SPOOL MARKETING - Key Persons
A curious and open-minded learner, Alex Penn is an Account Executive at Spool Marketing and Communications. Committed to using her savvy digital and print skills, she aims to bolster client goals and success. As a member of Spool's team, she is an essential supporting player in the creation and implementation of integrated PR initiatives. Alex is a dependable worker and colleague who provides, and executes, thoughtful, and informed counsel to clients. Previously interning for Heron Agency where she worked with some of Chicago's most notable hospitality groups, she has tackled company openings, crisis management strategies, media relations, and event production and management. With a hand in social media, content creation, and public relations, Alex has experience working across silos.
As a 2020 graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising and Public Relations, with a minor in Marketing. When not at her computer, you can find her in the kitchen whipping up a tasty vegan dinner, or catching the next flight to a new destination! If she were able to go to any concert, it would be to see The Beatles live!
Alysa Winkler is a Vice President with experience spanning traditional PR programming and media relations to influencer marketing and content channel plan development.
She believes the core of every PR program is brand storytelling and authentically connecting a brand with its target audience. With previous experience from Weber Shandwick and MSLGroup, Alysa has worked with a wide range of brands across the CPG, lifestyle, and food & beverage spaces, including White Claw Hard Seltzer, Delta Faucet, ALDI, Mazola Corn Oil, McCormick Spices, and Campbell's Soup.
Originally from Cincinnati, Alysa graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Communications, and outside of work, can be found in her kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe.
Anna McAndrew is an Account Executive who works at Spool Marketing and Communications. She supports the planning and implementation of PR & Influencer initiatives along with understanding client's business, including general business strategy, industry issues, products and services, and key customers & competitors in the marketplace.
A passionate team player, Anna is able to creatively offer solutions and ideas related to the clients' business goals and objectives, while actively contributing to the brand storytelling via media pitches and relationship building. She previously worked in the publishing industry writing feature articles for the award-winning Modern Luxury network of regional lifestyle publications and TOPS magazine (social and entertainment source in Kentucky).
A 2020 graduate of the University of Kentucky (Lexington), Anna earned a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Communications. A native of the Chicago area, Anna loves to travel and when not working you can find her taking a Peloton class or looking for delicious new healthy recipes. Her dream concert to attend would be to go back in time and see Queen live.
Brooke is a dedicated, enthusiastic PR professional who thrives off a go-getter mentality and works hard to provide clients with successful results. She joined Spool in March 2021 after working in the franchising industry as a PR strategist, providing PR and media relations support to a variety of brands within the lifestyle/fitness and QSR spaces. As a Senior Account Executive, Brooke eagerly jumps in ready to problem-solve and conquer each project with an open mind and positive attitude, ensuring to have her best foot forward and provides quality work for her team and clients.
Originally from the east side of Michigan, Brooke is a Ferris State University alumna and graduated from the College of Business with a major in PR and a minor in event management. Outside of work, Brooke dedicates her time to the Windy Willow Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention for youth, as a member of the board of directors. Her favorite pastime is cooking/baking, finding new DIY projects to take on, and finding the best spot in town to have bottomless mimosas.
Job Titles:
- Independent Communications Consultant
- PR, Communications
A strategic, results-driven marketer, Caroline Russo is an independent communications consultant with expertise in food and beverage CPGs, food service, hospitality, and commodity boards. With nearly two decades of experience in the PR industry, she's led award-winning campaigns for global PR agencies, including Ketchum and Weber Shandwick, and jumped-ship three years ago to freelance and hasn't looked back. She loves to collaborate with clients to solve complex business challenges - whether it's new product launches, ingredient reformulations, or influencer marketing initiatives. She is an optimist known for infusing positive energy and motivating teams to deliver stellar results. Russo holds an MBA in marketing from the University of Toledo and a bachelor's degree in communications from Ohio University. In her free time, you can find her sipping a good glass of red wine, baking, and enjoying Chicago's playgrounds and farmers markets with her two toddlers and hubby, Chris. Caroline's favorite meal? Medium-rare steak, mushrooms, and a glass of Cab!
