Sarah Fleming is a Public Relations Specialist at Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-fleming-ba56b2191

Sarah Fleming holds a B.A. in English from Trinity College and a B.A. in Psychology from the City College of New York. Prior to joining Beck Institute in 2016, she worked in the apparel industry for over 12 years, as a product manager for a Hong Kong-based knitwear manufacturer. In her current role as Public Relations Specialist, she works to increase awareness of Beck Institute’s programs and priorities through media engagement, creation of digital and printed materials, and the execution of special events, including conferences, tradeshows and the annual Beck Institute Excellence Summit. When she’s not at Beck Institute, she helps her husband operate a mobile bar out of a renovated 1972 Airstream Safari and spends time with her high-maintenance rescue chihuahua at her home in Port Richmond. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

PPRA: Who are your clients and what projects are you working on right now?

SF: Beck Institute is a nonprofit with a mission of improving lives worldwide through excellence and innovation in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) training, practice and research. There is a huge (and growing) mental health crisis in this country. Our job is to provide mental health practitioners with the training they need to deliver the best in evidence-based care to their clients. One of my roles is to raise awareness of CBT and how it can help people feel better and stay better. 

PPRA: What is the favorite part of your job?

SF: The people I work with. I cannot imagine a smarter, kinder and more engaged group of people anywhere! 

PPRA: What was your latest and greatest accomplishment at your job?

SF: I helped our president, Dr. Judith Beck, with the latest revision of her book, Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. Editing draft after draft of a 400-page textbook was definitely a labor of love, but it was amazing to play a part in getting such an important book in our field to print.  

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

SF: This is really my advice for any writer, including myself: If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. 

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

SF: The Three Body Trilogy by Liu Cixin gets better with every reading. I’ve also read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami multiple times.  

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

SF: Pre-pandemic you could find me swimming laps after work at the Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park. Such a gorgeous public resource!  

PPRA: If you weren’t in PR, what profession do you see yourself in and why?

SF: After about five more years of school, maybe an architect. I love work that blends creativity with functionality.  

PPRA: Favorite Philly Food?

SF: Ice cream sandwiches from Weckerly’s. I’m also obsessed with Indian food and Ekta is the best.

Brianna M. Taylor is the Director of Public Relations for Garfield Group. She has been a member of PPRA since 2013.

Twitter: @garfieldgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarfieldGroup/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/garfield-group

Brianna M. Taylor leads the public relations practice at Garfield Group, an integrated marketing and communications agency in Old City. Prior to Garfield Group, she spent five years at Devine + Partners.

Brianna has significant experience developing and executing public relations campaigns on behalf of clients, but her real passion is in understanding clients’ businesses and goals, and developing effective strategies to help them achieve those objectives. 

During her career, Brianna has worked on campaigns for financial service firms, emerging technology companies, and some of Philadelphia’s most well-known cultural sites. Brianna received an M.B.A. in strategic management from Villanova University and a B.A. in political science from Haverford College.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what are you working on right now?

BT: Most of our clients are B2B brands with a focus in technology. 

PPRA: What is your favorite part of your job?

BT: Working with clients across industries and providing insights and strategies that move them closer to their goals. From finding a compelling media hook to developing a spark of an idea into a strategy – it’s a beautiful process! 

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

BT: Pick up the phone! Relationships aren’t built over email.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

BT: Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers and James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

BT: Fairmount Park – There is so much green space to explore.

PPRA: Favorite Philly Food?

BT: Ramen from Neighborhood Ramen. It’s the perfect combination – great food, low-key, good people.

Natalie Lewis is the Communications Manager for The Philadelphia Orchestra. She has been a member of PPRA for one year.

Twitter: @nataliefizbo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalie.f.lewis.5/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/natalie-lewis💡-46638887

The greatest campaign of my life was my career pivot. After seven years as a professional French horn player with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, I moved back to the United States to see what else life had in store. Leaning into my musical background, I began my second career as a publicity assistant for a record label and distributor in Nashville, TN. After six months in press, I transitioned into the digital space managing the label’s in-house classical playlist brand, working closely with Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and other streaming platforms, brand management, and all aspects of digital marketing. When The Philadelphia Orchestra had an opening for a communications manager, I was able to leverage my in-depth knowledge of classical music with my newly minted press and marketing skills.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what are you working on right now?

NL: As communications manager for The Philadelphia Orchestra, I am responsible for implementing communications strategies internally and externally as well managing the Orchestra’s social media profiles and presence. We are currently working on finding new ways to reach our patrons as the world continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking this time as an opportunity to reach a broader, global audience as we expand our Virtual Philadelphia Orchestra offerings. Social media has become more important than ever before as we continue to inform our patrons and communicate new offerings in the digital space.

PPRA: What is your favorite part of your job?

NL: Creative strategy and implementation. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say the music! 

PPRA: What was your latest & greatest accomplishment at your job?

NL: I ran a Mean Girls campaign for the Orchestra’s Free College Concert, which was on October 3rd. So fetch, right?  

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

NL: Don’t be afraid to try something new! There’s no such thing as a failed campaign. You either win or you learn.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

NL: Waiting for Guffman is my favorite movie of all time. It never gets old and I discover some new subtlety or nuance every time. I mostly read nonfiction, and for those I would have to recommend Carol Dweck’s Mindset and Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. You can always find me thumbing through a Lonely Planet, dreaming about my next big trip!

