Hands-on involvement on multiple fronts in the public relations activities of the Pasadena-based nonprofit organization and associated Tail Town Cat Café and Adoption Center. Board member from 5/23-10/24.> Imaginative work with the Acting Executive Director and Board President to create/generate press around quirky, must cover-events (Tail Town Cats of Festivus, Tail Town Kitty Catnip Court with crowning by the Rose Princess and her Court, and Giant Cats at the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade) as well as cat-themed activities. Highlights ongoing happenings to raise the visibility of the cat rescue and adoption to help make the destination top of mind with those who love cats. > Creates strategies to gain mindshare among existing cat cafes around public arts/crafts/health events mixed with next generation socialization techniques to produce more adoptable cats. Currently pitching features to highlight new nonprofit status for consumer and corporate sponsor donations. (Hyperlocal, regional, national)> Drafts all press materials and pitches, provides hands-on outreach to secure articles, segments and mentions.> On-air coverage includes KTLA, KCAL/KCBS and LAist Morning Edition; online/print includes KTLA, LAist, NBC Los Angeles, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Now and others. Over a 45 day period secured news and features for the cat cafe and commentary visibility in Forbes Vetted, Country Living, The Wildest, ABC7 Eyewitness News, Cattitude Podcast, Pasadena Weekly, NBC Los Angeles (online) and was part of the a category-winning team for the organization at the Pasadena Chalk Festival. Secured donations for Tail Town related to showings of the Cat Video Festival 2024 in the Los Angeles area.

Designs and executes public relations/communications programs to provide specialized support for first mover/advanced technologies. TAKEAWAYS> Creative, results-driven approach that leverages public relations, analysts/influencers and social to achieve business and client objectives. Implements successful, best-of-breed communication strategies and tactics from 20+ years in the industry from global communications agency, in-house and consulting roles.> Hands-on, “in the trenches” and exceptionally adaptable, with PR success for clients in a wide range of industries: tech (enterprise, telco, satellite, AI, IoT/smart home, blockchain, storage networking, hardware and software to consumer-focused apps, eReading devices and games); content (creators, production houses, VFX, streaming services and first-mover delivery); consumer/lifestyle (luxury, private aviation, wellness and CPG); mobile/native advertising technology; and real estate (REITs, EB-5 and residential brokerages). Additional company-related B2B-based engagements listed below.> Outreach has resulted top-tier national and global business, trade, consumer, tech, entertainment and lifestyle coverage.> Comfortable working with all levels of executive and managerial staff, partners and third parties to counsel, gain consensus and green-light/execute programs. SKILL SET:Hands-on strategy, positioning and message development (traditional/social), materials creation/refinement – writing, editing (traditional/social), media/analyst relations, launches, media tours, one-on-one briefings, proactive pitching, event management and support, thought leadership programs, presentation development, crisis support, speaking outreach/follow-through, award programs, collateral development (photography/writing/production). Additional background is available at www.jim-hughes.net.

Ongoing and spot communications support that has included writing, pitch development, media relations (product and milestone support), trade and business outreach, proactive pitching and POV/counsel for accounts ranging from: > Miach Orthopaedics - Bio-engineered implants for surgical connective tissue repair, aiming first at anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair. Ongoing national corporate news including Series A funding, FDA approval, milestones and hires. Local TV and print success story support. (LA PRISM Award Winner 2023.)>>> Q1 '24 activity has included Series B funding and "Swoop down” work for doctor success stories in local markets saw a pitched CBS Boston medical segment flow through CBS Newspath to garner 195 additional airings on local stations nationally. Placed another surgeon on the local WSYR morning show with several of his patients.> NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE - Carbon conversion and circular carbon technology (2016-2018).> Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE - Underwater mapping at deep depths with AI-driven, robotic submersibles (2016-2018).> Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE - Multifaceted health monitoring with a non-invasive device, a'la Star Trek. 2018 Ragan's PR Daily Awards winner in the press event category for "XPRIZE Star Trek Science Fiction to Reality." (2016-2017)> Rotation Medical - Bioinductive implant for rotator cuff repair. National news support and regional surgeon/patient outreach as a continuation of work started in February 2016. Company was acquired by Smith & Nephew in October 2017.> Boston Scientific - Worked on news surrounding men's health products (implants, prostate surgical products) as well as disposable duodenoscopes.> Active Implants - Corporate news as well as clinical trial progress surrounding the medtech company's NUsurface meniscus implant. > Spot work client list includes Ancora Health, ControlRad, EDGe Surgical, Lumicell, Penumbra, Inc., Silk Road Medical and more.