Carrie Ingoglia is a former agency creative turned freelance copywriter and brand strategist who now brings her nearly two decades of agency experience to the table for value-driven businesses and non-profit clients working to move people forward. Her work has won Effie, Addy and Webby Awards and she served on juries for both the Effies and the One Show. She is a public speaker and guest lecturer at Miami Ad School NY and her editorial writing has been featured in the industry publication Campaign as well as Art + Marketing. Carrie holds a BA in English from Skidmore College. When she is not at her desk, she spends time coaching as a certified Ayurvedic Yoga instructor and raising her twin toddlers.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Founder
Catherine Merritt is the founder and chief executive officer at Spool. Catherine founded Spool with the belief that the world most definitely didn't need another agency (in fact, we could do with a few less!) but it could use a new type of agency, which is what she set out to do with Spool.
If you asked Catherine about Spool within the first year of its existence, she would probably throw some imposter-syndrome shade your way, but as Spool has grown beyond its infancy, her insecurities have subsided and we're just glad she got that out of the way sooner than later!
Catherine remains involved in all clients at Spool, investing her time (that's right, the only CEO whose bill rate is $0) so she is able to remain actively engaged in all clients' strategies while running the agency and its growing investment arm. Catherine brings a fearlessness and empathetic lens to everything she is part of and expects as much from her team and Spool's clients alike.
Catherine's career runs the gamut from event management for Antiques Roadshow to constituent services for local government offices to being shampoo girl at Mary Sue's Hair Design from the time she was in eight grade through high school. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.
When she's not focused on Spool, Catherine is usually on the sidelines at either her sons' baseball games, going to see live music or hosting a fun dinner or cocktail party! Catherine, Ian and their boys, Teddy and Archie, live outside Chicago in Evanston. If given the opportunity, Catherine would love to see Queen at Liveaid, ca. 1985 with her hero, Michelle Obama enjoying some lobster rolls flown in fresh from Martha's Vineyard!
Colin joins Spool as a creative director with eight years of experience delivering social-first ideas rooted in human insights. Colin has lived by the motto "make excellent work and have a kickass time doing it." Colin has been responsible for leading and integrating creative across owned channels for clients such as Adidas Basketball, Delta Airlines, and Visit Utah for the past few years. In his short stint as creative director, He's delivered award-winning work for digital, social, and experiential campaigns. Outside work, Colin enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and attempting to eat hot dogs while running long distances.
Ed is the CEO & Founder of The Varick Group, a communications consultancy for the food industry. Ed is an experienced marketing executive who builds brands and grows their business through omni-channel communications. His 25-year career spans multiple communications disciplines across all channels of the food industry-agriculture, retail, foodservice and ingredient. Ed reopened his consultancy in 2020 to help organizations, actively working to improve the global food system, tell their stories. With a focus on sustainable and nutritious food and beverage brands, his diverse roster of client experience ranges from emerging change-makers to multinational market leaders. In fact, he's currently working toward a graduate certificate in Sustainable Food Systems at Harvard University Extension School. His award-winning work has quantifiably increased business. Dream concert? Well that's easy -- the 1987 U2 Joshua Tree tour which would have only been better attending it with Madonna. After which, we'd dine on filets and martinis at Gibson's Steakhouse at the Rush Street location, of course!
Gracie Aaronson is a Senior Account Executive at Spool Marketing and Communications. As an up-and-coming publicist, Gracie is excited to accelerate her clients' media, marketing, and digital initiatives by providing and executing novel, thoughtful, and informed consumer-centric guidance.
A meticulous, hard-working, and creative communicator, Gracie's passion lies in crafting stories, experiences, and campaigns that powerfully connect individuals to brands. Previously, Gracie has experience working with clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies in digital and social media, internal and corporate communications, media relations, corporate social responsibility, and event production and management.
