about Aurora, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurora-m-gonzalez/
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Laura Goodes
EXPERIENCE: International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways, London Luton Airport
EXPERTISE: Strategic corporate and financial communications including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), reputation and crisis management, and political and environmental media campaigning.
FAVORITE BAND & FAVORITE SONG: The Proclaimers; Outside (George Michael)
Laura Goodes boasts over 30 years of expertise in strategic corporate communications, working with high-profile global commercial companies, particularly in the aviation sector. She specializes in financial media relations, focusing on pan-European mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and is recognized for her effective campaigning on political and environmental issues, as well as her strong skills in reputational and crisis planning and implementation.
Laura established and led the communications team at the FTSE 100/Ibex 35 listed International Airlines Group (IAG), created by the merger of British Airways and Iberia. During her time at IAG, she oversaw the media relations for three airline acquisitions and successfully integrated the communications teams into the overall Group structure.
Prior to this role, Laura managed corporate and financial media relations at British Airways, where she played a pivotal role in the BA/Iberia merger. Her experience in operational and crisis public relations was further developed during her time at the airline and as head of media relations at London Luton Airport. Earlier in her career, Laura managed regional communications at the Automobile Association and specialized in media relations at the Building Research Establishment.
Based in the UK, Laura is an enthusiastic football (soccer) fan and an advocate for female football supporters.
For more about Laura, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-goodes-67091356/
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Tara Hamp
EXPERIENCE: JAJH Consulting, Finsbury Glover Hering, Motus One, The Hawksbill Group, Lilium Consulting, Ink Link Marketing
EXPERTISE: Corporate Reputation, Strategic Communications, Promotional Marketing, Digital and Social Media, and Research and Analytics
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: Aerosmith; It’s My Life (Bon Jovi)
Tara Hamp is a communications, marketing, and sustainability expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a strong foundation in corporate reputation and strategic communications, Tara applies high-level critical thinking alongside a creative approach, guiding clients on performance-driven promotional marketing and communications strategies. She serves as the primary writer for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports while collaborating closely with the design team for both report layout and website integration.
Tara’s expertise spans various sectors, where she develops tailored communications strategies that enhance visibility and corporate reputation aligned with business objectives. Her diverse client experience includes chain restaurants, food and beverage, nonprofits, academia, healthcare, biopharmaceutical, automotive suppliers, original equipment manufacturers, and consumer goods, showcasing her adaptability across industries.
Moreover, Tara previously held the role of Senior Director of Corporate Communication at Motus One, a fleet management transportation and logistics company. In this position, she reported directly to the CEO, managing media relations, creating pitches, and co-leading a media advisory board while also implementing the company’s inaugural media tracking and analysis process with Critical Mention for OEM clients.
Academically, Tara earned her bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal/Organizational Communications and writing from the University of Central Florida, and she currently resides in South Florida.
For more details about Tara, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-hamp-1178b2101/
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Tim Livingston
EXPERIENCE: Tim Livingston Public Relations; Real News PR; Network Television Affiliates in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX and Dayton, OH; Radio Stations in Kentucky and Ohio; writing for The Dallas Observer and Fort Worth Weekly
EXPERTISE: Media Relations, Securing News Coverage for Clients
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: The Osborne Brothers with Red Allen; I'll Be Around (Howlin' Wolf)
After 25 years as an award-winning TV and radio reporter, producer, and executive, Tim now specializes in helping clients share their stories across various media platforms. With extensive experience in media relations, he understands the inner workings of newsrooms, having spent over two decades both working in and leading them.
Tim excels at identifying the stories that captivate reporters, producers, and hosts, ensuring that he pitches you as the subject matter expert for interviews. He has successfully secured media coverage across TV, radio, print, online, and podcasts, while crafting effective media strategies for a diverse range of clients, including entrepreneurs, authors, attorneys, business strategists, mental health counselors, political candidates, doctors, medical professionals, and finance professionals.
