At First Experience Communications, we consider ourselves a different kind of firm. We can be defined as a marketing and public relations firm, but we also see ourselves as a professional community of smart-minded in-house and outside strategists and tacticians who are — project managers, market researchers and planners, media specialists, designers, writers, Internet/interactive strategists & developers, photographers and artists.

IWY

Ira W. Yellen, APR, Fellow PRSA {President/CEO}

With a 30-year background in public relations, marketing, advertising and design, I oversee a professional staff for marketing and public relations projects by providing strategic business counsel for a wide range of client types, including start-ups, emerging companies, corporate, government, institutional, education and technology firms.
Sheri

Sheri Mathieu {Vice President}

Creative problem solving is essential in our line of work. I begin each client relationship focused on strategic market planning that aligns with the business goals of the company. Taking initiative and sharing responsibility for outcomes has resulted in the types of relationships I seek — long term, built on trust, connection and commitment.
Sheri

David Kluskiewicz {Senior Account Executive}

Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m left-brained. Yes, in spite of the creative thinking that comes from working with us, someone (me) will be checking your baseline, measuring the impact of the work and fine tuning projects according to tangible results.

Alison Knowlton Karam, APR {Director Public Relations, Marketing & Research}

I can relate to chameleons. Some days I am an architect, others – a firefighter. Whatever the situation calls for me to do, that’s the hat I’ll wear. Thoughtful strategist or crisis manager, writing or research, creative or logic, coach or team player.
Laurel

Laurel Pepin {General Manager}

As general manager at FEC, I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades of sorts. I merge my creative and pragmatic sides to meet general account needs for our broad range of clients, and I manage day-to-day office operations.

Partnerships

For each client project, we select a strategic and creative team customized to meet a client’s specific business goals. By connecting the best talent to an enterprise’s marketing needs, we are able to develop the most cost-effective solutions and results for our clients.

Public Relations

Lynette Viviani

Lynette F. Viviani is president of Parsippany, NJ-based Viviani Associates Public Relations, a full-service boutique communications agency she founded in 1988 after a 10-year career in corporate PR. She has counseled companies of all sizes for more than 30 years specializing in strategic marketing communications, media relations, crisis management and high-tech product positioning. Lynette and her team have created award-winning community relations programs and been instrumental in writing the PR play book for telecommunications companies nationwide

Lynette is a graduate of West Virginia University’s School of Journalism where she received both Bachelors and Masters in Science degrees in Journalism. She is a member of the PRSA Counselors Academy, the Publicity Club of New York and a volunteer with Daytop-New Jersey and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Northern NJ.

Designers

Brigitte Soucy

Brigitte leverages over 16 years of graphic design experience to create conceptual ideas for identity, branding and logo development, collateral materials and packaging for FEC in a variety of industries including insurance, pharmaceutical and information technology. She is the founding principal of Pair Design.

Holly Pelton

With over 10 years experience as an independent designer, Holly provides creative marketing solutions by instilling originality, ingenuity and functionality in everything she creates. Her work for FEC includes corporate image design, collateral materials, illustration and fine art printing for educational accounts, technology firms and manufacturing companies. She the principal of Pelton Graphics.

Visual Artists

Jack McConnell

As an advertising and annual report photographer, Jack has traveled all over the US and Europe working for Fortune 500 companies, for over 35 years. He shoots location and studio photography for industrial, corporate and technology industry sectors. His wife Paula McNamara and Jack run McConnell/McNamara, their photography business. Jack has partnered with FEC for over 10 years.

Richard Craig

For 25 years, Richard has made his childhood passion and hobby his livelihood as an illustrator and cartoonist creating educational materials and editorial cartoons, as well as serving advertising, marketing and corporate clients. Richard Craig Design has a 15 year alliance with FEC .

Copywriters

Bernadette Mayer

Applying the benefits of over 20 years of experience as a copywriter and editor, Bernadette helps organizations communicate their stories effectively to their target audiences. She works with an array of clients in financial services, health care, insurance, technology, banking and education and is the sole owner of Mayer Communications.

Interns

Joshua Long

Josh is a visual communication design major at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. As an intern on the FEC team, he uses his design eye and technical skills to execute layouts, logo development and website design. This experience allows him to gain an understanding of the theory and skills behind visual communication design in a real-world setting.