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SNCR Founding Fellows

Elizabeth Albrycht is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research, and a co-founder of New Communications Forum. Elizabeth is a 17-year veteran of high technology public relations practice, with an expertise in participatory communications and social media garnered over the past four years as an independent consultant for European and US-based clients. She has authored multiple articles on blogging, RSS and other new tools for industry trade publications, and has presented teleseminars and in-person seminars on new communications tools for PRSA and Ragan Communications. She blogs about PR and corporate communications at CorporatePR and is a member of the Corante Marketing Hub. Elizabeth is currently lecturing at the Institut Supérieur de Communication (ISCOM) in Paris, France, and is a doctoral student at the European Graduate School.

Constantin Basturea is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Basturea is director, New Media Strategies for Converseon and the author of ‘PR meets the WWW’ blog. He was a co-organizer of the Global PR Blog Week, the first virtual conference on the impact of personal publishing on PR, and is the founder of NewPR Wiki, a collaborative space hosting online communication projects and resources. He has worked as an Assistant to President’s Advisor for Nonprofit Organizations in his native country, Romania. Mr. Basturea holds a Master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Miami.

Elisa Camahort is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Ms. Camahort is the co-founder of BlogHer. Elisa has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, has been published numerous times and has extensive public speaking experience. Most recently, she has presented on the “What, Why and How of Blogging” to various technology and marketing organizations. Elisa is an avid personal, political and business blogger, currently maintaining no less than seven blogs on a highly active basis.

John Cass is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research and the author of Strategies and Tools for Corporate Blogging. He was 2005/6 President of the Boston Chapter of the American Marketing Association. In 2005, Mr. Cass was lead author of the ‘Corporate Blogging: Is It Worth The Hype?” study and website on the value and benefits of corporate blogging and jointly authored the 2006 Backbone Media Blogging Success study with Dr. Walter Carl of Northeastern University. John has been blogging at his PR Communications blog since 2003.

Elizabeth Fairbanks-Fletcher, Esq. is a Research Fellow, Chair of the New Communications Law committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for New Communications Research. Ms. Fairbanks-Fletcher is a New York State licensed attorney and a tax accountant. She holds a J.D. from Albany Law School in Albany, NY, graduating in the Top 27% of the her class. She graduated summa cum laude from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY with a BS in Accounting. Most recently, she worked for the Department of Justice. She is a past recipient of the State Farm Outstanding Student Fellowship, Guistwhite Scholar, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Award for Superior Scholarship in Accounting Studies, and All-New York State First Academic Team, among others. In 2003, she was selected for the Department of Justice Attorney General’s Honors Program. In addition to these accreditations, she served on the advisory committee for the International Nanocasting Alliance and is a member of the board of directors and research fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. She also chairs the Society’s Communications Law committee. She worked as an editor and journalist for Gannett Newspapers and is the founder/publisher of Rhythm & News magazine. She blogs and hosts a podcast at Blawgher.com when she’s not working her day job at the Law Offices of Elizabeth L. Fairbanks-Fletcher, PLLC.

Dan Farber is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Farber is vice-president of editorial at CNET Networks and editor in chief of ZDNet. Dan has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology. He joined ZDNet in 1996, and led the development of ZDNet’s worldwide network of more than 70 technology-focused sites. Prior to joining ZDNet, Dan served as vice president and editor-in-chief at Ziff-Davis’ flagship computing news publications, PC Week and MacWeek. He was also a founding editor at MacWorld and part of the editorial staffs of PC World and PC Magazine.

Dan Forbush is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Forbush founded ProfNet, PR Newswire’s expert resource for journalists, in 1992 and continues to serve as president. In 2004, he converted his Media Insider webzine to a blog and recently launched the CollaborativePR wiki. In a more speculative venture, Forbush has founded Old North Church, Inc. as a producer of collaborative Web-based entertainments. With 30 years of experience in academic PR, Dan was named by PR Week as one of the 100 most influential PR people of the 20th century.

Tom Foremski is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Foremski left the Financial Times as a full-time reporter and columnist in June 2004. He had joined the FT as a full time US tech correspondent and Silicon Valley columnist in 1999 when it was launching its push into the US market. Tom is still contributing a “View from the Valley” column for the FT, but his main focus is now on the popular Silicon Valley Watcher blog.

