Key hires advance the firm’s position in health and life science, food and beverage, and hospitality; offer new expertise in the firm’s crisis communications team
The Fearey Group announced today the arrival of two directors, Laura Tufts and Beth Herrell Silverberg. Tufts, who joins Fearey after eight years as director of communications at Seattle Children’s Hospital, will provide a new layer of strategic leadership in the firm’s growing health and life science practice. Silverberg, who has been working as a public relations independent consultant, focusing on hospitality companies, as well as higher education and technology clients, will lead the firm’s travel and hospitality and food and beverage practice, while supervising strategy for the firm’s education clients. Both Tufts and Herrell Silverberg will be reporting to Aaron Blank, CEO, president and owner of the firm.
“Laura and Beth are great additions to our team,” said Blank. “Their combined expertise gives us the ability to get laser focused on the firm’s strategic vision and direction. I’ve worked with Laura for years and so I am excited to be bringing her onto our team. I also knew that Beth would be a great hire as soon as our recruiter gave me a ring to tell me that she wasn’t looking for a job but was only interested in a position at our firm.”
At Seattle Children’s, Tufts managed a team of 20 people and was responsible for the organization’s strategic public relations, market research and corporate communications programs. Under her leadership, the organization designed and executed hospital crisis communications protocols and programs. She also built, implemented and managed a broad range of social media and media relations programs to increase public awareness and position Seattle Children’s as a regional and national center of excellence for pediatric care.
Before working for Seattle Children’s, Tufts was a vice president for John L. Scott Real Estate, where she enhanced the organization’s public image and name recognition through community outreach and fundraising efforts, and managed corporate marketing and advertising programs for over 14 years.
“I am ecstatic to join The Fearey Group. As a longtime client of The Fearey Group during my tenure at Seattle Children’s, I bring a unique client perspective to this work. I was always impressed with the quality of the work and the excellence the firm aspires to on a consistent basis,” said Tufts. “It’s an honor to be a part of a team that has an incredible 35-year-old legacy. I’m very excited to partner with our health care and life science accounts and I am looking forward to helping build the practice even further.”
For the past decade, Fearey has serviced some of the leading health care and life science organizations in the Pacific Northwest, including Virginia Mason, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Swedish, Providence, Children’s, Seattle Reproductive Medicine, Johnson and Johnson, Life Science Washington, Humana, LifeNet Health, Washington State Medical Association, and others.
“The firm continues to specialize in these health and life science industries by attracting great talent and getting referrals to some incredible clients based on our work and reputation,” said Blank. “Laura adds another layer of credibility to our group.”
Herrell Silverberg’s years in the PR industry and as an independent consultant provide extensive experience creating and executing communications programs, as well as the ability to lead teams across multiple groups with differing goals, balance impossible deadlines and translate complex information. As a consultant, she worked directly with the president & COO of El Gaucho Hospitality, helping him develop communications and marketing programs that built long-term awareness for their restaurants. She also serviced the University of Washington and Seven November, Inc., among others.
“Agency life has taught me the benefits of planning ahead but also when to pivot and think on my feet to make the most of every opportunity,” said Herrell Silverberg. “I’m excited to be a part of this firm. Its structure, leadership and growth trajectory has me optimistic for what may be on our paths ahead.”
In 2015, Fearey began adding new expertise and clients in the food and beverage, and travel and hospitality industry. As a result, the firm’s leadership decided to make it a specialized group within the agency. Recent clients include LYFE Kitchen, Bar Louie, Motif Seattle, Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails, EMP Museum and PCC Natural Markets.
Fearey is on the hunt for additional public relations professionals to join its team. If you are interested, or know someone interested in joining its team, click here.