Team

Use the menu below to quickly jump down to a fama PR team member.

Jeff Benanto, account director

Jeff is a public relations and marketing communications professional with almost a decade of experience managing integrated PR and digital media communications programs. Jeff’s entrepreneurial style, social media savvy, content development skills and high-tech media relations experience are leveraged across his client roster. He also plays an active role in business development, team management and spearheading programs to uncover new and evolving PR opportunities.

Prior to joining fama PR, Jeff served as an account manager for digital marketing, social media and public relations agency 451 Marketing, where he ran a variety of lead generation campaigns for clients in industries as diverse as hospitality, travel, staffing management and IT consulting.

Jeff began his career at Schwartz Communications where he served a variety of technology, consumer and healthcare clients and honed his public relations skills.

Jeff holds bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and political science from Penn State University where he remains a devoted alumni. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, traveling and fumbling around his guitar.

Keri Bertolino, senior vice president

With more than 12 years of high-tech PR agency experience, Keri’s responsibilities at fama PR include developing PR strategies that directly align with her clients’ business objectives and support lead-gen efforts. She is also responsible for program planning, development of integrated campaigns, managing day-today account activities and driving results-oriented media, analyst and social media programs.

While Keri works with clients in a variety of industries, she has expertise working within the retail technology sector. Past and present retail tech clients include: Aldata, Allurent, Blueport Commerce, CashStar, CREATETHE GROUP, Dassault Systemes, Demandware, n2N Commerce, RBM Technologies, Searchandise Commerce, Triad Retail Media and TrialPay.

Prior to joining fama PR in 2004, Keri worked within the Technology portfolio at PAN Communications, where she managed the daily activities on her programs, providing strategic counsel to her clients and team members. She was also responsible for intensive media relations with top-tier trade and business press. Keri has served on the Board of Directors for the Publicity Club of New England, the region’s oldest professional organization for public relations, communications, special events and marketing professionals.

She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Nicole Cornwell, account director
Nicole brings a strong technology background and dedication to client service to fama PR. With more than eight years of experience in high-tech public relations, she has worked with a wide range of clients ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar public companies. She has experience within a number of industries including mobile, security, marketing/e-commerce, enterprise software and consumer tech.

Prior to joining fama PR, Nicole was an account executive at Lois Paul & Partners focused on technology and consumer device public relations where she worked with clients including BackChannelMedia, Cognos (acquired by IBM), Kronos, m-Qube, Restore Medical and Sun Microsystems. While at LP&P, she was a recipient of the Publicity Club of New England’s Bell Ringer Award for Best Product/Service Launch in the High-tech Business-to-Business category.

Nicole holds a bachelor of science in information design and corporate communications from Bentley University.

Jeff Drew, vice president

Throughout his career, Jeff has lead communications programs for a variety of public and privately-held high-technology, healthcare and public policy organizations. He has developed communications strategies, managed internal teams and placed high-level business and technology coverage for companies in the semiconductor, services, security, cloud, wireless, enterprise software, marketing and consumer device industries. Some of his clients have included Dassault Systèmes, Texas Instruments, Sapient, Konica, Corel, Computer Associates, Imprivata, Xigo (purchased by Dimension Data), Mimecast and Newbridge Networks (purchased by Alcatel-Lucent).

Prior to joining fama PR, Jeff was an account manager at high-technology PR specialist FitzGerald Communications (purchased by OmniCom’s Brodeur WorldWide), where he drove the communications strategy for a variety of hardware, software, consulting and online businesses. Prior to FitzGerald, he was an account executive at Professional Media Services, Inc., where he ran a national public awareness campaign for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

A graduate of Holy Cross, Jeff began his career as the media liaison and legislative advisor to Massachusetts State Senator Marc R. Pacheco before embarking on a full-time career in public relations.

Matt Flanagan, founding partner
Matt brings a broad range of tech PR experience that spans a wide spectrum of industries to his role as a founding partner. In addition to running operations at the firm and driving business development, Matt is actively engaged with clients driving communications strategy and execution across both traditional PR channels and social/digital media.

Clients past and present include Computer Associates, Imprivata, Top Layer Security, Mimecast, Dassault Systemes, AMR Research, Quattro Wireless (acquired by Apple), QuickPlay Media, Enpocket (acquired by Nokia) and Brightkite. Prior to co-founding fama PR, Matt was with FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based hi-tech PR firm (ultimately acquired by OmniCom’s Brodeur WorldWide), where he was responsible for developing and managing core communications programs for his account teams. In addition, he was responsible for the day-to-day management of his accounts as well as providing strategic counsel to his clients for a variety of situations. While at FitzGerald Communications, Matt serviced such flagship clients as Microsoft Great Plains, Ericsson, MRO Software, Manugistics, Excel Switching Corp., GTE Internetworking (now Genuity,) and Authentica.