Gracie graduated from the Northwestern University School of Communication in June 2020 and spends her free time exploring new places and reading the latest best-selling novel. Her dream concert would be dueling pianos between Adele and Billy Joel.
Helene is an insights first marketer who believes success comes from truly understanding and solving people's problems, large and small. Whether making life simpler, feeding curiosity or nourishing the soul, she's passionate about helping brands and organizations engage and make a difference. Recognized for her leadership and commitment to team success, Helene values client partnership and the opportunity to work together for sustained business results.
She has extensive experience working with a diverse set of clients from well established brands like Disney and State Farm to start-ups like Planterra, cultural institutions such as The Field Museum to non-profits. Her passion for making a difference includes over twenty years in advocacy and community work. Helene recently completed a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion to support her life-long goal of being a part of the change she wants to see. Helene has returned to her hometown of Evanston IL to raise her family.
Isabel Meier is an optimist with a talent for taking on new situations and challenges. A team player with a creative and innovative mindset, her professional background is a blend of experiences, including media relations, internal communications, event planning, and social media content creation. From aiding CSR and employee engagement efforts for big-name brands, to earning press and recognition for some of the most deserving organizations in metro Detroit, Isabel brings hard work and dedication to each of her client accounts.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Isabel received her Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in 2019. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys walks around the city and exploring new restaurants with friends. Her dream concert would be Fleetwood Mac (circa 1975).
Jack Dolan is an intern at Spool Marketing & Communications. He is currently in his junior year at DePaul University studying Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Event Planning. Jack is a creative and passionate student who works well with others to gain knowledge and experience helping to elevate his professional development in building brand awareness. Jack is very excited to apply his knowledge from his course history with his clients at Spool. Jack thrives off the adaptive nature of the marketing and communications field always looking for the next big idea.
In addition to his studies at DePaul, Jack is a member of the PRSSA where he learns new industry standards and is exposed to a wide variety of networking opportunities. Prior to his role at Spool, Jack worked as an intern at Nouvelle Events, a Chicago-based event coordinator where he was mentored by founder Misha Newgren. In his free time, Jack enjoys photography, spending time with friends and family, live music, and exploring the Chicago food scene.
Jack Hiltner is an intern at Spool Marketing & Communications. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Jack is a senior finishing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. He served as the Audience Engagement Editor for The Post, an independent publication in Athens, Ohio, while also serving on the executive board for the Hugh M. Culbertson Scripps chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Jack is a strong proponent of free-flowing and accessible information for all, and he shows that commitment through his work both in the newsroom and on the go.
In 2021, Jack served as the sole communications intern for the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine's office of rural and underserved programs. He's currently preparing to step into the role of Digital Director at The Post as an executive editor and welcomes any advice or tips! In addition to journalism, he's also studying computer science, marketing and he holds a social media certificate. When he's not working on a new project, Jack can be found working his way through a stack of books, hiking around Athens or waiting to see Phoebe Bridgers in concert again.
Janet Molepske is a Finance Specialist at Spool Marketing and Communications. She oversees all account payable and account receivable functions. She ensures timely payments, completes account reconciliations, and provides financial reporting. Janet brought 17 years of financial experience. Including 8 years of city government and 9 years within a higher education institution as Financial Administrator. Janet brought many financial skills with her such as financial reporting, payroll, budgeting, and financial management.
Janet enjoys spending time with her husband and wheaten terrier pup when she is not working. She likes to hike, kayak and bake. Her dream concert would be ABBA and Elton John.
Jeffrey Ward is a marketing and public relations professional who has worked with some of Chicago's most recognizable hospitality, entertainment, and cultural personalities, brands and organizations. Starting his career in agencies focusing on chefs, dining, theatre, and the performing arts, he went on to join Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises as director of marketing and communications for the company's fine dining and fast-casual division. After 10 years he moved back into the agency world holding senior positions in strategy and development for a variety of restaurant and hospitality clients before opening his own company in 2019. He now works within the hospitality, beverage, lifestyle, travel, cannabis, and retail communities, developing and executing highly personalized campaigns that create awareness and distinguish clients from the competition. When not working in Chicago, he spends his time enjoying a more relaxed pace of life in southwestern Michigan, exploring the coastal towns of Lake Michigan.
