Madison Alexander PR

Public relations is a critical component to any company's marketing efforts. Creating and fostering a communications climate, with a steady flow of news, tells reporters, editors, industry analysts, partners, customers, prospects, (and the competition) that your company is positioned to compete, grow and lead.

The momentum PR can build spills over into new technology partnerships, increase qualified sales lead generation, aid recruiting, and create new investment opportunities.

Madison Alexander Public Relations helps clients do just that.

For start-up and small/mid-sized technology companies, effecitve public relations and analyst relations services from an experienced, well-sourced team can make all the difference. Building thought leadership and mindshare among key industry influencers is something the team at Madison Alexander PR does every day.

Dan Chmielewski is a creative and experienced high technology public relations and marketing communications professional. He is also one of a shrinking number of industry professionals with actual newsroom experience having worked as a radio news director and anchor with stations in New York and as a freelance newspaper reporter and magazine article writer. This newsroom experience is one of the things that sets Madison Alexander PR apart from the competition.

With more than 20 years of experience, Dan has spent most his career working in enterprise networking and data security at large corporations such as 3Com and Data General, and working on large accounts at agencies with clients such as Lotus Development, Mitsubishi Mobile Computing, and Legent. In addition, Dan has worked with start-ups like Gradient Technologies and Moss Software, and held senior management positions with technology firms in Boston and Southern California. Dan's work in media relations has been honored by the Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He received a PRSA President’s Citation for contributions to the practice of public relations and PRSA in 2002. Before starting Madison Alexander PR, he was director of worldwide public relations for Rainbow Technologies before its acquisition by SafeNet.

A writer at heart, Dan has considerable experience managing technology product PR programs through message development and strategy, to building strong news pipelines, managing comparative product reviews, and handling quarterly financial earnings announcements for publicly-traded companies. Dan has international PR experience as well, having managed PR programs throughtout Europe, Asia and Latin America. Dan is featured in several textbooks on writing for publication and magazine article publishing written by John C. Behrens.

Dan was a founding member of the Orange County chapter of the Software Council of Southern California and served as the organization's co-chair from 2000-2002. He is also active with the Business Marketing Association of Southern California, and several community organizations in Irvine, CA. He has also written about technology topics for a variety of business , trade and consumer publications ranging from Profiles in Diversity to Home Theater Magazine to the Boston Phoenix.

Dan is a leader in his community. A resident of Irvine, California since 1997, Dan serves as a legislative action representative for Sierra Vista Middle School, he is a homeowner's association president, and is the commissioner for the Boy's 8th grade division for Irvine Youth Basketball League. He is a commissioner for North Irvine AYSO Girls U6 and Girls U7 divisions also coaches his daughter's AYSO girl's soccer team. He is a volunteer for the neighborhood Irvine Swim League team. Dan was also a cubmaster for Pack 672 for the Boy Scouts of America. He was the head coach for the Irvine -North Boys 8 all-star team that participated in the 2006 National Junior Basketball national championship tournament.

Dan and his wife Dawn, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, were recently honored by Utica College's Raymond Simon Institute as 2007 Alumni of the Year for Professional Achievement. Professor Raymond Simon was one of PR Week's Top 100 Most Influential Professionals. The couple are 1983 graduates of Utica College of Syracuse University.

Dan is a proven problem solver and community leader. His involvement in these organizations is to make sure his children, Madison and Alexander, get the best possible experience as they grow up. So if you were wondering where the agency's name came from, Madison and Alexander is much easier to say than "Chmielewski."

Read more about Dan here: http://www.utica.edu/ssm/pub_rel-journ/danchmielewski.htm

Madison Alexander PR Associates

Joann Killeen -- A veteran of over 30 years in the public relations industry, Joann Killeen is a senior counselor with Madison Alexander PR and also manages her own PR practice. Killeen has worked in a variety of markets including technology, healthcare, food industry, education, finance, government, recreation, and transportation. Companies include: Lifetime Corporation, DAKA International, Wal-Mart, Microsoft Corporation, Blockbuster Entertainment, Litton Industries, Holy Family Hospital and assignments for and with several international public relations agencies.

Joann holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from California State University at Northridge (CSUN) and a Master’s Degree in Communications Management from Simmons College in Boston. A member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for the past 24 years, Joann has been member of the PRSA Counselors Academy for over 12 years and is accredited by PRSA

She has won numerous awards for her work as a professional counselor and for her service to the profession. She was honored to win the PRSA President’s Exceptional Leadership Award in 1993 and 1994. The Los Angeles PRSA Chapter named Joann the Public Relations Professional of the Year in 2002 for her significant contributions to the industry and to the local community.