Before joining FitzGerald Communications, Matt spent time with the Boston Phoenix as a member of its promotions department. There, he was responsible for producing creative content for print and radio advertisements, as well as planning and executing on-site promotions for various Boston Phoenix clients.

Ed Harrison, managing partner
Ed has been instrumental in defining fama PR’s key differentiator: using senior teams to create results-focused PR programs that map directly to clients’ business goals, while minimizing extraneous processes.

Over a career that began in 1996, Ed has created successful PR programs for clients that span the spectrum of consumer and enterprise technologies, such as online marketing and advertising; mobile marketing and entertainment; clean technology (smart grid, solar and ethanol); cloud computing; network security and infrastructure; and an array of enterprise-focused, acronym-heavy solutions like ERP, PLM and CRM.

As fama PR’s managing partner, Ed has led many of the agency’s largest accounts, including Dassault Systèmes (which acquired fama client MatrixOne), Organic, SAS, CA and Kodak; has been instrumental in many of fama’s flagship launches, including Backupify, Coskata, Fixmo and TrialPay; and helped clients like Hipcricket and Sapient effectively reposition themselves to establish thought and market leadership. Ed also helped establish the agency’s first social media marketing programs through his team’s work with Nuance.

A survivor of (at least) two burst technology bubbles, Ed joined the world of high-tech PR in 1996 with Schwartz Communications, then one of the fastest-growing tech PR firms in the country. He also spent two years as a vice president at the Davies Murphy Group, where he was instrumental in bridging the firm’s PR and marketing services programs. He joined fama PR as its second employee in May, 2003.

He entered the world of high-tech PR after serving as public relations director for Disabled Sports USA, a national non-profit organization providing sports and recreation for people with disabilities. He also worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee as a media attaché at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games.

An active volunteer with the Newton (Mass.) Public Schools and local youth sports programs, Ed has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics from the George Washington University.

Evan Leek, director, digital media

Evan brings a practiced and sophisticated social and digital media experience to his role as fama’s director of digital media

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Overseeing social and digital media initiatives for a wide variety of clients, he understands how to tailor strategies to support and elevate the overarching PR program for each. In addition to traditional media relations practices, Evan plays a key role in fostering relationships with bloggers, implementing effective social media plans for conferences and events, managing niche thought leadership web portals, and ensuring that each client is aware not only of emerging and dominant digital trends, but how they directly affect their business.

Evan received his B.A. from Wheaton College. He received his M.A. in Media Arts and his M.F.A. in Media Arts from Emerson College. An accomplished artist, Evan has exhibited in a number of local galleries and charity benefits and has published a book of drawings of Boston’s historic North End.

Brian Merrill, senior vice president
During his career, Brian has developed and managed strategic communications campaigns for clients in the high tech and consumer markets, focusing on security, enterprise software and clean technology. Prior to joining fama PR in 2003, Brian spent three years at FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based public relations firm acquired by OmniCom’s Brodeur WorldWide.

At FitzGerald, Brian was responsible for managing the day to day activities of his accounts, planning communications strategies and securing high-level business and technology press media coverage. While at FitzGerald Communications, Brian serviced clients such as MRO Software, ScanSoft, TyCom, and Allaire/Macromedia.

Prior to FitzGerald, Brian was the director of media relations for the Eastern Basketball Alliance, a 10-team NBA developmental league based on the East Coast. During his tenure, Brian spear-headed community relations and the League’s charitable endeavors, while securing high profile media coverage to further recognition of the league.

In addition to his account work, Brian contributes his time to “Keeping You, Me and Memories Alive”, a New Hampshire-based breast cancer awareness charity whose goal is to raise funds for cancer victims and their families.

Tim Morin, vice president
Tim brings a deep understanding of a variety of technology industries to fama PR. He has previously worked in the security, e-Commerce, consumer product, interactive marketing, outsourcing and entertainment industries.

Tim’s duties at fama include developing and executing strategic PR launch campaigns, maintaining relationships with key members of the traditional and digital media, actively managing thought leadership and awards programs, developing proactive media pitches based on industry insight and market trends, writing public-facing corporate communications and conducting competitive research.