Jessie is an Account Supervisor at Spool Marketing & Communications. She plays a leading role in developing and implementing communication strategies for her clients. As an Account Supervisor, she establishes executives and companies as leaders in their fields and guides them in creating a significant and impactful external presence by identifying and securing various platforms of awareness in events and media.
Throughout her career, Jessie has put leaders on global stages at Enterprise Connect, Web Summit, and SXSW, and secured coverage in leading publications such as Forbes, WSJ, and Bloomberg.
Prior to joining Spool Jessie focused her storytelling abilities on technology companies while working with Bulleit Group and Zeno Group. She had the opportunity to work with clients in the likes of Google Chrome Enterprise, Cognizant Technologies, Electrify America, and Sweat Equity Ventures.
In her free time, Jessie enjoys attending concerts and spending days in used bookstores. She graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Public Relations, and currently lives in Chicago.
Job Titles:
- SVP
- SVP, Operations & Legal
Joe McQuade is an SVP at Spool, leading the company's legal and operations departments. In this role, Joe oversees all company contracts, financing arrangements, and other commercial and licensing agreements. Additionally, Joe brings a unique entrepreneurial mindset to oversee and coordinate growth strategy, business-minded team development, asset management, financial operations, and human resources. Having founded, owned, and operated an e-commerce business for over 15 years, Joe has deep experience positioning companies for success as they scale. He is a trusted business partner, a strategic thinker, and an analytical problem solver. Joe loves assessing business opportunities to develop and implement solutions that achieve management goals and mitigate risk.
Joe holds a BA in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He lives in Evanston, Illinois with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time, Joe can usually be found watching one of his daughters at a swim meet or trying to keep up with Alex Toussaint on a Peloton ride. Joe's dream concert would be R.E.M. opening for Foo Fighters opening for Queen at Red Rocks. Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, and Glen Phillips would join Joe at the show and they would enjoy Joe's favorite meal of a Chicago Cut Filet Mignon pre-concert.
Job Titles:
- Intern
- Member of the Public Relations Student Society of America
Julia Stankiewicz is an intern at Spool Marketing & Communications. She is currently a junior at DePaul University and is a part of their combined bachelor's + master's degree program to receive her MBA in Marketing and Minor in PR and Advertising in just five years. Julia is an eager and fast learner who loves collaborating with fellow team members to gain knowledge and expertise on raising brand awareness for clients while maintaining a strong partnership. She is thrilled to apply what she is learning in the classroom every day to help Spool and clients in any way. Julia believes that being open to innovative and out of the box ideas is key to the constantly evolving marketing world we are in.
In addition to being a student, Julia is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America where she attends meetings and conferences to gain skills as a communications professional and updates on industry trends. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan-she loves her pizza. In her free-time, Julia loves to attend hot yoga classes, find new restaurants to dine at, and play cards with her friends. If she could attend any concert, it would be Tame Impala!
As a Marketing and Brand Strategist, Karen Kaiser takes a customer-first approach, using data to drive actionable insights, informing successful marketing plans and differentiated brand strategies for B2C and B2B clients alike. She has worked with companies large and small across several verticals, including CPG, financial services, technology, automotive, building products, food service, and home improvement. Having spent time on both the agency and the corporate side, she has a depth of experience and perspectives on which to draw and an appreciation for the challenges brands face in the world of marketing today. Karen holds a BA from Vanderbilt University. When away from her desk, Karen can be found outside - paddling, gardening, sailing, and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Group Director
- Senior Vice President
Katie Kierna is a Senior Vice President and Group Director at Spool. Her expertise lies in creative and strategic management of large-scale campaigns that connect brands to consumers in relevant and newsworthy ways.