Embedded freelance team member handing media, writing (as needed) awards and speaking opps for Telstra Americas (telecom/subsea/satellite/networking/fintech), Pixellot (AI-automated sports media production), Relo Metrics (AI/computer vision datasets for sports marketing/adtech) and others. Highlights have included:> Secured heavy and consistent trade coverage regarding hiring, subsea and satellite for Telstra, including multiple features, bylines and a cover.> Worked with NBC Sports to highlight a collaborative AI-automated sports video production and broadcast system for Pixellot. Pitched and secured coverage for numerous regional customer wins and national product launches, all without using wire distribution (all straight pitching). > Secured news in major ad trades, sports business outlets and national outlets on an AI-enabled system that can determine streaming and social brand and sponsorship visibility during sporting events. Fast-turn data sharing work with media highlighting the previous NFL season and the Super Bowl.

Worked with Ron Antonette to support Hampton Products International's Array connected devices, Peace by Hampton IoT products and BenjiLock fingerprint locks. Client-facing role. B2C, B2B strategy and writing, tech media relations, analyst relations with pre-launch, product launch and event/CES show support (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).

Quick turn project supporting advocacy activities associated with creator's rights surrounding the launch of The GRAMMY Creators Alliance, announced on the GRAMMY 2015 telecast, as well as ongoing news regarding alliance expansion, organizational realignment and activities on the Hill. Activities included: strategy, messaging, web copy, FAQs, press materials and press release development, exclusive coordination, media relations and bylined article placement.Results included first break exclusive features in USA Today and Billboard and stories in hundreds of publications regarding The Creators Alliance, The Managers Think Tank, Fair Play Fair Pay legislation, and The Recording Academy realignment to support grassroots advocacy at the chapter level.

Senior member of the firm’s technology-focused practice concentrating on disruptive and first-mover hardware, apps and online platforms. Developed and executed strategic B2B, B2C and trade-focused communications programs for a diverse set of accounts. > An in-demand communications strategist with highly successful, hands-on media relations abilities.> Successfully launched 59 products/initiatives for 25 clients over the three-year period. Includes hands-on overlapping launches of four companies in a five-week span.Memorable wins:> Kobo – Core member of the team from initial debut at BEA, through product releases, worldwide expansion, crisis and acquisition by Rakuten, the Amazon of Japan, for $315 million in cash. Worked closely with executives, was the go-to for hands-on media wins in tight execution windows. > Elite Aviation – Validated owner and luxury private charter service offering through media and contributed features, resulting in investor onboarding and $500 million line of credit.> Haunting Melissa – Launch work generated 200+ placements in strongly syndicating worldwide outlets and five million app downloads. Winner/finalist in app awards. Secured speaking slots at Apps-World North America (keynote), Digital Entertainment World and the Second Screen Summit. > Myspace – Media relations for business, tech and advertising trade outreach, deeply involved in the highly visible 2013 site relaunch and mobile release (2.17 billion media impressions, 31 million unique site visitors/995,000 app downloads in the first two weeks). Crisis point person for FTC, EFF and layoff issues.Other select clients include: CrowdFlik (crowd-powered video / tech, business); ooVoo (multi-party video chat app / tech, consumer); Motorola (augmented reality app / entertainment trades); ZOIC Studios (visual effects / entertainment and advertising trades); PostRelease (mobile advertising / analysts and advertising trades); and Hint Water (consumer beverages / business).

