Meet Our Team

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.

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.

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.

Maripat is a seasoned communications strategist with 16 years of experience spanning politics, executive communications, and brand storytelling. Most recently, she led corporate strategy at Praytell, where she developed workshop IP, built a crisis navigation team, and helped leaders and brands craft compelling narratives. Before that, she spent a decade in politics, supporting congressional and mayoral campaigns as well as think tanks. She partners with organizations to tackle complex messaging challenges and create strategies that resonate with purpose and clarity.

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.

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.

Josh is an award-winning communications professional and veteran strategist with more than 20 years of experience driving high-impact national media coverage and translating complex business objectives into compelling brand narratives. He has held senior leadership roles at leading global agencies, including Edelman, Weber Shandwick, and Bospar, as well as in-house leadership positions with innovative organizations such as Honeywell. Known for his strategic agility, strong media relationships, and ability to navigate complex corporate environments, Josh has built a career spanning Fortune 500 companies, boutique agencies, and high-growth startups, consistently helping organizations elevate their visibility, strengthen their reputations, and achieve their business goals.

Alan Dunton is a veteran communicator with 25+ years of experience shaping how frontier technology and industry pioneers frame their stories and engage their audiences across a multitude of channels and platforms. He specializes in strategic brand communications, executive thought leadership, and crisis and reputation management. Alan has built and protected narratives for companies moving from stealth to category leadership, and applied that expertise to the global non-profit space, where the mission stakes are higher and the margin for error is smaller.

Christina Rubino Babbitt brings more than 15 years of experience spanning nationally ranked public relations agencies, broadcast journalism, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the White House Press Office. A strategic communications innovator, Christina has secured top-tier media placements for a diverse range of clients, including local businesses, startups, government agencies, and multinational corporations. Her impressive track record includes coverage in CNBC, FOX Business, CBS News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, The New Yorker, and WIRED. Recognized as a Female Leader in the Technology Industry by Innovation & Technology Today in 2021, Christina leads a team of media and branding experts with more than 30 years of combined experience, serving public figures, celebrities, startups, and corporations.

Katie is a senior content strategist with more than a decade of experience helping B2B technology brands build visibility, shape perception, and create conversations that resonate across crowded markets. Her experience spans brands including Forter, AspenTech, Monotype, and Kaspersky, with deep expertise across cybersecurity, SaaS/cloud, industrial AI, and AI-driven fraud prevention.

She specializes in executive visibility programs, strategic social media, event amplification, and brand storytelling across LinkedIn and emerging digital channels, helping companies and leadership teams show up with clarity, consistency, and authority. Blending creative storytelling with data-informed strategy, Katie develops content and communications programs designed to drive engagement, strengthen market positioning, and support measurable business outcomes.

Having worked across both agency and in-house environments, Katie brings a strong understanding of how to align communications strategy with larger business objectives while maintaining an authentic and differentiated brand voice.

Carolyn Cordrey is a Forbes award-winning PR consultant with over 18 years of experience spearheading programs for high-growth startups, scaleups, and Fortune 500 enterprises. Specializing in B2B technology communications spanning AI, cybersecurity, and SaaS, and across verticals such as aerospace and defense, finance, healthcare, and energy, she excels at translating complex innovations into compelling narratives that garner meaningful media coverage, strengthen executive visibility, enhance reputation, support key growth milestones, and position category leaders. Carolyn is a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and a passionate brand storyteller with a proven track record of landing Tier 1 media coverage in prestigious outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Julie Johnson is a strategic communications executive with 15+ years of experience spanning agency, in-house, and consulting environments, with a focus on aerospace, defense tech, and autonomous systems. She specializes in making technically complex subject matter credible and accessible across government, media, and public audiences, and has built her career leading high-stakes communications programs across satellite manufacturing, autonomous mobility, space propulsion, and global technology and consumer brands. Julie holds an MBA from Iowa State University, a Certificate in Business Analytics from Cornell, and a BA in Psychology from DePaul University.

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.

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