BAKER PUBLIC RELATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Copy Editor Strategy Director
Bob has over 35 years experience in the marketing and communications field, including 17 years leading the marketing and communications efforts at three universities.
Beyond his extensive higher ed experience, Bob has also served as a Public Relations Specialist and Copywriter at an advertising agency, as a Communications Director for a US congressman, as a VP for Marketing and Communications at a United Way, and as a consultant and staff person with several political campaigns and advocacy organizations.
Throughout his professional career, Bob has been heavily involved in virtually every facet of marketing, public relations and communications, including strategic planning, media relations, government relations, event planning and crisis communications.
With respect to crisis communications, he has had far more direct experience than he would have chosen for himself. While this may be to the detriment of Bob's mental wellbeing, his experience in crisis communications has proven to be a benefit to the clients and organizations for which he has worked.
A skilled and versatile writer, Bob has written it all: op eds, major speeches, columns, press releases, event scripts, feature stories, newsletters, magazines, brochures, direct mail solicitations, and copy for the web and TV, radio and print ads.
His writing can move his readers to sometimes laugh and even sometimes cry, but always to think, reflect and take action.
Bob lives in Saratoga Springs and has three grown children and four grandchildren. He enjoys camping, hiking and canoeing, is an avid baseball fan, and despite his advancing age and increasing aches and pains, still plays in a competitive softball league.
Bryanna is a mission driven, brand focused communicator with over a decade of strategic communications experience. Bryanna specializes in traditional and digital marketing, brand development and rebranding, media buying and placement, website design and development, social media management and strategy, logo and graphic design. Bryanna is a strategic marketer who has experience creating and implementing successful local, regional and state-wide campaigns. In building her career, she has had the opportunity to work with such companies as ESPN, PBS, NESN (New England Sports Network) and The TJX Companies, a Fortune 100 company.
Bryanna joined Baker Public Relations in 2022 following five years in the non-profit sector at Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth where she served as Senior Marketing Communications Specialist. Bryanna was instrumental in spearheading the re-branding of the Berkshire brand and the design and development of the new agency website, Berkshirefarm.org.
A 2010 graduate of Roger Williams University, Bryanna is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CPMD), a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and serves on the board for Charlie Polizzi's Warrior of the Angels Foundation. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting her family in Albany, country concerts and staying active at her CrossFit gym. Bryanna and her husband reside in the Greater Boston Area with their son Hunter and dog Willow.
Job Titles:
- Public Affairs Manager
- Senior Account Executive
Geoff joined Baker Public Relations as Senior Account Executive in June 2021, following more than a decade of on-air reporting as a seasoned and award-winning television journalist. His experience with meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment, wide network of contacts, captivating storytelling ability and understanding of the media makes Geoff a key member of our team.
Geoff works with a growing portfolio of clients across a wide range of industries and practices including legal, sports and eSports, politics, entertainment, higher education, volunteerism and more. Before coming to Baker Public Relations, Geoff thrived in an award winning 12-year career in broadcast journalism spanning radio and television across four different media markets. His achievements include serving as senior political reporter for ABC 6 News in Ohio's capital city of Columbus, leading the Spectrum Networks field coverage of the Dannemora prison escape in New York in 2015, reporting on the 2015 visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia, an Ohio Valley Emmy win and several New York and Ohio Emmy nominations, and two New York Associated Press awards. In 2013, he was named Young Professional of the Year by the Rochester Media Association.
At Baker Public Relations, Geoff oversees client accounts and manages day-to-day client communications while orchestrating the team's approach to projects. Additionally hired for a support role in the Creative Services Department, Geoff leverages his award-winning multimedia videojournalist skills as a key member of a team producing dozens of owned videos each month for diverse clientele across New York State.
Geoff grew up near Batavia, New York and holds a B.A. in Communications Studies from Niagara University in Niagara Falls. He now lives in Galway with his wife Lindsay and their son, Francis. During his time away from the office, Geoff enjoys hiking, visiting some of New York's many microbreweries and cheering on his beloved Buffalo Bills.
With a decade of news media experience, Jaclyn knows how journalists and press publications work. Jaclyn's background allows her to create comprehensive media plans for clients, whether that is crafting relevant news pitches, positioning articles, or nurturing relationships with journalists.
Jaclyn graduated from Emerson College in 2013 with a degree in broadcast journalism. She worked as a reporter at Spectrum News 1 for six years. Before that, she spent four years in Bangor, Maine, serving as evening anchor at WVII/WFVX. While at Spectrum, Jaclyn received Emmy and AP award nominations for a half hour documentary she produced and conducted exclusive reporting for.
