Diana Brainerd President Diana Brainerd has an extensive background in corporate communications, financial analysis and investor relations. She has provided strategic communications advice to hundreds of companies worldwide and across diverse industries. Her communications expertise encompasses such areas as initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, key message development, expectations management, crisis communications, corporate positioning, management transitions, changes in control, strategic investments and alliances, divestitures, downsizings, debtholder relations, investment community marketing, corporate spin-offs, media relations and emerging markets issues. Prior to founding Brainerd in 1994, Ms. Brainerd was a securities analyst at a major New York City bank, a financial corporate officer at a leading media, entertainment and telecommunications company, and an investor relations counselor. Ms. Brainerd attended the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration, the University of California at Los Angeles, the Rhode Island School of Design and Phillips Andover Academy. Anthony Herrling Managing Director Anthony Herrling is an expert in media relations and crisis communications, who has provided strategic counsel on corporate reputation and positioning to US and international clients, with a concentration on media companies, during two decades with communication agencies. Areas of specialization include Mergers and Acquisitions, Chapter 11 restructurings, employee engagement, IPOs, Stock Exchange Listings, litigation support and the development of crisis communication websites. At Brainerd, Mr. Herrling plays a lead role in programs for publishing and cable television clients. His earlier experience as a corporate investor relations officer and business journalist enhances his guidance on corporate and financial communication. His campaigns have been honored with a Bronze SABRE Award for Best Website, a Beacon Award, and nominations for Gold SABRE and CIPRA awards. His book The Prentice Hall Guide to Media Relations is part of the Advanced Business Communication series from the world’s leading educational publisher. Before agency assignments, Mr. Herrling was manager of investor relations at Capital Cities /ABC Inc., and a reporter and editor with Broadcasting and Cable Magazine. He holds an A.B. from Columbia University’s Columbia College Joseph LoBello Managing Director Joseph LoBello supports Brainerd clients with media relations and financial communications counsel. Mr. LoBello has extensive experience providing strategic guidance on investor relations issues, crisis communications, and financial transactions including support for leadership changes, initial and secondary offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, passive and active investments, and exits and divestitures. Prior to joining Brainerd, Mr. LoBello served with Stanton Crenshaw Communications, where he was responsible for media relations, strategic planning, and brand management for several financial services companies and their portfolio companies. Mr. LoBello earlier served as a Public Relations Manager at Thompson Financial; he began his career working with New York State Senator Norman J. Levy. Mr. LoBello graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and received his Master of Arts in Government and Politics from St. John’s University. Jeff Majtyka Managing Director Over his 20-year public relations career, Jeff has built strong and diverse expertise helping companies and top executives communicate persuasively, whether that be to investors on an IPO roadshow or earnings call, to employees and customers when a business crisis develops, or through the media in good times and in bad. For Brainerd, Jeff leads multi-discipline engagements across industries including technology, media, entertainment, financial services, healthcare and other verticals; he is also a strategic resource to C-level executives and the corporate PR and IR professionals who serve them. He sees his primary goal as making his clients strong individual communicators and, in the process, protecting and enhancing the reputations of their enterprises. Jeff began his career as a journalist covering the securities and banking industries. He holds a BA and an MBA from the College of William & Mary. Christian Plunkett Managing Director Chris Plunkett has over two decades of experience in counseling companies on financial public relations and investor communications issues. He has advised senior management teams on communications strategies related to industry positioning, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, restructuring programs, management changes, crisis situations and financial forecasting. He has represented blue-chip companies and start-up enterprises in diverse industries, including media, entertainment, technology, real estate, consumer and for-profit education. Mr. Plunkett has been instrumental in developing Brainerd’s specialized programs for initial public offerings, as well as the firm’s presentation training seminars and executive financial communications workshops. A past speaker at PRSA and NIRI national conferences, he has moderated events pertaining to Regulation FD, IR program planning and shareholder class action lawsuits. He launched the annual Media & Entertainment industry roundtable at NIRI’s national conference. His industry commentary has been published in IR Update, PR Tactics and Investor Relations Business. Mr. Plunkett began his career at Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co. Inc., where he was a corporate relations associate and registered representative (FINRA/NYSE Series 7 and 63 licenses). He later held account management positions at the Abernathy MacGregor Group and Morgen-Walke Associates. Mr. Plunkett studied Speech Communications and Public Relations at Rowan University and New York University. Michael Smargiassi Managing Director Michael Smargiassi has extensive experience in the