Clients That Matter
Results That Matter
“We've enjoyed working with Blast PR. They have helped us successfully scale our business and provided us with industry expertise allowing us to be nimble as we evolve our business and go-to-market products.”
— Cindy Brown, CRO of ViralGains
“Blast PR has helped us to create a voice through bylines, analyst engagements and press interviews. They’ve helped us to build notoriety, allowing us to parlay that into stronger customer relationships that have endured.”
— Ray Kingman, CEO and Founder of Semcasting
“Blast has been a terrific partner of our company. Their team’s been diligent, hard working, always available and has developed a public relations strategy to help position our company as a market leader.”
— Clem McDavid, VP of Marketing at Babel Street
“Blast PR’s strong understanding of the industry, organizational skills and strategic guidance have been valuable assets as we’ve collaborated on mergers, key events and elevating our clients’ success stories.”
— Leah Kim, CMO of MightyHive
“Blast PR’s ability to understand our company, its nuances and priorities is a key strength. Armed with this keen understanding, they give meaningful voice to our offerings.”
— Vicki Brakl, SVP, Marketing, Training & Development at MNI Targeted Media
“Blast PR has helped us raise awareness and credibility for our brand – establishing and growing our position within the U.S. market and publicly leveraging the acquisitions we’ve made to distinguish us from our competitors.”
— Sharon Reisner, CMO of Tremor International
“AdColony has been working with Blast PR for the better part of a decade and they’ve been with us every step of the way. Through thick and thin, in good times and bad, Blast PR has provided outstanding PR, content, and awards support. We couldn’t be happier with the results we’ve seen, and continue to see, from this incredibly long and fruitful partnership. We look forward to working with the Blast PR team for many years to come.”
— Jonathan Harrop, Senior Director - Global Marketing & Communications, AdColony
“Working with Blast has been fantastic!”
— Liz Murphy, Director, Marketing, Digilant
“Your team has been instrumental in our success this year.”
— Mark Kaefer, Senior Director, Marketing RhythmOne
Our Capabilities
Crisis Communications
Blast provides preventative messaging and crisis communications planning to help manage when things go wrong. And in a worst-case scenario, we’re well equipped to assist. We’ve managed crisis communications involving lawsuits, consumer issues, patents, union allegations and criminal activity. We also partner on two-party support when required.
Guerrilla Marketing
Who wants cookie-cutter PR and marketing? Not our clients! Over the years, Blast has launched innovative guerilla marketing campaigns that have exceeded client expectations. From an irreverent Ellen DeGeneres “around town” campaign to viral videos for digital companies, to simple but effective secret admirer games, Blast delivers. Stealthily.
Strategic Marketing Review
Blast evaluates your current marketing efforts to ensure they’re aligned with your objectives. Through a methodical audit process, we review your marketing assets, process and metrics, as well as explore broader market factors. Using this information, we outline steps to optimize your marketing efforts and strategize your future plans.
Strategic PR
Blast helps conceive, develop and execute strategic PR and marketing campaigns that build awareness, communicate your organization’s value and drive measurable results. From first round funding through acquisition and all the good stuff in between – we’re there. It’s no surprise CEOs, CMOs and investors recommend Blast to colleagues and friends for PR “plus.”
Media Relations
From standard news pitches to highly complex crisis communications projects, Blast understands and delivers on media relations needs. We know key reporters at top media outlets and the when, what and how they want to hear from you. If you’ve been contacting reporters to no avail, let us help you.
B2B
The majority of Blast’s clients are B-to-B. These business-to-business work horses may not seem as sexy as consumer clients, but to us, they’re plenty hot. They’re the real innovators of the business world, and they trust Blast to ensure that their key messages and news stories are heard, shared – and driving deals.
Non-Profit
Blast serves select non-profits each year. It’s in our DNA and it inspires us. We love helping people and animals in need, promoting community-based arts and entertainment, and healthcare causes! Bowling for Breast Cancer? Launching a new UN Population Fund program? Need a PR partner to help? We’re happy to give back.