As a journalist, she extensively covered the trial against NXIVM co-founder Keith Raniere, helped to launch the flagship morning show Good Morning Albany as a breaking news reporter, and was responsible for the education beat.
This broadcast news experience has allowed Jaclyn to understand the way the media works, how the industry is changing, and what viewer and consumer habits are.
During baseball season, Jaclyn can be found keeping up with the New York Mets. A loyal fan since birth, she tries to get to Citi Field for as many games as possible.
Jaclyn was born in Westchester County and graduated from Eastchester High School. She now calls Troy, N.Y. home with her husband Matt and their very opinionated rescue pup Eleanor.
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Newly relocated to the Capital Region from New York City, Katie is a growth-oriented public relations and marketing executive with over 17 years of experience in the fashion industry. Having formed her career at some of the worlds premier full-service apparel firms, Katie specializes in building brands and executing integrated marketing strategies for B2B and B2C segments. She has a proven track record of developing and implementing creative concepts, seasonal campaigns, content, added-value partnerships, social media, events, and publicity. Katie's previous client list ranges from luxury to mass-market retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Target, and Walmart.
As director of public relations and marketing, Katie works with the agency's lifestyle, hospitality, retail, food and beverage and wellness clients to develop and execute integrated communications campaigns. With her ability to stay on top of the ever-changing PR industry, she blends the overlapping areas between marketing, PR, and influencer relations in a dynamic and unique way.
Katie currently resides in Saratoga Springs, with her husband and daughter, where they enjoy outdoor activities and community events and supporting local businesses. Born in New Jersey, Katie graduated from Monmouth University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing.
As director of operations Marisa Akley provides day-to-day oversight of agency operations, maximizing operational efficiencies and industry best practices and driving growth, profitability and client retention. In her role, she also focuses on the personal and professional development of agency team members.
With a Bachelor of Science (BS) in accounting from Villanova University and nearly 30 years of marketing, accounting, sales and management operations experience in both the private and public sectors, Marisa brings a wide array of cross-functional expertise to Baker Public Relations.
Prior to joining Baker Public Relations, Marisa worked as senior account executive at Precisely Software, Inc., where she focused on enterprise software sales. There, she identified and solved some of the most difficult business challenges across the financial services vertical, all while fostering positive relationships of trust with colleagues and clients. Marisa was recognized for her exceptional achievements, being named to Precisely's President's Club.
Prior to Precisely, Marisa worked alongside global teams at Logic Technology, Inc., where she thrived providing effective operational oversight and efficient IT service delivery to a Fortune 500 customer base. Her other past work experience includes key positions with Fusco Personnel, Union College, Empire State Development and Henri Bendel.
Residing in Loudonville, N.Y. with her husband Brian, two children Ella and Brayden and beloved Labrador retriever Gus, Marisa has a passion for physical fitness and nutrition, watching the NY Yankees (most years!) and attending her children's sporting events.
Marisa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation where she enjoys giving her time and talent to those who help so many get back to living life.
Matt Potolski joined Baker Public Relations as a Senior Account Executive in October 2023. In this role, he works with and oversees a roster of clients across healthcare, sports and entertainment, education and public affairs.
Prior to joining Baker Public Relations, Matt spent nearly five years as a member of the NBC Sports Communications team. He led day-to-day publicity and overall communications strategy for properties including NASCAR, INDYCAR, Notre Dame Football, horse racing and college basketball. During his time at NBC Sports, Matt worked on some of the biggest events in all of media, highlighted by the Tokyo and Beijing Olympics and Super Bowl LVI.
Matt's interest in sports marketing began as a student at Syracuse University where he interned with Syracuse University Athletics, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and Syracuse FC, among others. He has since expanded his marketing expertise to many fields in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
A Capital Region native and current Guilderland resident, Matt spends more time than he should rooting for the Syracuse Orange as well as the New York Mets, Boston Celtics and Miami Dolphins. He enjoys golf, running and traveling with his parents and older sister.
Megan has been a communicator for more than 20 years. Before transitioning to communications executive and entrepreneur, Megan enjoyed a highly-visible, 10-year career in television news. As a broadcast journalist, Megan covered hard news, feature and political stories, including the 2004 Democratic National Convention, presidential visits, and more. She helped launch and served as the weekday evening news anchor at Spectrum News (then Capital News 9), Charter's 24-hour news channel. This helped Megan establish a broad network of media, political and community contacts and has provided her with access to key decision makers and news personalities. Megan won a New York State Emmy and was honored by the Associated Press for Breaking News.
