Largemouth's workforce consists of talented former journalists and communications executives with expertise across diverse industries and multiple platforms. Our employees consistently challenge themselves to think beyond conventional practices to achieve amazing results on behalf of the companies we represent.
Below are some of the faces of Largemouth.
Brandon Bryce, President and CEO
Brandon Bryce excels in building brand communications strategies that resonate with a company's key influential audiences. He has a successful track record of program management with hands-on implementation. He successfully establishes brand and product messaging, has developed and launched enterprise and consumer products, media tours, crisis anticipation and response, start-up technologies, public and private companies in addition to managing communications initiatives for multi-national organizations such as Eaton Corporation.
Prior to founding Largemouth Communications in 2005, Brandon held senior management and director-level positions with Rockett, Burkhead & Winslow, Business Telecom, OptXCon, and Manning Selvage and Lee (a top-10 multi-national public relations firm). Brandon's career in communications began in Los Angeles at Ketchum Public Relations, working on behalf of clients such as Acura, Packard Bell, Miller Brewing Company and Mobil.
Brandon holds a bachelor's degree in communications from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Scott Yates, Vice President
Scott Yates has extensive knowledge of media practices and preferences as a former newspaper reporter and editor with more than 13 years of journalism experience before embarking on a corporate career in public relations and communications. Scott's career includes various corporate positions as a senior public relations, corporate communications and marketing director with experience ranging from global, Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. He has a proven track record of building successful communication programs that build brands, drive revenue and partnerships, and enhance stockholder value.
Before joining Largemouth Communications, Scott held public relations and corporate communications positions with MCNC Grid Computing & Networking Services, Sprint, Ericsson Mobile Phones, IBM home networking spin-off Home Director, the Dialog Corporation, and Inveresk Research, a global contract research organization for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.
Scott earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1983 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Leslie Swiantek, Account Director, Pittsburgh
Leslie Swiantek has nearly 20 years of public relations experience ranging from industrial corporations to nonprofit and community-based organizations. She joined Largemouth in 2008 and leads PR programs for Eaton Corporation's electric vehicle charging initiative. Leslie is also responsible for issues/crisis management, media strategy and government relations for Eaton's Electrical Sector.
Leslie's early career efforts included working for AmeriCorps VISTA as Director of Public Relations in an Adult Day Center for older adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease. She was then commissioned to write a book on growing older in Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Over 50 and Retirement Guide.
Leslie then accepted a position at D.T. Watson Rehabilitation Services as the Coordinator of Community Affairs where she planned and implemented special events and provided media relations for the Rehabilitation and Educational Services portion of the Hospital. Before joining Largemouth Communications, Leslie was an account manager in Mullen's public relations department working on the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield account. Leslie was the Associate Director for Media Relations, Marketing and Public Relations at La Roche College where her experiences led her to become the College's media representative for the Presidents of New Guinea, South Korea, Namibia and Rwanda.
Throughout her career, Leslie has been actively involved in the Catholic Church by volunteering as a lay minister and providing pro bono public relations services for St. Patrick-St. Stanislaus-Kostka Parish in Pittsburgh's Strip District. Leslie holds a bachelor's degree in professional writing/journalism from California University of Pennsylvania.
Heidi Deja, Account Director
Heidi Deja has more than 20 years of experience in television news, corporate communications and agency public relations.
From 1988-2002, Heidi served as a television news reporter and anchor in several cities across the United States including Erie and Scranton, Pa., St. Louis, Minneapolis and Raleigh. In those roles, she reported on local, national and international news events. Some of the highlights of Heidi's news career include covering presidential elections, hurricanes, floods and the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
From television news, Heidi moved to corporate public relations at the Fortune 250 Progress Energy. While at Progress Energy, she served as communications supervisor at a nuclear plant as well as corporate spokesperson. She handled proactive and crisis communications and was a spokesperson during Florida's 2004 record hurricane season.
