CONTACT: Renate Geerlings
Qorvis Communications
202-448-3133
rgeerlings@qorvis.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QORVIS PROMOTES GOLDBERG, MASTERS AND MURPHY TO PARTNERS;
16 Additional Promotions Top a Stellar Year

Washington, DC – [February 12, 2007] – Qorvis Communications announced 19 promotions today, including three partners: Don Goldberg, Rich Masters and Susan Murphy. Matt J. Lauer is promoted from director to managing director.

“Qorvis had a very strong year,” said Managing Partner Michael Petruzzello. “We work hard to foster an environment in which our people can excel, and the large number of promotions this year is an indication of the great talent who thrive here. I’m proud to be able to reward so many of them.”

Don Goldberg joined Qorvis in 2003. He has more than 25 years of Washington, DC experience in communications, public affairs and crisis management. As a special assistant to President Clinton, he was responsible for developing strategic responses to investigations and helped pioneer the integration of communications and legal strategy.

Rich Masters, former top policy and communications advisor to U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), joined Qorvis in 2003. Masters, a former news reporter and anchor, helped develop Qorvis’ state-of-the-art media relations training center. He is an on-air contributor to FOX News, MSNBC and the BBC, as well as a contributing columnist for Campaigns & Elections magazine and guest lecturer at New York University. A profile in The Atlantic Monthly called him the “Jedi Master to television pundits.” Masters provides strategic council to a number of clients, including healthcare and consumer industry organizations.  

Susan Murphy joined Qorvis as a managing director in 2003 from The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, where she served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications and External Affairs. She has run communications and government affairs efforts for large corporations, trade associations and public interest groups. This rare mix of experience has served her well in providing strategic counsel, communications expertise, campaign management and government representation to a host of clients.

Matt J. Lauer, former executive director of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy at the Department of State, joined Qorvis in 2004. Lauer provides strategic counsel and media relations to a large number of clients, including foreign governments, multinational corporations, and industry coalitions.
“It is because of our excellent employees that we were named a finalist in the PRWeek Awards 2007 program for excellence in public relations in the ‘Midsize PR Agency of the Year’ category,” said Founding Partner Doug Poretz.

Fifteen additional employees were promoted, including:

  • Halah Al-Jubeir to senior director: Halah provides strategic counsel on campaigns for foreign governments, nonprofits and multinational corporations.

  • Al Black to senior director: Al was recognized as Employee of the Q in 2006 and provides media relations to several clients, including those in the technology and aerospace industries.

  • Jim Clouse to senior director: Jim, a recipient of the Employee of the Q award, oversees Qorvis’ information technology capabilities.

  • Elissa Dodge to senior director: Elissa manages several accounts that include nonprofits, technology and aerospace clients.

  • Kristin Perkins to senior director: Kristin, an attorney and former Court TV producer, provides media training and manages grassroots field operations for a variety of clients.

  • Seth Thomas Pietras to senior director: Seth, a recipient of the Employee of the Q award, is Qorvis’ senior writer and heads QED, the firm’s writing and editorial group.

  • Jennifer Stoltz to senior director: Jennifer, formerly with CNN, provides media relations and communications strategy to several clients that include foreign governments and those in the nonprofit, entertainment and technology sectors.  

  • Charissa Benjamin to director: Charissa manages integrated communications campaigns for a wide array of clients in the entertainment and consumer industries.

  • Catherine Castro to director: Catherine was recognized as Employee of the Q in 2006 and provides media and investor relations to a number of technology and financial industry clients.

  • Renate Geerlings to director: Renate provides media relations to several clients, including nonprofits and Qorvis itself.  She also helps manage new business efforts.

  • Layton Meng to director: Layton manages QU (Qorvis University) and is a versatile contributor, demonstrating results for many clients, including those in the consumer and entertainment industries.

  • Lauren Poplawski to director: Lauren, named rising star by PR Week in 2006, contributes to technology and aerospace clients and manages a consumer account.

  • Matt Gottlieb to senior associate: Matt supports technology and aerospace clients.

  • Lauren (Ashley) Mason to senior associate: Ashley contributes to a foreign government account.  

  • Pierce Resler to senior associate: Pierce supports consumer and technology clients.  

About Qorvis Communications, LLC.
Qorvis Communications, one of the largest independent communications firms in the United States, is a client service-driven agency with offices in Washington, DC, and McLean, VA.  Qorvis provides its clients with the full scope of communications expertise including investor and financial relations, public affairs, grassroots campaigns, public and media relations, marketing communications, advertising, Internet-based campaigns, and research and opinion surveys.  For more information, visit www.qorvis.com.  For Qorvis news, visit www.qorvisnews.com.