The CommStrat Team
Wynne Ahern Kokka
A public relations strategist and media relations expert, CommStrat agency principal Wynne Ahern Kokka has amassed more than 14 years of experience in the technology arena.
Over the course of her career, Wynne has helped position, launch and market hundreds of products and companies, predominantly in the areas of consumer and emerging technology. Her thorough, targeted campaigns have produced widespread coverage for her clients; products have been showcased on broadcasts ranging from The Today Show and Good Morning America to The Martha Stewart Show, The View and CNN Headline News.
With a proven talent for helping companies and their products stand out from the competition, Wynne played a central role in having her clients' products named BusinessWeek "Best Invention of the Year" and Time Magazine "Best Product of the Year." She has placed many feature stories in high-circulation consumer publications such as Parade, USA Today as well as many top consumer monthlies. Additionally, she has secured considerable business coverage in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes and a host of other influential publications.
Beyond her work with the media, Wynne specializes in conducting media training for company executives as well as crafting clear, compelling corporate and product messaging.
Wynne holds a J.D. from the University of San Francisco and a B.A., cum laude, from Denison University. She was an attorney at a San Francisco-based law firm prior to becoming a technology publicist. She held senior positions at leading public relations agencies A&R Edelman and UpStart Communications (a Fleishman-Hillard Company) prior to founding CommStrat, formerly Communication Strategies, in 1999.
Beth Avant
Beth Avant has over 12 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and social media management focused in consumer and wireless technologies.
As Director of Operations for CommNexus San Diego (formerly the San Diego Telecom Council), she spearheaded the re-branding of the well-known San Diego non-profit organization. During her tenure at CommNexus San Diego, Beth was responsible for directing all marketing and public relations activities for the organization, while also managing the organization's 100+ industry-focused events every year.
Prior to CommNexus San Diego, Beth managed the Sony Electronics account at Burson-Marsteller, successfully executing product launches and extensive reviews programs for the Sony VAIO computers and Sony digital still cameras. Beth previously served as an account executive at Townsend Inc., a San Diego agency known for excellence in integrated marketing for high-technology companies.
A co-founder of the community-based group blog, The San Diego MOMfia, Beth has worked directly with brands such as Tiffany and Co., Mohawk Home, Souplantation, Sprinkles Cupcakes and LEGOLAND California to leverage the power of social media in growing brand awareness and customer engagement.
Laurie Brian
An award-winning journalist, Laurie Brian has more than 15 years of experience in media and public relations. She's worked extensively in television and print in the nation's top markets during a career that has spanned nearly every aspect of media — from writing and editing for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle and The Denver Post to producing, writing and directing documentaries and other shows for the National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and HGTV. Additionally, she's worked with corporate clients such as Cisco Systems, Robert Half Inc. and Ikana Media, and provided both PR counsel and effective strategic marketing and communications plans for various non-profit organizations. Over the years, Laurie has garnered significant coverage for her PR clients in top-tier media outlets ranging from CNN and The Wall Street Journal to Good Morning America and the Today Show.
Laurie has received numerous accolades for her work including being named an Emmy Award finalist in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Current Affairs Program. She holds a M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Brooke G. Cohan
Brooke brings a wide range of technology and consumer communications expertise to CommStrat clients. A well-rounded communications professional, Brooke has held management positions in corporate public relations with two of the largest and most visible companies in the world — GE and Apple Computer. In those key positions, she managed internal public relations and agency teams to launch high profile products to worldwide audiences, handled ongoing and crisis corporate communications, and served as a company spokesperson.
After leaving the corporate world, she founded a Public Relations firm called Stirling & Cohan that quickly grew to more than $2.5 million a year in billings and represented established and start-up clients including Apple, Claris, Power Computing, WebTV, Visioneer, Novell and Netscape. She spent more than five years co-managing the agency and then decided to pursue her own consulting practice. Consulting clients include BabyCenter and LeapFrog. Brooke joined CommStrat in 2009.