Robert French is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. He has worked in various PR/Marcom related practices for 20 years. He is currently a Technology Advisor/Instructor at Auburn University in Alabama (USA), and has created several blogs and wikis to complement the classes he teaches in public relations. Robert earned a Masters Degree in Public Relations/Communication. He has done concert promotion, special events management, media relations, fund-raising and even directed student activities for two large state universities. His experiences range from technology/opensource to radio & video production/station management and public relations/marcom activities for non-profits and state universities. Robert has a blog for classes and PR comments at infOpinions hosted on his AuburnMedia.com site.

Phil Gomes is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Gomes is Edelman’s senior counsel, online communications. Phil enjoys wide industry recognition as an expert on the intersection of emerging media technologies and corporate communications, having been quoted in Release 1.0, PR News, Ragan’s Media Relations Report, San Jose Mercury News, Electronic Business, San Francisco Magazine, and other outlets. As a speaker on this topic, Phil has presented to the Forbes Forum For Dynamic Mid-Sized Companies, the PRSA, BusinessWire’s Media Breakfast Series, SFSU, and Golden Gate University. His MediaMap ExpertPR article, “Using RSS for Corporate Communications,” has been widely referenced as one of the very first texts that describe the PR potential of online syndication techniques. Over the past nine years, Phil has gained a comprehensive familiarity with several key technology sectors, including semiconductors, data storage, consumer electronics, open-source software, R&D, enterprise software, and PC hardware, as well as vertical industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials and energy. Phil’s work has not only resulted in greatly heightened publicity for his clients, but increased business development for them as well. His successful career in corporate communications is characterized by his passionate interest in technology, media and emerging forms of communications. Phil received a B.A. in communications from Saint Mary’s College of California, graduating at the top of his department. He blogs at Philgomes.com.

Neville Hobson, ABC, is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Hobson has 25 years of experience in organizational communication, including public and media relations, marketing communication, employee, compensation and benefits communication as well as investor and financial relations. He helps companies use effective communication to achieve their business goals. For more than 15 years he has been a passionate advocate for new and emerging technology tools and channels and how they can be deployed as highly-effective agents of change in better aligning organizational needs with the marketplace and the needs of customers. He was VP corporate communication at Scala Business Solutions NV. During the 1990s, Neville worked for William M Mercer Ltd (an actuarial, employee benefits, compensation and HR management consulting firm) in the UK. Neville spent five years as a UK-based independent communication practitioner and project leader, an Internet and intranet evangelist, website developer, software tester, freelance copywriter and editor on technology-related topics. In the 1980s, Neville lived in Costa Rica, where he was co-founder and principal of Communication Advisers Ltd, a PR, advertising and marketing communication agency. He authors NevOn, a weblog with commentary and opinion on business communication and technology. Through his blog and his growing network of influence, and in speaking at conferences and other events, he advocates how new communication channels such as weblogs, wikis and RSS can be of significant benefit to organizations in helping them achieve their business objectives.

Shel Holtz, ABC is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Holtz is principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. He has been advising companies on how to use online tools for public relations and corporate communications since 1996. Before that, he was a communications consultant and practice leader for Alexander & Alexander Consulting Group. He has also been director of corporate communications at two Fortune 500 companies, Mattel and Allergan. He is the author of several books, including “Public Relations on the Net,” “The Intranet Advantage,” and “Corporate Conversations.” He’s on the Web at www.holtz.com and blogs at blog.holtz.com.

Steve King is a Founding Fellow and a member of the board of directors of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. King is a partner of Emergent Research, and Senior Advisor to the Institute for the Future (IFTF). His current research is focused on understanding how the Internet, new media and social networks are impacting marketing and communications. Steve has more than 25 years of industry and consulting experience. He has held a number of corporate executive, general management, and marketing positions including vice president of corporate marketing for Macromedia, vice president and general manager Asia-Pacific for Lotus Development Corporation, and vice president of marketing for Isys Corporation. Steve has served on the fiduciary or advisory boards of more than a dozen companies, and has served as interim CEO for five early stage technology firms. Steve King holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business and a BS from the University of Richmond.

