Counselors & Resources

MCS Counselors go where the client needs us - Counselor Scott Sobel in client aircraft.

We Are One. MCS Counselors, Strategic Counselors and Practice Partners are a powerful group of professionals with eclectic backgrounds but a common commitment to excellence in performance and demonstrable results. We bring the right resources to serve the client's individual needs and culture and do not try to make the client fit a static agency model. This allows MCS to be efficient, cost-effective for the client, totally flexible and fast.

An important capability for an agency is the talent to create consensus and discover synergy; MCS has that capability as a team focused on leveraging our skills for clients. our skills for clients. Practice Partners, for instance, pursue their own individual agency business but are immediately available for MCS clients' priorities and respect clients' confidentiality.

Public, Media and Government Relations Counselors

Scott Sobel, President and cofounder of Media & Communications Strategies has an extensive background in national and international crisis, litigation, government, corporate and news media communications. He is an award-winning former journalist at the major market and network levels with a shelf full of EMMY's, Sigma Delta Chi, AP and regional journalism awards. Additionally, Scott's public relations teams have won international crisis agency of the year awards highlighted most recently by the Public Relations Society of America National Capital Region Crisis Program of the Year; Hermes Crisis Agency of the Year Platinum award and several Cable Beacon awards. He is a prestigious Counselor's Academy member of the Public Relations Society of America, member of the Legal Marketing Association, member of the Law Firm Media Professionals Association, founding member of the Public Relations Boutiques International Association and a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors Association. He has led teams representing major corporations and clients such as: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., Aviation Division, AT&T and AT&T Broadband, Tele-communications, Inc., many of the world's premier law firms, a major order of the Catholic Church, HVB Bank, Farr Miller & Washington financial managers, a national wind farm issue client, entertainment and sports celebrities, internationally published authors, various former US congressmen and the head of a major US political party … plus many more significant clients. He can regularly be seen on Capitol Hill preparing and assisting clients.

Ufuoma Otu, MCS Senior Account Executive has solid experience in public and media relations, corporate communications, web content development, and strategic and tactical communications planning for public and privately held companies. She has worked with clients in various industries such as healthcare, real estate, law; high-profile client names include: GE Healthcare, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and Trump International Hotel & Tower. She previously worked in the public sector, where she spearheaded marketing of a $1.56B, ten-year revitalization plan for Chicago’s largest housing agency.

Shira Miller is a MCS Practice Partner and the owner of Shira Miller Communications, an award-winning consumer PR firm. Miller specializes in developing creative communication strategies to help clients sell more products or services, effectively enter new markets, solve an image problem or enhance key relationships. Her clients have included the Synthetic Turf Council, Cox Communications, Focus Brands, AID Atlanta, Spanx, Kudzu.com, Y-3 adidas and California Pizza Kitchen since the firm’s inception in 2001. Miller has 20 years of award-winning experience in public relations, corporate communications, employee communications and community relations. Prior to starting Shira Miller Communications, she served as the Director of Corporate Communications for the American Retail Group, a billion-dollar retail company whose holdings included Eastern Mountain Sports, Uptons, Maurices, Levi’s/Dockers Outlets and Millers Outpost.

The recipient of more than 30 national, regional and local communication awards, Miller received the National Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for Consumer Media Relations campaigns in 2007. A nationally-recognized speaker, the Emory University graduate frequently addresses audiences on topics such as media relations, publicity generation and crisis communications.

Paula DePasquale is an APR-certified public relations professional with 25 years experience working with the trade, business and consumer press in a wide range of industries to build the image of some of the world’s top brands. Pasquale is principal of Prima Public Relations, Ltd where she manages the firm’s activities planning and executing successful communications initiatives for a unique combination of high-profile consumer, non-profit, and business-to-business accounts; including researching and developing sustainability communication program recommendations for two major corporations.

DePasquale’s client roster includes Sherwin-Williams Chemical Coatings Division, Krylon Hardware Products, KraftMaid Cabinetry, MACTac, Montefiore, Polyflow Corp., Abbey Road on the River; Cleveland Hearing and Balance Center; and Seymour & Pease LLP. She has received various awards including the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Cleveland Rocks Gold Award and International Association of Business Communicators Award of Excellence and Vision Award of Merit, respectively. DePasquale belongs to PRSA’s Counselor’s Academy, Public Relations Boutiques International, International Association of Business Communicators and Society of Professional Journalists.