Content Creation
Content is the fuel of public relations and marketing. Now more than ever, companies must produce compelling, journalist-quality content – quickly. Blast understands this and offers a wide range of content creation services from editing white papers and ghost writing articles, to drafting investor materials, designing infographics, and so much more.
Consumer Technology
In the age of social media, it’s critical for consumer brands to keep an open dialogue with their audiences to win their hearts and drive brand loyalty. Blast PR partners with consumer brands to deliver strategic PR services that help win audience trust and preference, via traditional, online and social media.
Speaking
To establish thought leadership, executives need to be visible in their marketplace. Blast has strong relationships with key organizations and industry conference organizers to score space at the podium for our clients. We advise on topics, recommend panelists, edit presentations and coach speakers on how to keep audiences engaged and enraptured.
Social Media Program Development
Social media is smart business. At Blast, we help clients incorporate social media channels into their business practices in symphony with their integrated client, customer and media communications. We know it’s about more than how many fans or followers you have. It’s about building relationships within a large and influential social community.
Formal Media Training
Communicating clearly and confidently (while appearing likeable) doesn’t come easily to everyone. Often, the smartest people lack public speaking training or experience. Blast delivers media training to a wide range of companies, from billion-dollar companies in crisis situations to start-ups embarking on their first investor road shows or press tours.
CMO Advisory
CMOs are often a party of one expected to perform the job of many. Blast’s Principals and VPs have all held CMO and marketing leadership positions for top companies. Drawing from this experience, we can help draft marketing strategies, annual plans, comprehensive budgets and measurement systems, and fill in as temporary CMO in a pinch.
The Team
Our team is quite simply the best in the business
Kathleen ‘Kat’ Butler founded Blast in 2000, and has been providing solid strategic counsel and creative direction across the client base ever since.
Previous to founding Blast, she was an early entrant to the internet and is considered an internet oldtimer. She was with Engage when they went public in the late 90’s and used it as a jumping point to found the agency in Raleigh NC.
Kat graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a BA in Zoology. She makes her home in the mountains of Santa Ynez CA. She owns and operates an animal rescue ranch and has saved countless horses, chickens, and dogs.
As Managing Partner, Don manages Blast’s operations, financial and technology initiatives.
Don is a 25+ year veteran of media and advertising strategy, marketing and business development. He was also an event organizer for several advertising conferences around the globe. Within this period, Don led an 18M digital marketing conference franchise, and launched countless business development deals.
Don’s passions include tinkering with and collecting vintage audio gear, motorcycles and wristwatches. Don currently operates the Blast San Francisco office, where he lives with his wife and 2 boys.
Matt is all things media at here at Blast -- strategy, outreach, staffing meetings, especially in New York City, and training -- from one on one meetings to group sessions. He is directly involved in select accounts and provides guidance to all, as needed. In his spare time, Matt works on new business development.
Prior to joining Blast, he was recruited to oversee Yahoo! B2B PR at DKC Public Relations, where as vice president, he helped create LinkedIn Marketing Solutions PR and worked with companies large and small -- Criteo, Conduit, SapientNitro, Time Warner Cable Media, Viggle, and YANGAROO -- while being the agency’s go-to for all things advertising-related.
Matt holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in History from Binghamton University (SUNY). Since the late aughts, he has made regular appearances in the media -- TV, print, and online -- as a “person on the street” or as an expert “early adopter.” Matt, his wife, and daughter are foodies who have great tips on where to dine in New York City and he photographs almost everything he eats on Instagram.
As vice president of Blast PR, Hollis Guerra brings over 12 years experience executing and delivering success for more than 60 digital media companies and key marquee clients at Blast PR. Her focus is on providing strategic guidance to her clients and team, working diligently and with positive rapport. Maintaining a pulse on industry trends, the deep press and blogger relationships Hollis has cultivated over her decade+ tenure at Blast continues to inspire her to guide her clients to reach their goals.