Kelly Cytron
With more than 20 years' experience in high-technology public relations and marketing, Kelly Cytron is highly effective in all aspects of strategic counsel and program management. Kelly has been responsible for the design, planning and implementation of a wide range of PR programs for dozens of companies in the tech and consumer sectors — including X1 Technologies, Incando (acquired by Scripps Networks), Digeo, VoiceObjects, Accuray, McDonalds, NBC, Spoke Software and Wise Solutions.
Before joining Commstrat, Kelly headed her own boutique agency, Kelcyn, offering public relations counsel and services to technology, healthcare and web-based companies. Before that, she was an account supervisor with UpStart Communications, later acquired by Fleishman-Hillard, where she managed technology accounts including Digitivity, Fujitsu Interactive, Transphere Interactive, Compaq (now HP) and TransactPlus. At UpStart, she also demonstrated dogged persistence in netting media coverage in support of additional clients including Inktomi, Informatica, Siebel, Broadvision and Loudcloud.
Prior to Fleishman-Hillard, Kelly was an account executive at Access Public Relations and oversaw media relations, speaker and analyst relations programs for Sun, Unisys, Harris Communications and Hypercom.
She is a graduate of San Diego State University.
Liz Einbinder
Liz Einbinder brings more than 16 years of public relations experience in the consumer, small business, technology and personal finance space, with a strong emphasis on launching companies and building brands. Throughout her career Liz has worked with a number of consumer companies including American Express, BabyCenter, eBay, Intuit, iTunes, LeapFrog and PayCycle.
At the onset of her career, Liz executed the first launch of Intuit's QuickBooks, she further honed her PR experience managing all Quicken PR activities and then went to the UK to launch QuickBooks and Quicken internationally. Over the years she has helped many Internet companies take their companies from business plan to product rollout including managing launches for BabyCenter, FreeWorks and PayCycle. As a PR professional, she has a strong background in project management, strategy and media relations across industry, business and consumer media.
On the consumer front, Liz managed all PR activities for Apple's iTunes music store, which included launching iTunes across Europe and managing all domestic PR opportunities for the store. Over the past decade she has worked on public relations campaigns for American Express' consumer card division, foundation, OPEN and other small business focused activities for AMEX.
Kaitlin Haar
Kaitlin brings a wide range of PR experience in consumer and enterprise-focused technologies to the CommStrat team, along with strong strategic planning, project management and media relations skills.
As Global Communications PR Manager for Sun Microsystems, Kaitlin created the Digerati Program, an executive thought leadership program to cultivate strong relationships with technology blogs, and reach new audiences. The program resulted in coverage on top blogs such as TechCrunch, GigaOm, and Earth2Tech.
Prior to her work at Sun, Kaitlin worked at The Outcast Agency managing PR campaigns for companies including Facebook, Zazzle, Nickelodeon, Dust Networks, Dell, Ubisoft, and blinkx, garnering coverage in The New York Times, Modern Bride, In Style, Martha Stewart Living, Forbes, GigaOm, TechCrunch, CNet, and other top consumer, business and tech publications.
Lisa C. Hendrickson
Lisa Hendrickson has more than 20 years experience in public relations, with extensive experience in developing and implementing strategic public relations programs for technology companies. She has a proven track record of delivering high-profile press coverage to help organizations raise their awareness and build brand value.
Lisa helped launch BabyCenter.com, helping to drive it to become number one in the baby category. Innovative public relations programs for BabyCenter.com include the "most popular baby names" program, revealing the most popular baby names annually. It garnered coverage in USA Today, The New York Times, Orlando Sentinel, San Francisco Chronicle, Parents, and Parenting. Winner of three Webby awards (web industry awards), BabyCenter today receives more than 2 million visitors per month.
Earlier in her public relations career, Lisa was Senior Vice President and Manager of the Technology Group at Manning, Selvage & Lee, a top 10 worldwide public relations firm (owned by Publicis). She managed accounts for companies such as IBM, Intuit, NCR and Okidata. For her work with NCR, she received a Prism award for the WaveLAN wireless local area network launch and the Marketing Computers award for the NCR Democratic National Convention special event. For Intuit, she managed the Quicken, QuickBooks and TurboTax public relations programs, including the award-winning "recipes for success" small business program for QuickBooks.
