Communications and Media Relations

San Francisco, California, United States

Microsoft

Executive Communications

ICR is a strategic communications firm that helps clients build and protect the value of their business. ICR may be the only firm in which investor relations, corporate communications and advisory are so tightly integrated by specialized senior teams, and as a result, your transactions and messaging are better aligned behind business objectives. My job on the Tech PR team is to drive PR strategy for a variety of clients, including regular retainer accounts as well as various financial PR projects with IPOs and other transactions.

Senior Vice President

Led strategy and directed team execution around global PR launch of line of smartphones from Honor (a division of Huawei). The large project included planning, message development, coordination with multiple agencies worldwide around a launch event in London, as well as reviewers program, media engagement, support at CES and awards program.

Voce Communications

Vice President

- Develop and execute comprehensive communications strategies and media relations campaigns for Walmart, Sprint, and Virgin Mobile
- Secure tier-one placements including TODAY, the Associated Press, USA Today and many more
- Help lead Walmart’s key seasonal campaigns including Holiday and Cyber Monday, which together generate roughly 20K media placements annually, steadily increasing numbers year over year
- Supervise teams and deliverables across multiple geographies, coach and motivate junior personnel, and effectively manage client SOW’s and budgets

Golin

Media Director / Vice President

- Guide PR strategy and direct media and analyst relations for consumer and enterprise technology accounts including popular mobile messaging app LINE
- Drive tier-one press coverage for clients, including an earned placement on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, a feature in the New York Times, and articles in Forbes, AllThingsD, TechCrunch and CNET, among others

onechocolate communications

Account Director

I ran a freelance PR business representing a variety of clients in the tech, arts & entertainment and consumer products categories, and occasionally consult with other PR firms such as Weber Shandwick and Concept PR.

Prior to launching my independent practice I was at Edelman working with clients such as Microsoft and helping launch the Xbox 360 video game console and the Zune digital music and entertainment project. Other previous clients include Getty Images and Expedia. As such, I feel right at home working with a range of online and traditional media, and have an impressive track record pitching and securing press coverage in a variety of categories – online media and blogs, tech, business, consumer, and arts & entertainment.

I also bring experience from my early career as a radio news director and talk show host (in Eugene and Bend, Oregon), and my previous stint as a Communications Specialist at Starbucks where I helped the company establish an online presence via <a href="http://Starbucks.com">Starbucks.com</a>.

Please inquire directly for a complete list of clients.

Freelance PR Agent

Media Relations & PR Consulting

- Worked on Microsoft's Xbox and Zune accounts to drive media results and relationships with variety of consumer, business and tech reporters as well as tier-one tech, games, music and lifestyle bloggers WIRED, the San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, CNET, the San Jose Mercury News, Engadget, and Gizmodo
- Outline PR plan and work onsite as PR host for Zune’s “Live at the BBQ” tour – a series of hip hop shows  in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City with performances by LL Cool J, Mos Def and Common, among others
- Develop and deploy online media and blogger relations campaigns for Xbox 360, Microsoft Game Studios, Games for Windows and Xbox Live platforms
- Manage and host executive interviews with bloggers and key community influencers at industry events such as CES, E3 and the Game Developers Conference

Sara Ball