bob schiers

co-FOUNDER & CEO

RAS Associates, LLC founder and owner Bob Schiers has more than 30 years experience in the communications industry, and has received dozens of PR and communications awards ranging from investigative news reporting to feature writing for local and regional publications and national advertising campaigns. And interestingly, Bob also holds several Guinness World Records.

cora schiers

Co-Founder & President

As VP and Treasurer of USPR, Cora is responsible for corporate liquidity, investments and risk management related to the network's financial activities. Cora has more than 30 years of financial and administrative experience in the fields of accounting and education.

dennis boyle

vice president & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Dennis oversees the creative direction of USPR, and provides clients with graphic arts and video production support in visual communications, digital photography, web design, and dynamic presentations. He's also responsible for senior account management, special events planning, writing and media relations.

dana swinney

sr STRATEGIST MEDIA RELATIONS

Dana Swinney is a public relations specialist with pitch perfect skills that make the media want to cover your story. She is a PR natural who has sharpened her skills working with top media outlets. Dana has worked in the PR/Marketing field since 2001, and in 2006, founded DRS Media Consulting.

tami cannizzaro

sr strategist MARKETING

Speaker and author Tami Cannizzaro is a veteran marketing and retail professional with more than 30 years experience working for and with major brands such as Neiman Marcus, Zale, Michaels, Nokia, 7-Eleven and Blockbuster. She has held positions in a variety of areas throughout her career, such as retail buying, advertising, promotions, strategic marketing and communications. Tami's favorite job so far? It's a toss-up between motorsports marketing and being a men's underwear buyer. You never know when that information might come in handy.

candace karu

Social media strategist & Lifestyle expert

Candace Karu, founder of 3C Media LLC, has more than 30 years experience in marketing, PR, publishing and social media. A practical problem solver and imaginative marketing strategist, Candace is able to help clients navigate the challenging and ever-changing waters of social media. In addition, Candace brings years of experience with brand representation, particularly in the areas of food, fitness, travel, art and design. She is the former Editorial Director of Running Times and former Editor-at-Large at Maine Home+Design. She is on the board of Maine College of Art and Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance.

wendy goldman scherer

research & social analytics PARTNER

USPR partners with The Social Studies Group for research & social analytics. Wendy Goldman Scherer is the founder and managing partner of the creative research firm sprung from traditional primary and secondary research roots, that has gracefully stayed a step ahead in imagining new ways to use technology, business intelligence and a little je ne sai quoi to provide insightful input. At their heart, they are a social media research firm that specializes in complex social media monitoring and analysis, issue and industry trend identification and netnography. At their core, they are seasoned business people with vast experience in traditional and non-traditional research methodologies.

larcine bland

sr strategist Community Relations & Diversity management

Larcine Bland founded LLB Consulting with the expressed goal of providing companies with solid, well-proven strategies in the areas of diversity management/inclusion along with enhanced community and customer relations. Bland has worked for and helped to shape diversity initiatives for national retail brands such as Dunkin’ Brands, Blockbuster Inc. and 7-Eleven. She is a member of the national NAACP Special Contributions Fund board of Directors, where she serves on the nationally televised NAACP Image Awards Show Committee.  She is also a recipient of various awards and recognitions including the NAACP Trailblazer’s Award, the League of United Latin American Citizen’s (LULAC) Women’s Commission Award and is a National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs Black Women’s Corporate Hall of Fame Inductee.

michelle jasko

SR STRATEGIST Syndicated radio

Michelle Jasko founded Nashville Radio Syndication, Inc. - a boutique company that provides timely, informed representation of all media forms to the commercial radio broadcast industry including short & long form programming, research services, newsletters, on-air and social media prep services, production packages, V.O. artist representation and record promotion - in 2002. Michelle has developed a strong base of contacts in radio, trade publications, record labels and advertising firms during her more than 25 years experience in the field. In addition to consulting, producing and affiliate relations work, Michelle has experience working with FCC files, ACT ONE and radio signal mapping programs.