Deborah Radman, New York City-based MCS Practice Partner and former Chairwoman of the Public Relations Society of America. Ms. Radman is a strategic advisor and hands-on team member. She is always at the top of the list of the most well-respected and well-known public relations practitioners in the world. She counsels US and international clients in the fields of corporate communications, crisis management, public affairs and both business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketing. Ms. Radman has represented clients in a wide variety of industries; well-known client names include: Denver International Airport and various other aviation clients, AT&T, General Foods, Honeywell, Total Petroleum, Johns Manville, Coors, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, R.L. Polk, Ford Motor Company, and 4Kids Entertainment.

Joe Pan and Lang/Pan/Chan (L/P/C) Public Relations is an MCS Practice Partner, the one and only PR and political consulting firm specializing in the Asian American market in the US. With offices in downtown Los Angeles, China and India, LPC is multilingual, multicultural, and skilled at bridging cultures, LPC is a team of first and second generation Asian-Americans and Asian-market professionals with diverse backgrounds, including non-profit, journalism/broadcast media, political/government appointments, education, health-care, and corporate industry.

Since 1994, the firm has assisted various government agencies, corporations, trade and professional organizations (including law firms), and political candidates to craft messages, win campaigns, build or repair image, manage crisis, educate and motivate public opinion, raise money, market products and services, and stage successful events. An award wining firm with multiple PRism Award from PRSA, LPC creates strategies that produce results.

With one office in Shanghai, and another one opening in Guangzhou, LPC is well positioned to serve the growing business going to and coming from China. With its Aum International (AI) Division, LPC is also one of the few firms in the nation that specialize in the affluent Indo-American market and serve international businesses going to India. www.lpcpr.com

A representative list of media training students includes:
• Former Secretary of the Air Force
• Former Under Secretary of the Air Force
• Former Deputy Director of the War on Terror (JCS)
• Deputy Director of Homeland Defense (JCS)
• Former Chief Prosecutor at GITMO (OSD)
• Former GITMO spokesperson (OSD)

Benjamin Perlzweig is an MCS Practice Partner in Berlin, Germany with wide-ranging experience with financial, legal, non-government organization, and crisis communications public relations. He also has valuable experience in media training and counseling.

As an MBA with honors from the European School of Management and Technology, Benjamin has the ability to strategize in German, English and basic French, and has worked in various countries for some of the most prestigious multi-national corporations and NGO’s including:

• 3Com Corporation, Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
• Coltrin & Associates, Inc., London, UK - New York City
• IBM, Munich, Germany
• Sikelela i.G., Germany and Africa

He is especially facile at anticipating and planning during crisis management but can also support day-to-day PR initiatives with an imagination and thoroughness yielding outstanding client results.

Pete Webb, MCS Practice Partner Founder and Principal of Webb PR. Give him a name; he'll come up with the phone number. Pete Webb, founder and principal of Webb PR, is a walking, talking telephone book. Like everyone in his office, Mr. Webb comes from strong media lineage – 13 years as an award-winning investigative television reporter in five major markets. But, in 1983, Pete Webb left the news business and joined the public relations ranks on his way to creating one of Denver 's and the Rocky Mountain West's most recognized PR firms. Mr. Webb and his team are known for their willingness to tackle tough assignments such as labor negotiations, environmental spills, water rights, food safety issues and the introduction of gaming in Colorado. Mr. Webb, for instance, has been trained by FEMA in Integrated Emergency Management at its training facility in Emmitsburg, MD. His ability to herd cats came in handy during the firm's management of media logistics during the opening of Denver International Airport, one of the largest public projects in the world, drawing international media. Other clients include: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Colorado Lottery, Anheuser-Busch, Cricket Comfortable Wireless in Colorado, heading up the PENTAX USA team and the representation of the Laurie family during their subsequent purchase of the St. Louis Blues, the Kiel Center and the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Janet Hall Werner, Esq. is a Practice Partner at Media & Communications Strategies LLC and the owner of Hall Government Relations, a government relations firm founded in 2001. Hall specializes in education and technology issues before the United States Congress and federal agencies, focusing on planning and funding education and technology projects. She has particular expertise in securing funding through federal sources for education technology projects. She also specializes in grassroots training and Capitol Hill events that increase visibility in Washington among policy makers and others. Furthermore, events organized by Hall Government Relations have directly led to favorable action on legislative issues before Congress. Hall has experience in appropriations, authorization of programs, and general advocacy. She has experience with a broad range of issues, including education policy (both K-12 and higher education), technology, ocean policy, tax issues, environmental and First Amendment issues, among others.Hall has assisted clients in earmarking over $102 million for their projects in the last eight years.  She also drafted legislation and amendments that became law when the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed by President Bush in 2002.

