About Us

Ben Merritt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Responsibilities

• CEO
• Executive management and leadership
• Strategic vision
• Chief Culture Officer
• Client support

Areas Of Expertise

• Big picture thinker
• Solid understanding of how to translate strategy into execution to move a company from point A to point B
• Keen understanding of shaping a story that is compelling, credible, and differentiated
• Ability to help clients think in terms of the customer problem versus the technology problem, to create a sustainable competitive advantage

Work-Related Experience

• 25 years as a journalist and public relations professional in both agency and corporate settings
• Successfully launched dozens of companies and hundreds of products in every major technology market segment
• Deep understanding of clients in almost every situation, and the ability to assess their requirements in a broad way

Education:

• B.S. Journalism, University of Florida

Alisa Valudes, Executive Vice President, Partner

Responsibilities:

• Agency leadership and vision
• Management of Northern Virginia office
• Client strategy

Areas Of Expertise

Domain expertise

• Technology
• Healthcare
• Government
• Public affairs
• Financial services

PR and marketing expertise

• Strategy
• Messaging and positioning
• Company and product launches
• IPOs and acquisitions
• Crisis communications
• Media and analyst relations
• New media

Work-Related Experience

• 15 years of PR, marketing, and public affairs experience
• 11 years at Merritt Group with focus on technology, government, and healthcare
• Member of American Marketing Association, Washington, D.C. Chapter
• Member of Women’s High Tech Coalition, Washington, D.C.
• Member of HIMSS, Washington D.C. Chapter

Education

• B.A., Policy & Management Studies, Dickinson College

Thomas Rice, Senior Vice President

Responsibilities

• Senior Vice President and a part of the agency’s executive management and leadership
• Agency strategy and forecasting
• New business development
• Client strategy and support

Areas Of Expertise

Domain Expertise

• Security
• Communications and networking
• Enterprise software
• Government IT

PR and marketing expertise

• Strategy
• Messaging and positioning
• Company and product launches
• IPOs and acquisitions
• Crisis communications
• Media and analyst relations
• New media
• Event planning
• Executive and thought leadership programs
• Customer advocacy programs

Work-Related Experience

• 14 years of PR and marketing experience
• 9 years at Merritt Group
• VP at Ein Communications for 5 years; head of professional services practice

Education

• B.S., Finance, George Mason University

Patty Groce, Vice President of Organizational Development

Responsibilities

• Recruitment and resource management
• Learning and growth initiatives
• Benefit and compensation programs
• Employee relations and personnel management
• Executive management and leadership

Areas of Expertise

• Counsels and advises management and staff regarding HR issues, policies, and best practices
• Develops recruitment, orientation, and training programs to accelerate new hire productivity
• Drives the performance management system for consistency and timeliness
• Structures and delivers total rewards compensation and competitive benefit programs
• Monitors, assists, and trains managers in handling employee relations issues
• Develops positive communication plans that promote a desirable work environment

Work-Related Experience

• Society for Human Resource Management Member with PHR professional designation
• 12 years in corporate human resources and administration
• 12 years in not-for-profit finance, administration, and human resources

Education

• B.S., Business Management, Radford University

Jayson Schkloven, Vice President of Strategic Services

Responsibilities

• Strategic client advisor
• Director of New Media Strategy
• Business development
• Media relations specialist

Areas of Expertise

• Public relations campaign management
• New media strategy and program development
• Corporate messaging and positioning
• Print, broadcast, and online media relations
• Client management

Work-Related Experience

• 9 years of experience in technology-focused public relations
• 5 years with the Merritt Group
• Experience with clients ranging from publicly traded multinational corporations to venture-funded startups
• Managed public relations programs for clients in wireless telecommunications, enterprise software, and information technology

Education

• B.A., Mass Communications, Salisbury University

John Conrad, Vice President

Responsibilities

• Oversees Communications and Networking, Security, and Enterprise Technology

Practices

• Ensures high quality of client service across agency and accounts
• Professional development of staff
• Account management and public relations strategy

Areas Of Expertise

Domain expertise

• Telecommunications and wireless
• Network security
• Enterprise networking
• Enterprise software
• Government IT

PR and marketing expertise

• Strategy
• Messaging and positioning
• Company and product launches
• IPOs and acquisitions
• Media and analyst relations
• New media
• Executive and thought leadership programs

Work-Related Experience

• 13 years of technology experience
• 7 years at Merritt Group
• 3 years as Editor at The Strategis Group, Washington DC
• 3 years as Senior Writer at Information Inc., Bethesda, MD
• Member of PRSA, Washington DC Chapter

Education

• B.A., English, The College of William & Mary

Thea Roberti, Vice President and Practice Director, Research

Responsibilities

• Management and leadership of research practice
• Design and implementation of research and measurement programs for key clients
• ROI of public relations initiatives and campaigns
• New business research and support
• Research counsel and strategy
• Competitive analysis, media analysis, industry/market analysis
• Involvement in operational side of California office

Areas of Expertise

• Public relations measurement
• Competitive intelligence
• Analytics
• Library science

Work-Related Experience

• Knowledge Engineer, Biz360 Inc.
• Senior Research Specialist, Upstart Communications/Fleishman-Hillard
• Library Research & Information Services Specialist, Santa Clara University
• 17 years of experience in research services
• 11 years of experience in library and information services

Education

• B.A., English/Writing, Santa Clara University

Paul Miller, Vice President of Finance and Accounting

Responsibilities

• Member of the executive management and leadership team
• Aligns agency’s financial function with overall agency strategy
• Oversees all finance operations including controller and treasury functions, planning and forecasting.
• Evaluates, implements, and directs information technology strategies and systems

Areas of Expertise

• Corporate Accounting
• Financial modeling and analysis
• IT systems conversion and implementation

Work-Related Experience

• 20 years of corporate management and professional services firm experience
• 11 years with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in senior financial reporting and operations positions

Education

• B.S., Business Administration, Old Dominion University