Prior to joining fama PR in 2005, Tim worked as an account coordinator at the DPR Group (formerly Demaree Public Relations) a full-service agency specializing in providing public relations services to a broad range of technology companies.

In 2007, Tim was awarded the Publicity Club of New England’s “Bronze Bell” award for demonstrating excellence in public relations strategy and tactics, handling clients and staff, creativity, PR program implementation and results documentation as a young professional.

Whitney Parker, account director
Whitney has more than six years of high-tech PR experience with a broad range of clients in the technology, healthcare, security, mobile and enterprise software markets. Whitney joined fama PR in 2006 and has since led media relations, thought leadership campaigns as well as drive awards and speaking programs for clients including Imprivata, Ahura Scientific (acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific), Bradford Networks, D2Hawkeye, Dassault Systèmes, DataFlux/SAS, Organic, Ping Identity, VAI, Veracode, Top Layer Security, TrialPay, among others.

Prior to joining fama PR, Whitney served as a Legal Assistant at Damon & Morey, LLP where she worked closely with both lawyers and paralegals on pleadings and motions of more than 1,500 files.

Whitney graduated from St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing and a Minor in Educational Studies. She also served as a Captain of the Division I St. Lawrence University’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team that competed in two consecutive NCAA Frozen Four National Tournaments. Whitney also contributes her time to coaching ice hockey to children in the local Boston area.

Amy Peterson, vice president

Amy joined fama in January 2011, bringing a broad range of corporate and agency tech PR experience having worked with a variety of technology companies spanning industries such as advertising technology, big data, corporate wellness programs, digital media, enterprise software, storage systems, semiconductors and telecommunications.

Prior to joining fama, Amy spent five years running the global PR and corporate communications program at Avid, the leader in digital audio and video production solutions used by major filmmakers, television productions, broadcasters and musicians.

While at Avid, Amy drove the global PR strategy and execution of: artist relations programs, all major product launches; a complete company rebranding (including the convergence of five industry leading brands into a single unified brand); and built a social media program from scratch—netting 200 percent increase in social media coverage and conversations, year over year. She authored a nomination that scored the company an Emmy® Award for technology innovation. She also played a key role in the company’s executive communications efforts including the development of speeches, earnings scripts and thought leadership articles.

Prior to Avid, Amy spent seven years working at high tech PR agencies in Boston, San Diego and San Francisco.

Amy has been honored by the Publicity Club of New England for her work on PR campaigns, including “Best Marketing Communications Campaign” for her work at Avid. She holds a Bachelors degree in Journalism from Salem State University and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at Northeastern University.

Michael Reilly, vice president
Mike Reilly began his career in high-tech PR in 2000 and joined fama PR in 2004. He has served and managed clients in a number of industries such as enterprise software, telecom, healthcare and Web services. His clients at fama PR have included Alcatel, General Catalyst Partners, HighRoads (formerly IE-Engine) and Intuit QuickBase.

Prior to joining fama PR, he spent a year at PAN Communications working mostly with companies in the security and outsourcing industries. His clients at PAN included companies such as Tyco, Viisage, OutStart, EPAM Systems and MaXware. Mike was responsible for managing media relations campaigns, providing counsel to clients on media activities, and writing articles contributed to business and trade publications on behalf of his clients.

Before joining PAN, Mike spent nearly four years at Blanc and Otus (a Hill & Knowlton company) working with both large and small organizations such as Compaq (pre-merger), Hewlett-Packard (post-merger), Sony PlayStation, Interwise, Altio and Airvana. In addition to media activities at Blanc & Otus, Mike supported other marketing initiatives for his clients by writing customer testimonials and case studies and helping produce marketing videos.

Mike holds a bachelor of science in communication, with a concentration in public relations, from Boston University.

Gail Scibelli, vice president
Gail Scibelli brings extensive experience in corporate communications and marketing to the fama PR team. Before joining the agency, she served as vice president of marketing at CREATETHE GROUP, a leading digital marketing and e-commerce firm focused on the luxury retail and fashion sectors. Previously, she was vice president of marketing at Organic and vice president of corporate communications at Sapient.

She also ran global corporate communications for leading software companies including Corel and CA Technologies (Computer Associates). This complements her long high-tech PR agency career as she previously served as a senior vice president at FitzGerald Communications (now part of Brodeur and Omnicom) and as an account director at Manning, Selvage & Lee. Prior to that, she was a corporate communications manager at Digital Equipment Corporation.

Gail holds a BS degree in journalism from Boston University’s College of Communications.