Hall has represented a broad array of clients in the education arena, including the JASON Foundation for Education, the Sea Research Foundation, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and other public television organizations.  In her work, she has prepared individuals for meetings with Members of Congress and testimony before Congressional panels, including Dr. Robert Ballard (discoverer of numerous shipwrecks including Titanic , Bismarck , and PT-109) and Fred Rogers (star of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood).

Janet Hall Werner is a licensed attorney with a track record of over 15 years of success in the field of government relations, as well as experience as a staff member on Capitol Hill.  Hall is a 1991 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, and a 1985 graduate, cum laude, of State University of New York College at Fredonia.

Deb Quintana is a New York City-based MCS Practice Partner with exceptional first hand media and high profile case experience.

She has pitched difficult and complex stories, managed book tour press conferences, worked client video productions and live satellite feeds.

Deb intimately knows just how the national and local media work and is used to getting solid results clients want. She has reported in New York City for WCBS, WPIX and in other major markets for network affiliates in Dallas, Tampa, Denver and San Antonio. She has produced stories for Court TV, MSNBC, ABC.

Deb is comfortable handling complex issues, especially legal and law enforcement related cases drawing on her experience as both a writer and broadcast reporter.

Greg Feith is a Media & Communications Strategies Practice Partner and former senior NTSB accident investigator with a wide range of aviation investigative and safety experience. He has investigated hundreds of general aviation and air transport airplane accidents during his more than 20 years with the Safety Board, from Cessna 150's through Boeing 747's. He consults on aviation issues for clients impacted by public, media and government relations.

Mr. Feith has served as Investigator-in-Charge of a number of high profile accidents including: Valujet DC-9 in-flight fire at the Florida Everglades, 1996; American Eagle ATR 72 in-flight icing accident at Roselawn, Indiana, 19 94; USAir DC-9 windshear accident at Charlotte, 1994; Korean Air 747-300 controlled flight into terrain at Guam, 1997; American Airlines MD-83 runway overrun at Little Rock, 1999; and Emery Worldwide Airlines DC-8 elevator contro l failure at Sacramento, 2000.

Greg has won numerous NTSB awards and was a recipient of an Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine Laurel Award in 1996 for his leadership in the investigation of the Valujet DC-9 in-flight fire accident in the Florida Everglades. He also received the 2001 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Distinguished Alumni Award for "extraordinary distinction and success in the field of aviation and achievements".

He is widely known and respected for his frequent public speaking engagements ranging from elementary schools to professional aviation groups and trade associations. Greg has also acted as technical advisor in television and the movies. He is a contributing write to Business & Commercial Aviation magazine and can be seen regularly as a guest aviation safety and security expert on NBC, MSNBC and other networks. In his spare time he also hosts "Hangar Flying Today," a weekly 2-hour aviation radio program in Denver, Colorado.

“Scoot” MacPherson, MCS Practice Partner with Cascade Partnership. Cable and related communications industry leaders will tell you that Mr. MacPherson's name is synonymous with innovation and success, and has been for decades. He is credited with almost single-handedly creating the public image of the cable powerhouse that is Court TV today and for being instrumental in the public relations and public affairs at HBO and associated channels. At Court TV Scoot MacPherson was responsible for the network's corporate-public policy agenda, public service image and external communications. He orchestrated strategic alignment with government agencies and civic policy stakeholders through development of compatible public interest and education initiatives. He provided a bottom line unique selling proposition for company revenue objectives and a point of differentiation for the Court TV brand. He has had an enviable working relationship with: The White House, U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, state Attorneys General, state Governors, major city Mayors and all levels of municipal government, the NEA, NPTA, as well as the nation's leading universities and law schools. He also has extensive experience with national cross promotion development for major consumer products/retail corporations including: Blockbuster Video, Frito Lay and People Magazine Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nabisco and Continental Airlines, among others.