Joann is a noted writer, speaker, author and educator in the field of public relations and investor relations. She has taught at Whitworth College and was a guest lecturer at Simmons College and Boston University. She was a keynote speaker on public relations ethics at an International Public Relations Symposium in South Africa in 2002 and continues to speak on this and other related topics locally and regionally. Presently, Killeen is a part-time writing instructor in the Public Relations Certificate program at UCLA.

Tila Pacheco -- Tila Pacheco is a senior counselor at Madison Alexander PR in addition to managing her own consulting practice. Through her work, Pacheco has built a solid reputation for helping companies develop and achieve their public relations goals. Working with consumer and B2B companies in a variety of industries, Pacheco has a strong track record of success in technology, real estate development, mortgage lending, medical devices, tradeshow management, financial services, non-profit and entertainment.

Pacheco has helped companies get the “ink” they need to create awareness of their business, products and services. Previous media placements include NBC's "The Today Show," “Tech TV,” VH-1, syndicated radio show, "The Osgood File," Discovery Channel, MTV, CNN, USA Today, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, People Magazine, Business Week, Billboard Magazine, as well as leading trade publications.

Pacheco’s PR experience includes work done for such clients as Voikex, Inc., Urban + West, Sage Software Inc., V-Tech Soft Inc., SRS Labs Inc., The Edgewater Funds, Net Effect Systems (now part of Ask Jeeves), Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Buffalo Technology, Coast Concierge Service, Scoop!, Troy Financial Systems, Mind2Media, Dynamic Concepts, Inc., Advanced Tissue Sciences, DogByte Development, Cal Events, and Argent Mortgage Company and The Fender Center for the Performing Arts through Gladstone International. She has also worked on the client side at companies such as Graphix Zone, MTI Technology Corp., Western Digital, MTI Technology, Archive Corp. and CalComp/Lockheed.

She holds a B.A. in Communications from CSU-Fullerton.

Jena Evans -- Jena Evans brings more than a decade of public relations experience to the firm, leveraging her expertise to manage and maintain effective public relations activities for agency accounts. Using a hands-on approach Jena handles multiple responsibilities, from strategy development and publicity program deployment to generating regional and national media exposure for the clients. She also plays a key role in business development and creating mutually beneficial opportunities among her clients and executive relationships. Her broad marketing and publicity background includes business-to-business, consumer, healthcare, banking, professional sports (NFL, NBA, PGA), hospitality and tourism, politics, telecommunications, community and charity endeavors, event planning and television.

Before teaming up with Madison Alexander PR, Jena served as the Director of Public Relations at Orange County, CA-based K-COMM, Inc., a top ten firm on the Orange County Business journals 2006 Book of Lists. In this role she assisted the agency's CEO in all aspects of account servicing, including client liaison, management, fulfillment, corporate and media relations. Prior to joining K-COMM Jena served as an Account Executive with Costa Mesa, CA-based Rodheim Marketing Group.

Jena came to California from Texas where she was the Director of Public Relations for The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, TX, a premiere 506 room property that included two PGA golf courses and five restaurants in which she helped coordinate and supervise the resort's 2003 PGA Tour event, The Valero Texas Open.

For nearly five years Jena served as the Communications Manager for the Championship NBA San Antonio Spurs. There she handled several aspects of public/media relations for the organization, including community relations, marketing and corporate issues. During the building of the SBC Center, Jena kept both local and national media up to speed with the construction and any issues pertaining to the arena, such as community impact, local politics, franchise developments, and changes within the organization. Jena was also highly involved in the successful campaign to bring a WNBA franchise to San Antonio in 2003, and their purchase of an AHL hockey team the same year.

Jena's portfolio is also comprised of working for Fleishman Hillard International Communications in San Antonio, exclusively handling the SBC Communications account for SBC in South and Central Texas. From 1997-1999, Jena worked with the NFL Dallas Cowboys as the Assistant to the Civic Affairs Director. Here she assisted in public relations activities and special event coordination for the team.

Jena's former experience also includes working for NBC affiliates in Dallas and Tyler, Texas, in both reporting and producing roles. Her past organizational affiliations include North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Child Guidance Center of San Antonio, Southwest Mental Health Center, the Junior League of Orange County and the American Heart Association. Jena has a BA in Journalism/Public Relations from Texas A&M University.

Paula Brici -- For nearly 20 years, Paula has developed and implemented public relations program initiatives from strategic program development and message segmentation and planning, to successful frontlines tactical implementation including copywriting, product launches, trade shows, press and analyst tours, and news, trade, businesses, broadcast and feature story media coverage.

Paula’s communications expertise draws on her wide-ranging experience as well as her personal focus on maintaining a high degree of professionalism, trust and responsiveness in client relationships. Her efforts have helped entrepreneurs and organizations from small-to-medium sized businesses to established multi-million-dollar companies. Paula’s background in a wide range of business and consumer markets, including relationships with regional, national and industry media, provides a broad-based perspective for clients seeking to reach audiences in key markets.