Today, Megan specializes in developing and leading media training programs for high level CEOs and executives, using her skills honed as a reporter to prepare clients for live events and aggressive media questioning. Her media training portfolio includes political candidates and senior level executives at the Center for Internet Security (CIS), New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA), Our. News, Spa Mirbeau, nfrastructure, National Grid, GreyCastle Security, Complexions Spa, Saratoga Chips, NYS Dental Association, United Group, tw telecom (Level3 Communications), Pioneer Bank and more.
She also has expertise in the development and implementation of crisis communications plans to help organizations prepare for crises, detect vulnerabilities and protect their reputation.
Megan graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pa. where she earned a bachelor's in Communications/Media in 1996. She serves on the IUP College of Education and Communications Dean Advancement Council and as co-vice chair on the board of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter.
Megan was honored in April by her alma mater with a newly created alumni award, the Department of Communications Media Impact Award. She is also a 2012 Albany Business Review 40 under Forty honoree.
2023 Capital Region MARCOM Practitioner of the Year Megan has been a communicator for more than 20 years. Before transitioning to communications executive and entrepreneur, Megan enjoyed a highly-visible, 10-year...
Job Titles:
- Director in Baker Public Relation
- Director, Healthcare
Megan Davis is a director in Baker Public Relation's health and wellness practice. The Capital Region native brings nearly 20 years of combined journalism, communications and marketing experience to the agency. Megan specializes in healthcare communications and has managed and executed a variety of strategic communications campaigns in agency and corporate PR settings. Her previous industry experience runs the gamut, including work in pharmaceutical, health sciences, higher education, energy and nonprofit. Storytelling is Megan's true passion; relationship building and connecting with people comes natural for her.
Prior to joining Baker Public Relations, Megan worked at Fingerpaint as an account supervisor managing pharmaceutical client portfolio's that collectively surpassed $5.5 million. She was fiscally responsible for the client's financials and budgets, oversaw and directed a cross-functional team of creatives and worked closely with project management to ensure client deliverables were met.
Megan's past work experience also includes positions with Iroquois Healthcare Alliance, Northeast Health, GE Energy and the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She landed her first job after attaining her bachelor's degree from SUNY Oswego with a newspaper outlet in Long Island, N.Y. and a trade publication group here in the Capital Region.
Megan currently resides in Latham, N.Y. with her husband and three daughters. She has a love for baking and sharing her signature blueberry muffins with friends, family and coworkers. Megan adores her family and is often seen cheering on her girls at the soccer or lacrosse fields.
Morgan brings to Baker Public Relations a passion for learning, creativity and an attention to detail. As a social media specialist, she works with team members to create engaging content for client and agency social media platforms, tracks and manages online engagement and provides analytics reporting.
A recent college graduate, Morgan studied marketing at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. There she was involved with the American Marketing Association and the Chatham University Athletics Department.
Morgan lives in Shadyside (a neighborhood in the East End of Pittsburgh). She enjoys sports (all Pittsburgh teams of course), traveling, working out, spending time with family and friends, and creating new recipes in the kitchen. A diehard Steelers fan, you'll often find her decked out in black and yellow!
Pierre brings international flair to Baker Public Relations with extensive experience in creating corporate videos, documentaries, short films and broadcast content for a wide variety of clients across different...
Prior to joining Baker Public Relations, Sue was fortunate to raise her three children. Coordinating the chaos of her student-athletes has been her greatest joy and most rewarding experience in life. Sue feels extremely lucky to have rejoined the workforce at Baker Public Relations, assisting with all administrative responsibilities of the office. She is especially grateful to work as Executive Assistant to Megan Baker.
Sue currently resides in Latham and loves chasing her kids' high school and college careers from the east coast to the mid-west. She's also a sun worshipper and when not on the highway, you will find Sue lounging poolside.
Tiarnan joined Baker Public Relations as Account Executive in January 2024. His passion for public relations and marketing began when he interned with Baker Public Relations in 2018. In his role as Account Executive, Tiarnan strategizes and executes public relations campaigns with clients in a variety of industries including sports, entertainment, public affairs, and healthcare. Tiarnan brings a wide variety of media relations and marketing experience to the agency in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors.
Prior to joining the Baker Public Relations team, Tiarnan served as the Chief Operating Officer for a local recruiting company, handling day-to-day operations and strategy for the company. Tiarnan also worked as the media relations lead for Tully Rinckey PLLC, a nationwide law firm. In this position, he helped obtain national recognition for the firm's 65 attorneys through media placements, awards, blogs, and more.
Tiarnan graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in public relations and marketing. Along with his internship with Baker Public Relations, he completed undergraduate internships with Fairfield University's athletic department and Overit Media. He currently resides in Albany and when he is away from the office enjoys watching the Boston Red Sox, seeing live music around the Capital Region, and golfing.