A Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) with over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and public relations. Susan founded Rhino Public Relations in December 2004. Responding to a growing market need for cost-effective, results-oriented, and smart PR services, the firm focuses its PR program offerings in the A/E/C market. Current clients include Acentech, Environments at Work, GEI Consultants, HMFH Architects, Hobbs Brook Management, Margulies Perruzzi Architects (formerly Margulies & Associates), and Payette. As Director of Corporate Communications with Vanderweil Engineers, Susan spearheaded the company's first PR campaign and performance of all day-to-day communications for the firm’s four offices. Prior to joining the A/E/C industry, Susan spent six years managing public relations for a variety of technology companies, both on the agency side and in-house. While an Account Supervisor at Mullen, she introduced Altiga Networks as a pioneer of a new product category (VPN Concentrator), created and launched the company’s first PR program. The client increased its monthly retainer by 50 percent after nine months under her leadership. For NewsEdge Corporation, she built the company’s reputation following a merger, prepared market for product sales and strengthened connection with all stakeholders. She assisted SAGA Software in establishing credible leadership in the middleware space following its spin-off from parent company and IPO. The client consolidated all PR activity with Mullen and doubled account retainer after six months under her leadership. As an Account Manager at the Neva Group, Susan served as primary client contact for several high-profile clients and supervised a staff of three. Working with Aptis Communications, she counseled this start-up company on corporate and product positioning, and spearheaded a launch campaign resulting in acquisition. For Cascade Communications, Susan managed media and analyst relations. She developed a campaign and conducted a follow-up image audit that demonstrated above average campaign recall. She rebranded the corporate identity and product category for DAGAZ Technologies and increased leadership positioning in the networking category for VideoServer. Susan is a past president of the Boston Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS Boston), and currently serves on the committee organizing the annual SMPS Boston Charity Golf Tournament and the host committee helping to organize the 2010 SMPS National Conference (Build Business 2010) to be held in Boston. Formerly on the IFMA Boston Career Preservation Task Force (CPTF), she currently serves on the communications committee for IFMA Boston. A member of New England Women in Real Estate (NEWIRE), Susan helped handle PR for the 2010 CREW Convention which took place in Boston and is currently Co-Chair of the Communications Committee. Previously, she served on the board of directors of the Publicity Club of New England. She was named one of the "Top 10 PR Specialists" by Women's Business Boston two years in a row. Susan serves on the board of directors of the Franklin Square House Foundation whose purpose is to support women and families by making bricks and mortar grants for two kinds of projects: the provision of transitional and permanent housing primarily for women, and the support of daycare centers accessible to all. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Child Care Resource Center, supporting the adults who care for our children.
A seasoned marketing and PR communications professional, Christa Mahar has leveraged her career-long tenure in the building industry to assist clients with developing and sustaining a competitive edge in their respective fields. With more than twenty-five years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) industry, Christa’s strong client network in the design community includes New York, Boston and northern New England, with a particular focus in higher education and healthcare. Developing business is a knowledge-based endeavor, which spans a wide spectrum of competencies. As the building industry has changed, the tools required to maintain a competitive advantage have also changed. Christa’s strength lies in understanding the unique work style and culture of a firm and expressing this throughout all client interactions. As a writer and editor, Christa’s experience includes consistent brand development across many channels. She regularly develops and places technical bylines for clients, including features for HMFH Architects, Payette, Applied Risk Management and Environments at Work in such publications as Architectural Record, Architect, Athletic Business, Building Design & Construction, School Planning & Management and Green Building News, among others. She has also executed book production for several architects, including authoring a monograph for Gund Partnership (Images Publishing, 2008), as well as two monographs for Mitchell/Giurgola Architects (Images Publishing 2008, 1999). Having led the efforts of several well-known design firms, most recently an associate and the Director of Marketing for Gund Partnership in Cambridge, Massachusetts, her knowledge ranges from a deep grounding in strategic market analysis and marketing plan implementation to developing integrated communications and public relations plans. Her previous experience includes positions as Director of Marketing and associate for Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and Director of Marketing for Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, both of New York City. She is active in many professional associations as well, including a decade-long appointment as a member of the North Atlantic Regional Council of the Society for College and University Planning. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning and English from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She has also completed advanced degree work in Environmental Engineering and earned a certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment from Harvard University, Extension School.
A Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM), Jennifer Shelby has more than twelve years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) industry. Her career has included all aspects of marketing, including proposal and marketing activity coordination, graphic design and desktop publishing, database administration, and public relations writing and account management. For Rhino Public Relations, Jennifer has been heavily involved with the external communications program for GEI Consultants, one of the nation’s leading geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and ecological science and engineering firms. GEI’s external communications program won first place in the SMPS National 2009 Marketing Communications Awards competition and a Bell Ringer Award from the Publicity Club of New England. For Hobbs Brook Management, a pioneer in the development of office space in the Boston suburbs, she was instrumental in planning a groundbreaking ceremony for two LEED® Gold buildings currently under construction that drew guests from various constituencies, including local government, the neighborhood, project team members and members of the press. Hobbs Brook Management also hired Rhino PR to manage the implementation of their new website, for which Jennifer served as the project manager and liaison between the client and the web design firm. While working for J.M. Coull, a full-service construction company, Jennifer assisted with numerous project events, award submittals and media opportunities. Prior to joining Rhino Public Relations, Jennifer was the in-house graphic designer for S E A Consultants, a multi-disciplined civil and environmental engineering and architectural firm. Her in-house clients included client sector leaders for the Municipal, Energy, Higher Education, State Agency and Transportation sectors of the company as well as principals and project managers at the firm. In this role, Jennifer coordinated the implementation of a new website project for the firm; designed and managed several direct mail campaigns; and provided graphic design services for client-focused presentations, proposals and qualifications, and tradeshow booth graphics. She was also responsible for coordinating project and portrait photography, and the design for announcement cards, brochures, marketing collateral and internal signage. As the proposal and graphics coordinator at GZA GeoEnvironmental, a multi-disciplined company providing its clients with a wide range of geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and remediation services, Jennifer was responsible for the management and design of all corporate marketing pieces, including brochures and announcement cards. She also managed the proposal coordination for private, municipal, and government proposals, including SF254/255’s and SF330’s. While a project assistant at Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, one of the largest architectural and interior design firms in the Northeast, Jennifer coordinated deadlines, schedules and distribution for an in-house architectural team. Jennifer received a B.A. in English from Boston College. She is pursuing a Certificate in Advertising and Print Design from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and currently serves on the Communications Committee for the Boston Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS Boston). She passed the exam to become a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) in August, 2009.
Michele Spiewak is a public relations, writing and marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in the architecture/design and high-tech industries, as well as work in the non-profit sector. Her broad experience includes strategic and tactical public relations and marketing activities, event planning and logistics, and business writing for press releases, byline articles, customer testimonials, and grant proposals. As account manager for Rhino Public Relations, Michele has been involved in all aspects of the public relations program for Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), one of Boston’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms. For MPA, Michele’s focus has been on the placement of strategic byline articles in target publications that support the firm’s embrace of sustainable design and its expanded focus on design for healthcare. To this end, Michele has successfully placed articles in publications such as Environmental Design & Construction, Sustainable Facility, Facility Management Journal, and FacilityCare. Additional placements in local business and real estate publications, such as Boston Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman, and High Profile Monthly, have provided opportunities for brand recognition and showcasing author expertise. At Rhino PR, Michele also directs the PR activities for Acentech Inc., a multi-disciplinary acoustics, audiovisual systems design, and vibration consulting firm. Michele is involved in executing on all aspects of Acentech’s detailed and focused PR plan, including media outreach, byline placement, award submissions, and speaking opportunities. She has written numerous articles, garnering byline placements in vertical publications such as Archi-Tech, Buildings, Building Design & Construction, Building Operating Management, College Planning & Management, Health Facilities Management, and Library Journal. In the local Boston media, Acentech bylines have appeared in Banker & Tradesman, High Profile Monthly, Mass High Tech, and Women’s Business Boston. Prior to joining Rhino Public Relations in 2008, Michele provided grantwriting, editing and research services on a project-basis to PEAR Associates, LLC, a fundraising and grantwriting consulting firm focused on non-profit organizations such as community-based agencies, hospitals and health care organizations, school systems and municipalities. Michele wrote and edited articles, concept papers, and grant proposals for PEAR clients such as African Assistance Center, Brockton Hospital, Chinese Culture Connection, Kenneth B. Schwartz Center, Partnership for Community Schools in Malden, and South Boston Community Health Center, helping these organizations secure much needed funding. While senior public relations manager at Art Technology Group (ATG), Michele was responsible for corporate communications, customer-centric public relations, and event and trade show publicity. She directed the corporate communications team and outside PR agency, providing global coordination of all media strategies, press releases, media and analyst briefings, and tours, with regional public relations staff in the U.K., France, Germany, and Sydney, Australia. Michele’s tactical PR activities included the development of press releases and media outreach with customers and partners, as well as creating a library of customer testimonials for PR and marketing purposes. As senior account executive at Shandwick International, a high-tech public relations agency, Michele developed communications programs and managed the public relations activities for high-tech clients with a variety of hardware, enterprise-wide software, and Internet-based technologies. Her role included the production of press materials, including product and customer-win press releases, backgrounders, and executive bios. Michele also managed executive visibility programs that included drafting speaking proposals, pitching opportunities, and writing bylined articles for placement. Her agency experience includes PR support for trade shows, media tours, and special events. Her professional experience also includes services marketing and public relations work for the Corporate/Real Estate and Interior Design practice at Sasaki Associates, a multidisciplinary architecture and design firm. As marketing and public relations coordinator, Michele worked with principals and senior associates to prepare detailed and timely responses to inquiries and requests for proposal. She assembled narratives and photography for award program entries, and created exhibit booth displays for trade shows. Michele also launched a public relations campaign for the firm’s growing interior design group, writing press releases regarding new projects and pitching stories to build brand awareness. Michele is active in her community in Sharon, Mass., where she has produced concerts and events, broadening her professional scope with event planning and logistics experience. She was a judge of The Publicity Club of New England Bell Ringer Awards from 2001-2003. Michele graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies.