creation and management of investor relations and financial communications programs, including investor marketing events, investor days, annual meetings, annual reports and special events. Mr. Smargiassi has counseled clients in support of a broad range of transactions, including initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, capital markets transactions and corporate restructurings. In addition to client work, Mr. Smargiassi draws on his strong technology background to also manage Brainerd's information systems. Prior to joining Brainerd, Mr. Smargiassi held positions in the Municipal Bond and Fixed Income Departments of Bloomberg Financial Markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The College of New Jersey. Raymond Yeung Managing Director Ray Yeung is a member of Brainerd’s media relations team, specializing in corporate and consumer communications campaigns for entertainment, media, technology, computer animation and business services clients. Mr. Yeung’s areas of expertise include program planning, message development, industry analyst and media relations and product/service and tour launches. Before joining Brainerd, Mr. Yeung was with Hill and Knowlton’s corporate and technology practice in New York. He earlier served as Communications Manager, Industries and Web with Oracle Corporation in Australia and New Zealand, where he helped develop marketing strategies and the delivery of integrated marketing communications programs for the region, as well as managing both the external and internal Oracle Web sites. Mr. Yeung is a graduate of Fordham University’s School of Business Administration in New York and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing. Scott Cianciulli Senior Vice President Scott Cianciulli has worked with clients that span a wide array of sectors, including technology, consumer electronics, radio, satellite, entertainment, etc. His responsibilities include media/project management, program execution, and real-time news monitoring. He has experience with product launches, implements BtoB and BtoC campaigns, and works with national and local media. Mr. Cianciulli is a graduate of Marist College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations, with a Business cognate. Corey Kinger Senior Vice President Corey Kinger joined Brainerd in 2002 and provides counsel and full service program support for investor relations clients. Her areas of expertise include best practice investor relations program development and implementation, IPO and M&A programs, crisis communications, in-depth industry research and analysis, and strategic planning and coordination for investor events. She has worked with dozens of companies across multiple industries and sectors, including Internet and e-commerce, communications equipment and networking, satellite services and technology, consumer and business services, semiconductor equipment, media and entertainment, and financial services. Ms. Kinger graduated with honors from Boston University’s College of Communication, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in sociology. She is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and a volunteer for the New York chapter. Nancy Zakhary Senior Vice President Nancy Zakhary focuses primarily on news research, database building and management, and composition of news releases. She is also instrumental in monitoring and updating events such as trade shows, conventions, research group conferences and investment banking conferences. Ms. Zakhary specializes in developing and executing consumer focused public relations campaigns, she is a graduate of F.I.T. and holds a BS in International Trade and Marketing from F.I.T. Brad Edwards Vice President Brad Edwards has over five years of investor relations experience and has implemented programs for clients spanning a diverse industry set including traditional and new media, post-secondary education, pharmaceutical, internet services, satellite technology, consumer goods, and special purpose acquisition companies. Mr. Edwards provides an assortment of investor relations services including financial writing and content creation, presentation messaging and development, investor events planning and coordination, and investor targeting and marketing support functions. His areas of expertise also include peer and industry evaluation and monitoring, infrastructure management and the generation of valuation analyses, institutional ownership and other quantitative reports. Mr. Edwards received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Connecticut College and completed the Fordham University MBA program with a dual concentration in Finance and Marketing. Maggie Duquin Vice President Maggie Duquin provides strategic public relations services and media relations to a variety of media and technology clients at Brainerd Communicators. For these companies, Ms. Duquin helps build positive perception through high level media relations and issue management campaigns, new product/service launches and executive visibility programs. She works daily with top business and consumer media, promoting her clients’ industry thought leadership and company key messages. Prior to joining Brainerd, Ms. Duquin was with Makovsky + Company, a public relations agency in New York, where she was responsible for strategic public relations and research for clients in the financial services industries. Ms. Duquin received a BS in Communications and English from John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America. Giovanni Garcia Chief Financial Officer Giovanni Garcia is responsible for Brainerd’s financial operations and management, overseeing the firm’s accounting as well as benefits and employment policies. Before joining Brainerd, Mr. Garcia was an accountant with the certified public accounting firm Ash and Parsont, and previously served as an auditor for Rocklin Lipsky Stoller & Company. Mr. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Accounting from New York University.