The Firm
Leadership
Rita Brogan CEO
Ms. Brogan is President and Chief Executive Officer of PRR, Inc., a public affairs and communications consulting firm founded in 1981. She has more than thirty years experience in project management, communications, marketing and research. Since purchasing PRR in 1989, Ms. Brogan has built the business into one of the largest public affairs consulting firms in the Northwest. Key to PRR's success has been its multi-disciplinary approach—merging sound research, incisive strategy, sensitive outreach, and high impact creative services to change minds and behavior. Ms. Brogan offers a rare ability to provide leadership and vision in the context of collaboration. Her ability to synthesize complex information into clear decisions and actions has earned her a high level of credibility among elected leaders and the community. Prior to joining PRR, Ms. Brogan was the Superintendent of Public Transportation Development at Seattle Metro and served as chief land use advisor to King County Executive Randy Revelle. She has a long history of public and civic service, having served on numerous boards and commissions spanning the fields of human services, environment, transportation, civil rights, research and education. Ms. Brogan has authored numerous articles on issues related to transportation and the environment, and is frequently invited to speak to local and national audiences on public affairs issues. She currently serves on the board of the Downtown Seattle Association as Vice-Chair of its Transportation Committee and on the Advisory Committee for the Municipal League of King County. Brogan holds a Master of Arts degree in communication theory and methodology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in editorial journalism, both from the University of Washington.
Michael Richards Principal
Mr. Richards is an expert at developing strategies for complex communications projects. With over 27 years in communications and related fields, Mr. Richards' talents are in managing large-scale projects that involve challenging technical and policy initiatives. He is particularly adept in applying research methodologies to identify market strategies and communication messages. Mr. Richards' work spans all communications fields, including marketing, public relations, public/private partnerships, branding, research, community relations and public policy. He has worked extensively on transportation and transportation technology projects across the country, and has marketed start-ups, sustainability and car-sharing initiatives, professional services, policy programs and international trade. Mr. Richards is a frequent lecturer on marketing and communications to local and national groups, and is a board member of the Pike Place Market Foundation. Mr. Richards holds a master's degree in public policy and administration from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Earlham College.
Mike Rosen Managing Principal
Mr. Rosen serves as Managing Principal for PRR. In this capacity he supervises the PRR service areas of market research, community building, public affairs, design, advertising, media relations and marketing. Nationally recognized as a visionary communications innovator and strategist, he is a leader in creating communication solutions driven by business acumen. With 37 years in the industry, Mr. Rosen has created and executed scores of national, regional and local initiatives across communication disciplines. He pioneered many of the approaches currently used in social marketing, behavior modification and market transformation programs, and has helped change the way consumers and residents view and interact with their world. Mr. Rosen has done extensive work with government agencies and has helped to initiate many innovative public private partnerships. His portfolio includes work for clients such as Nike, Philips Sonicare, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as several regional and state agencies. Known for his unwavering commitment to results and fierce loyalty to clients, Mr. Rosen is exceptional at leveraging client funds through building successful partnerships. As an accomplished television producer, he has been recognized with some of the industry's most prestigious national and international awards, including the Peabody, New York International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Emmy and IRIS awards.
Bruce Brown Director of Research
Mr. Brown has 29 years of experience as a research and evaluation methodologist. His broad expertise includes conducting focus groups, random sample mail and telephone surveys, Internet surveys, intercept interviews, executive interviews, ethnography, usability testing and other techniques employed to assess respondent attitudes, knowledge and behaviors. His work has involved both quantitative and qualitative designs, including longitudinal analysis of national mass media advertising, impact analysis of social marketing campaigns and various environmental, transportation, economic development and healthcare related projects. Mr. Brown taught research methods and statistical analysis for 11 years as an Associate Professor, and previously worked as an evaluation coordinator for Public Health—Seattle & King County. He has been recognized with national and regional awards for his excellence in research by the Public Relations Society of America. In addition, his work has been presented at numerous conferences nationwide and published in scientific journals and books. Mr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of New Hampshire and is certified in market research, social psychology, mediation and management analysis. He holds an expert-level Professional Researcher Certification from the Marketing Research Association.
