Newberry Team

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Elisabeth N. Galligan, APR, ATM-B, CL

Founder/President

BettyBetty is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America. Her philosophy of client service is based in part on the Society’s Code of Professional Standards and “do good work, clients will follow.” Prior to founding Newberry, she was vice president of a Providence-based agency. Previously, she worked for several small and medium-sized agencies in Rhode Island and Massachusetts where she developed strong skills in all facets of public relations, copywriting, print production, and account management. She holds a bachelor of arts degree (1986, cum laude) in communications and theatre from Rhode Island College (Providence). Her academic and subsequent professional achievements led to her listing in college, business and international Who’s Who directories and to be an Alumni Honor Roll award recipient for the Communications Department of RIC. Betty is a twice-past president of PRSA’s Southeastern New England chapter and has served as national assembly delegate, strategic planning and public relations committee chair for the chapter. She is current president of the Association of Marketing Professionals-Rhode Island, past chairman of the board of the East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the board for Literacy Volunteers-R.I., twice past president of East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Club and current Assistant Governor and Public Image Chair for District 7950, past Board of Governors chair and communications committee chair for the Hope Club, a member of the prestigious national PRSA Counselor’s Academy, and a twice-past president of East Bay Toastmasters Club. She has earned the Advanced Toastmaster-Bronze (ATM-B) and Competent Leader (CL) designations from Toastmasters International. She was recognized by Providence Business News as a Leader and Achiever (2021) and Achievement Honoree (2011), and was honored by the City of East Providence in 2023 as a Remarkable Woman. She is a published author of business/humorous articles in national periodicals, a public speaker and seminar leader on various topics, and an award-winning copywriter.

Candace Brooks-Cafarella, B.S.

Creative Production Manager

CandaceCandace plays a central role at Newberry PR and Marketing, where her responsibilities include project management, vendor relations, creative direction, and scheduling/trafficking for the public relations and marketing departments while also managing human resources for the agency. Heading up the Podberry Division of NPRM, Candace serves as creative director, sound engineer and producer for all podcast recordings in our Pawtucket podcasting studio. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing NPRM’s robust internship program, professional development training, and information technology.

Candace earned an associate of arts degree in Human Service Management, a bachelor of science in Psychology, a diploma in Advanced Graphic Design, and is Advanced WordPress Certified. Candace has 23 years of experience in customer service and web design and is proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Procreate, Premiere and Constant Contact.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Candace is a renowned singer/songwriter and served as the front woman of the multi Grammy-nominated “The Candace Brooks Band.”  Her musical accomplishments include Motif Music Award nominations in the categories of Best Female Vocalist for three consecutive years, Band of the Year, and Album of the Year in 2008. In 2009, the band had nominations in the categories of Best Live Act, Best Album by Group, and won Band of the Year and Best Female Vocalist at the Limelight Magazine Music Awards.

Steve Laxton

Account Executive

Steve

Before becoming an integral part of Newberry Public Relations & Marketing, Steve accumulated nearly 25 years of valuable experience as the Assignment Manager for WPRI-TV in East Providence.

During his tenure at WPRI-TV, Steve played a pivotal role in shaping the station’s daily newscasts and contributed significantly to the coverage of various critical events. He collaborated closely with reporters, photographers, producers, and senior management, demonstrating a keen understanding of news production and editorial coordination. His expertise extended to the station’s comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, including weather updates, local elections, and special events. Notably, Steve was directly involved in reporting on significant stories such as Operation Plunderdome, the Station Nightclub Fire, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Steve received the 2012 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Award of Excellence and Appreciation, underscoring his commitment to public service and community engagement. Furthermore, his dedication to excellence within the WPRI-TV team earned him the title of WPRI Employee of the Year in 2014.

Steve’s journey in media and communications began with his graduation from Rhode Island College in 1998, where he earned a degree in Communications. Armed with a solid academic foundation, he transitioned seamlessly into the dynamic world of broadcast journalism, making a lasting impact on the field.

Outside of his professional commitments, Steve channels his creative energies into music. In his spare time, he plays the guitar for a local “dad punk” band called Completely Destroyed.

Ann Revell-Pechar

Account Executive

Ann’s professional journey began with the founding of Revell-Pechar, Inc., a marketing/PR firm initially established in Seattle where she played a crucial role in growing the firm to 44 employees and overseeing successful reinventions in Baltimore, Atlanta, and currently, Wilmington, NC.

Proficient in developing and executing business and communications strategies that deliver tangible results, Ann focuses on aligning processes for optimal outcomes. Specializing in message development, content strategy, and corporate positioning, she has earned a reputation for seamlessly blending creativity with strategic vision.

Throughout Ann’s career, collaboration with over 150 companies has played a crucial role in enhancing marketing communications, issues management, content development, and public relations programs. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to positioning and introducing more than 175 new products to the market, catering to a global clientele in the US, Canada, India, Brazil, and Israel.

Ann excels in raising awareness through strategic positioning, messaging, promotion, publicity, marketing, ad strategy, communication, and social media.

Cecilia Cooper

Public Relations and Marketing Specialist

Cecilia Cooper has been successfully navigating the ever-changing marketing and communications landscape for a few decades and has worked with a number of organizations and individuals that make a big difference in the world and their communities. She has helped each align with their values and voice to find and serve their people – their patients, volunteers, donors, sponsors, customers, clients, and students.

