Heron Agency, a full-service public relations, social media, marketing, and advertising lifestyle communications firm, announces the addition of three new team members, including industry veteran LeJane Carson as Vice President, Regina Verdico as Business Development Director and Kathy Bryja as Senior Publicist.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to have three such talented professionals join our dedicated team and contribute to the continued success of the agency,” said Noreen Heron, President & Founder, Heron Agency. “LeJane, Regina and Kathy each bring strong backgrounds and unique skillsets to the table, allowing us to provide the highest standard of service to our clients and marketing partners.”
Bringing with her more than 25 years’ experience in the industry, public relations veteran Carson, has been hired as Vice President. Prior to joining Heron Agency, she was partner of a suburban Chicago boutique public relations agency specializing in hospitality, entertainment and consumer products. She also served as Divisional Director of Public Relations for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, where she perfected excellent crisis management skills, executive media training and message development. With a passion for cause-marketing programs, she thrives in pairing clients with not-for-profit organizations to make a difference. Carson holds a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Kentucky.
An award-winning, innovative marketing leader, Verdico joins Heron Agency as Business Development Director. With nearly two decades of experience marketing within the commercial real estate industry with GGP, DDR, Waterton Residential and Taubman. Verdico has the insight to identify strategies that consistently meet and exceed sales goals. She previously served as Marketing Director at Golf Mill Shopping Center, Deer Park Town Center and Director of Marketing Services at General Growth Properties. Verdico holds a bachelor’s degree from the Illinois Institute or Art in Chicago, with a focus in Fashion Management and Marketing. She is professionally trained for media crisis training and public speaking and is also a certified yoga instructor.
Bryja joins the agency as a Senior Publicist. Most recently, she served as an Account Executive at a boutique Chicago PR firm specializing in lifestyle and restaurant clientele. She brings with her unparalleled media relationships, having secured national press coverage in a variety of outlets including The Food Network, Travel Channel, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, USA Today and Inside Edition, among many others. Bryja holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from DePaul University.
Heron Agency executes dynamic, comprehensive integrated marketing campaigns for a variety of broad spectrum of corporate, hospitality and entertainment clients. The agency focuses on creating strategic initiatives that reach specific audiences, build brand exposure, and increase revenue. Founded in 2001 by Noreen Heron, the firm is known as a one-stop-shop that provides creative public relations services, targeted advertising strategies, digital marketing, grassroots marketing efforts, SEO consulting, and innovative social media practices. The agency prides itself on cultivating successful long-term relationships with clients and collaborative partners.
A pioneer of new communication and digital technologies, Heron Agency was the first agency to create an email database to directly target a diverse demographic of individuals and groups in the Chicagoland area, which has now grown to include more than 50,000 contacts. It was also the first to launch a YouTube channel to showcase the talents of its clients. The company’s unique combination of dovetailing strategic PR campaigns with grassroots marketing efforts creates results that are truly measurable in terms of profitability for their clients. The entrepreneurial agency is now expanding into brand activation, brand representation and management, influencer and blogger engagement, experiential marketing and data analysis.
Heron Agency has represented more than 150 clients nationally such as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Le Meridien Hotels, Wischermann Properties, Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, the Wit Chicago, Smirnoff Vodka, The Chicago Office of Tourism, Marriott Theatre, The Taste of Chicago, the Harlem Globetrotters, Massage Envy, The World Tour of Gymnastics Superstars, Blue Plate Catering, the Chicago Wolves, the Champions Challenge (McEnroe, Bjorg, Agassi), The Highland Games, Geja’s Café, David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, and several National Tours. Throughout the 16 year history of the agency, they have represented artists such as Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Wynonna Judd, Louis CK, The Beach Boys, Jerry Seinfeld, Martina McBride, Michael Feinstein, Jewel, and Andre Rieu.
For more information on Heron Agency, call 773.969.5200, or follow their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
