At Changemaker Communications, we put startups on the map through thoughtful storytelling.We create new categories.We foster communities.We earn credibility.Founded in 2021 by Silicon Valley PR veteran Heather Sliwinski, Changemaker has its finger on the pulse of consumer and B2B technology, with 15 years in the business of executing communications strategies that make an impact. Heather has launched media darlings like Nima and Beddr, and has represented Fortune 500 powerhouses like Samsung, Salesforce and VMware. Her clients have been recognized with numerous accolades, including Time’s Best Inventions of the Year, Fast Company Most Innovative Companies & Innovation by Design, SXSW Innovation Awards, TechCrunch Hardware Battlefield, and so many more. We believe that PR is a force for change within a business, and we partner with companies that are ready to make moves.

Spearheading the media relations and analyst relations programs to gain awareness for the company and demonstrating thought leadership for its executives in the sales tech spaceKey accomplishments-Created a strategic PR plan, including corporate and product communications, to secure media coverage in top-tier outlets, including Forbes, Fortune, Engadget, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business and TechTarget-Submitted and won industry awards to gain credibility, including Deloitte Fast 500, Digiday Technology Awards, Gold Stevie for Customer Service and Sales, MarTech Breakthrough Award, and workplace awards such as Built In Best Places to Work, Comparably’s Best Company Culture, Leadership and more-Built relationships with trusted analysts at Gartner, TOPO and Forrester, garnering inclusion in multiple research reports in sales and marketing

Directed media relations and social media strategies in B2B and B2C tech, for clients such as Beddr Sleep, Traackr, Strivr and moreKey accomplishments:-Fostered media relationships and secured coverage with top-tier business and technology publications, such as Business Insider, CNBC, WSJ, VentureBeat and Fast Company, and across key verticals in health, retail, SaaS and more-Grew team from three to nine in one year, managing recruiting and hiring in San Francisco and New York City-Sourced, pitched and secured new business to increase revenue-Increased monthly scopes of client accounts by achieving and exceeding on business OKRs, as well as upselling services to drive additional value to clients’ marketing plans*Promoted from senior account director in 2019

Built and directed corporate and product communications programs from scratch for Nima, a DTC health tech company, including:-Media and influencer relations to build buzz and drive brand awareness for a new product categoryAffiliate marketing programs to boost sales via high-profile influencers-Content marketing through owned social media channels, blog and email to drive sales, awareness and media coverage-Attendance at key industry and consumer events for Nima executive team to position as experts in food and health tech-Thought leadership platforms for Nima co-founders to prove expertise and continue drumbeat of conversation in between product launches-Crisis communications plans for all possible contingencies post-launch given the serious nature of any potential product errorsKey accomplishments:-Created and executed all media relations strategies for Nima - from pre-sale to Series A and first product launch - without an agency or support team-Secured numerous accolades and awards for Nima’s first product-Launched Nima pre-sale campaign and announced general availability with positive reviews in Buzzfeed, TechCrunch, CNET, Brit+Co, Popular Science, Inc. and more-Led Nima through announcement of Series A funding and relaunch of global brand identity, covered by TechCrunch, Fortune, WSJ Pro Venture Wire, Entrepreneur, MobiHealthNewsNima accolades:-CNBC Upstart 25 inaugural list-Popular Science "Best of What's New" 2016 in health-Fast Company Innovation by Design 2016 finalist in health-Business Insider - "25 hottest San Francisco startups to watch in 2016"-Edison Awards 2016 - Bronze Winner, Health & Wellness - Sensors and Wearables-SXSW Interactive Innovation Awards 2016 - Finalist-TechCrunch Hardware Battlefield CES 2016 - Winner-The Bump's Best of Baby Tech Awards 2016 - Finalist-TIME magazine - "Best Inventions of 2015"-Travel + Leisure - "Best travel gadgets of 2015" *Promoted from PR lead in April 2017

Contributing columnist to PRSA's monthly publication, "Tactics," discussing the public relations industry, career development and advice for new professionals under the "Going Pro" column.

-Led the PRSA New Professionals Section Executive Committee on programming, membership, content development and networking-Oversaw the 2014 New Professionals Week, connecting new PR professionals with their local chapters

-Named PRSA New Professionals Section chair-elect in 2013-Managed the 2011-2013 editorial calendars for the PRSA New Professionals Section blog (http://prnewpros.prsa.org)-Posted weekly blog entries for the PRSA New Professionals blog, covering topics of career development, industry trends and professional advice for members-Networked with New Professionals Section members and PRSA National members to recruit guest bloggers-Wrote blog entries related to professional development for new PR professionals-Edited weekly blog entries from guest bloggers for publication-Coordinated the redesign of the blog in 2012 to achieve a cohesive brand image across all online platforms-Participated in monthly Executive Committee meetings to collaborate on other Section initiatives and planning

-Managed consumer technology public relations programs for the agency’s largest clients, including Samsung’s content and services division and health app Hi.Q-Served as day-to-day account lead for Samsung Media Solutions Center of America, providing media relations strategy and planning for its suite of entertainment apps - Milk Music, Milk Video and Milk VR-Drove consumer media programs for app launches, premium entertainment content releases and proactive campaigns, such as the launch of the Milk Music Web player and the debut of the Milk VR app-Increased media attendance and coverage YOY as agency point-of-contact for large industry events, including CES 2015 and Samsung Developer Conference 2014, coordinating between numerous Samsung business divisions, agencies and key media targets-Launched health startup Hi.Q from stealth and met coverage goals in health care, consumer and technology publications within short time constraints-Acted as mentor and recruiter across all agency teams, leading the hiring process for candidates and directly providing feedback to grow junior staff-Supported new business development through research, rebranding pitch decks and attending new business sourcing meetings-Quickly built relationships with consumer, technology and entertainment media, such as CNET, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, TechnoBuffalo, LA Times, Huffington Post and The Associated Press-Developed quarterly budget forecasts and tracked against scopes of work