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

NL: Spruce Street Harbor Park, Race Street Pier, and along the Delaware Riverfront.

PPRA: If you weren’t in PR, what profession do you see yourself in and why?

NL: I spend a lot of time researching and implementing all things related to health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition, so I would have to say that I would probably be a functional medicine practitioner, health coach, or physical therapist. I strongly believe that food can be used as medicine, and on that note, I would love to lobby against the big food companies to overhaul our healthcare system and approach to nutrition!

PPRA: Favorite Philly Food?

NL: La Colombe’s Black & Oat, or a classic hot fudge sundae from Franklin Fountain. Their hot fudge is the BEST.

Barbara Link is a Communications Strategist and Content Creator at the business she founded, Link Ink. She has been a member of PPRA “on and off – mostly on – since I began my career. I’m here to stay now!”

Twitter: @barbaralink

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linkinkcommunications

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-link-315224/

Barbara Link is an award-winning communications consultant with more than 30 years of experience in internal and external communications. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, brand positioning, copywriting and collateral development. In 1997, Barbara established her own firm, Link Ink, with the goal of providing exceptional communications services to a broad range clients, from local nonprofit organizations to global pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to forming Link Ink, Barbara served as Director of Corporate Communications at Rosenbluth International, and previously, as Public Relations Manager at Electronic Payment Services. Earlier in her career, she was an Account Group Supervisor at Golin/Harris Communications and an Account Executive at Elkman Advertising & Public Relations, spending a combined nine years on the McDonald’s Restaurants business.

Barbara earned her BA degree in Art from Penn State University. She volunteers with several nonprofit organizations including Philadelphia Futures, where she helps first-generation-to-college students develop their college application essays.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what are you working on right now?

BL: Under the Link Ink umbrella, I’m currently working with Main Line Health, CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), and Lauren Hart. I also subcontract with Albert Communications, where my clients include LabCorp, Covance, Morgan Lewis and Holy Family University.

PPRA: What is your favorite part of your job?

BL: I love that every day is different. I have the great fortune of working with brilliant colleagues and collaborative clients who make it all so interesting and fun. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a project that challenges me to fit together all the pieces of a giant puzzle to help my client achieve success. 

PPRA: What was your latest & greatest accomplishment at your job?

BL: It’s absolutely fascinating to work with a major laboratory and drug development company in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Over recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to interview numerous experts from around the world, and penned as many feature stories about COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccine development. I’m helping to communicate information that really matters.  

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

BL: If possible, work for a company, organization or client whose mission you feel deeply passionate about. If that isn’t possible, volunteer with one. There is nothing more engaging and energizing than feeling like you’re making a meaningful impact. It spills over into everything you do.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

BL: I could read The Kite Runner a thousand times. Khaled Hosseini is a magnificent writer.

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

BL: I think Boathouse Row is magical.

PPRA: If you weren’t in PR, what profession do you see yourself in and why?

BL: For quite some time, I dreamed of becoming an architect or a music industry executive (look out, Clive Davis!). But since I’ve been serving as a Writing Coach at Philadelphia Futures, I realize that teaching would be the perfect fit. I love connecting with students and helping them find their voices.

PPRA: Favorite Philly Food?

BL: It has to be a cheesesteak wit!

Michelle Kane is the Founder and CEO of VoiceMatters, LLC. She has been a member of PPRA for 11 years. She currently serves on the Communications Committee.

Twitter: @voicemattersllc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voicemattersllcusa/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledawnkane/

A confessed “word nerd” and “information junkie,” Michelle is a senior marketing and public relations strategist who helps clients tell their unique story using strategies & tactics tailored to their benchmarks of success. Throughout her 20+ year career, she has worked with organizations in the automotive, telecommunications, fashion, legal, and financial services fields and non-profit agencies. Her services include strategy development, brand management, content creation, and voiceover.

She lives in Telford, in northeastern Montgomery County, where suburban life is good but she requires regular doses of Philly and NYC.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what are you working on right now?

MK: Right now the main focus of my work is on communication management for my retainer clients – strategies, implementation, and outcomes.

PPRA: What is your favorite part of your job?

MK: I still get energized when a campaign clicks. I love working with a creative team, creating content and collateral that communicates all of the good a client can do for their customers. 

PPRA: What was your latest & greatest accomplishment at your job?

MK: That I’m still in business after 10 years? Ok, that was mostly kidding. I’d say that I still have a passion for sharing people’s stories. That and it’s almost a year since I launched a podcast with a colleague on working as a solo practitioner: That Solo Life. 

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

MK: Be a good listener and be open to the opportunities that arise when things don’t go according to plan because that’s where success beyond your estimation can happen.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

MK: To Kill a Mockingbird

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

MK: Mann Music Center on a summer evening with a view of the skyline.

PPRA: If you weren’t in PR, what profession do you see yourself in and why?

MK: Either a teacher or a therapist. Being in PR, you get to be a little of both!

PPRA: Favorite Philly Food?

MK: Have to go with a cheesesteak – Jim’s on South Street.