Katie enjoys immersing herself in client business challenges to determine how earned media and third-party endorsements can be most impactful to business needs. Her experience has been cultivated through work with emerging brands, innovative start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies in the Food & Beverage, CPG, Retail, and Sports & Entertainment sectors.
Programs have ranged from celebrating Mattel's iconic Barbie brand turning 50, to introducing international pop stars, One Direction, to the United States with Sharpie. She previously served as a VP, General Manager at Ketchum and also managed all communications for the Dew Tour during her time at NBC Sports.
In her free time, Katie enjoys exploring new restaurants with her husband, having movie nights with her kids, swimming laps, and enjoying any form of "girls night" that she can get. Her dream concert would be Outkast opening up for Jim Morrison/The Doors, and her favorite meal is her Uncle John's Chicken Vesuvio from Marconi's, her family restaurant that she grew up working in.
Kristin Loretta spearheads the Entertainment and Lifestyle news engine for Spool. After executing award-winning lifestyle and entertainment campaigns for Fortune 500 Brands for over a decade at global agencies such as Ketchum and Rogers & Cowan, Kristin is passionate about amplifying a brand's ethos into mainstream media through creative campaigns and immersive partnerships. Kristin also has a passion for the intersection of technology and humanitarianism and has been consulting several NFT platforms and international blockchain projects on the US lifestyle and entertainment market since 2020.
Kristin kicked off her career in New York City as an intern at Epic Records. After interviewing the head of Press about journalistic ethics, she landed her first job as her assistant a week after graduation. She quickly became the music company's rising star as she secured major placements for touring bands on the label such as: The Fray, Tori Amos, Incubus, and Augustana. The company moved Kristin to their office in Los Angeles where she handled all west coast TV appearances for the label's roster and press for the label's touring acts. In 2009, Kristin left to work at an event PR agency where she handled press for events in Hollywood roughly three nights a week. She joined Ketchum in 2011.
Malik Joseph is an Account Coordinator at Spool Marketing and Communications. At Spool, a typical day for Malik consists of writing pitches for potential clients, constructing media lists and research assigned clients, monitoring the latest market trends and many other things. He identifies as a marketing professional who holds a global perspective, allowing him to communicate with peers of all backgrounds effectively. Going to school in West Africa for six months during eighth grade, Malik knows what it's like to adapt to his environment while connecting with those he has just met. He's attentive when exchanging stories and is committed to brainstorming ways in which brands can stand out amongst the field. As a graduate of DePaul University, Malik recently earned his Bachelors in Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in African/Black Diaspora Studies. During his time at DePaul, he served as the first ever Programming Assistant for the University's Black Cultural Center, where he planned and led on-campus events with the goal of celebrating Black achievement. He also served as a Student Leader for the Sankofa Student Formation Program where along with five other student leaders, he planned events and retreats for Black students to unify together.
Aside from growing up in Cleveland, Ohio and being the biggest Lebron James fan on the planet, Malik loves to travel and play soccer on the weekends. When he is not playing soccer, he is discussing the sport with his roommate on their new podcast. His dream concert would be to see Stevie Wonder perform his album, Songs In the Key of Life shortly after its 1976 debut.
Job Titles:
- PR and Communications Specialist
- PR, Communications
Mary Anne McAndrew is a PR and Communications Specialist with a proven track record for creating and executing successful programs that attract the attention of the media and key target audiences. She believes in storytelling with a purpose, engaging the audience with a reason to connect to the brand. With more than 30 years of experience in the public relations and special events industry, Mary Anne is recognized for her attention to detail, keen organizational skills, strong creative writing, strategy and program management, and an outstanding rapport with the local and national media. With a passionate focus on consumer food clients, Mary Anne earned Silver Trumpet Awards while at Edelman Public Relations and has since collaborated with a starring cast of clients including Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, AMITA Health, Motorola, John G. Shedd Aquarium, DePaul University, National Dairy Research & Promotion Board, and Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn. Mary Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications (with a minor in Media Management) and graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University of Ohio. When not writing or running, she loves to travel with her family especially if it means a trip to Disney.
