Our Partners
Susan Duensing
Partner, Co-founder; Certified Business Communicator
Susan Duensing, a 25-year veteran in communications, ensures that all Element-R client initiatives meet our exacting standards for achieving relevancy. Her background in a range of roles gives her a practical perspective on making communications effective. Her experience is linking marketing strategies and tools to the client's goals. Susan's focus is on the customer's interests versus the company's, and on getting the message through to buyers already dealing with information overload.
Prior to entering public relations, Susan carried a bag as a manufacturers rep for an automotive company, and an editor of two trade magazines (in the electronic and insurance industries). She then spent 10 years at Gibbs and Soell, a national, independent PR firm in Chicago, where she managed integrated marketing programs for large corporations in the medical device, plastics and technology arenas.
Element-R Partners is the evolution of Duensing & Associates, Inc., founded in 1997. Susan worked exclusively with owners and presidents of small- to mid-size firms to create their first aggressive marketing programs.
Bob Reed
Partner, Co-founder
Bob Reed is a versatile generalist, applying his 24 years of corporate communications, public relations and marketing communication skills into comprehensive program development, planning, management and execution.
A veteran of the big agency scene (J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide), Bob has created and implemented programs involving chemicals, commercial insurance, finance, utilities, automotive, executive search and the graphic arts for companies such as Atlantic Mutual Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Snap-on, General Chemical and MBIA Corp.. In addition, he worked with a leading economist and banker to open the door to a radical alternative home financing method. Prior to co-founding Element-R, Bob ran his own communications consultancy. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America's Counselors Academy.
Our Consultants
Guy Tichy
Senior Consultant, Ideation
Guy Tichy brings more than 24 years of experience in business-to-business and consumer-oriented communications in agency, corporate and independent settings. A strong, hands-on conceptual thinker and practitioner, Guy has broad experience in developing and executing actionable, results-oriented client programs.
He is well-versed in all aspects of executive-level communications in both product and service industries, requiring advanced thought processes and a deep understanding of the social and business climate in the U.S. As an experienced researcher, he applies this information to communications in many formats.
Prior to working as an independent consultant, Guy was a Vice President of a major independent public relations firm for 11 years, with account responsibilities exceeding $1.4 million in annual fee billings. His specific industry expertise includes: chemicals, plastics, building products and healthcare.
Laura McGowan
Senior Consultant, Consumer and Crisis Management
Laura McGowan brings to the table 14 years of issues management and consumer product public relations experience. McGowan has worked with clients from a multitude of industries including healthcare, home and housewares, government relations, consumer products and community outreach.
During her 8+ year tenure as senior vice president at JSH&A Public Relations, she served as the national spokesperson for Clarke Mosquito Control. McGowan has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other publications, and has been primarily responsible for crafting strategy for litigation, public debate and other high-profile issues.
Balancing this corporate mindset with publicity acumen, Laura has developed results-oriented consumer marketing campaigns for clients including McDonald's, Enesco, Whirlpool, Allied Van Lines and Sears.
Prior to her work at JSH&A, McGowan worked in the consumer and education practices at Ogilvy PR and in the food marketing group at Edelman Worldwide.
Laura is a graduate of Indiana University, where she majored in journalism and English. She has been honored with the Holmes Report Top 100 PR Program award (2004), PRSA Silver Anvil Award (1997), the PCC Silver Trumpet (1997), the Ogilvy Professional Achievement Award (1996) and the Kraft Creativity Award (1993).
Donna Bliss
Senior Consultant; Director, Special Events
Donna Bliss has been perfecting the art of the event since 1983. Her experience includes establishing the Events Division for Jam Productions; work as an Account Executive for Motivation Media selling multi-media corporate communications programs; and for the past ten years, President of Bliss Event Concepts.
Her expertise includes buying and producing events featuring headline talent; developing the logistical plan to execute major events, meetings, and corporate theater; creative and conceptual development; and managing a team to implement any type of corporate event.
In addition, she has worked with several not-for-profit organizations to create and implement successful and profitable special events; and create the development plan to increase sponsorship participation.
She is available to teach a two part course in "How to Create and Run Successful and Profitable Fundraising Events;" the "Art of Creative Event Planning;" and to facilitate strategic and creative event planning sessions. Clients include: International Capital Management, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Motorola, Merchandise Mart Properties, USG, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sara Lee, Sprint PCS, and CNA Insurance.
Robert Schellenberg
Senior Design Director
Having honed his skills as the director of design for Fleishman & O'Connor, a 30-person business-to-business marketing firm, Bob ventured out in 1990 to form Robert Alan Design as an alternative to full-service, mid-size agencies. With 30-years experience in the visual communications field, coupled with a solid marketing background, Bob has garnered an extensive, award-winning portfolio for clients including: Ameritech, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, M&S Systems, Leica Medical, Dunlee, ASAP Software and Weyerhaeuser.
His ability to implement a strategic marketing plan with a hands-on, pragmatic approach to design has resulted in what many clients consider the most effective marketing tools in their industries. Robert Alan Design joined forces with Element-R Partners in 2000.
Approach | R-Map | Principles
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