our people

An organization is only as capable as its core, and the MPRG leadership team has capability in spades. With decades of proven expertise, spanning every aspect of the PR continuum, our people at the center lead an entire organization devoted to making you shine.

»Christi Rankin

Chief Reputation Strategist

christi@mprg.com

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As MPRG’s Chief Reputation Strategist, Christi is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive plans for the management, protection and repair of corporate reputations for some of the firm’s largest clients. It’s a daunting and challenging task, but one for which she’s perfectly suited.

Christi brings to MPRG more than 25 years of executive level public relations and communications experience, and an impressive portfolio of high performance brand leadership strategies. Christi serves as CEO of Martopia – MPRG’s parent company – a national integrated marketing and communications firm, and has since its inception a decade ago.

Even before corporate reputation management became a recognized field, Christi was directly involved in building and protecting the commodity itself. She served as corporate vice president of communications and business development for a $1 billion public sector business segment of a Fortune 200 corporation; managing partner of a privately held regional management consulting firm specializing in high-impact growth strategies and as chief operating officer for a national high-tech firm offering clients online marketing technology.

With a Masters of Science in Management from Krannert Graduate School of Management, Purdue University; a Masters of Business Administration from TIAS, Tilburg University, the Netherlands; and a Certificate of Completion in International Studies from Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration, Budapest, Hungary, Christi quite literally brings a world of education to the firm.

»Mitch Cohen

Sr. Vice President/Managing Director

mitch@mprg.com

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Driven by challenge and addicted to strategy, Mitch brings a rich – and ever-evolving – set of skills to the table. He is at heart a storyteller who understands the ways in which narratives form perceptions and influence action. And as SVP/Managing Director for MPRG, he also wears a lot of hats.

In addition to leading a team of passionate, committed public relations experts, Mitch is also instrumental in developing overarching strategy and messaging for the firm’s clients. His knack for relationship building equates to deep personal engagements with clients and an ever-increasing rolodex of contacts in the media, both traditional and “new.”

Mitch is an experienced and talented writer who has spent more than a decade in the PR trenches. In the process he’s been instrumental in achieving strategic objectives for some of the largest players in financial services and healthcare and the technology providers who serve them.

At the height of the housing and banking crisis, his public relations and crisis management skills served multiple financial institutions, mortgage technology and housing advocacy clients well. He has driven PR campaigns for a wide variety of clients, from artists’ collectives to rough-edged technology start-ups to political candidates and advocacy groups to multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 corporations.

Mitch’s creative background as fiction writer, poet and playwright brings an unconventional yet perceptive eye to his work. Years spent studying anthropology, sociology and philosophy help him to understand what motivates people to make decisions, and how to influence those motivating forces to the benefit of MPRG’s clients

»Tausha Moore

Director of Agency Operations

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In her role as director of agency operations at MPRG, Tausha Moore serves as a trusted advisor to a variety of clients, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She is currently responsible for developing and implementing strategic public relations and marketing programs in the financial services, healthcare, higher education and consumer products industries.

In addition, Ms. Moore is responsible for hiring and training personnel, researching and managing technology needs, managing vendor relationships, pursuing new business opportunities, and continuously improving agency processes and procedures to help accommodate growth.

Prior to joining MPRG, Ms. Moore managed sales, marketing and public relations efforts for an educational technology provider, with a strong emphasis on promotional writing. Additionally, she led sales and marketing efforts for companies in the healthcare and human resources sectors.

Ms. Moore graduated from the University of Toledo with honors and holds a B.A. in Communication. Also, she is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

»Laura Limp

Senior Public Relations and Media Strategist

laura@mprg.com

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As MPRG’s Senior Public Relations and Media Strategist, Laura works hand-in-hand with, and on behalf of, the firm’s clients to develop comprehensive PR strategies and make sure the right stories get told to the right people.

Laura pours every ounce of herself into her work, and has an “anything is possible” attitude that serves her clients well. She excels at creating connections that create positive visibility and has built productive, enduring relationships with the media. Her focus is bringing influencers and clients together to continue the sort of conversations that grow a company’s public profile.

With over 14 years of PR and communications experience, Laura has brought her skills to bear for clients in a very wide range of industries: from consumer-facing hospitality and fashion, to B2B financial services and healthcare. Laura’s very particular experience plays a big role in MPRG’s image consultation, event planning and media training services.

Before MPRG, Laura served as Director of Sales and Marketing for a full service Chicago hotel and convention center and as Executive Director of the Woodstock, IL Chamber of Commerce. She also launched and ran her own successful fashion and image consultancy – which was featured prominently in the Chicago broadcast media – and working with the Chicago Tribune, Elle Magazine, Bloomingdales and Oprah Winfrey.

»Susan Ferraro, APR

Senior Account Executive

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Susan holds communications experience in an array of settings – including public relations and advertising agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations and educational communities. She is a past president of the Detroit chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Detroit) and has earned the prestigious PRSA Accreditation in Public Relations designation (APR).

She offers strong expertise in media relations and as a publicist, and has developed and managed media campaigns that have changed perceptions, increased sales, raised money and introduced products. She has secured media placements on national television and radio networks, in major consumer/trade magazines, in top-ranked metropolitan daily and weekly newspapers, and in websites and blogs. She is also well-versed in social media applications, and her high profile public relations achievements are a strong testament to her innovative and strategic approach to accomplishing the goals of the PR programs and campaigns with which she is associated.

Susan is a recipient of awards for outstanding achievement in public relations programming and media relations, including the Marcom Creative Award, the International Association of Business Communicators Renaissance Award of Honor for Media Relations, and two Silver Excalibur Awards.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication from Wayne State University in Detroit [WSU] and is very proud of her recent honor by the WSU School of Communication. She was the recipient of the University’s Alumni Achievement Award for her long-standing commitment and ongoing dedication to providing career direction and advice for WSU students majoring in public relations.

Susan also serves on the advisory board of the James S. Measell chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America at Wayne State and has been instrumental in helping shape the curriculum for the public relations program in the School of Communication.

»Scott Nielsen

Digital Strategy Director

scott@mprg.com

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With experience spanning the gamut of both high-end design and new media platforms, Scott serves as MPRG’s Digital Strategy Director. His creative, highly-conceptual perspective transcends individual mediums to provide clients with digital components that are as distinctive as their corporate identities.

MPRG is all about the fusion of traditional PR with the very latest in communications platforms, and to leverage those most effectively calls for a large dose of visual impact. That’s where Scott excels. In addition to determining and tailoring the best digital delivery mechanisms for client messages, Scott makes sure they stand out from the crowd visually as well. He brings to the table an inspired imagination and a meticulous attention to detail.

Scott excels in interactive design and is a tireless student of the very latest of new media strategies, tools and trends. His experience includes almost a decade of work as an art director and graphic designer, building brands and making connections through striking visuals that have appeared in a spectrum of prestigious and high-profile marketing mediums.

»Ashley Areeda

Public Relations Coordinator

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As a public relations coordinator at MPRG, Ashley assists the PR team with day-to-day office management and the execution of public relations and social media programs. She is committed to ensuring that client campaigns, reports and projects exceed expectations, and are delivered on time and within budget.

Prior to joining MPRG, Ashley was an Assistant Account Executive for PCGCampbell, where she led public relations and social media initiatives and assisted with various marketing programs.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication from Eastern Michigan University. She is active in a variety of organizations, including P.O.E.T. Animal Rescue, Michigan Humane Society, and American Cancer Society. Outside of professional interests, she is extremely passionate about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.