Job Titles:
- Senior Account Executive
- Account Supervisor
Maura Gallagher is a Senior Account Executive at Spool Marketing and Communications. A strategic communications enthusiast, Maura uses curiosity and passion to achieve powerful results. With broad experience working on a range of clients - both B2C and B2B - Maura approaches strategies, campaigns, and media with an open mind, resulting in the generation of new ideas.
Maura loves nothing more than seeing hard work come to fruition for her clients through strategic planning and flawless execution. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, and minors in both marketing and business administration, Maura has a passion for both the people and business side of the industry.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Maura brings a piece of her hometown with her as a dedicated Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns fan. When she's not at work or on the road, you might catch Maura enjoying a glass of red wine or taking a long bike ride up the lakefront trail.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Assistant Account Executive at Spool Marketing & Communications
Meg Kelly is an Assistant Account Executive at Spool Marketing & Communications. Meg is a critical and curious thinker who works on client services and media relations and has a passion for brand storytelling. She has a strong understanding of her clients and a solution-oriented mindset, which has helped her build brand awareness, establish credibility, and develop and announce launches. She believes that it is important to embrace learning about industry trends and is always on the lookout for relevant insights.
Meg previously interned at Greentarget where she conducted industry research and outreach in the legal field and was previously involved with numerous public relations organizations on her campus.
Meg graduated in 2021 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Advertising and a minor in Public Relations. Meg's dream concert is Harry Styles - which she attended with Spool!
As a communications professional with years of experience driving results for leading brands, Megan Scavuzzo works with startups and international organizations alike, developing and driving strategic communications initiatives with creativity, insights, and relevancy at their core.
Megan believes that driving breakthrough communications strategies and initiatives is key to building awareness, driving sales, and strengthening brands' competitive edge. From strategic positioning and narrative development, thought leadership, and executive coaching, to issues management, media relations, and partnerships, Megan is passionate about engaging key internal and external stakeholders to drive meaningful business results. Currently consulting for companies across healthcare and consumer packaged goods, Megan is a true business partner and leverages data, trends, and insights to consult both up-and-coming and established brands. Megan is a member of the Forbes Communication Council and was recognized as a finalist for PRWeek's "Outstanding In-House Professional of the Year" award in March 2019. Prior to consulting, Megan was the Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Mission Measurement, the world leader in measuring social and philanthropic program outcomes. Before helping quantify social impact, Megan spent four years at RXBAR, leading global communications for their rapidly-growing international house of brands. She was responsible for strategic planning and execution of all brand and corporate communications initiatives. When not working, Megan enjoys time with her son Nico and husband Mike in Chicago. Megan holds degrees in Journalism and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. And, she might surprise you with her flair for alternative music and would give anything to see Incubus in concert, again!
Megan Snodsmith is an Account Director who helps lead account management and media relations strategies at Spool. Megan believes connecting with consumers in a thoughtful and meaningful manner is the key to driving brand awareness.
With previous experience from ICF Next (formally known as Olson Engage), Megan has worked on large PR activations and influencer campaigns specifically in the food and beverage space. Prior to ICF Next, she began her career in the country music industry gaining experience securing tour and album press coverage, red carpet events, and partnership campaigns.
Born and raised outside of Chicago, Megan holds an M.S. in Communication from Illinois State University and a B.A. in Public Relations from Monmouth College. In her free time, she enjoys walking her golden retriever by the lake and drinking wine while watching Bravo.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Assistant
- Assistant Account Executive With
Nate Campbell is an Assistant Account Executive with Spool Marketing and Communications. He focuses on maximizing client exposure across all media platforms with diligent industry research and trend analysis.
Nate successfully drives brand development by consistently composing creative, targeted, and strategic materials for publication. Nate's comprehensive tracking and analysis of client appearances in all forms of media significantly contribute to building exceptional customer relationships and satisfaction.