Heather joined Rhino Public Relations with 10 years of public relations, marketing and writing experience, with more than five years specifically focused in the architecture industry. Most recently she served as the director of marketing for Margulies Perruzzi Architects (previously Margulies & Associates), where she led the firm’s marketing strategy and implementation. Her responsibilities included strategic planning and creative execution for new business proposals; working closely with the firm’s four principals to develop, manage and track marketing activities; overseeing the activities of the three-person marketing department and public relations consulting firm; organizing the firm’s senior business development committee and healthcare market committee; managing the firm’s participation in client and industry events; writing content for all marketing materials (brochures, email marketing, client communications, award submissions, etc.); and brainstorming concepts for direct mail pieces, advertising (radio and print), and promotional items. In her last year at the firm, she lead a year-long rebranding initiative that included the addition of a new partner, firm name change, acknowledgement of 20 years in business, and a new logo and tagline. This year-long campaign culminated in a 20th anniversary party for 400 clients, vendors and employees. Simultaneously, Heather served as the director of marketing for Fort Point Project Partners (formerly Corporate Project Partners). At the same time Heather was planning and implementing a rebranding campaign for Margulies Perruzzi Architects, she also planned and executed the same process for Fort Point Project Management. Previously, she served as senior marketing coordinator for international firm Steffian Bradley Architects, where she drove the firm’s public relations campaign, contributed to the strategy and content for new business proposals, wrote website content and executed project award proposals. During her tenure, Heather contributed to a 366% increase in industry awards received and a 34% new business win ratio. Heather has also held positions as Assistant Account Executive for Schwartz Communications, the second-largest independent public relations agency specializing in technology and healthcare; web copywriter for The Timberland Company; and columnist and contributing reporter for the Salem Gazette newspaper in Salem, Massachusetts. She volunteered for the Boston Chapter of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS Boston) as communications coordinator for the Awards Committee and as the website manager for the Communication Committee. She has also been a member of New England Women in Real Estate (NEWIRE). She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Communications with a B.S. in advertising. Additionally, Heather has taken creative writing courses through Brookline Continuing Education and Grub Street.
Jill Sullivan joined Rhino Public Relations as the Account Coordinator and brings ten years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) industry. Jill’s resourcefulness, organization skills, and diligence are a great asset to Rhino PR. She assists the Account Managers with every day tasks and is responsible for researching publications and media outlets relevant to each of our clients. Prior to joining the firm, Jill was the marketing coordinator for Gund Partnership in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She worked closely with the Marketing Director and four principals commissioning architectural projects, designing and preparing qualifications packages and proposals, presentation boards and slide shows. In addition, Jill assisted in the two-year production of the firm’s monograph as well as the development and implementation of a new corporate identity. She interfaced with the web design firm hired by Gund from creative concept to production through to implementation. Once launched, Jill was responsible for updating and maintaining the web site. Jill is accustomed to a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and knows how to prioritize multiple tasks to meet conflicting deadlines while utilizing a variety of software programs to produce high quality work. Jill is a graduate of Regis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and captained both the field hockey and softball teams.
Monique has more than 19 years of marketing communications and public relations experience in technology, healthcare, A/E/C and publishing. Prior to joining Rhino Public Relations, Monique was Public Relations Group Director at SGW Integrated Marketing Communications. Monique has also been a consultant for HighTech Public Relations and The Weber Group. In addition, she has held the position of Senior Account Executive at The Weber Group, at the time, one of the world’s top five high-tech PR firms. At The Weber Group, and formerly the Neva Group, she successfully executed core client programs such as speaker bureaus, media relations, customer reference, media tours and tradeshows. Monique has provided marketing and public relations consulting for networking and telecom clients including HarvardNet, Lightbridge, Perle Systems, Stratus and Cascade Communications. She has secured quality results in America’s Network, The Boston Business Journal, Computerworld, Communications News, Cellular & Mobile International, InfoWorld, Inter@ctive Week, Internet Week, Mass High Tech, Network World, PC Week, RCR, Telecommunications, Teleconnect, Telephony, Wireless Week and Wireless Review. Monique’s expertise in speaker programs has led to speaking opportunities for her clients at industry trade shows such as Comnet, IEC’s TechForum, CTIA, Telestrategies, and OSS. Prior to the Weber Group, Monique worked at Lewtan Technologies, a leader in asset securities management. As a Marketing Associate at Lewtan, Monique was responsible for a corporate image redesign, trade show coordination and supervising marketing material updates. Monique also held the position of Marketing Analyst at Liant Software Corporation, a developer of computer languages. At Liant, Monique wrote press releases, coordinated the development and printing of all corporate collateral, and conducted market analysis. Monique’s other positions include marketing coordinator at Allied Mechanical & Burner Corporation and marketing assistant at The Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Time newspapers. In addition to her professional career, Monique is also active in community endeavors. Through her children, she is involved in the Cub Scouts, is the class parent for her son’s elementary school class, participates in school fund raising activities, and delivers meals on wheels to seniors once a week.
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