Prior to Manning, Selvage & Lee, she worked for Boston-based Miller Communications where she launched the first portable computer for Compaq Computer Corporation. She was also a reporter at the Quincy Patriot Ledger, a major Massachusetts daily newspaper.
Lisa graduated with honors from Boston College and studied in Madrid, Spain. She lives in Port Washington, NY and serves on the Port Washington Community Chest's executive board of directors.
Amanda Lazare
Amanda Lazare has 25 years of corporate and marketing communications experience including more than a decade at Maxim Integrated Products. As a managing director at this leading semiconductor firm, Amanda was responsible for the company's worldwide advertising, technical publications, direct mail, public relations, internal communications programs as well as its corporate web site. In addition, Amanda handled investor relations for the company; in that capacity, she developed and delivered presentations to the financial community, wrote executive speeches and authored corporate financial press releases.
Before joining Maxim, Amanda was director of business development for JLS Language Associates, a foreign language translation and localization firm specializing in serving technology companies. Amanda brought key new accounts to the business, managed major projects and worked one-on-one with important clients. In the 1980s, Amanda worked in the aerospace industry as a technical publications manager and proposal development manager preparing multimillion-dollar proposals for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Amanda graduated from UCLA summa cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature. She also holds an MBA from College of Notre Dame. In 1996, the YWCA recognized Amanda's contributions as a high-tech executive with a "Tribute to Women and Industry" award.
Carolyn Donohoe Marieb
A publicist and writer for the past two decades, Carolyn Donohoe Marieb now focuses on developing corporate and product messaging as well as writing and editing corporate communications materials ranging from news releases and customer case studies to web sites.
Major clients have included consumer and education technology leaders such as Apple Computer, Inc., Adobe Systems, Inc., The Learning Co. and Netscape Communications. Prior to specializing in the technology arena, Carolyn headed up public relations efforts for consumer products companies including Nestle Beverage Company. She has also worked as a freelance journalist, primarily writing news and feature stories on a broad range of consumer and technology topics.
Carolyn holds a B.A. in English Language, Writing and Rhetoric from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Rich Mullikin
With nearly two decades of technology and consumer public relations experience, Rich Mullikin brings a wealth of PR knowledge to CommStrat. A former newspaper reporter, Rich thinks like a journalist — whether he's writing a press release or pitching a story.
Within the technology space, Rich has worked with clients in security, wireless/mobility, wireless networking, storage networking, data management, and enterprise software.
In the wireless/mobility sector, Rich was an integral part of a PR team that earned four prestigious communications/PR awards for Firefly Mobile's product launch. He also helped launch Open Range, a wireless Internet provider aimed at small communities that don't have typical Internet access. Notable security clients include Zscaler, AVG, Avira, Secure Computing (purchased by McAfee), IronPort, Voltage Security, Prevx, Singlefin and Mirapoint.
Rich has placed clients in top-tier mainstream media such as People Magazine, USA Today, AP, BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, U.S. News and World Report, and Chicago Tribune. He also has garnered coverage for clients in technology media including IDG, Wireless Week, Engadget, PC World, PC Magazine, eWeek, InfoWorld, Laptop, InformationWeek, Information Security, Computerworld, Network World, SmartPhone Today, and CNET among others.
Rich earned a B.S. in Journalism from John Brown University. He has an accreditation in public relations (APR) and has taught Public Relations Planning for four years.
Fontaine Roberson
A publicist and marketing communications specialist with 15 years of experience in the technology arena, Fontaine Roberson conducts media relations and writes corporate communications materials such as news releases, customer success stories and web sites. She has worked with clients including Apple Computer Inc., UMAX Technologies, The Learning Company, Adobe Systems, Inc., and Medtronics/AVE.
Fontaine also served as senior editor on integrated marketing campaigns for clients such as Macys.com and Lucy.com, a women's sports apparel company. In addition to her work with technology-related companies, Fontaine provides pro-bono public relations counsel to environmental and youth-focused non-profit organizations.
