Ann Stephenson founded Stephenson Group in February 1987, after more than a decade of corporate communications and national media relations.

As chief executive officer of Stephenson Group, she is responsible for strategic public relations planning and execution for the world's largest and most dynamic corporations. She has counseled top management on such matters as strategic corporate communications planning, image consulting, executive positioning and partnering.

As chief executive officer of PayPerClip, Ann executes the strategic growth plans for the company, with particular emphasis on continued expansion into new services and markets.She is responsible for overseeing the creation and implementation of the company’s vision and mission.

From 1983 to 1987, Ann served as Vice President, Public Affairs, for Beneficial Insurance Corporation, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board/Chief Executive Officer. During this time she managed a multi-million annual budget, supervised three agencies and served on the corporation's Strategic Planning Committee. During her tenure Beneficial won the President of the United States' Award for excellence in public relations and 15 national/state first place awards for outstanding corporate communications.

Ann has served as Manager of Public Relations for First Interstate Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) and has held several editorial positions for various metropolitan publications.

Ann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from California State University.  Her insights have been recognized by several major publications.


RICHARD STRASBURG, Senior Vice President

Richard Strasburg has a wide range of consulting experience in the financial services, consumer and business-to-business e-commerce, and information technology fields. He is responsible for directing the organizational, financial and administrative functions of Stephenson Group and for developing and maintaining the agency's advanced service offerings and service levels. He serves as Executive Vice President of PayPerClip, Stephenson Group’s pay-for-placement affiliate.

Richard also heads up the research team at Stephenson Group, with direct oversight of competitive intelligence and market awareness services.

Since joining Stephenson Group in 1992, he has provided strategic counsel and project oversight to JP Morgan Chase Bank, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems and others.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Riverside, and a Ph.D. from Emory University.

PAM ABRAHAMSSON, Vice President, Account Manager

Pam is responsible for development and implementation of public relations program strategies for Stephenson Group clients.  In her role as vice president, account manager, she oversees the activities of account team members, and ensures that Stephenson Group clients earn exceptional return on investment for their program dollar.

She also oversees Stephenson Group’s Rising Star practice; in which Pam and the Stephenson Group team of seasoned professionals guide emerging technology companies to reach their market success goals.  This success is measured by the client’s business objective targets: achieving market leadership, acquiring key partnerships or attracting an acquisition offer.  Rising Star clients have earned acquisition offers from Fortune 100 companies, and organizations serving the Fortune 100.  Pam works closely with growing companies to help ensure brand-focused communications that will attract and retain the attention of the marketplace, key industry and business/technology media, and the organizations that will help make their success strategy a reality.

In addition to providing account management and Rising Star strategic services, Pam is helps guide branding and web communications strategies for both clients and internal Stephenson Group initiatives. 

Pam has procured client coverage in such media as Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, Reuters, InfoWorld, USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, Los Angeles Times, American Banker, Bank Systems & Technology, New York Times, Bon Appetit, Univision, Sirius satellite radio and other broadcast and print outlets.  Her clients have progressed from new market entrants, to earning award-winning leadership strategy, within as little as one year of program service.

Prior to her affiliation with SG, Pam served as founder and president of Abrahamsson & Associates, a public relations and marketing communications firm serving the corporate, real estate and e-commerce verticals. 

Her educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree in communications, public relations emphasis, CSU Fullerton; certification in e-marketing strategies, University of California, Irvine.  Professional and honor affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America, and Technology Council of Southern California.  Pam lectures and writes on issues within the public relations practice.

RICHARD VIRGILIO, Vice President, Account Manager

Richard’s extensive background, working in production and in public relations for twelve years, has proven to be a significant catalyst in securing strategic, revenue-generating media coverage for Stephenson Group clients. His experience in product / corporate media launches, creating industry experts, media training, image consulting and managing ongoing publicity campaigns earned him a nomination for PR Week’s “PR Person of the Year, 2003.” Recent client successes include interviews in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Time, Fortune, Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, CNN, and CNBC .

As a producer at CBS Syndicated Radio, Paramount Domestic Television and Warner Brothers Domestic Television, Richard developed award-winning programming daily and weekly.

Richard is regularly sought out by top media outlets for commentary regarding image management and corporate positioning issues and was featured in PR Week’s “My First Job” column.

Prior to joining Stephenson Group in 2000, Richard honed his media relations skills at a financial PR firm and Household Intl. Richard graduated cum laude from Kean University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.

 
For pay for placement public relations, visit our affiliate, www.PayPerClipPR.com