Local Teams. Global Reach.
CANADA:
ELENA VERLEE, Founder and Managing Partner
Elena began her career at leading technology PR agencies in San Francisco and London, UK, and now calls Vancouver home. With two decades of brand building experience, she is a passionate publicist who has worked with numerous clients from Autodesk to Xantrex – start-ups as well as billion dollar technology companies.
Elena has been named twice in a Forbes list: In 2011 for “25 Most Influential Women Tweeting on Entrepreneurship” and in 2010 for “20 Women for Entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter”. Other social media accolades include All Facebook’s “10 Facebook Pages Every PR Professional Should Follow”, PR Web’s “25 Essential PR Blogs You Should Be Reading” and Cision’s “Top 50 Marketing Blogs in North America.” Elena’s do-it-yourself blog PR in Your Pajamas is often cited by media and bloggers as a must-read resource. She is a frustrated painter with many unfinished canvases, and although she’s crossed off a mini-triathlon from her bucket list, these days Elena gets her exercise from running after her two young boys.
SILICON VALLEY:
LIZ ESTRELLA-BASILIO, Managing Partner
Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, Liz (formerly Liz Martin) is the main artery to the high technology community at Cross Border Communications. She has been Managing Partner at Cross Border since its founding in 1999. Liz is a 20-year marketing communications veteran, well-known for her energy and creative take on all outreach programs.
Over the years, she has built a wealth of personal relationships with media pundits and industry influencers that have become a key element in the successful execution of PR programs for clients. Liz is also an occasional blogger for PR in Your Pajamas where she recommends #FollowFriday Worthy media personalities on Twitter. She is a foodie and maniac in the kitchen who can feed an army in minutes.
OUR SENIOR ASSOCIATES:
SUSIE REEVES, Account Strategist and Influencer Relations
Based in Silicon Valley, Susie has more than 22 years experience in high technology and consumer public relations, serving Fortune 500 companies and start-ups from both the corporate and agency side. She has supported companies such as Cisco, Apple Computer, Sun Microsystems and Intel Corporation in business-to-business and consumer marketing and developed and implemented strategic communications programs for the domestic and international marketplace. Susie is results oriented, crafting the “message” to fit identified target publics and meeting a company’s goals. As a result, she has a proven track record for positively affecting her client’s bottom line.
KEVIN WILSON, Media Relations and PR Writing
Kevin has worked in high tech PR for more than 15 years. He specializes in strategy, messaging and media relations, helping to secure coverage in trade, business and national online, print and broadcast media. Kevin works closely with company executives at all levels to uncover, craft and share stories that capitalize on the strengths of the company, their people, products and services. Based in Cincinnati, Kevin eagerly plays the roles of hero, villain, security blanket, coach, teammate, tag-team partner, cheerleader, agitator and consoler to his four kids and wife. Serenity occasionally comes between the hours of 10 pm -12 am at night when life slows to a marathon pace.
JULIE GALLA, Media Relations, Customer Reference Marketing
Julie has nearly two decades of high technology public relations experience including media relations, account management, customer reference marketing, and writing. With a reputation for delivering strategic, results-oriented, PR and customer reference marketing programs, Julie has worked with some of the most successful technology companies in the industry including Adobe, Corel, Fujitsu, NetApp, Sun, Sony, as well as numerous start ups. An East Coast transplant, Julie delights in all things Vancouver—fresh powder days, biking, hiking, and the city’s growing foodie scene.
HEATHER DRUGGE, Branding and Marketing Communications
Based in Vancouver, Heather has almost two decades of experience in marketing products and services for high-tech and biotech companies. She directs her energy and creativity to leading technology-based companies through corporate branding and positioning, producing interactive software demos, white papers, web sites, brochures, press releases, annual reports and much more. Heather commutes to work on her bike named “Dream” and lobbies for safe, flat, maintained bike lanes on the North Shore of Vancouver.
MARISA MARZANO, Account Strategy and Writing
Based in Toronto, Marisa has more than 14 years of technology public relations experience and has worked with clients in various stages of their lifecycles – from startups to medium-sized enterprises to multinational, publicly traded companies. Throughout the span of her career, she has secured coverage in top tier North American outlets such as Business Week, Canadian Business, Forbes, FORTUNE, GigaOM, Globe and Mail, Mashable, and New York Times. Her experience spans a range of technology sectors, including wireless, mobile applications, SaaS/cloud computing, cable and broadband, device and network testing, storage, and semiconductors. Her skill set is wide and varied, and includes strategic communications planning, crisis communications, media and analyst relations, customer reference initiatives, speaking and award programs, and writing. When she’s not working, Marisa is chasing after her two young sons and her chocolate Labrador retriever, and trying to have an uninterrupted conversation with her husband. She’s also actively working towards her next belt in karate.
JACKIE PETERSON, Client Services and Media Relations (On Leave till March 2013)
With a science background and a love of technology, Jackie is a traditional media relations specialist known for attracting investor interest to deserving but neglected companies. Jackie started her career with Pengrowth Energy Trust’s PR team then moved on to Business Development in their M&A division during which time the Trust completed over $2 billion in acquisitions, doubling their market cap. Originally from Montreal, Jackie received a degree in science from the University of Calgary and now resides in Vancouver. She has an unparalleled network of Canadian media contacts and is a self-proclaimed cool nerd who loves and lives for nature.