Provided a full range of public relations and marketing communications services for companies and PR firms. Supported enterprise technology hardware/software/cloud solutions (storage and servers) as well as medical technology. Clients included: Rogers & Cowan (contractor position to support multiple B2C and B2B clients / business, tech, consumer tech, trades, entertainment); NES Financial/Nationwide Exchange Services (cloud-based financial, legal, leasing, REIT and EB-5 industry solutions / business, trades); Technicolor (MediAffinity content management solution / tech, trades) with R. Antonette Communications; NEC (servers and storage / turnkey case study development); OtisMed (knee replacement technology / regional consumer outreach) for Laura Nobles Communications; Vital Data Technology (electronic medical records system / consumer) for Laura Nobles Communications.

Recruited to join the Los Angeles corporate practice; was also a member of the firm’s technology and sustainability groups. Developed and implemented strategic communications programs for a diverse set of accounts, managed teams and served as a mentor for junior staff. Clients included:> The LTO Program - Delivered full 360-degree marketing support, functioning as a virtual marketing department for the leading tape format created by HP, IBM and Quantum. Developed ongoing communications strategy to cement tape’s relevance in a disk-based world, oversaw global outreach. Provided hands-on account work including research, positioning, message development, analyst relations, media relations, one-on-one briefings, product launches, trade show support, presentation development, speaking support, event management, collateral development, webcast coordination, website redesign, copywriting, design and digital development.> Marvell Electronics - Managed the cross-agency team to support product-side work for the semiconductor company; interfaced with multiple levels of internal PR, AR and product marketing staff. Successfully launched Marvell’s energy efficient Power Factor Correction chips, secured top tier coverage in trades, online and business press. Simplified a technically complex clean tech subject into an easy to understand concept. Supported trade show launch of Marvell’s high definition video processing chips.> Cigna Healthcare - Led Southern California team that generated visibility for regional executives and Cigna news with business press, dailies and bloggers. > Digital Domain - Generated visibility for the company following purchase by Michael Bay and a group of investors with the trade and business press. Secured strong coverage in the trades for funding news and the hiring of new executives, maintained visibility for Digital Domain with consumer, trade and business outlets.

Provided public relations and marketing communications services for technology companies and PR firms. Clients included QAD, DataDirect Networks, ETeam and iQstor. Worked with JPR Communications as a technical strategist for their clients Asigra, EMC Rainfinity, Kaysha, Maxell, MaXXan Systems, NeoPath Networks, NetEx, Nexsan and OnStor.

Sought out to rejoin company to build buzz surrounding the company's Series A funding with business books, financial analysts and trade media. Work was a continuation of earlier engagement (see below) and focused on expanding company visibility through strategy and messaging development, ongoing media relations, case history and bylined article development, analyst relations, trade show support and tours. Continued representing company after April 2002 on a freelance basis.

Recruited to serve as a senior leader involved in the early growth of the agency’s Convergence Group in the Los Angeles office. Clients including IBM and Streamwaves; project work was also done for Neopost Online, Iris Wireless and the BBBOnLine. Results included coverage of IBM, Streamwaves and BBBOnLine in top tier business, print, trade and online publications including Upside, Inside.com, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Information Week and many others.

Recruited to lead public relations activities surrounding positioning and launch of the company's first mover storage appliances. Developed strategy and executed public relations plan to establish DataDirect as a leader in storage area network appliances with media, analysts, channel and end-users during two stints at the company. Work included strategy and message development associated with repositioning, category definition and strong framing with analysts to validate the appliance concept. Core program included media relations (trade, online, dailies, business press), analyst relations (marketing and financial), product launches (high performance computing, corporate, government, scientific, broadcasting/video offerings), thought leadership, tours and trade show support.

Entered the company as senior account executive and rose to the agency's management committee, helping to shape company direction and goals. Clients represented included hardware and new media accounts including Microsoft (Southern California), SGI and a wide range of B2B and B2C software and dot-com companies.

Created the in-house public relations department to handle trade, consumer and corporate media activities. Day to day efforts entailed strategy, planning, material development, touring, trade show support, reviews and proactive pitching. Launched Wildcat! series of bulletin board system/web server software and QmodemPro communications software.

Launched and helped grow the company’s online entertainment site from a three-line BBS to a nationally available service from 950 points throughout the U.S., Canada and around the world.