I’m a comedian, climber and dog lover, but not necessarily in that order.

I am also the founder of Peppercomm, and Senior Executive Advisor, Ruder Finn, where I collaborate across the firm to drive industry connection, brand-building and thought leadership in support of business development and organic growth.

My biggest passion is helping others. I derive immense satisfaction from mentoring students, guest lecturing at the universities who are brave enough to invite me to speak, and helping fellow mid-life marketing communications professionals who have lost their way in life. There may be hope for us yet.

I am a trustee and former chairman of the Institute for Public Relations, a longtime member of the Arthur W. Page Society and PR Council and The College of Charleston Advisory Council member. I was also named one of Northeastern University’s 100 most successful alumni. I have also co-authored two books: “The ROI of LOL” (HarperCollins, 2023) and “What’s keeping your customers up at night?“ which was published by McGraw-Hill in 2003 and has put thousands of readers to sleep over the years.

I’m proud to say that I’ve used my love of stand-up comedy to raise more than $100,000 for countless charities. I’m just as proud to see Chris and Catharine, my two children, grow up to become successful professionals. I’m confident the family tradition will continue with my grandsons, Adrian and Miles Cody. That goes double for my dog, Pippa Cody, who may very well outperform us all.

A sense of humor means:

A person has the resiliency to deal with the realities of the modern world while maintaining his energy, drive, enthusiasm and smile. Life’s far too short. Loosen up

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My role at Peppercomm is to develop and execute strategic communications programs for our automotive and transportation clients, as well as seek out new opportunities in these sectors, which include trucking, global logistics & supply chain, motorsports and automotive suppliers. I am currently the agency lead for the MINI USA account, managing brand communications for the iconic automotive brand.

Prior to joining Peppercomm in August 2013, I was a member of the Corporate and Business Marketing group at Weber Shandwick managing media relations and social media activities for ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants. I was also responsible for developing and executing traditional and social media programs around motorsports partnerships with NASCAR, Stewart Haas Racing and McLaren Formula One.

Throughout my 15 years working in communications I have developed expertise in various industries including: homeland security and defense, industrial manufacturing, energy, automotive aftermarket, maritime transportation and global logistics and supply chain management.  I’m also a member of the International Motor Press Association since 2013.

I’m a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a concentration in Public Relations. There, I was a member of the Marist College Men’s Ice Hockey team and a founder member of the Delta Iota Chapter of the Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity at Marist. I currently reside in my hometown of Cranford, NJ, with my wife, son and daughter.

My greatest breakthrough moment was:

Being a part of the Crisis Communications Field Response team supporting U.S. Airways during the “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in New York City.

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As a Senior Media Strategist, Marissa helps connect the dots between media opportunities and communication strategies to drive our clients’ goals and objectives forward, while identifying key trends and storylines in the news cycle.

She is an accomplished communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the media and television industry, with extensive domain expertise in national and financial news. Prior to joining Peppercomm, Marissa was a Team Leader and Senior Producer at Bloomberg News on its marquee market close show. She has also held producing roles at Fox News, Fox Business and ABC News including “Good Morning America.”

Working in a live control room, Marissa is no stranger to a fast-paced environment where analytical thinking, problem solving and leading a team are invaluable skills – utilized daily. She has engaged with high-level talent, Fortune 500 CEOs and lawmakers, while providing leadership to junior staff.

Marissa is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Minor in Political Science.

As Co-President, Peppercomm and Managing Director, Ruder Finn, Jackie is responsible for identifying challenges and opportunities our clients are facing and developing new solutions and services to help them mitigate risks and capitalize on changes to drive their business forward. Additionally, Jackie leads key client accounts and drives new business acquisition. She currently leads the firm’s financial and professional services sector, developing and executing fully-integrated campaigns including media relations, social media, content development, content marketing, experiential and crisis communications, particularly within highly regulated organizations.

Since joining the firm in 2000, Jackie has held increasingly senior roles within the agency and helped build the firm’s financial and professional services business, leading client engagements across accounting and advisory services, wealth advisory, asset management and capital market sectors.

Jackie is a member of Page Up and the Wiseman. She is also active in several local community service organizations in her hometown including the Westport Chapter of the National Charity League and Homes with Hope, a grassroots organization dedicated to helping people to live independent and self-sufficient lives.

A graduate of the University of Delaware, Jackie lives in Westport, CT with my husband, two children and two dogs, a goldendoodle named London and a sheepadoodle named Milan.

A sense of humor means:

Not taking yourself too seriously

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As VP of Finance, I oversee all aspects of financial operations, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, vendor and client contract review, balance sheet management and cash management. I provide strategic support to Steve and the executive team.

Prior to joining Peppercomm, I worked at MSLGROUP, where I handled consolidated financial reporting, ensured compliance with accounting policies, led SAP system implementation, and developed and implemented resource management tools.

I grew up in Portland, Oregon and have a B.S. in Finance and Economics from University of Oregon and an MBA from Baruch College. I currently live in Brooklyn with my husband, two kids and a parakeet.

I lead all things people for Peppercomm, with responsibility over talent management, development, engagement and acquisition for the agency. This includes creating an employee experience that addresses the needs of both our business and team members with the goal of being a sought-after place to work where people can build and grow their careers. I’m also a member of the executive team, which sets the overall business strategy at the agency.