Spanning several industries including healthcare, philanthropy, financial services, and higher education, she has applied time-tested marketing and communications principles to achieve desired results.

Cecilia previously spent 20 years working in higher education. In several leadership roles including strategic marketing, communications, and public relations at Bryant University, she contributed to an era of unparalleled growth and transformation for the school. This included dramatic increases in applications, significantly improved rankings, two successful capital campaigns, expanded global reach, and increased attention from top-tier media, including Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, MarketWatch, The Boston Globe, and USA Today. Prior to her time in higher education, she served as marketing director for Strategic Point Investment Advisors and was event marketing director for radio station group Clearchannel Broadcasting.

After earning a bachelor’s degree at the University of Rhode Island, Cecilia began her career journey working for the City of Hope National Medical Center helping to raise funds and awareness for the organization’s lifesaving work. As senior development director for New England, she led fundraising- and awareness-building initiatives in the region, and as National Workout for Hope director, she led the national fitness event to its best fundraising years in its then 10-year history, securing the first regional and national corporate sponsors.

Cecilia has traveled extensively in the U.S. and parts of Europe, always with a camera in hand to capture landscapes, people, and moments to remember and share.

Jim Cooney

Media Planner/Buyer and Strategist

Jim established Wheelhouse Marketing partners with fellow PriMedia National and International Media Buying and Marketing services firm alum Rick Boles following the retirement of his longtime business partner in 2023. He currently oversees account services, daily operations and regional media buying, name image and likeness (NIL) negotiations, venue sponsorships, media buying and marketing services for a diverse client base that includes some of the Northeast regions’ leading healthcare, non-profit, banking, home services, education and broadcast companies and brands.

Prior to Wheelhouse, Jim was the President/CEO at PriMedia for over 30 years building it from the ground up into one of America’s leading privately owned Media Buying firms. He supervised daily operations of the agency, driving brand awareness, market share expansion, and consumer demand for a global client roster of major brands across a diverse group of industries and advertising categories. Jim provides trusted advisor input and guides clients toward cost efficient and effective campaign and branding strategies.

Jim has won 10 International ECHO awards and 10 New England Direct Marketing Association awards, both based on creativity and documented results in virtually every advertising category there is and has been a judge for the publicity club of New England’s “Bell Ringer” awards, the Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association’s “Benny” Awards and the International ECHO Awards. He has served as President of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Providence since 2008, and has been Rhode Island Men’s Senior Baseball-League Commissioner, Manager, Player and HOF Chairman over the past 30 years. He was Inducted into the RIMSBL Hall of Fame in 2001 and MSBL National Hall of Fame in 2024.

Rick Boles

Media Planner/Buyer and Strategist

As Executive Vice President/Media Director at Wheelhouse, Rick oversees local, regional and national media buying and marketing services, coordinates traffic and provides daily client contact for a diverse client base that includes some of the regions’ leading healthcare, non-profit, banking, home services, education and broadcast companies and brands.

Prior to Wheelhouse, Rick was Vice President Media and Operations for 24 years at National and International Media Buying and Marketing Services firm PriMedia, allocating media budgets, determining optimal media mixes across all forms of media: linear television, OTT, radio, digital audio, podcasts, cable, print, direct mail, out of home, search, native, social, display, mobile and video both internationally and domestically for some of Americas leading companies and brands in multiple product categories.

Rick planned, negotiated and placed media schedules, coordinated traffic, reconciled schedules, provided clients with detailed cost analyses, competitive analyses, critical learning’s & actionable recommendations. Completed posts, make good reports, bonus spot reports, impressions reports, SQAD comparisons and added value reports all with the end goal of generating greater ROI.

He has successfully built solid relationships with outside vendors/reps, established team negotiation strategies and buying guidelines, created and negotiated added value promotions (on-air, online and on-location) with national & international cable networks, national radio networks, regional networks, local television stations, local radio stations and local cable systems to create added-value exposure at no additional cost.

Rick has 3 International ECHO Awards, was a Finalist for the Boston Ad Club awards and won Sylvan Learning Centers Co-op of the Year award.

Sharon Johnson

Billing Coordinator

Sharon, with over 20 years of accounting experience, is the Billing Coordinator at Newberry, working in our accounting department.

She joined the Rotary Club of Scituate Rhode Island in 2008 and has since played a significant role in youth programs, inspired by her background as a Girl Scout leader and teacher. Sharon was instrumental in the RYLA committee for six years, serving as a family advisor and committee member.

Her leadership roles within the Rotary Club include serving as club secretary (2011), president-elect (2012), president (2013, 2022), Foundation Chair (2014-2021), Membership Chair (2017-2018), and Treasurer (2021). She spearheaded a community garden project for 10 years, donating hundreds of pounds of food to local pantries.

Appointed as Assistant Governor and New Generations Chair for the District in 2015, Sharon planned a successful Youth Conference in 2017, collaborating with New Generations chairs from four districts. She is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and has attended numerous District Conferences, Zone Institutes, and International Conventions.

Meet Our Mascot

EinsteinOur beloved avian team member Einstein, is an African Grey parrot who brings joy to the office with his vibrant personality and lively vocalizations. Some of his repertoire includes imitating Betty’s voice,  making an amazingly accurate phone ring sound, counting and saying “Let’s go Bruins.”

 

Follow Einstein on Instagram