Each member of the zcomm team is at the top of their game. As A-listers in each of their fields, zcomm has created a championship team with the knowledge and skill to play off each other's strengths. Pooling our range of experience, we deliver clever, successfully packaged client messages for broadcast and distribution no matter what the medium.
Risë Birnbaum, Founder and Chief Executive Officer rise@zpr.com
More than just our founder, Risë is our leader. Under her guidance, zcomm has grown to become one of the highest-impact PR firms in the United States, generating considerable international and national acclaim, including PRSA's Silver Anvil Award, Washington Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business Award" and SmartCEO Magazine’s Brava award. zcomm has been ranked among the top, independent agencies by the Washington Business Journal and O’Dywer’s.
Risë brings her creative flair and excellent writing skills to the table on every account. Drawing on her experience as an ABC Network News correspondent, Risë knows how to creatively package a story for maximum coverage and is always scouting out new approaches and technologies to deliver client messages globally, nationally or on a grassroots level to the general market or specific niche audiences.
Risë graduated from the University of Rochester and received her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University's School of Communications.
Joan Carrese Sineni, Executive Vice President joanc@zpr.com
With more than twenty years experience in strategic marketing, communications and event planning, Joan is a customer service fanatic. She joined zcomm in 2006 as the General Manager and was promoted to Executive Vice President in January 2010. Joan is responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency. She oversees the firm’s Women’s Business Enterprise certification and outreach program to major corporations and government agencies. She works with the senior management team to develop overall branding and communications strategies for clients and to maintain the highest level of client service.
Her range of experience includes hospitality, retail, healthcare and corporate marketing and public relations. She specializes in niche marketing and has worked for a number of high-end companies including Neiman Marcus, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and Morton’s The Steakhouse.
In addition, she developed and opened the first “brick and mortar” Presidential Inaugural Store in 1992. She has also served as the Manager of Event Promotion and Grants for the Maryland Office of Tourism Economic Development, where she was responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of state tourism programs and events, while creating public-private sector projects for dissemination to national and international markets and trade shows.
Gary Anderson, Chief Financial Officer garya@zpr.com
For more than five years, Gary has been responsible for all aspects of client and vendor contracts, invoicing and billing at zcomm.
Linda Marson,Vice President
lindam@zpr.com
Linda is an accomplished Communications and integrated Marketing Strategist with twenty years experience in government, politics and TV news. She specializes in developing effective strategic plans that clearly define goals, issues, messages and target audiences and incorporates geographical, cultural, seasonal and financial factors. She has managed large coalitions and handled successful campaigns to promote healthcare, education, health and nutrition, environmental and consumer protection, emerging technology and clean energy. Linda has the talent and creativity to help bolster ongoing programs or develop blockbuster programs from scratch, as evidenced through her exceptional work for a range of industry associations.
Linda worked for CBS News as an assignment editor/producer before moving to the Hill and political campaigns. She was National Communications Director for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Political/Communications Director U.S. Senators Paul Wellstone, Barbara Mikulski and Barbara Boxer and U.S. Rep. Gerry Sikorski. Linda was Campaign Manager and Communications Director for the competitive re-election campaigns of Senator Wellstone & Reps. Jolene Unsoeld and Norm Dicks. She directed the successful “No on 553” grassroots campaign in Washington State, which commentator Mark Shields called a “masterful tactical campaign.” Linda brings her Hill and media expertise to zcomm where she helps strategize and execute programs which build public and legislative support for our clients’ most important issues.