Management
We have hand-picked professionals from all disciplines of agency and corporate public relations with one unifying hiring principle: an excellent work ethic. Our professionals account for their efforts by sharing the results of their work internally to foster a working spirit that is collaborative and competitive. The best client results are recognized and rewarded each month. This approach of friendly competition encourages high levels of activity, but also teaches our entire staff by example.
Learn more about Matter's capabilities
Each Matter employee brings an outstanding track record and proven talent - experience that will be applied to your communications challenges. We approach every assignment with a fresh eye - taking advantage of our instincts, experience, and industry contacts to deliver cost-effective campaigns.
Scott Signore
Scott Signore is the principal and CEO of Matter Communications. After holding senior positions at both large and small public relations agencies, Scott Signore founded Matter Communications in 2003 with a goal of creating a results-based PR firm that would have a more direct impact on clients' businesses. During the past eight years, Matter has grown from two clients and four employees to over 50 employees and more than 40 clients. Over the same period of time, Matter's annual revenue has increased by 40 percent on average and currently exceeds $6 million.
An avid sailor, Scott charts Matter's direction with the same passion and skill he uses on the water, and the agency's consistent growth can be directly attributed to Scott's strong leadership and refreshing approach to managing a communications agency. In August of 2010, PRWeek named Scott one of the industry's "40 Under 40" for the successful launch of a profitable PR agency, as well as his ability to navigate Matter through the recent economic downturn while avoiding job, salary and benefit cuts. In May of 2011, the Boston Business Journal named Matter a "Pacesetter" after the agency grew greater than 20% annually in each of the past five years.
Prior to launching Matter, Scott was senior vice president at Boston-based FitzGerald Communications, now part of Fleishman-Hillard, managing high-profile accounts including ADT, Tyco Electronics M/A-COM and Texas Instruments. In addition to his PR agency experience, Scott also held in-house sales and marketing positions at Agfa Corporation and Eastman Kodak. At Agfa, Scott managed all PR, marketing and product communications activities for the Desktop Digital Imaging Group, helped launch the company's line of award-winning digital cameras and flatbed scanners, managed the company's worldwide agency relationship and executed international product launches.
Scott's career began in New York, with agency positions at Shandwick International, Miller/Shandwick Technologies and Dorf & Stanton Communications, where he contributed to the success of many accounts including Kimberly-Clark, Konica-Minolta and Sharp Electronics, to name only a few.
Having amassed significant experience in the digital imaging industry, Scott actively supports relevant industry associations. He is a board member of the Photoimaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA), and a featured speaker at the Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show.
Beyond the strategic direction of the agency, Scott dedicates his time and energy to a lengthy list of non- and not-for-profit causes. Through financial contributions, sponsorships and volunteerism, his generosity has benefitted Anna Jaques Hospital (Newburyport, MA), Camp Sunshine (Casco, ME), Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest), Lowell's Boat Shop (Amesbury, MA). the Newburyport Education Foundation (Newburyport, MA), the Salvation Army (Newburyport, MA). In addition, Scott holds a Board of Directors position at the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center (Newburyport, MA), the Newburyport Youth Soccer Association (NYSA).
Patty Barry
As one of the founding employees and a principal at Matter Communications, Patty helps to manage the agency as it continues to grow, and provides strategic advice and counsel to several key agency clients, including CVS/pharmacy, Dell Compellent and The Addison Gallery of American Art.
With nearly two decades of public relations experience, Patty has the ability to combine a strategic view of communications and corporate positioning with a keen eye for short-term opportunities for publicity via traditional public relations and social media. Having worked with both consumer and high technology brands, Patty is able to synthesize complex data points and communications challenges quickly, and the experience with both kinds of PR programs have helped hone her ability to blend creativity with research-based PR programs that yield high-impact business results for Matter clients.
Prior to Matter Communications, Patty held senior management positions at Golin/Harris International, Hill & Knowlton, and Weber Shandwick. In the hours she's away from the glamorous life of the PR agency, Patty takes time to practice her favorite forms of meditation: reading anything she can get her hands on, writing the next Great American novel, and playing 'Monopoly' and 'Life' with her husband and three children. She is also a devoted runner, and has logged approximately 27,000 miles (more than enough to circle the world) since graduating from The College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in English.
Mandy Mladenoff
Mandy's passion lies in helping companies from start-ups to large consumer brands create and execute integrated communications strategies through traditional and social media channels. She runs agency operations with a laser focus on client service and agency growth and acts as a senior strategist and resident brainstormer on key accounts.
Prior to joining Matter, Mandy was the Managing Director of SHIFT Communications' San Francisco office where she was involved with B2B and B2C companies of all sizes, including: Google, RSA Conference, Bing, Sony Online Entertainment and Quiznos, among others. She is an accomplished Ms. Pac Man player, and accepts challenges from all comers.