She attended Indiana University and graduated with a B.S. in public affairs, minoring in business. In Indiana, Paula managed PR and legislative affairs for the state’s leading trial bar association. After relocating to Southern California in the late 1980s, Paula held PR positions at leading full-service advertising and PR firms. Her wide network of contacts includes a range of service providers well-known to the Orange County technology community.

Paula recently concluded a two-year term on the board of the Orange Coast Venture Group, one of Southern California’s preeminent networking platforms for those who advise, finance and manage fast-growing early-stage and middle-market companies. She is an active supporter of the AeA Orange County Council and has served on the steering committee for its annual Orange County High-Tech Awards for a number of years. She has also contributed PR support to the Laguna Art Museum, Second Harvest Food Bank, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and American Cancer Society.

Elaine Marshall -- Elaine Marshall has a diverse background leading the public relations efforts for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and top national public relations agencies. She offers a full range of corporate communications services including media relations, product launches, strategic planning, press release and article writing, industry analyst relations and marketing collateral development.

Her placement record includes leading media outlets such as The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Fortune, Forbes, Time, Newsweek, BusinessWeek and Money. TV broadcast placements include The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, the Today Show, MTV, and CNBC PowerLunch. Technology trade placements include PC Magazine, Electronic Engineering Times, Government Computing News, VARBusiness, COTS Journal, InfoWorld and
many others.

Prior to her association with Madison Alexander PR, she held in-house positions as director of public relations for SimpleTech (NASDAQ: STEC) and idealab’s Cooking.com. Additional PR staff positions include stints with Western Digital, Maxtor, Advanced Micro Devices, Quarterdeck, Ogilvy Public Relations and BBDO. She has developed and executed strategic media relations campaigns for her employers, as well as Apple Computer, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, eToys, FedEx and Pacific Bell, and national PR firms including Fleishman-Hillard and Poppe Tyson. Her pro bono work includes the Junior League of Orange County, California and the Orange County Ronald McDonald House.

Elaine earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a Public Relations emphasis from California State University, Chico, an accredited PR program that has received national accolades.

Ronnie Manning -- Ronnie Manning brings more than 10 years of both agency and corporate public relations experience and currently serves as a technology and consumer public relations consultant specializing in media and analyst relations, technical writing and editing, product reviews, and strategic communications planning. Prior, Manning served as public relations manager at San Diego based Websense, Inc. (WBSN) where he successfully transitioned the organization from a traditional web filtering company to a highly recognized web security company.

While at Websense, he managed all technology- and product-related public relations, including acting as company spokesperson, garnering more than 4,000 media hits per year. Manning launched the respected Websense Security Labs as a leading source of internet fraud, phishing and crimeware trends and statistics to media while working in conjunction with the Anti-phishing Working Group.

Before relocating to San Diego, Manning worked as a senior account executive specializing in media relations for Edelman in Washington, DC. As a media relations specialist, he worked on Edelman’s broad range of clients ranging from consumer, technology, government, and grassroots campaigns. Clients included Microsoft (launch of Xbox live), Michel Richard’s Citronelle Restaurant, Nissan, American Red Cross, Kinkos, Verizon, National Association of Broadcasters, National 4-H Council, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Michelin, National Society of Professional Engineers, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Blueprint Technologies.

Julia Young -- Julia Young has more than 13 years of marketing experience ranging from advertising to public relations to product management. She provides a wide range of public relations and marketing skills for clients including: developing and implementing marketing plans, media relations, package development, promotional program development, Web site strategy, and collateral design.

Julia was an associate product manager at Avery Dennison Office Products. She managed three product lines with combined annual revenue of $88 million. While at Avery, Julia launched 12 products from concept to market, resulting in 15 percent growth of the divider category within two years. She also managed several cross-functional teams consisting of product development, sales, consumer communications, manufacturing, finance and trade marketing, to insure successful development and sales of her product lines.

Before joining Avery Dennison, Julia served as Marketing Manager for CDMA Development Group, an international consortium of companies joined together to promote the adoption and evolution of 3G CDMA wireless systems around the world. In this role, she managed the media activities of a public relations agency, supervised the design and content of the association’s Web site and served as the initial point of contact for new member companies.

While at PainePR, Julia implemented on-going national public relations campaigns for Polaroid Corporation, Hyundai Motor America, Prudential Securities, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Toshiba Medical and Viewsonic. She was an instrumental part of launching more than 15 technology products. A Southern California native, Julia has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of California, Santa Barbara. She later went on to receive her master’s degree in business administration from USC’s Marshall School of Business.