Keri Shoemaker Director of Capitol Region Office
With more than 10 years of experience, Ms. Shoemaker excels at providing strategic communications counsel, media relations, message development and media training. She has built and maintained relationships with hundreds of news outlets and has delivered high-profile results for clients including coverage in USA Today, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Reuters, NPR and "Today" show for a variety of issues including energy, air quality, sun safety and sustainability. Ms. Shoemaker currently heads up PRR's Capitol Region office, where she manages the national communications efforts for two of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR projects—the commercial and industrial program and Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign. She also directs the marketing and communications outreach for Clean Air Partners, a regional air quality program that educates D.C. and Baltimore residents about the health and environmental affects of air pollution through a public awareness campaign that includes radio and transit advertising, media relations, sponsorships and employer outreach. Ms. Shoemaker recently expanded PRR's transportation portfolio to include the Baltimore Metropolitan Council where she manages a comprehensive public awareness campaign to improve safety and reduce vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Ms. Shoemaker's work on Clean Air Partners led to a Certificate of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She is a member of PRSA, Sustainable Business Network and the Women's Council on Energy and the Environment in Washington, D.C. Ms. Shoemaker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications broadcasting from Washington State University.
Denise Walz Director of Marketing and Media Relations
After spending six years in Washington, D.C. building and growing PRR's Capitol Region practice, Ms. Walz returned to Seattle in 2007 to lead PRR's marketing and media relations groups. With more than 20 years in the industry, she has proven experience in creating result-driven programs that leverage funds and resources to provide value and visibility for all who participate. Ms. Walz is extremely passionate about creating win-win partnerships and intuitively sees opportunity at every turn. She has led comprehensive national advertising and behavioral change campaigns and is an expert at building strategic alliances, partnerships, sponsorships, negotiations and media and program recruitment. Ms. Walz has negotiated partnerships on behalf of clients with corporations such as The Walt Disney Company, AOL, Comedy Central, The Home Depot, Lowe's, Coca-Cola, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks and Tully's Coffee. She partnered with Radio Disney to create and air PSAs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) sun safety program, SunWise; brought together AOL and EPA's ENERGY STAR program to deliver ENERGY STAR messaging to millions of AOL customers; and developed and implemented the partnership strategy for EPA's ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World program. Currently, she leads the strategic direction and retail partnerships for King County's Northwest Natural Yard Days Program. In 2007 and 2008 she was honored by the Public Relations Society of America for her work on the Clean Air Partners program for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Sean Baze Media Relations Group Account Director
A veteran media relations professional, Mr. Baze has more than 11 years experience managing broadcast and print media campaigns for public agencies and private clients—from startups to Fortune 500 companies. He has led numerous national media and analyst campaigns, guided clients through the IPO process and conducted a variety of media training programs. He has extensive expertise providing strategic counsel, creating value-based messaging and positioning, and executing tactical programs that deliver results. Mr. Baze is adept at immersing himself in the client's business to gain an understanding of their goals and objectives. These skills—combined with his awareness of the media's needs and the motivation driving them to make any story news-worthy and relevant—provide him with the insight needed to position stories to best serve the reporter and achieve targeted results. At PRR, Mr. Baze oversees the media relations team on projects for the State of Washington, King County, City of Seattle and private sector clients. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Western Washington University.
Colleen Gants Public Involvement Director
Ms. Gants has 22 years of community relations, marketing and public affairs experience—15 of those in the transportation industry. She manages communications strategies and public outreach for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) projects such as the I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit projects, incorporating nine highway improvement projects along a 30-mile corridor connecting 15 cities. Communications for each I-405 project involves supporting the NEPA/SEPA Environmental Assessment process; coordinating executive, steering, and citizen advisory committees; engaging neighborhood and community participation; environmental justice outreach; corridor-wide context sensitive solutions (CSS); transportation demand management (TDM) planning; media relations; legislative affairs; facilitation; public meeting and environmental hearing event management; and close coordination with communications for adjoining I-405 projects along the corridor. The I-405 improvement projects will be constructed using the design-build (D-B) contracting approach, and Ms. Gants is integrated with WSDOT's construction communications team to manage the contractor's outreach into the D-B phase. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English composition from the University of Washington.