Jesse Ciccone
A businessman in a communicator's clothing, Jesse is laser-focused on driving PR results that actually mean something to his clients' businesses. Jesse has honed his skills on both the agency and client side of the table, developing cross-functional knowledge that allows him to fully understand how Matter's work impacts his clients' business results. A PR agency veteran, Jesse held senior management positions at Financial Dynamics, an international PR/IR agency, and at FitzGerald Communications (now part of Fleishman-Hillard), prior to joining Matter. Jesse has also held the in-house positions of director of corporate communications at Signature BioScience and marketing specialist in the desktop products group of Agfa. Through this well-rounded background, Jesse has developed skills in PR, marketing, business development, fundraising and shareholder communications.
Believing that the best PR practices can be applied to any company, Jesse brings this expertise to bear for Matter clients in a variety of diverse industries like e-commerce, pharmaceutical services, photography and consumer packaged goods. Jesse also contends that the fact that many of his longest-standing clients are, like him, inveterate golfers is purely coincidental.
Andy Meltzer
Andy has managed and contributed to public relations campaigns for a wide variety of technology and consumer companies over the course of his 10+ years in the industry. Prior to his position with Matter Communications, Andy served as an account manager for FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based technology agency now a part of Fleishman-Hillard. In addition, Andy held the position of account director at SVM, a technology PR firm based in Providence, RI.
Having contributed to client programs that address topics from fiber optic cable to photography, Andy is able to offer high-level strategic guidance for a wide range of messages and audiences. Andy oversees the day-to-day operation and growth of Matter's Providence office. In that role he provides strategic direction for all of the office's accounts, as well as direct counsel to clients on messaging and planning.
Andy is thinking of a Bob Dylan song right now.
John McElhenny
Former Associated Press reporter John McElhenny combines a journalist's perspective with years of experience leading communication programs. John gives clients valuable insight into how to communicate clearly and secure the highest-impact media coverage, drawing upon a decade-long newspaper career for the AP and as a correspondent for The Boston Globe and New York Times.
A veteran PR professional, he specializes in leading programs that raise a company's profile through business press, social media, speaking opportunities, analyst relations, blogs, award programs, e-newsletters and trade press. He has managed PR programs for public and private companies in many industries and developed particular expertise in telecom, mobile video, data storage, open source software, IT security and tourism. John's clients have enjoyed favorable articles in high-circulation outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, Associated Press, Huffington Post, Boston Globe, International Herald-Tribune, National Public Radio and MSNBC. John's teams have won numerous industry awards for outstanding client service including the national Communicator Award and the Bell Ringer Award from the Publicity Club of New England.
Before joining Matter, John worked at Schwartz Communications and taught PR and journalism courses at Salem State and Endicott College. A resident of Gloucester, Mass., he serves as chairman of the City of Gloucester's Open Space and Recreation Committee. He has lived for extended periods in France, Germany, Belgium and Italy and can order a meal badly in four languages.
Matt Landry
Matt knows communications is all about knowing your audience. His longtime fascination with how the media covers politics, culture and sport has reaffirmed that view frequently over the years. He has a strong background in public relations strategy and execution, focusing on integrated marketing programs for a range of companies from a variety of industries. He provides day-to-day client counsel in corporate, branding and product messaging strategy, tradeshow and communications planning and implementation. Matt has managed some of Matter Communications' cornerstone accounts including Harris Corporation's Public Safety and Professional Communications business, TriQuint Semiconductor, as well as Lexar, a subsidiary of Micron Technology.
Matt also brings deep experience in managing impactful media relations programs. Matt's high-profile media relationships have yielded feature coverage in Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, Economist, New York Times and Financial Times, as well as top-tier trade coverage in sought-after industry and vertical targets. After working as a press aide for Senator Edward M. Kennedy in Boston, Matt began his public relations career with Miller/Shandwick Technologies (now Weber Shandwick) and Miller Consulting Group. He graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Political Science.
Elise Ouellete
Elise has honed her PR skills over the past 14 years on both the agency side and in-house where she has worked with companies spanning a variety of industries including high technology, consumer and professional services. In her role at Matter Communications, she is responsible for working with clients on their public relations strategy with special expertise in developing innovative social media campaigns on Facebook and Twitter and influencer programs to help her clients achieve even more comprehensive access to key audiences. She started her career at Beaupre & Co. Public Relations before joining PAN Communications in Andover, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Matter, Elise was the marketing communications manager at Newmarket International, a hospitality technology company in Portsmouth, NH. In the winter, Elise can be found skiing and in the summer, on the beach. Her dog Bear is never far from her side.