Prior to Peppercomm, I was the U.S. Human Resources lead at Cohn & Wolfe, a WPP agency.  There, I drove talent initiatives for the agency across five offices and successfully attracted some of the best talent in the industry to the firm. Earlier in my career, I spent 15 years at MSLGROUP, a Publicis agency, working across the North America region. My focus there was to consistently drive HR and business through workforce planning, HR strategy development, employee policy and programs, mobility, diversity and inclusion and employee relations. At MSLGROUP, I also created innovative programs including Flexibility with Accountability, Beyond Boundaries and the Summer Insiders Challenge Program. My career began as an employee programs specialist at Conde Nast.

I’m a member of SHRM, have been featured in PR Week and was one of the founding members of Viva Mama while at Publicis.

I’m proud to be a born and bred New Yorker (now residing in New Jersey) and a graduate of American University in Washington, DC where I received a BA in Public Relations.

My greatest breakthrough moment was

Realizing work/life integration worked better for me than work/life balance, which I never was able to find!

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I am a Senior Vice President, Client Relationships at Peppercomm, which I’ve called home for a little over a decade. In this role, I act as a trusted counselor for clients in financial services, tech and B2B, working closely with marketing leads to coordinate brand messaging and media strategy. My current clients include: Advent Capital Management, AXA Investment Managers, Arconic, Sharp B2B and Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers. I also assist our Chief Marketing Officer in our own agency marketing efforts.

Having started at Peppercomm as an intern, I gradually worked my way up through media and client relations job roles. Notable clients I’ve worked with along the way include: Whirlpool, EY, Valspar, Nikon, Pershing and Wilmington Trust. For EY, I helped expand their efforts to use social media and digital marketing, successfully promoting their annual hedge fund survey for many years.

I’m proud to be a part of our burgeoning digital marketing team, working on ad campaigns via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google Ads. In addition, my work involves developing employee engagement strategies for clients.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn by Ecuadorian parents. As a result, I’ve used my fluency in Spanish for professional translation and interpretation, while also bringing a global perspective to my clients. I went to school at the City College of New York and Hunter College, both here in Manhattan, where I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I now live in North Carolina with my wife and four children, two of whom are twins!

My greatest breakthrough moment was:

Writing a byline article early in my career on water pumps for our Tyco client, showed me I can write about pretty much anything

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As a Senior Vice President for Peppercomm, Danielle leads public relations and influencer strategy and execution for a wide variety of clients, with a specialized focus in technology, professional services and consumer goods. Danielle’s integrated approach marries a strategic mix of marketing and communications tactics to ensure her clients are reaching and resonating with their target audiences – wherever they may be. She has worked with brands such as Dole Packaged Foods, Torc Robotics, Xero, Wilmington Trust, and Outback Steakhouse.

Prior to Peppercomm, Danielle launched creative agency Sid Lee’s U.S. PR offering, overseeing media relations and influencer programs for Dos Equis, Hyundai, and Schwan’s Food Company. Previously, she spent several years at North 6^th Agency, spearheading brand awareness and revenue-driving public relations campaigns for pre-launch to publicly listed companies across consumer goods, sports, B2B technology, HR, and mar-tech.

Danielle was born and raised in New Jersey and holds a BA from Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information, where she frequently guest lectures. She currently resides in Red Bank, NJ, with her husband and two high-maintenance dogs. Danielle serves as a Senior Judge and Judge for PRSA’s Big Apple Awards and the PR Platinum Awards.

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As Co-President, Peppercomm and Managing Director, Ruder Finn, I provide agency-wide communications and brand experience support to the agency’s expanding portfolio of clients. From Fortune 500 companies to start-up technology brands, I specialize in crafting compelling brand stories that reach target audiences at critical points in their path to engagement. I have worked with brands such as MINI, Whirlpool, Sharp, Darden Restaurants, Tyco and Capital One.

I am also the founder of Peppercomm’s experiential division and have brought brands such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Saint Gobain and GE to life through events and sponsorships. Prior to joining the agency, I worked in the entertainment field, supporting movie festivals, premieres, indie filmmakers and personal celebrity publicity.

I have represented the agency in speaking engagements and association board support, including Social ShakeUp, PRSA, New York Meetings Industry Exchange (NYMix), The Special Event and WOMMA.

I hail from New Jersey and am a graduate of NYU.

I get inspiration from:

Experiencing other cultures, a good bartender’s tale and the ever-changing ad onslaught on NY streets

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With more than 18 years of industry experience, I work closely with Peppercomm’s fully integrated management team to drive a high performing culture as well as client service, operational excellence and growth. My passion for service and creative thinking drive strategic solutions for clients.

Before rejoining Peppercomm in 2018, I was at MWWPR, where I worked with clients including Red Lobster and The Hershey Company. Prior to that, I spent more than 13 years at Peppercomm, specializing in building integrated communications strategies for consumer lifestyle brands including Whirlpool and its family of brands, MINI, The Capital Grille, TGI Fridays, TJMaxx and Marshalls, among others.

A Fordham University graduate, I live in Westchester with my husband, identical twin daughters and our two rescue pups Otis + Gabby.

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