Seattle, Washington, United States
I build and grow integrated communications practices. Nearly 20 years across PR, social, influencer and integrated marketing, with P&L ownership, double-digit revenue growth and 100% client retention in 2025. As VP at Bodewell Group, I support one of the agency's top practices by revenue as deputy to an SVP, working with a cross-functional committee on new business and market expansion. I lead a team of six across ~20 B2B and B2C clients in renewable energy, climate tech, food and consumer lifestyle, including clients I've led since before the agency's acquisition. I connect earned media, influencer, digital marketing, social media, creative and paid into work that drives real business results, and act as senior counsel to C-suite clients. Previously, as Managing Director of Client Services, I reported to the CEO and served on the Leadership Team, leading delivery and retention across two practice areas and a Design and Digital department. I generated millions in new and expanded revenue, grew service fees double digits, and led post-acquisition integration across systems, workflow and culture. I've also built the infrastructure behind the work: reporting and cross-functional workflows, scalable service frameworks, resource models, training systems, and the operational rigor that keeps complex accounts and teams running well. I’ve worked with local, national and global brands such as Kroger, Hyatt, Chipotle, Stemilt Growers, Wild Alaska Sole Association, Nextpower, Elysian Brewing, Total Wine & More, Seattle Chocolate Company, Washington State Fruit Commission. I'm a board member of the Pike Place Market Foundation and a University of Washington alum based in the Seattle area.
- Oversee ~20 renewable energy/climate tech, food and consumer lifestyle clients (B2B and B2C), maintaining profitability targets and keeping scopes on budget - Serve as deputy leader of one of the top practices by revenue, supporting new business and marketing - Delivered double-digit organic growth through client upsells, expanding practice revenue year over year - Achieved 100% client retention in 2025 by leading strategy across all accounts and overseeing annual and campaign plans, integrated programs and measurement - Serve as senior counsel to C-suite clients, relationships directly protecting retention and driving expansion - Diagnose underperforming programs early and implement corrective action before it affects client relationships or results - Lead cross-discipline integration across earned, paid, owned and creative, ensuring programs are connected and measurable, not siloed, and drive client business goals - Lead and develop a team of six, building a culture of high performance, accountability and career growth - Partner with new business team to identify targets, create proposals, participate in pitch meetings and secure new clients; oversee new client onboarding - Drive post-acquisition integration across systems, workflow and culture in partnership with HR and Operations Southwest Strategies Group rebranded to Bodewell Group in February 2026.
- Led Client Services across two practice areas and a Design + Digital department, reporting to CEO and serving on the Leadership Team as a strategic voice on agency vision and operations - Generated millions in new and expanded client revenue through new business development and organic account growth - Grew agency service fees double digits year over year by strengthening delivery systems, client strategy and cross-practice service integration - Sustained growth momentum into the following year through integrated account expansion and new service offerings, outperforming a typical Q1 slowdown - Drove significant agency revenue through Design + Digital, leading sales and project management of website builds and refreshes for clients across practices - Maintained 100% staff retention across a large direct report team of 13 through active mentoring, performance coaching and visible leadership development pathways - Built agency-wide training and scalable service frameworks across PR, digital and creative teams, raising executional standards and delivery consistency - Consistently closed new business and upsells through targeted pitching, proposal development and executive relationship-building Kiterocket was acquired by Southwest Strategies Group in July 2025.
- Built and scaled a multi-million dollar consumer practice, delivering double-digit service fee growth with a team of 12 across 10–15 clients - Led integrated PR, influencer, digital and experiential programs for Kroger, Hilton Hotels, ZARA, Ivar's Restaurants and Stemilt Growers - Earned national placements in Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, The Verge, Good Housekeeping and Allure across consumer, lifestyle and CPG clients - Counseled clients through high-stakes issues including COVID-19, safety incidents and product recalls, protecting brand reputation under pressure - Grew year-over-year billings consistently through upsell strategy and deep client relationships - Built and mentored multidisciplinary teams across PR, content, creative and digital
Developed and managed public relations campaigns for a variety of clients in the food and restaurant industries; created and maintained relationships with food, lifestyle, travel and freelance media; responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, creating 90-day plans and quarterly reports, drafting proposals, soliciting new business and supervising intern/Account Coordinator Sample clients: TASTE Restaurant at SAM; Tilth Restaurant; Chipotle Mexican Grill; Marination Mobile; Osteria La Spiga; Seattle Cheese Festival; Grand Central Bakery; High 5 Pie and more
Suzuki Public Relations changed to Suzuki + Chou Communimedia in 2007.
Supported national public relations campaigns for Nespresso, Nestlé’s individually portioned espresso and machines, National CASA, court appointed advocates for children, and Seattle-based insurance group, Safeco Insurance