Fontaine holds an M.A. degree in English Literature from the University of Kentucky.
Wendy Schechter
Wendy Schechter has more than 15 years of experience in consumer and business-to-business strategic branding communications. A seasoned marketer and public relations professional, she has overseen the planning and implementation of programs for numerous Fortune 100 clients including Intuit, Disney, JP Morgan and IBM.
As a senior vice president at MS&L, she developed communications programs for Intuit that supported its product and brand objectives for Quicken, TurboTax, and QuickBooks. In this capacity, she developed innovative public relations platforms and campaigns that garnered coverage in major news outlets. Through her personal relationships with key media, strategic messaging and innovative tactical planning, she was integral in shifting perception of Intuit from a technology company to a personal finance company. One of her most innovative campaigns, called "W2 Blues for TurboTax," drove enormous consumer traffic to the Intuit website and garnered national coverage in major news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Entertainment Tonight. For her Intuit work, she received a CIPRA (Council of International Public Relations) award.
Her ability to generate compelling news applies to other clients as well. as she has a proven ability to tailor those hooks for the appropriate audience. She was responsible for successfully launching JP Morgan's first entry on the Internet with Morgan Online by creating a news program that would resonate with a high-net worth audience. She secured extensive coverage of the launch in high-net worth publications by creating a news peg built around a "Wealth Study" survey and spokesperson. Her work for JP Morgan was recognized by the International Association of Business Communicators.
Wendy is a graduate of Skidmore College.
Jamie Simmons
Jamie Simmons has over a decade of experience securing print, radio, television and online coverage for a variety of clients, predominantly in the technology arena. Over that time, he has developed ongoing working relationships with media professionals and analysts around the country. Since joining CommStrat, Jamie has focused on public relations for technology companies including Pure Digital, Limelight Networks and Green Dot. Jamie also served as publicist for San Francisco public television station KQED-TV's technology show Digital West. In addition to handling media outreach, Jamie has established numerous speaking programs for company executives as well as developed analyst outreach programs. Prior to CommStrat, Jamie worked for a New York firm specializing in issue advocacy and entertainment public relations.
Jamie holds a B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. He also completed graduate course work in Latin American Studies at the University of Wisconsin — Madison.
Krista Van Lewen
Krista Van Lewen is a strategic-minded public relations and marketing communications professional with more than 16 years of experience in the technology, non-profit and entertainment industries. Her work with Internet and consumer-oriented companies includes clients such as Hewlett-Packard, Time-Warner Home Video, Discovery Networks, Critical Path and Healthline Networks.
Through her years in agency and in-house PR roles, Krista has created scores of public relations campaigns; developed messaging and branding for products and services; managed press and analyst relations; provided company executives with PR counsel and crisis communications strategies; and served as company spokesperson. Krista's work has resulted in coverage in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, BusinessWeek, Forbes, The Washington Post, Upside, Business 2.0, and a wide range of radio, television and online media outlets.
During her eight years with Discovery Communications Krista worked in numerous capacities, ranging from handling corporate communications for all four of its networks, to launching Discovery Channel's first 35mm film. She also played a vital role in re-launching The Learning Channel and Travel Channel networks following their acquisition by Discovery.
Krista holds a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communications from Michigan Technological University.
Erin Walsh
Erin brings more than 12 years of strategic public relations and marketing communications experience to CommStrat. Her work spans from creative campaigns and national product launches to media tours and social media programs, and she is particularly adept at identifying target audiences and building specific programs to successfully meet business objectives. Erin frequently works with consumer technology and lifestyle brands to build brand awareness for new products and services. Clients include Roku digital video player, TiVo, Sony Electronics VAIO notebooks and desktop computers, and Fosters Wine Estates/Beringer Vineyards.
Prior to her current work, Erin spent eight years at leading PR firm Ruder Finn West managing a host of successful product launches, strategic media tours, and press conferences. Her results-focused approach to media relations translated into powerful programs for Ruder Finn clients such as LEGO Systems, Inc. Erin maintains deep relationships with top-tier media — technology, consumer, and business — as well as social media contacts.
