A 20 + year PR and digital marketing professional, Joel has built cutting-edge visibility campaigns across a diverse spectrum of companies, from startups to publicly traded enterprises. Joel’s technology experience spans B2B clients in DevOps, security, AI/ML, advertising and marketing technology, hardware, open source, enterprise software, robotics, unmanned aerial systems, and cloud/SaaS. His data-driven programs feature tight integration of traditional media outreach with social media amplification strategies to tell compelling client stories, to the right audiences, via the right channels.

Prior to starting Escalate, Joel was with Lewis PR with responsibility for East Coast client development. Prior to Lewis, Joel spent seven years as a Vice President at SHIFT Communications, where he built from scratch a multi-million dollar enterprise software portfolio. Before SHIFT, Joel spent 13 years at PAN Communications and was instrumental in creating the firm’s first social media practice. In addition to collaborating with clients on their traditional and social media visibility, Joel devises and executes data-informed integrated campaign strategies that drive measurable business results.

Joel’s responsibilities include strategic planning, message development, media training, and working with clients to maximize their overall marketing mix impact. Joel is also intimately involved in the tactical elements of his programs. He contributes to all of the run-rate activities, the ‘big think’ ideas, and their execution.

Jason has been working with some of the most well-recognized enterprise technology companies around the world for over 20-years. Prior to the launch of Escalate, Jason spent his career at award-winning mid-size and global Public Relations agencies helping clients engage with the audiences that matter most to them, create compelling narratives and strategically plan how the communications function moves their business forward. Jason partners closely with each client to help them understand the larger industry landscape, lead message development, media train spokespeople and garner the awareness across their industry that impacts their business.

Paula has over 25 years of financial and operations expertise in the Public Relations industry. She started her career at Sterling Hager, Inc. and then moved on to SHIFT Communications, Inc. where she helped grow and develop the business building it to over 20M in revenues with 4 offices across the US. Eventually she played a key role in successfully managing a lucrative acquisition of SHIFT by Avenir Global, a Canadian holding firm. Her thoughtful approach and strategic counsel have been invaluable to the success of the organizations she has worked with.

Rebecca Ferros has over a dozen years of experience implementing strategic public relations programs for clients. An experienced marketer with a demonstrated history, she is skilled in Public Relations, Media Strategy, Social and Corporate Communications with a track record of growing brand affinity and awareness. Rebecca has supported media relations and strategies for large and small brands, including product launches, partnerships with key opinion leaders, video content creation and work with social media influencers.

Lauren McNamara is a senior communications specialist with over ten years of experience executing public relations programs for B2B tech companies. She has partnered with companies of all sizes to drive results by optimizing company messaging, creating impactful content, and securing relevant media coverage. Lauren’s specialty is turning technical messaging into a format that resonates with media and end-users.

Megan is a performance-driven public relations professional with nearly 20 years of experience in creating and implementing effective marketing strategies for a broad range of clients – from fast-growth digital natives to established enterprise brands. She’s worked both in-house and on the agency side, and approaches public relations as the key to driving business forward. A self-proclaimed research nerd and news junkie, Megan is skilled at creating compelling content and connecting key stakeholders with targeted media to generate measurable results.

Emily Adams is a PR consultant with a decade of experience driving communications and media relations strategy for B2B technology clients, from early-stage startups to unicorns to publicly traded companies. She has worked across a variety of industries, including data and analytics, AI, SaaS/cloud computing, software development, cybersecurity, 3D printing, ad/marketing technology and more.

Rob Mazzini is a senior PR consultant with more than 17 years of healthcare communications experience, developing and delivering on strategies for health tech, digital health, pharmaceuticals, and biotech clients. Rob has worked across a range of boutique and global communications agencies, leading teams and working cross functionally for clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations. He delivers high quality programs built on thoughtful and emotional storytelling that connects with news media and target audiences to deliver outcomes. His work in health tech spans mental health, machine learning + AI, medical coding, VR, online healthcare platforms, and more.

Sarah Lima is a PR consultant with a decade of experience driving communications and media relations strategy for B2B technology, healthcare, and consumer clients, from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies. She has worked across various industries, including AI/AR, biometrics, biotech, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, medical equipment, pharma, robotics, software development, supply chain management, and more.

Sarah prides herself on being a true New Englander. She loves winter; you can find her counting the days until the next snowstorm!

Colleen is a seasoned communications leader who began her career in broadcasting before cultivating her PR skills with two decades of agency and in-house experience.

An inspired storyteller, Colleen’s symbiotic approach to building media relationships is based on an understanding that telling a compelling story is the shared goal. She is driven by the desire to help
disruptive technology companies create a genuine connection with key audiences.

Offline, Colleen spends her time discovering new music and exploring hiking trails in Marin with her furry sidekick Bruce Springsteen, “The
Boss.”

A corporate communications and content creation expert, Jerry Griffin brings more than two decades of experience in public relations, journalism and entertainment/technology. A veteran of agencies such as B/HI (Managing Partner) and Edelman (SVP/Deputy Global Client Manager), Jerry specializes in brand and narrative development, finding the right voice for companies of all sizes and industries and applying it to their external/internal communications, social and multimedia content, crisis/issues management and corporate citizenship.

Sarah Kitsos is a senior consultant with over 16 years of experience in Public Relations, developing successful communications strategies and leading impactful PR initiatives within both global in-house and agency organizations. She has worked across a variety of industries including B2B tech, cyber security, digital marketing, consumer tech and more.

Laura Collins-Rodriguez is a Senior Vice President with nearly 15 years of experience leading high-performing PR programs for fast-growth tech and consumer brands in emerging categories. Prior to starting her consultant business, she spent more than 10 years as the Corporate Communications Director at Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), a SaaS company providing CRM and marketing automation software to 100K small business users. In this role, she implemented effective PR and earned marketing strategies that helped the company build brand equity, establish category leadership, and grow annual revenue from $10M to $100M. Prior to that, she worked with private and public tech companies and consumer and hospitality brands at a global PR agency. Most recently, she was Public Relations Director at Offerpad (NYSE: OPAD) where she led media relations when the real estate tech company became publicly traded via a SPAC merger in 2021.

Jennifer brings a never-say-never drive and more than two decades of diverse global corporate communications experience with B2B and B2C technology companies. Her work has spanned consumer, hardware and software specifically including cybersecurity, AI, HR and corporate learning and manufacturing. Building successful media relations and analyst relations programs, managing diverse company and product launches, developing and handling crisis communications, creating integrated marketing communications campaigns & supporting collateral to drive quality leads has given Jennifer a strong understanding of how to create individualized communications programs to support an organization’s needs.

Nicole began her career as a journalist in Silicon Valley and has spent the last 20 years leading PR and marketing for consumer brands, tech startups, VC firms, and founders in industries ranging from data, energy, finance, healthcare, CPG, retail, and more. She holds a MFA in writing and has built multiple award-winning media relations programs tailored to specific business outcomes. She is well-versed in crisis communications for public companies and household brands. Following a successful career leading the New York offices for global agencies SHIFT Communications, SparkPR, and InkHouse, Nicole founded Quarter Horse PR Strategies in 2020 to work with founders and executive teams focused on putting purpose at the heart of their business and communications strategies. She has worked with Escalate PR as a strategic advisor since 2021. Nicole is based in Brooklyn, NY.

A 25+ years communications veteran supporting techs’ biggest and emerging brands. Experience across agency and in-house environments in roles ranging from account executive to agency founder. A dual citizen of the US and the UK with years of front-line experience in both markets