For more information about Tim, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlivingston1/
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Rhonda Rathje
EXPERIENCE: Verizon, American Airlines, and Walmart
EXPERTISE: Internal Communications, Executive Communications, Community Communications, and Media Relations
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: Queen; Don't Stop Me Now
Rhonda is a seasoned veteran in public relations, having crafted impactful communications at top companies like Verizon, American Airlines, and Walmart. Her extensive experience encompasses employee communications, executive communications, media relations, storytelling, and community relations. Rhonda’s deep understanding of how effective communications can drive business success, combined with her exceptional writing abilities and passion for meaningful interactions, represents her significant strengths in the field. She employs a holistic strategy for addressing communications challenges, underscored by her strong project management skills.
As an accomplished project manager and planner, Rhonda is focused on delivering measurable results. Over her career, she has implemented numerous employee communications programs, spearheaded employee engagement initiatives, and built collaborative teams to tackle business challenges. In her extensive work with global brands such as Verizon, American Airlines, and Walmart, Rhonda has:
- Developed the employee storytelling process at Walmart and earned the Tulsa IABC Bronze Quill.
- Created a comprehensive communications plan for a worldwide employee talent search initiative at Walmart.
- Directed an internal communications strategy to announce American Airlines’ largest fleet order in history, winning the Gold Hermes Creative Award and being honored as a Finalist in PR News’ Platinum Awards Program.
- Launched a global employee communications initiative for a joint business venture with British Airways and Iberia, resulting in the Texas Public Relations Association Silver Spur Award.
- Led the ‘In It To Win It’ employee engagement initiative that tripled participation in the company’s sales referral program.
- Developed the Public Affairs Core Skills employee development program, providing a clear roadmap for personal and professional growth.
Rhonda holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications with a focus on Speech from Iowa State University, Ames. She also earned her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, and is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
For more information about Rhonda, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondarathje/
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Ilene V. Smith, MS, RD
EXPERIENCE: Consulted for leading food brands including PepsiCo, Kellogg, ConAgra, and KIND Snacks, along with several food producer associations.
EXPERTISE: Media Strategy, Consumer Communications, and Influencer Marketing
FAVORITE BAND & SONG: The Beatles, Your Song
For over 20 years, Ilene has leveraged her expertise in food, nutrition, and public relations to create groundbreaking communications programs for food companies and organizations. Throughout her career, Ilene has collaborated with commodity boards and consumer packaged goods companies, along with ingredient manufacturers and associations, to effectively promote the science behind their brands. Notable clients include PepsiCo with its Quaker, Tropicana, and Frito-Lay brands, Kellogg, ConAgra, and KIND Snacks. Ilene’s work also spans esteemed associations such as the Soyfoods Association of North America, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, the Almond Board of California, Avocados from Mexico, the California Strawberry Commission, and the California Dried Plum Board.
Ilene has partnered with organizations to enhance market demand, manage complex issues, identify lucrative marketing opportunities, raise consumer awareness, and develop robust scientific platforms. Moreover, she has advised clients on the effects of consumer, culinary, business, and industry trends, as well as on regulatory affairs and the evolving political climate. Her expertise is showcased in the pivotal role she played in KIND Snacks’ petition to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which aimed to redefine the term "healthy" as a nutrient content claim. This involved writing the scientific argument, connecting the brand with influential figures, and crafting the communications strategy. The successful petition led to a game-changing ruling that recognized the health benefits of foods enriched with healthy fats, benefiting numerous industry players.
As a former journalist, Ilene possesses the skills to craft compelling media stories that connect with targeted audiences, including consumers, media outlets, health professionals, and influencers. She excels at developing media strategies that achieve desired results for her clients. Ilene holds a master’s degree in Nutrition and Applied Physiology from Columbia University and earned her bachelor of arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from New York University. Additionally, she is a registered dietitian and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, previously serving as chair of Dietitians in Business and Communications.
For more information about Ilene, please visit: linkedin.com/in/ilenevsmithrd
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