Anne Lines
With more than ten years of public relations experience, Anne develops and manages strategic programs that drive business results for both technology and consumer clients. She joined Matter from Putnam Investments and leads thought leadership programs, product launches, integrated social media efforts, and awards and speaking programs. She draws on her experience in both internal and external settings to bring a fresh, aggressive approach to media strategy for clients; creating successful campaigns across traditional and social media to deliver high-profile, impactful coverage.
Anne has a stellar track-record of securing media coverage in outlets business decision-makers rely upon, from Investor's Business Daily and BusinessWeek to the New York Times and top trade and vertical publications. She provides day-to-day client counsel focusing on planning, messaging and program management. She currently runs accounts including Dell Compellent, ExaGrid Systems, Crimson Hexagon, Copiun and Vermont Nut Free Chocolates. Outside of work, Anne spends a great deal of time getting advice from her Golden Retriever, Avery, who has all the answers.
Tobi Young
Tobi’s career in PR started fifteen years ago, when she was recruitment chair at Chi Omega at the University of Rhode Island. Since then, she’s rounded out her resume with more than ten years of professional experience in marketing communications, working in industries ranging from data center technology, voice systems, marine communications to retail and consumer products.
Currently an account director, Tobi brings enthusiasm and spark to her accounts, quickly demonstrating the value of smart and savvy PR. She joined Matter in 2006 and has played an integral role in building the Providence office and leading a number of key agency partnerships including CVS/pharmacy, Lowepro, Acme Made, to name just a few. Tobi has a deep understanding of how to create a unique voice in the media and experience in developing and executing creative social media strategies.
Prior to joining Matter, Tobi was an enterprise program manager at American Power Conversion (now APC by Schneider Electric) and held agency positions at Brodeur Worldwide in Boston. She’s a new mom to son Cam and when she’s not in our office or traveling the globe can be found with him, her husband and their three cats, Molly, Benson and Stabler, at their home in southern Rhode Island.
Ariane Doud
Ariane has represented a wide range of clients over her 10+ years in integrated public relations, including life sciences, technology, cultural institutions, tourism and environmental services. The common thread? Helping to drive clients' businesses through strategic, targeted communications campaigns.
Ariane has helped her clients translate the complexities of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, hazardous waste remediation and other industries into compelling messaging that drives large-scale media coverage and brand awareness. Whether working with a local museum with an outstanding international reputation needing to increase awareness at home (Addison Gallery of American Art), a city looking to turn around its reputation and introduce visitors to its exciting, authentic culture (PR for Gloucester) or a maker of an antimicrobial technology with applications in multiple markets (Sciessent, whose Agion technology can be found in healthcare facility hardware, medical devices, footwear and textiles), Ariane's tailored, thoughtful approach and hands-on team management ensure a successful outcome in line with each client's unique goals.
Ariane joined Matter Communications from Weber Shandwick, before which she worked in the PR department at Mullen, an integrated advertising agency. She holds an M.A. degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Emerson College and a B.A. in Political Science & Philosophy from Bennington College. At Matter, Ariane provides strategic counsel to her clients while managing implementation of programs including media and analyst relations, trade show planning and support, and integrated marketing campaigns. She and her husband, a writer of young adult fantasy novels, live with their family in beautiful Cape Ann, Mass., near the city, the woods and the sea.
Jim Baptiste
Jim has more than 20 years' experience in managing communications and marketing programs in public relations agencies and corporations. Having cut his professional teeth in Massachusetts politics, he learned the importance of effective message development early. He has designed and implemented integrated communications and marketing plans in complex communications environments.
He has worked with clients in diverse industries, reaching client objectives with effective marketing and strategies. He served as a chief-of-staff in the Massachusetts State Senate, general manager of McDermott/O'Neill & Associates, a senior public relations manager for EDS Corporation, a senior manager at a leading high technology-focused PR firm, and as a marketing and public relations counsel for clients across the business spectrum.
Nationally and internationally, Jim has boosted visibility and industry presences for small to large organizations in the professional services, high technology, transportation, energy, higher education, manufacturing and healthcare industries. His depth of experience and knowledge have made him a valuable resource for decision-makers, media outlets, industry analysts, and business and civic leaders at all levels.
At Matter, Jim focuses on marketing activities to further elevate Matter's brand and support continued business growth.
Jennifer Riley
Jennifer has worked in human resources for more than 15 years. At Matter, she is responsible for all of human resources, including recruitment, onboarding and retention of employees. She also oversees benefits, compliance, compensation and systems.
She began her career implementing and running HR systems at a variety of high technology companies. Jennifer is active in professional organizations as a member of NEHRA (Northeast Human Resources Association) and SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management). She holds a HR Management Certificate from Bentley College and is a graduate of Newbury College.
Jennifer enjoys working with the smart, creative employees at Matter as well as those who are interested in joining our team.