Kathy Klotz-Guest, MA, MBA is a Founding Fellow and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Society for New Communications Research. She has 15 years of marketing experience and a background in sketch comedy (including a cable show) and improvisation. Kathy has worked with Silicon Graphics, Dataquest, Gartner Group, MediaMetrix, Excite, Excite@Home, and Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network managing teams and launching products and brands. An author and occasional cartoonist, Kathy has published in Silicon Valley Biz Ink, The East Bay Business Times, MarketingProfs, and is a regular blog contributor to the New Communications Blogzine. Her business has also been featured in San Jose Mercury News. She founded Powerfully Funny in 2004 to help individuals and organizations of any size improve the impact of their marketing and communications through the use of humor. Clients include Cisco, IBM, PowerGenix Systems, Applied Signal Technology, SmoothSale, Positive Impact Partner, The Foot Rescue, W3-Studio, Stanford University, Stanford Hospital, Spherion, San Jose State School of Nursing, DeAnza College, CRONA and Fremont Union High School District among other organizations. A board member of the Silicon Valley AMA (American Marketing Association) and member of the National Speakers Association, Kathy has an MA and MBA from UC Berkeley, is currently working on her Masters in Liberal Arts at Stanford University and is an instructor for graduate and undergraduate marketing at the University of Phoenix in San Jose.

Bruce Lowry is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Lowry is communications director for the Skoll Foundation, the philanthropic organization established by eBay’s first president, Jeff Skoll, to promote social entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the Skoll Foundation, Mr. Lowry headed up global public relations for Novell, a $1 billion plus enterprise software firm that transitioned from a traditional proprietary model to commercialization of open source software. Before joining Novell in 1999, Lowry spent nearly 14 years in the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer, specializing in economics. He headed up the Ukraine Desk in 1998-1999. From 1994-1997, he served as the Financial Attach in the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Earlier assignments included a position as special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, providing policy advice and political and economic analysis on G-7, European Union, Middle East, and African economic developments; a stint in the State Department’s Office of European Union and Regional Affairs; and a position as staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs in 1990-91. Lowry’s initial overseas assignments with the Department were a 1988-1990 stint as a political/economic office in Mbabane, Swaziland, and a 1986-87 tour in Saudi Arabia as a consular officer. Lowry is a member of the Pacific Council for International Policy and on the advisory board of Business for Diplomatic Action. He received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Pomona College and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Mike Manuel is a Founding Fellow and Chairman of the Best Practices committee of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Manuel is a communications strategist with seven years of technology public relations, journalism and marketing experience. He spearheads Voce Communications’ Digital Advocacy practice, consulting clients on a variety of online communication programs with a particular focus on integrating social media and influencer marketing strategies with traditional media campaigns. He is also the author of Media Guerrilla, an award-winning weblog that follows Silicon Valley PR and marketing news.

Matthew Podboy is a Founding Fellow and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Society for New Communications Research. Mr. Podboy is a founder and client supervisor at Voce Communications. Matt has led communications programs for established brands and emerging private sector companies in a variety of markets including online collaboration, P2P, security, and data storage. Matt’s focus on infrastructure and consumer technology allows him to provide strategic positioning, corporate and product market introductions, corporate communications counsel, as well as competitive positioning for a variety of related technologies. He maintains strong relationships with key business media, trade media, market and financial analysts by bringing outside ideas, trends and perspective to media engagements. Recently Matt has focused on implementing online communication tools such as blogs and wikis to expand client programs and build more dynamic interaction with key market influencers. In addition, he has helped establish a significant platform for Voce as leaders in Digital Advocacy counsel for clients. Prior to Voce, Matt worked at Weber Shandwick where he helped manage public relations programs for global company Compaq, test and measurement leader Fluke Corporation, and various emerging technology companies. Previously, Matt held several in-house public relations roles for companies in Santa Barbara, California. Matt graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in psychology. His blog is Active Voice.

Giovanni Rodriguez is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research and a noted consultant, author and speaker on public relations and corporate leadership. He is chairman and co-founder of The Conversation Group, a new global consultancy devoted to the art, science, and practical application of social media, working with clients and partners as diverse as Technorati, Ogilvy, and global-software giant SAP. A popular speaker on the social-media circuit, Giovanni has instigated an ongoing debate about the future of the PR profession. His work and opinion have been featured in numerous publications including PRWeek, Brandweek, BusinessWeek and Forbes. He is a graduate of Princeton University.

Philip Young is a Founding Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research. He is senior lecturer in Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom, specializing in media ethics. He runs the Mediations blog.

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