Prior to joining the Spool team, he developed a strong work ethic and a passion for marketing in both collegiate athletics and influencer marketing. Nate graduated from the University of Dayton in 2021 with a BA in Communications and a minor in Marketing. He enjoys spending time with his dog Piper and supporting his favorite Detroit sports teams and the Dayton Flyers. The one concert he has not crossed off his bucket list is seeing Dua Lipa.
Becky is a vice president at Spool, bringing more than a decade of media strategy, influencer marketing, and campaign development experience. As a recent transplant from Washington, D.C., Becky's work spans a wide range of industries but she is most passionate about promoting brands in the hospitality and consumer lifestyle space (with a proven track record to boot).
She's a firm believer that a sound strategy and authentic storytelling are at the core of any strong PR campaign and loves finding new, creative ways to connect the people and ideas that matter most to her clients. The best results are often born from great partnerships, savvy thinking, and a little determination. A native of New York City, Becky holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University (OH). In Becky's spare time, she enjoys daydreaming of warm weather destinations, cooking with her
husband, and running around the city with their dog Roux. It's also been said that she's a pro at making dinner reservations.
Sarah has more than a decade of PR experience, specializing in leading multimillion-dollar brand marketing accounts. She thrives in making connections, unearthing and molding stories, creating brand narratives, and solving business challenges. Sarah is proficient in running teams that span the PR spectrum and developing strategies across channels to drive business results. She delights in learning new industries and solving for modern business challenges with inventive strategies, whether that is in retail, home/construction, consumer tech, food or CPG, as she has worked in it all.
Sarah's expertise is concentrated on leading and mentoring large teams on securing media/business results, product roll-out strategies, corporate & brand reputation/purpose initiatives, celebrity programs, special events/partnerships, traditional earned media and influencer strategies, and integrated campaigns. This includes: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Employment Brand, Stores Communications and Fulfillment Services (curbside pickup and delivery) for Target corporate reputation workstreams; General Mills (leading cereal division for Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc); Client Director for Whirlpool portfolio; Huggies, Quaker, Tropicana, DuPont and more.
While earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at Indiana University, she developed a passion for writing and storytelling that has never waned. And as a former dancer and avid traveler, she is inspired by the cultural experiences she seeks out, whether that is hiking another leg of the Camino de Santiago across Spain, dancing the tango in Argentina, or eating all the arepas that Colombia has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Account Director
- Account Director / Shannon
is an Account Director at Spool and a seasoned storyteller with an inherent ability to connect with people. With over a decade of agency experience and a client portfolio spanning from a nationally known nonprofit to a global beer beverage company, Shannon has a razor-sharp talent for transforming even the most complex ideas into digestible, compelling stories.
From national to hyper-local media outlets in New York City to Los Angeles, Shannon has an arsenal of established media relations that she's steadily grown throughout her career. For clients, she leads the development of strategic communication plans that deploy a deliberate mix of earned media and influencer marketing tactics. Whether she's conducting proactive media outreach in her backyard of Chicago or spearheading a national satellite media tour with Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, Shannon does so with a passion and enthusiasm for connecting her clients with desired audiences.
Prior to joining Spool, Shannon worked at ICF Next working for clients in the Food & Beverage and CGP spaces, as well as The Motion Agency where she led campaigns and traveled nationwide to facilitate interviews for one of America's most well-known youth organizations. Before moving to Chicago, Shannon lived in Los Angeles and worked for the entertainment PR firm Rogers & Cowan where she put client stories into the heart of pop culture and supported various Hollywood happenings, including red carpet attendance at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Shannon grew up residing in a suburb of Atlanta (Go Braves!) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Indiana University. She now lives in the lovely Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago, enjoys travel and prefers her puns intended.
Steph is an Intern at Spool Marketing and Communications. She is new to the agency world, but comes to Spool with experience in social media marketing, communications, and events. She believes in developing genuine connections and continuously working to grow and learn. Steph graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A in Communications and a minor in Human Services. She is a certified Zumba instructor and enjoys spending time at the beach, going on hiking adventures, and attending concerts.