jennifer heinly

DIR of Healthcare marketing & PR

Jennifer Heinly, founder of J&J Consulting, has more than 25 years of experience in PR and marketing. Current and past clients include those in the health care, legal, high tech, publishing, sports marketing, construction/engineering services, food, insurance and financial service industries. Her current areas of expertise include media relations, news release and article writing, and PR and marketing planning. Jennifer is the past Chair IPA Section of PRSA; past Programming Chair for IPA Section of PRSA; past president of the International Association of Business Communicators, Colorado Chapter; and a past member of the Colorado Sports Council, Short Track Speed Skating Championships committee. She is currently the secretary for the Healthcare PR and Marketing Association. Jennifer is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University and Vanguard University in Orange County, California.

anna figueroa

DIR of Hispanic affairs

Anna Figueroa is President and Owner of Vantage Communications, a full-service communications and advertising agency she founded in Miami in 2009. With two decades of experience in both general audience and Hispanic markets, Anna has shown a wide array of national and local clients how to strengthen brand identities and increase market share. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Anna specializes in combining media, digital media, marketing, PR and reputation management to create strategies uniquely tailored for clients in sectors that include healthcare, automotive, legal, insurance, business-to-business, charities, packaged goods for both domestic and international markets and retail. She also provides translation services.

john kerezy

DIR OF crisis, governmental & Political communications

John Kerezy, MA, APR, was in journalism and PR for 25 years before beginning a second career in higher education. He's an associate professor of JMC at Cuyahoga Community College. He's also a section Vice President of AEJMC, the association for college journalism educators, and has been a member of PRSA for more than 30 years. Kerezy's areas of expertise include crisis communications, and governmental and political communications. He was also one of the conveners of the YouToo Social Media Conference, which began at Kent State University in 2008.

culture cube

MILLENNIAL marketing specialists

Culture Cube is a creative agency that specializes in developing interactive out-of-home brand experiences as well as Millennial consulting. From current trends to the latest tech, Culture Cube is in tune with today’s ever changing culture. Based in Los Angeles, they regularly work with brands all across the US. They have brought unique insight and valuable experience to top brands including Gannett, The Hollywood Reporter, People Magazine, Goodwill, The Motion Picture & Television Fund, and Delta Airlines. Their core team has a rich background in advertising, marketing, technology/software, consulting and content production. @kyleagriffin 

deb hileman

DIR OF CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING, TRAINING & CONSULTING

Deb Hileman, CMP, is President and CEO of the Institute for Crisis Management (ICM), a boutique firm specializing in crisis management and communications planning, training and consulting. Founded in 1990, ICM was one of the first consulting firms to focus solely on crisis management. ICM provides expertise and support to companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, trade associations, colleges, universities and other organizations in North America and across the globe. A business leader with 30 years’ experience in public and private companies and non-profit organizations, Deb has led high-performing communications teams in health care, manufacturing, insurance and financial services and higher education, among others. Her most significant areas of expertise include reputation/crisis management, change management and employee engagement, strategic communications planning and media training. Deb earned a Communication Management Professional (CMP) certificate from the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC).

linda landers

DIR OF consumer marketing & marketing to women

Linda Landers, founder and CEO of Girlpower Marketing, is a recognized leader in consumer branding and lifestyle marketing, with a specialty in developing integrated campaigns that resonate with female consumers. She has worked with dozens of mid-sized companies and blue-chip brands to launch new products, sustain heritage products and resurrect older products.  Accounts under her direction have included Procter & Gamble (Ivory Soap, Pampers and Old Spice), United Airlines, Hilton Hotels, Kashi, Heritage Foods, Seneca Farms, Disney Interactive, Barnes & Noble, Dell, American Suzuki and BabyFirstTV. Before launching Girlpower Marketing, Linda was a Managing Partner with PainePR (now CitizenRelations), considered one of the nation’s most creative consumer public relations firms. At PainePR she chaired the women’s practice, recognizing early on the vital role that women play in business and consumer spending. She’s been quoted on the female mindset in Brandweek, Adweek, PRWeek, and USA Today, and speaks frequently on the purchasing power of women. She is the recipient of numerous national public relations industry awards, including the “Best of” Silver Anvil.

