I’m a versatile public relations expert with more than 20 years of experience that applies a creative, results-driven approach to all projects. Top skills and qualifications include:

  • Creative communicator able to leverage PR, analysts/influencers and social media to achieve goals
  • Tactical thinker with a track record of effective B2B and B2C strategies and tactics
  • Nimble writer and editor who adapts to multiple audiences and channels
  • A record of pitching national, regional, and local stories across a wide range of industries
  • Quick ramp-up, able to blend into teams and add value quickly
  • Strong in-the-room presence to sell in ideas, brainstorm new approaches and create forward-moving success paths
  • Comfortable working with all executive and management levels. Easy-going under pressure, great sense of humor

EXPERIENCE:

JIM HUGHES
Public Relations Consultant
Los Angeles, Calif.
August 2014 – Present

Provides a full range of public relations services including for B2B and B2C tech companies and North American and European media outlets. News typically includes corporate milestones, product launches, trade show support, and funding. Skills include: strategy and plan development; writing (bylines, releases, press releases, media alerts, bios, social); media/analyst relations, launches, tours, events; awards and speaking opps.

Direct clients have included: Nevermined (enterprise decentralized data sharing platform/music NFTs), BenjiLock (fingerprint lock IP), SmartLabs (NOKIA Smart Lighting), Kimemetrics (enterprise earthquake alert systems), The Recording Academy (GRAMMY Creators Alliance), Punch Through Design (IoT/BLE devices), Tendril, Inc. (energy service management), OhmConnect (smart energy saver), Comcast Ventures (VC visibility), Douugh (banking) and SevenHugs (Kickstarter/CE tech).

Agency clients include/have included:

MERRYMAN COMMUNICATIONS
Media Strategist
Los Angeles, Calif.
May 2016 – Present

Consulting on agency tech and medtech account teams for national news on topics ranging from the XPRIZE to surgical implants (product, milestones, hirings, funding and events) and local media (local surgeon support, success stories). Multi-year activations include tech clients XPRIZE (2016-2018): NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE (carbon capture), Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE (underwater discovery and mapping), IBM Watson AI XPRIZE, Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE and Water Abundance XPRIZE. Medtech clients include: Miach Orthopaedics, Rotation Medical, Boston Scientific and Active Implants. Spot work includes Ancora Health, ControlRad, EDGe Surgical, Lumicell, Penumbra, Inc., Silk Road Medical and more. Recent results for Miach Orthopedics include:

  • “Swoop down” outreach on doctor success stories in local markets led to one pitched CBS Boston medical segment garnering 195 additional airings on local CBS stations nationwide. Work in the Syracuse market placed another surgeon on the local WSYR-TV morning show with several of his patients.
  • VC funding for Miach Orthopedics resulting in coverage in ortho and health trades.

BUBBLE AGENCY
Public Relations Contractor
London (Los Angeles-based)
September 2020 – March 2024

Client-facing freelance team member in Los Angeles for the London-based firm, handing media, writing, speaking opps, and awards 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. Accomplishments included:

R. ANTONETTE COMMUNICATIONS
Media/Analyst Relations
Long Beach, Calif.
December 2015 – June 2021

Multi-year support for Hampton Products International connected IoT door locks and smart lighting devices.  Worked also on Technicolor MediAffinity content management solution.

ROGERS & COWAN
Vice President, Convergence 
West Hollywood, Calif.
April 2011 – April 2014

Senior member of technology-focused division 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, successfully launched 59 products/initiatives for 25 clients over the three-year period including overlapping launches of four companies in a five-week span.

Selected clients: Kobo (eReading devices, apps and bookstore, from launch to acquisition), Myspace (crisis management, music site relaunch during the J. Timberlake years), Hooked Digital Media (hybrid digital production studio, “Haunting Melissa” horror film app), CrowdFlik (crowd-powered video), Elite Aviation (private jet services), ZOIC Studios (TV, commercial VFX).

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • Vice President, FLEISHMAN-HILLARD, Los Angeles and Hollywood, Calif. 
  • Director of Corporate Communications, DATADIRECT NETWORKS, Chatsworth, Calif.
  • Account Manager, PORTER NOVELLI CONVERGENCE GROUP, Westwood, Calif.
  • Director of Corporate Communications, DATADIRECT NETWORKS, Chatsworth, Calif.
  • SAE, Account Supervisor and Managing Supervisor, THE BOHLE COMPANY, Century City, Calif.

RECENT PRO-BONO WORK:

TAIL TOWN CATS / TAIL TOWN CAT CAFÉ
Board Member (Nov. 2022 – Oct. 2024)
Marketing/Public Relations (Nov. 2022 – Jan. 2025)

Provided strategy, outreach and counsel for the marketing and public relations activities of the Pasadena-based Tail Town Cats nonprofit and associated Tail Town Cat Café and Adoption Center. Imaginative collaboration with the Acting Executive Director to generate press around quirky events and cat-themed activities, including: Tail Town Cats of Festivus, Tail Town Kitty Catnip Court with crowning by the Rose Princess and her Court (2023 and 2024), Giant Cats at the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, the Summer Carnival of Cats, and as mural artists at the Pasadena Chalk Festival, making the adoption center stand out for cat-lovers. Drafted all press materials and pitches and conducted outreach to secure articles, segments, executive commentary, and mentions. Highlighted nonprofit status for consumer and corporate sponsor donations (hyperlocal, regional, national). On-air coverage included KTLA, KABC Eyewitness News, KCAL/KCBS, Localish (national and social) and LAist Morning Edition; online/print includes KTLA, LAist, NBC Los Angeles, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly (multiple pieces and print cover), Pasadena Now, and Secret Los Angeles, among others. Ramped up a commentary program highlighting the executive director as an expert on animal welfare, adoption and behavior with POV pieces on The Wildest, Cattitude Podcast, Adopt-A-Pet, BeChewy, CNN Underscored, Woman’s Day, Forbes Vetted, CountryLiving and more. Part of the four-person team that won the “Best Rendering of a Masterpiece” Award with Gainspurro’s “Big Blue Boi“ mural at the Pasadena Chalk Festival (6/23/24).

SKILLS:
Expert: Digital and film photography; Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs/Sheets, Otter, Adobe Photoshop, Dropbox, Google Drive, and WeTransfer. Highly skilled: WordPress, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Twitter/X online, Adobe InDesign. Collaborates using Slack, Teams and Zoom.

EDUCATION:

  • Pasadena City College, Associate of Arts, Photography
  • ArtCenter College of Design, Photography Major
  • UCLA Extension, Entertainment Public Relations

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