Conor Runge, MCS Account Executive Practice Partner. Mr. Runge handles day to day media relations, government relations and has most recently been invaluable as part of the MCS team that received the 2007 Platinum International Hermes Communications Award for Crisis Communications. He has considerable experience as a key member of various crisis and litigation teams. He is a former media professional, having worked at Court TV and for the Disney Company. Mr. Runge has also managed and marketed retail and tech business units.

Peggy Keegan is a Media & Communications Strategies Practice Partner and Senior Communications Executive with particular expertise in broadband and technology communications and non-profits and start-ups. She is experienced in public relations, media relations, event production, industry conferences, corporate communications, media training and public affairs. She has a proven track record in the execution of high-profile media campaigns, and relationship development with national and business media.

Peggy handled the most high-profile programs and guests while producing for C-Span. Her responsibilities included research, booking and preparation of guests and editing and technical production. Guests were CEOs, Members of Congress, analysts, reporters and technology leaders.

Additionally, she has researched, wrote, developed media relations strategies (including op-ed pieces), placed stories and planned convention support for such firms as: Overtone Software, American Cable Association, PerfTech Bulletins, Vodium, Ann Smith Communications, Transactis, Arlen Communication, C-SPAN ZDTV (Tech TV), the California Cable Association and Viacom.

Asha Sedalia Bruot is an MCS Practice Partner and senior strategic public relations counselor for a wide range of accounts and practice areas. Asha’s award-winning professional background straddles a wide range of experiences, from: managing law firm initiatives to full service public and media relations for Hyatt Hotels; restaurant business promotion to hospital healthcare public relations; managing tradeshows for clients to working in-house as a communications practitioner for AT&T, among other success stories. Marketing and advertising for pro bono event planning and management also highlight her resume. She is a certainly a seasoned PR pro.

Investor, Finance and Business Relations Counselors

Michael Farr, Strategic Counselor for MCS and President of Farr Miller & Washington (FMW) and Farr Consulting (FC).  A Strategic Counselor focused on investor relations and business relations clients. Mr. Farr's professional services firms are national leaders in investment results and strategic counseling for high profile, high net worth individuals, corporations and organizations. Mr. Farr advises or has advised such individuals and corporate representatives as: a founder of AOL, leaders at Chevy Chase Bank, professional athletes and celebrities and other notables connected with The White House, political leaders and even the government of Russia. Mr. Farr, will be available to advise MCS clients on media, government and business strategies. Indeed, MCS will have access to all of Mr. Farr's associates, for instance, former US IRS Commissioner The Honorable Sheldon Cohen, Esq. has joined Mr. Farr's businesses and is available for consultation Mr. Farr regularly appears in the highest profile news media as one of the world's most respected investment and business image experts.

Michael Fox, Strategic Business Counselor for MCS and the COO managing the business operations of Farr, Miller & Washington (FMW) and Farr Consulting (FC), on a day-to-day basis. Before joining FMW and FC in 2003, he was the Director of Finance for James V. Kimsey and the Kimsey Foundation. Preceding his move back to Washington, D.C. to join Mr. Kimsey's staff and that of the Foundation, Mr. Fox was a Tax Consulting Manager at Ernst & Young LLP in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he worked for five years. Mr. Fox earned a Master of Science in Taxation from the University of Miami, and he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner. He is available to consult on financial matters of interest to MCS clients.

MCS, Strategic Counselor or Practice Partner Published Articles or Media Appearances are available upon request. We have long careers placing clients in the media or keeping clients out of the spotlight. Our Team has written extensively for media outlets on public relations or crisis communications. We also have a long list of “clips” or videos of stories placed in media outlets ranging from the New York Times to the Financial Times to the Raleigh Durham News and Observer. We have been quoted in small papers and trades or interviewed for cable channels in remote parts of the world. Correspondingly, our Team deals every day with the likes of the Washington Post, the Denver Post , the National Law Journal, ABC News' Primetime, CBS' 60 Minutes or CNN. We will be glad to display or discuss sample stories and published articles with you and describe how and why they were created or placed. We can also discuss how we kept clients out of the news (where confidentiality permits).