margaret chabris

DIR OF retail communication

Margaret Chabris has more than 30 years of experience in journalism, public relations and marketing communications. Founder of Counsel Rock Communication, her current clients include companies in the manufacturing & distribution, financial services, commercial real estate and retail sectors. For six years she was a newspaper general assignment reporter, features writer and lifestyle editor and produced stories used by the Associated Press. She directed 7-Eleven, Inc.’s corporate communications department for a number of years, engaging in all facets of public relations and marketing communication. An award-winning PR professional, Margaret’s work has been recognized a number of times by the Public Relations Society of America with its highest honor - the Silver Anvil trophy. She is a results-oriented communications leader, with a proven track record of enhancing and protecting brands while driving public awareness in support of increased sales and shareholder value. Her expertise covers strategic, marketing, crisis, internal and external communications, media relations, customer and community relations.

laura mitchell

DIR OF SENIOR & BOOMER MARKETING

Laura Mitchell has over a decade of experience in the aging, technology and digital health market. She cofounded and led the marketing and business development team for GrandCare Systems, a remote patient monitoring and telehealth technology pioneer. In 2008, she launched the first series of aging and technology industry-wide webinars, was a founding member of the Aging & Technology Alliance (AgeTek) and is a recognized digital health expert having authored several white papers and articles on enabling technologies in the aging space and reaching the senior market. She has spoken at shows across the country including AARP, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Digital Health Summit, the MHealth Summit, the Medicare/Medicaid Summit, LeadingAge, American Society on Aging and more. In 2015, she began a consulting firm (Laura Mitchell Consulting: LMC) to help new and growing organizations run their marketing and business development efforts. Known for her expertise in brand evangelism, the aging market and social media, Laura has been featured in Forbes magazine, was named Dealerscope Magazine's "Top 40 under 40", awarded the 2014 Connected World women of M2M, and was a 2011 recipient of the Mary Furlong Silicon Boomer Venture Summit Award for innovation and leadership. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two boys and two dogs.

lisa vega

digital marketing / creative branding / entertainment

Lisa Vega, founder of the Lisa Vega Group (LVG), is an expert at navigating the digital landscape, creating the pieces that tell your story to reach and engage your audience. Lisa’s team of photographers, videographers, editors, web designers, and social media influencers utilize all creative communication tools available to make a brand stand out. An early adapter to online marketing, Lisa has been lending her expertise to clients in the entertainment, beauty, and lifestyle space by creating effective strategies utilizing the latest in digital marketing. She has worked closely with pop culture’s most influential icons including: David Bowie, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Duran Duran, Snoop Dog and Steven Van Zandt. LVG has worked with top record labels and rock festivals, and well-known consumer products like Rolling Stone Magazine, Rolling Rock Beer, Brahma Beer, Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. LVG has also provided senior marketing counsel to high-profile charity events including the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation and the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament. In fact, Lisa was responsible for creating the “Osbourne” phenomenon via a strategic campaign that transformed Ozzy from rock ‘n’ roll madman to lovable family man, thus initiating the media frenzy that established the Osbournes as cultural icons. As an overall part of her efforts, Lisa carefully crafted a branding strategy that saw the Osbournes move beyond the successful MTV show to gain mass appeal resulting in mainstream advertising and sponsorship deals for the Osbourne brand.

michael blumfield

diR of B-To-b content marketing

Michael Blumfield is a seasoned communicator who specializes in simplifying for busy decision-makers the benefits of the complex products and services offered by his clients. He began his career as a daily newspaper journalist, learning how to get to the heart of complicated political and social issues for general audiences. Adding advanced education to his background, Michael was able to bridge the gap between the business needs of his clients and the prospects they hoped to engage. He focuses primarily on the types of products and services that businesses need to gain market share in today’s highly competitive, data-driven climate. He’s created everything from social media posts to long-form content for clients ranging from VC-backed startups to Fortune 50 enterprises. With a deep understanding of technology, cybersecurity, and financial services among other subjects, Michael has helped companies ranging from Accenture, Akamai, and Ameriprise to Thermo Fisher Scientific, VMware, and Wells Fargo in their content-marketing needs.