Kate Thermansen, vice president
Kate is an experienced public relations and integrated marketing communications professional with more than a decade of experience serving B2B and B2C clients. She has managed strategic PR programs for clients past and present including A123Systems, Brightkite, CashStar, Computer Associates, Corel, Dassault Systèmes, EnvoyWorldWide, Humedica, Imprivata, ITA Software, Searchandise Commerce, Veracode and VidSys.

Prior to joining fama PR, Kate spent four years at FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based public relations firm acquired by OmniCom’s Brodeur Worldwide. While there, she managed the day-to-day account activities across accounts, developed and led proactive media relations programs and mentored junior team members. Clients included Texas Instruments, Workbrain, LoJack, Platypus Technology, Circles, Microsoft Great Plains, ScanSoft, NMS Communications, Lavastorm, Converge and Eastman Software. She also helped plan agency events as part of the company’s Culture Club.

In addition to her role at fama, Kate serves as a volunteer reading mentor as part of the Everybody Wins! Power Lunch program. She previously donated time to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Central New England Chapter, providing public relations support, and received the Chapter’s 2002 PR Volunteer of the Year Award. Prior to FitzGerald, Kate worked in the marketing department of The Bryn Mawr Trust Company in Pennsylvania. Her public relations experience also includes media relations in Villanova University’s Athletic Department.

Keith Watson, founding partner
With an unmatched track record for successfully launching stealth start-ups and emerging-technology companies, Keith has worked in high technology PR agencies since 1995. He is responsible for some of the largest tech and cleantech launches over the past decade, including A123 Systems, Brightcove, Coskata and TrialPay.

Keith also dedicates much of his personal and professional time helping entrepreneurs navigate the ever changing marketing landscape, and helped to found the New England Clean Energy Council, the VC vs. Entrepreneur Charity Golf Tournament; and volunteers time for both Technology Underwriting Greater Good (TUGG) and Northeastern University’s Venture Accelerator IDEA.

Prior to co-founding fama PR in 2002, Keith spent five years at FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based public relations firm that was later part of OmniCom’s Brodeur WorldWide. At FitzGerald, Keith was responsible for developing and delivering strategic counsel and planning for clients, securing high-level media results, overall account and team management and business development for the firm. Keith also helped establish and grow FitzGerald’s biotech practice. Accounts Keith managed include: Allaire/Macromedia, Lernout & Hauspie, Incentive Systems, iQVC, Newell Rubbermaid, General Catalyst and Sapient.

Prior to FitzGerald, Keith worked at Schwartz Communications, then one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology PR firms. At Schwartz, he was responsible for account management and execution and serviced technology accounts including Avid, NewsEdge Corp. Kollmorgen and HPR. Before entering the agency world, Keith worked at Object Management Group, where he was one of the founding members of the marketing team and responsible for generating awareness and understanding for the concept of open systems and object technology. A key responsibility was the marketing and public relations efforts of the Object World Tradeshow Series, which OMG successfully sold to Softbank Comdex in 1995.

Keith is a graduate of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College.

Ted Weismann, vice president

Ted brings two decades of public relations, social media and digital marketing experience to fama PR. During this time Ted has worked with a wide range of large and small companies in several markets, including cloud computing, mobile apps, storage, enterprise software, crowdsourcing, and wireless networking. Ted’s clients have included such market leaders as Lotus/IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kodak, UPS, Sun Microsystems, Wells Fargo, JDA Software and Hitachi Data Systems, as well as rapidly emerging companies such as Actifio, uTest, StorSimple and NuoDB.

Prior to joining fama PR, Ted was senior vice president and digital practice leader at Lois Paul and Partners (LPP). In addition to providing both strategic counsel and hands-on execution to his clients, Ted’s focus was on ensuring the entire agency was equipped to execute programs that integrate social media and digital marketing techniques and technologies based on specific business objectives. Ted also established, contributed to and served as managing editor for LPP’s own blog, achieving “Top 50 PR & Marketing Blog” recognition by Cision.

Ted is a two-time winner of PRSourceCode’s Top Tech Communicator Award. This award is based upon a survey of over 500 tech editors and bloggers, who are asked to name their “top” individual PR professional, based on responsiveness, knowledge of the industry, knowledge of the journalist’s individual preferences, and more. In addition, Ted won the 2011 Publicity Club of New England’s Bell Ringer award for best social media campaign for ThingMagic.

Ted holds a B.A. in economics from the University of New Hampshire and is a past member of the Society for New Communications Research.