-Managed the strategic public relations programs for the agency’s largest enterprise technology client accounts, including Unisys, JW Player, Rocket Fuel and iClick Interactive, as well as internal teams ranging from AC to VP-Acted as main point-of-contact for corporate and product client teams, developing monthly budget forecasts for all client accounts and tracking priorities throughout the month-Provided strategic direction for client communications initiatives, including reputation-changing media plans, pre-IPO strategies and product launches-Executed the rebrand of a 130-year-old legacy technology giant on the path to regrowth-Secured more than 100 media placements for benchmark Unisys security survey, more than doubling coverage from previous years-Built relationships with top-tier technology and vertical trades and consistently secured coverage in top-tier business publications, such as Forbes and CIO Journal -Coordinated VIP influencer events between clients, top-tier media and Washington, D.C. influencers, exceeding media attendance and coverage goals-Mentored junior staff to develop their skills and build team morale

-Led day-to-day media relations activities for VMware, salesforce.com, Informatica and Prologis accounts for the H+K Strategies Technology Practice-Acted as main point-of-contact with clients and led weekly client meetings-Provided strategic direction for public relations initiatives, including media plans, coverage reporting, messaging and communications platforms-Developed and guided a team of junior staff across multiple client accounts-Built relationships with business and trade media influencers to garner coverage for clients-Developed proactive story angles to pitch and secure media coverage on client thought leadership-Provided counsel and executed plan-of-record product announcements that exceed expectations through pre-briefs, customer interviews, messaging documents and coverage reporting-Provided media relations support surrounding Dreamforce and VMworld U.S./EMEA conferences, inviting and tracking media attendees, facilitating news briefs, producing briefing books and overseeing coverage reporting-Managed media outreach to targeted influencers for VMware's largest acquisition in the history of the company-Developed communications plans with clients to set goals and platforms for the year ahead

-Provided award-winning media relations and social media services to a variety of B2B clients, including Prescient Solutions, BPI group, Aon Risk Solutions, Aon Hewitt and PwC-Oversaw project management for Prescient Solutions account and led weekly client meeting-Secured media placements with top-tier consumer, business and trade publications-Maintained client Twitter accounts and activity, building a relevant following by sharing news and client expertise-Revised client LinkedIn individual and company profiles for search engine optimization-Coordinated redesign of client website with design firm and managed new content creation and company blog-Developed media pitches, built media lists and pitched reporters for proactive, expert-available and day-of news story ideas-Wrote and edited press releases, pitches, blog posts and bylined articles

-Promoted from Sales and Marketing Associate-Responsible for the day-to-day activities of the marketing department including design, direct mail, e-marketing, public relations and tradeshow sales-Created a cohesive company brand image through new print media, web and tradeshow displays-Managed the redesign of USDTL's website and identity package-Produced the USDTLive video web series, showcasing current industry expertise-Wrote, edited, designed and published two quarterly newsletters for separate target markets-Redesigned promotional print media including brochures, newsletters and direct mail pieces-Oversaw the production and design of tradeshow displays -Launched the first e-mail marketing campaign-Designed, wrote, edited and published quarterly newsletters for two separate target markets-Coordinated more than 40 exhibitions at regional and national industry conferences annually to spread awareness of services to new and existing markets-Managed the logistics of exhibition at conferences including pre-conference mailings, printing, material handling and shipping and booth set-up-Facilitated relationships with third party vendors for continued successful partnerships-Collaborated with Sales team to present services to potential clients

-Served as a Park Greeter in Epcot, welcoming and assisting thousands of guests daily at the main entrance -Gained valuable service and problem-solving skills relating to guest entry -Responsible for knowing and explaining the Ticket Tag System to help guests enter the park-Recognized for excellent guest service with the Guest Service Fanatic Card

-Coordinated directly with conference sponsors for housing, food service, and meeting space arrangements -Conveyed plans with UW-Housing staff members including Food Service, Physical Facilities, Information Technology, Administration and Residence Life -Prepared detailed written conference summaries and rosters for distribution according to designated timelines -Collected and distributed check-in materials including record cards/bills, meal tickets, keys, signage and equipment -Supervised on-site at check-in locations to problem-solve and make necessary adjustments to plans -Prepared billings by verifying participant counts and calculating specific charges following each conference

-Assisted the Marketing Coordinator with the set-up, managing, and take-down of the merchandise booth for the annual summer Concerts on the Square (COS) series-Tracked sales each week for the merchandise sold at COS-Managed email databases and contacted media through press releases-Attended weekly Marketing and Staff meetings -Designed a Marketing COS binder with key information for future Marketing staff-Organized Masterworks Concert Series subscription orders, as well as tracked single-ticket sales

-Assisted radio personalities from three different stations in promotional events in the Madison area -Set-up, worked, and dismantled the stations’ booths during remotes, concerts, and live broadcasts

-Responsible for planning, arranging, and implementing entertainment events every weekend for the Coffee House -Successfully executed more than 40 programs with a yearly budget of $4,500 -Prepared agendas and facilitated weekly meetings with Coffee House Mission Group members -Attended the bi-weekly Community Forum to present funding requests for CRC programs -Designed and distributed publicity using a variety of media for each program

-Responsible for reporting on Fox Valley neighborhood beat of Chicago daily newspaper -Published news and features stories on the front page and in the Local Focus and Neighbor sections