News From APCO Worldwide, Porter Novelli, Allison+Partners & Steinreich Communications
APCO Worldwide Promotes Switzerland’s Other Strengths
Beginning this month, APCO Worldwide is looking to update the world’s view of Switzerland with their Swiss Touch campaign and hosting events across the US in major cities such as New York, Boston, DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Events feature discussions on technology and climate change with Swiss opinion leaders. They want to reach influencers, legislators, and inform the public about how Switzerland has become a tech hub and home to the forward thinking – in addition to their well-known attributes – mountains, banks, and such.
Porter Novelli Adds Two Leadership Positions for Training/Development and Diversity/Inclusion
Early in February, Porter Novelli (PN) announced the addition of two new leaders in their organization – Melissa Kraus Taylor, currently in the Atlanta office as partner and managing director – will focus on learning and development globally for the firm. Working to find progress in their wide learning agenda creating innovation and impact. She reports to Mindy Gika, the firm’s global talent leader. Kraus Taylor has 20 years of social marketing, message development, strategic planning, and positioning experience. She has spent 25 years in teaching during which time she implemented PN’s Greater Than University (GTU) program serving as the co-dean with Gikas.
Also promoted is Soon Mee Kim, currently a VP. Kim will work with Global CEO, Brad MacAfee, and Mindy Gikas, Global Talent leader. The new position will be implementing and developing programs, policies, and practices while promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovation. Kim has been with PN since 2005 and has 25 years of PR and communications experience.
Friends of Karen – Nonprofit – Adds Two New Board Members
The nonprofit organization, Friends of Karen, helps families in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. They work with families in need, especially when the family has a critically ill child. New Board of Director members named are Laura Salerno and Sara Colodner. Salerno brings 10 years of PR and communications experience, including her consulting firm which she founded in 2015, VP at Havas, and VP at Rubenstein PR. Her father was on the organization’s Long Island Advisory Board during her childhood. She’s served on their Tribeca Rooftop Committee that has an annual fundraiser for many years.
Colodner works at Kin Community as their director of East Coast Sales. Kin is a digital media and entertainment company specializing in content for millennial women such as DIY, fashion, beauty, food, home, entertainment, health, and wellness. She has been a lifelong supporter of the charity since she was introduced to them by her parents when she was young.
Allison+Partners Becomes New AOR for ADT
After a competitive RFP process, ADT recently announced their choice of Allison+Partners as their representative for national communications efforts regarding ADT’s smart home security platform and services and products related to that effort. Allison represented the company recently at CES for their ADT Canopy platform, which combines monitoring with smart home and consumer tech products for increased security at work and home.
John Jones Becomes New Sr. Account Director at Steinreich Communications
John Jones comes to Steinreich Communications, headquartered in NYC, as their new senior account director in the fashion division of the international PR firm. He has 30 years experience with journalism and fashion PR. He’s recently worked at Robert Talbott, Inc. as director of marketing, VP of Menswear at Kenwerks (recently acquired by Steinreich), and fashion director at MR Magazine.