Before joining Ruder Finn, Erin was an Account Supervisor at Switzer Communications working on major accounts including Handspring. Previously, Erin was an account executive at Hill and Knowlton, focusing on consumer technology products and services.
Jan Wiedrick-Kozlowski
Jan Wiedrick-Kozlowski has more than 20 years of public relations experience, representing a wide range of companies in the imaging, financial, consumer and legal industries. Additionally, for more than a decade she worked as a broadcast journalist garnering 7 awards, including 2 Associated Press Awards for best investigative reporting in New York State.
After transitioning to public relations, she first worked as the public information officer for the Monroe County Legislature in Rochester, New York. Subsequently, she worked at UpStart Communications (a Fleishman-Hillard Company) representing technology companies ranging from BEA Systems, Sun Microsystems and Xerox to TurboLinux, CrossLink, WaveSplitter, Symantec and Fujitsu. In 2001, she was honored by BEA Systems for her outstanding media work.
With a talent for clear communication and a keen eye for real news, Jan has placed her clients in such leading media outlets as The Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, BusinessWeek, CIO, Computer Reseller News, eWeek, InformationWeek, InfoWorld, InternetWeek, Government Computer News, PC Magazine and many more.
Jan holds a B.A. in Communications from Brockport State University New York.
Kathleen Williams
Kathleen Williams is an entertainment marketing professional who operates with the belief that strategic leveraging of pop culture can catapult a brand's awareness in the public psyche to new levels. Her 20 years in public relations and entertainment marketing for consumer, technology and fashion brands have given her a keen understanding of the power entertainment and pop culture serve as vehicles to promote brands. Past clients include Nissan, Palm, Inc., iRobot and Dickies Apparel.
Over the years Kathleen has developed entertainment marketing programs that leverage television and film product placement, celebrity brand evangelist programs and studio promotional partnerships. She works on a daily basis with Hollywood studios, television shows and producers, always on the lookout for new ways to insert her clients' brands attention-grabbing projects.
Kathleen received a B.S. in Communications from St. Mary's College.
Liz Youngs
With over 19 years of experience in the technology industry, Liz Youngs handles media, analyst and speaker relations for her clients, developing highly targeted and effective PR outreach programs. Liz's career includes six years at Fleishman-Hillard and its subsidiary UpStart Communications where she worked with BEA Systems, Cendian, ChemConnect, Pointbase, and other high-visibility clients.
Prior to her tenure with the well-known agencies, Liz spent 12 years in Northern Virginia's Dulles Technology Corridor where she held manager and director-level positions in public relations and marketing communications for several technology and telecommunications companies. Liz also has extensive experience managing trade shows and marketing events. The PR veteran has secured media coverage for clients in major trade and business publications including TIME Magazine, The San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Business Journal, Denver Post, Atlanta Business Journal, Washington Times, Washington Technology, Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, Network World, Network Computing, eWeek, InfoWorld, InformationWeek and many other publications.
Liz attended Radford University, Northern Virginia Community College, and continues studies in her spare time in the areas of business, marketing and communications.
Erin Zeitler
Erin brings a wealth of consumer technology experience with a focus on media and consumer goods & services to the Commstrat team. From executing major product launches for Facebook to securing Bonobos, an up and coming men's apparel brand, as one of Advertising Age's Hottest Brands, Erin has a passion for turning technology and consumer innovations into water cooler buzz.
Most recently, Erin ran PR for Bonobos and in just a few short months garnered placement in the NYT, CNN, Advertising Age, and much more. Prior to her work with Bonobos, Erin was an Account Supervisor at OutCast Communications where she helped garner media attention for both Facebook and AdMob. While at OutCast, Erin also worked with consumer technology and media companies such as Ubisoft, Nickelodeon,Yahoo!, Dell and IGA. Prior to OutCast, Erin served as Public Relations Manager for Pfizer where she helped market philanthropy programs delivering much needed medicines to countries and people in need. She began her career at Ogilvy and Mather doing advertising for IBM.