Today’s rapid moving world demands depth of knowledge and breadth of experience.

 

Our clients expect us to be proficient when it comes to meeting their communications challenges so we’ve built a team with capabilities in corporate communications, public relations, analyst relations, publishing, research and market intelligence, social media, and journalism.

Principals

IAN CHEESEMAN, President
Ian has spent 25 years in the communications industry as a journalist and public relations executive. A former Senior Vice President at CS Communications and Director of Corporate Communications for American Express Company, he has extensive experience in creating and executing communications strategies for a variety of US and European corporations. Ian spent one year working on secondment to the European Commission at the Centre de Calcul in Luxembourg. Prior to moving to the United States, Ian was a Managing Partner at one of the UK's leading hi-tech and financial PR consultancies. He is a former editor-in-chief of Computer News, a 100,000 circulation weekly newspaper for the UK computer industry and contributing columnist for The Times (of London). He has also held senior management and consulting positions in the data processing industry. Ian has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany and the United States.

JOANNE HOGUE, Managing Director
Joanne joined LVA Communications in March 1998 and is charge of operations and heads up the media relations team. Joanne works closely with LVA's clients to develop high-level business, financial, trade, broadcast and speaking opportunities for her clients. Joanne oversees and organizes media and analyst tours, and is responsible for maintaining client relationships on the U.S. East Coast.

Joanne has secured coverage for her clients in esteemed business and financial publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Reuters, Dow Jones, and broadcast interviews with Bloomberg TV, CNBC (Squawk Box and Fast Money) and Forbes TV. Joanne is known in the industry for her established media relationships and knowledge of developing the right pitch at the right time, resulting in significant media exposure for her clients.

Joanne’s experience has allowed her to assist clients from a variety of disciplines in achieving their PR goals. Joanne has developed campaigns for large corporate IT clients, start-ups navigating their first venture as well as entrepreneurs, small-business owners and professional authors.

A native of the UK, Joanne has lived in the United States for 15 years.

DINA GRILLS PETROSKY, Account Director
Dina Grills Petrosky has over 20 years' experience in media and communications-- as both a journalist and a public relations professional.

Dina spent a decade in radio where she anchored daily news broadcasts She also enjoyed stints as a news director, radio talk show host, and alternative rock disc jockey in the Providence metro market. Her news team received an Associated Press Enterprise News Award.

For the past twelve years, Dina has been committed to a career in public relations. She has managed the development and delivery of client business messages to national and international conventional media as well as high tech, specialty media, interacted with editors to communicate client information and schedule interviews, wrote press releases and researched and drafted submitted articles for clients.

She is a member of The Public Relations Society of America and holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island.

KATHI HAAS, Senior Consultant
Kathi Haas is a public relations professional with diverse communications experience in international high-tech and consumer financial services companies as well as state government. Her leadership and expertise resulted in integrated communications campaigns that supported strategic sales goals, built thought leadership, and increased positive media coverage.

Kathi received her bachelor of science degree in journalism from Ohio University.

DEBORAH MITCHELL WELLER, Director of Finance
On staff at LVA Communications since 1997, Deb became director of finance on a full time basis in 2001. She brings over 30 years of financial expertise to the agency. As finance director, Deb's responsibilities include client accounts, payables and receivables as well as overseeing aspects of office operations. Deb recently spearheaded an overhaul of LVA's computer infrastructure. Deb's previous positions include accounting supervisor of a local community center and comptroller for a local, 4-store automobile group. Deb earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Connecticut State University.

CATHY PRASLICK, Director of Social Media Services
Cathy brings over fifteen years of experience in strategy planning and execution, research, and management consulting. She has worked with Fortune 500, middle market and start-up companies across the media, financial services and venture communities.

Most recently, Cathy was the chief social media guru for a startup digital agency where she was responsible for developing and implementing social media strategy, and producing in-depth social media market intelligence. Her venture experience includes stints at United Parcel Service’s (UPS) corporate venture fund, private equity firm Alliance Technology Ventures, and as a consultant to Turner Broadcasting’s venture arm. She also brings strong media experience as a consultant for Entertainment Media Ventures and First Sports International, and has developed and executed online marketing campaigns for Random House, Crown Publishing, Penguin Books and others.

Cathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management with minors in International Business and English from the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona and an MBA from The Goizueta Business School at Emory University.