Jamie Strausz-Clark Planning & Policy Director
Ms. Strausz-Clark serves as the bridge between government and citizens, policy analysts and the people, and subject-matter experts and the community. She has over 13 years of experience in public policy, environmental justice analysis and outreach, and transportation demand management (TDM), or strategies that result in more efficient use of transportation resources. Ms. Strausz-Clark's clients include Washington State Department of Transportation, the Puget Sound Regional Council, Seattle Department of Transportation and Urban Mobility Group. Prior to joining PRR, she was public information officer for the City of Redmond, coordinating press relations and providing strategic communications guidance to department heads. Ms. Strausz-Clark also conducted policy research and advocacy on human service and transportation programs in Massachusetts. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego. Ms. Strausz-Clark is a member of the Association for Commuter Transportation and Women's Transportation Seminar. She also serves on the board of the Joseph Pedott Endowment, a foundation that supports low-income young people in achieving their educational goals.
Kevin Thompson Public Affairs Director
New to the PRR family in 2008, Mr. Thompson brings two decades of proven experience and leadership in government, non-profit organizations, political campaigns, health care and transportation. He specializes in advocacy, government relations and community affairs. Mr. Thompson's outreach efforts in government relations and community affairs integrate communications strategies with public policy and long-term practical experience. He understands how to balance institutional interest with the concerns of the public. In the tradition of PRR, Mr. Thompson's approach to public involvement work places a heavy emphasis on process, transparency and accountability. His current clients include the City of Seattle, Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit. Mr. Thompson is a former urban planner, lobbyist and political strategist. He has worked for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Transit Authority, University of Chicago Hospitals, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Conlon Public Strategies, a Chicago-based public affairs firm. Since 1985, Mr. Thompson has served as counsel or staff to more than 20 political campaigns. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from Knox College and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Urban Planning & Policy.
Megan Blacksher Director of Human Resources
Ms. Blacksher manages all aspects of human resources at PRR, including recruitment, employee relations and communication, benefits administration and training. She has worked in the industries of advertising, printing and publishing. Ms. Blacksher is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management and holds a Professional of Human Resources (PHR) certification. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
Rick Griggs Controller
Mr. Griggs oversees all accounting and finance functions for the office, including supervision of the accounting department, financial and managerial reporting (both internal and external), banking and reporting compliance with governmental agencies. He also devotes time to client services, assisting clients with questions about their accounts and specific billing statements. Mr. Griggs graduated from Walla Walla College's school of business earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. He has worked in the property management, professional services and fishing industries.
Alex Sobie Design Director
Mr. Sobie is an innovative graphic designer with over 13 years of experience in print and online design. He has developed creative solutions to the communications challenges facing PRR's clients for the past seven years and now leads PRR's design team. His knowledge covers all relevant areas of design such as identity development, marketing communications, advertising, reports, illustration, exhibit design, website architecture and design, and all manner of public outreach materials such as newsletters, postcards, boards, maps and folios. Mr. Sobie's design approach conveys key messaging in a clean and elegant manner, without excess noise or ego. Clients praise his easy work style, can-do attitude and collaborative ethic. He has created designs for numerous successful public and private sector projects, and his work has been featured in award-winning programs such as Northwest Natural Yard Days, Mercury Thermometer Exchange, the I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit projects and King County Green Works. Mr. Sobie's knowledge of print production brings added value to his projects. A lifelong student of design, he is a graduate of the University of Oregon, holding Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and French.
John Voldal Business Development Manager
Mr. Voldal has adapted the skills he honed serving a variety of public and private sector clients to managing PRR's day-to-day business development endeavors. His past experience includes work on environmental issues for clients such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and King County's Department of Natural Resources, to supporting women's reproductive health issues for the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Plan B and Danco Laboratories. He is well versed in all aspects of business development, utilizing his graphic design talent to craft compelling proposals and his database development skills to manage PRR's extensive set of professional qualifications. Mr. Voldal is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services.