Prior to diving deep into digital media, Hollis interned at McKinney, a full-service advertising agency, working on the Audi and Travelocity accounts. She is also passionate about art, film and fashion.
After graduating from North Carolina State University with a BS in Mass Communications, Public Relations, Hollis moved to Santa Barbara in 2011 to support the operations and establishment of Blast’s west coast presence. When not fielding breaking news, you can find Hollis running the beaches or traveling the world with her husband and baby girl.
Brook Terran is Vice President at Blast PR, where she leads the Raleigh office and serves as a trusted advisor to clients. Her focus is on the creation and execution of communication strategies that enhance clients’ business priorities and earn them distinction in the market.
Prior to Blast PR, Brook developed an extensive marketing background. She has worked with clients in a variety of industries including advertising, art, education, publishing, sports, tech, and toys, and has worked with household names like Crayola, NFL, Wikipedia and more.
Brook has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
As Account Supervisor at Blast, Alexis Roberts’ role is focused on managing teams and accounts that are served out of the Santa Barbara office. Alexis brings more than twelve years of strategic communications and PR experience garnered in NYC and the Central Coast of California. She provides strong media and client relation skills and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment. Prior to becoming a Blaster, Alexis worked on both in-house and agency PR teams at global companies including M Booth Communications and Remy Cointreau USA, with a focus on luxury lifestyle brands.
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA, Alexis graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication with a BS in Mass Communication and an emphasis on Public Relations. She’s passionate about healthy living, cooking, oenology, and seeing the world with her husband.
As Office Manager at Blast, Nancy keeps accounts, payroll, human resources and employee benefits in tip top shape. Leveraging her vast experience in personnel management, she keeps the internal machine running smoothly.
Earning her degree from UCLA, Nancy excelled in office management, with a number of New York companies. She later established her own business services firm.
Her love of travel takes her all over the world, but Oaxaca, Mexico holds a special place in her heart. She is a lover of the arts, and an avid reader in her spare time.
Lorene Bagley-Kane is a Sr. PR Director, responsible for overseeing a team within the Content, Culture and Events departments at Blast PR.
After more than 20 years in tourism PR, Lorene joined the team of Blast in the fall of 2012. She quickly grew within the company, and was instrumental in starting the content creation department.
Lorene graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. in Communications. A Midwest native, she has made her home in the Teton Mountains for over 20 years. She alternates her passion for running and hiking in the summer with her love of downhill and nordic skiing in the long Rocky Mountain winters. She shares her passion for skiing and the outdoors with her husband, daughter and their Idaho shaggy dog, Corbet.
As a Sr. PR Director, Shelley Petri leads and executes strategic communication plans to support marketing and sales goals for digital media clients across the U.S. Shelley’s day-to-day responsibilities include account team management, content creation, media pitching and relations.
Shelley excels at Blast PR through her adaptability, attention to detail and communication skills. She has led a number of company and product launches, including the entrance of NYIAX, an advanced contract management platform and upfront marketplace, which resulted in earning the brand more than 95% of target pre-briefings and coverage in more than 20 outlets, such as Business Insider, WSJ, Reuters, and others.
Shelley graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her daughter and husband in downtown Raleigh at local restaurants.
Katie Sanders is a Senior PR Director at Blast PR. She is an integral part of the Content, Culture and Events team and has worked alongside her colleague Lorene to establish an exceptional content creation department.
Prior to her work at Blast, Katie found joy as a teacher in preschool classrooms and working as a caregiver for children. She was eager to find her next challenge and PR was the calling she answered, with a cross-country move to help establish Blast’s west coast operations in 2010.
Katie has since relocated back to the East Coast with the Raleigh team, where, outside of work, she can be found tending to her garden, exploring the local food scene, or at home making cocktails with her husband Fernando and their dog, Soup. Katie graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Sociology.
As a Senior PR Director, Lacy Talton listens to clients and is able to identify their business needs and deliver communication strategies that drive a positive impact on their bottom line. She regularly and proactively collaborates with media around trend stories and breaking news.
