PA Expands Further NorCal, Crisis Comms and US Hispanic Practice Launched
We are excited to announce several important additions to Perceptual Advisors’ growing global team:
Brian Baker has joined as Managing Director/Northern California and Head of the firm’s Crisis Communications Practice, based in San Francisco. Brian has more than 20 years experience leading complex communications issues with companies across a range of industries including technology, financial services and healthcare. Prior to his new role, Brian founded Big Sky Crisis Communications, where he remains President. Previously Brian served in senior roles with Brunswick Group and Visa, where he was Director of Corporate Communications. Brian is deeply connected across the Bay Area business community and has worked throughout his career with numerous venture capital-funded early stage companies, as well as Fortune 500 companies on corporate communications and crisis issues.
Riley Kaminer has joined as Managing Director/Thought Leadership & Content Strategy, based in Miami. Riley is a fully bilingual (English and Spanish) practitioner who has served as a journalist with stories featured in Forbes, the Economist, The Times, and Refresh Miami. He is also a prolific ghostwriter, helping entrepreneurs and investors share their experiences across various social media platforms. Riley is also deeply connected with Miami’s growing tech community. He earned degrees from the University of Cambridge, ICADE (Universidad Pontificia Comillas), and the University of Edinburgh.
Marc Boxser has joined as Senior Advisor, based in Silicon Valley. For the past 5 years, Marc served as Vice President of Global Communications & Policy with Chegg (NYSE: CHGG) , a leading education technology company. Previously, he was Director for External Relations & Strategic Initiatives with GEMS Education. He also spent several years as Head of the Information Technology Community with the World Economic Forum. He was also a co-founder of Artificial Intelligence start-up Volley.
Gina Carriazo Hickey has joined as Senior Advisor, based in Miami. Gina will lead our newly established US Hispanic Communications Practice, and provide additional senior leadership to our Miami-based team. Previously, Gina was Head of Communications, Brand Marketing, Digital, and Social with Unicorn Hunters, a groundbreaking investment platform and TV show that spotlights emerging growth companies. Gina also spent four years as Director of Public Relations & Consumer Marketing with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Earlier in her career, Gina worked with leading agencies Boden, Edelman and Burson Cohn and Wolf.
Stacie Nevadomski Berdan has joined as Senior Advisor, based in the New York Metropolitan area. Stacie is a thought leader, entrepreneur, communications strategist and best-selling and award-winning author of 6 books on the impact of globalization on careers. She has built a strong international network by serving as coach, counselor and strategist to CEOs, politicians and senior executives around the world, and she has created successful marketing strategies and communication campaigns for some of the biggest global brands. Stacie spent four years as Director of Corporate Affairs for Unilever and spent 12 years at Burson Cohn & Wolfe in a variety of roles, including Managing Director. She has worked in more than 50 countries.
With the addition of these exceptionally talented leaders, Perceptual Advisors’ team has grown to nearly 40 professionals in Miami, New York, San Francisco, Santiago, São Paulo, Seattle, Southern California, Washington D.C. and Zurich.
We are building a unique marketing communications advisory firm, where our senior practitioners provide counsel and roll up our sleeves to do the work. We don’t delegate. We are all accountable for delivering results.
Our entire team is grateful to our clients for entrusting us as partners, and we remain deeply committed to our core value which is the foundation of our firm: Friendship first, always.
Dan is a seasoned marketing and communications professional. He co-founded Perceptual Advisors with Claudia Gioia based on their shared belief that our work is—and must be—an instrument of business strategy, not an end unto itself. In his current capacity, Dan serves as the outsourced Chief Marketing Officer for several Perceptual Advisors clients, working directly with company founders and CEOs to craft and execute marketing and communications strategies geared to drive revenue and optimize profitability.
During his career, Dan has held several senior executive roles, including serving as Senior Managing Director with Teneo, a leading global consulting firm, where his clients included Softbank Vision Fund, Delta Airlines and Activision-Blizzard, among others. His corporate roles have included serving as SVP/Chief Communications Officer at eBay where he was responsible for the company’s brand strategy and all global communications. He also served as the Chair of eBay.org, the company’s charitable foundation.
Previously he was Managing Director of Corporate Communications & Brand Marketing at Countrywide Financial Corp, and Senior Vice President of Issues Management and Public Affairs at VISA. Dan also led the corporate and financial practice in the western U.S. for Burson-Marsteller, one of the world’s largest communications consultancies. Before that was the firm’s Market Leader in Miami. Dan also has public sector experience, having served as Vice President and Special Assistant to the President of The Beacon Council.
Dan holds a B.A. from Tulane University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law.