A boomerang Blaster, Lacy began with Blast PR in 2011. She quickly carved out a role for herself leading the efforts to elevate clients’ thought leadership profiles through speaking engagements and award wins. She has supported more than 60 clients in the digital media space throughout her career, including The Trade Desk’s successful IPO. Over her brief stint away, Lacy supported Syngenta communications during its $43B acquisition by ChemChina.
Lacy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science. She is known amongst the team for her love of jam bands, especially Phish, and lives in Raleigh with her husband and their beagle.
As PR Director at Blast, Caty Posey works directly with clients across the agency to oversee events and awards initiatives by developing content for speaking engagements and award nominations, supporting event sponsorships and advising on client hosted events.
Prior to joining Blast in 2012, Caty worked and interned at several nonprofits as well as large corporations in NY and VA. She was also a graduate teaching fellow while completing her master’s degree.
Caty holds a B.A in Communication with a minor in Business from Lynchburg College and a M.S in Corporate and Professional Communication from Radford University. Caty is a New York native, but now calls Virginia home. In her free time, Caty enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with her husband, daughter and stepson, and of course her two dogs, Neville and Leia.
As a Senior PR Specialist, Kristen Frizzelle supports strategic plan execution for clients across the U.S. Kristen's core responsibilities include press list development and management, media pitching and relations, client timeline tracking, event and award submission creation as well as various research and reporting initiatives across multiple accounts.
Prior to Blast, Kristen served as an executive assistant at Vista Equity Partners, a market-leading investment firm focused on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses, where she worked closely with multiple senior-level executives to ensure all administrative needs were met.
To carry on her family's legacy that spans across three generations, Kristen graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Public Relations and a Business Foundations Certificate. Outside of the office, you can find Kristen catching up on the latest episodes of her favorite reality TV shows, exploring Austin's newest cuisine with her husband and friends and maintaining an active lifestyle by attending various dance and fitness classes.
As a PR Coordinator, Kaitlyn DeSimone supports strategic plan execution for clients across the U.S. Kaitlyn’s core responsibilities include press list development and management, media pitching and relations, client timeline tracking and various research and reporting initiatives, as well as supporting event and award nominations across multiple accounts. She is also an essential member of the Content, Culture and Events team at Blast PR.
Prior to joining the team full-time, Kaitlyn was an intern at the Blast PR Raleigh office. Through Blast PR’s internship program, Kaitlyn found a passion for public relations.
Kaitlyn graduated with a BA in Fashion Merchandising as well as an MBA with a Certificate in Marketing. She is zealous for health and fitness and traveling to new locations. Outside of the office, Kaitlyn can be found exploring Raleigh or enjoying coffee on the front porch of her new home with her husband Mike and their Pomeranian Hollie Belle!
As a PR Coordinator, Stacee Collins supports strategic plan execution for clients across the U.S. Stacee’s core responsibilities include press list development and management, media relations, byline pitching, client timeline tracking, and various research and reporting initiatives across multiple accounts.
Following her success as an intern and part-time employee at Blast, Stacee was awarded a full-time role on the team in May 2019. She also interned at a variety of PR firms in Austin, including Mercom Communications and Paula Biehler PR.
She graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a B.S. in Public Relations. In her free time, Stacee enjoys discovering new music, playing the Super Nintendo and exploring Austin with her dog Odie.
As a Blast PR Coordinator, Jayasree Jaganatha supports strategic plan execution for clients across the U.S. Jayasree’s core responsibilities include press list development and management, drafting media relations items, event and award submission creation, and various research and reporting initiatives across multiple accounts.
Prior to Blast, Jayasree interned within a communications role at Go Global NC and the UNC Charlotte Office of Enrollment Communications.
Jayasree graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA In Communication Studies (Public Relations). During her time at UNC Charlotte, she also earned the Epley Undergraduate Certificate in International Public Relations. In her free time, Jayasree can be found curled up with a good book, working on craft projects, or exploring new places with her friends.
Let's Connect
Inquiries:
information@blastpr.com | 877.544.6676