In 2006, Heidi moved to Blue Cross of North Carolina where she served as spokesperson and later director of public relations. While at Blue Cross, she handled proactive and mitigation issues ranging from a million step walk across the state to healthcare reform.
Heidi earned a bachelor of arts in communication from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Kelly Hubbard, Account Supervisor
Since joining Largemouth in 2006, Kelly has provided account management, strategic planning and PR program implementation for clients such as Eaton Corporation and The Pantry. She has contributed to a wide range of accounts, from local start-up companies to multinational organizations with billions in revenue. Kelly has applied her media relations expertise to clients in the information technology, retail, health care, biotech and education industries.
Prior to joining Largemouth, Kelly worked in the public relations divisions of Maverick Marketing and Rockett, Burkhead & Winslow. North Carolina State University is her alma mater, receiving a bachelor's degree in communication with a public relations concentration and minors in journalism and psychology.
Kelly is actively involved in the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) and currently serves on the board as the membership chair. Kelly enjoys traveling to learn about the world through different culinary experiences.
Shellie Edge, Account Supervisor
Drawing from 12 years experience in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, and issue advocacy, Account Supervisor Shellie Edge develops and manages business-to-business and consumer campaigns for Largemouth Communication clients.
Before joining Largemouth, Shellie managed communications projects involving issue advocacy, strategic communications and re-branding efforts for clients including the American Medical Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Beverage Association, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and the Society of Nuclear Medicine at Adfero Group -- a Washington, D.C. boutique public relations firm that integrates sophisticated digital strategies with traditional communications tactics.
Shellie's expertise prior to Adfero blends public affairs and public policy work, in both the public relations agency and think tank settings. At the public affairs practice of Golin Harris, Shellie developed and implemented strategic communications, grassroots advocacy and media relations for the National Association of Corporate Directors, the National Insulation Association and the Waters Corporation.
Prior to this, she built the communications program from the ground up at the Institute for Emerging Issues, a public policy "think-and-do tank." As the communications director, she convened leaders from business, non-profit organizations, government and higher education to tackle some of the biggest issues facing the state's future growth and prosperity.
Shellie earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism with a minor in English from Appalachian State University.
Kelly Maicon, Media Relations Specialist
Kelly Maicon is a 16-year public relations professional. Throughout her PR career she has been responsible for creating and implementing strong brand building and strengthening programs that have garnered both national and local media attention. She has worked with several well-known brands including Ethan Allen, Visa, Evian, Reebok, Norelco, Philips Lighting and Dollar Tree.
One of her most successful PR projects was a program created to promote Ethan Allen's kids line of furniture called "Chairs that Care." This turn-key charitable project had celebrities such as John Travolta, Robert De Niro, Michael J. Fox, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears, Bill Cosby, Bette Midler and Vera Wang (just to name a few) lending their creativity and style to a three-foot tall upholstered chair that helped raise money for the Children's Museum of Manhattan as well as several children's organizations throughout the country. The "Chairs that Care" project was featured on news outlets including NBC's TODAY show, Fox News Channel, NY Daily News, as well as several shelter book magazines. Kelly is also proud to have worked on several of the HGTV Dream Home projects during her role at Ethan Allen.
Born and raised in New York, Kelly relocated down South with her family in 2005 and now lives in Wake Forest, NC. When she is not keeping busy with her two sons, she tries to channel her creative juices through painting, decorating and writing.
Alex Huffman, Account Executive
As an account executive at Largemouth Communications, Alex executes media relations, account management, PR program implementation and extensive technical writing support through case studies, blog posts and byline articles for clients such as Sensus, CORT Furniture Rental and Southeastern Freight Lines. In her time at Largemouth, Alex has contributed to nearly every account, from managing media briefings for highly technical trade shows and writing byline articles for trade publications to planning events for nonprofit organizations and even serving as writer and editor for several internal client newsletters.
Alex joined Largemouth in her senior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an intern after completing PR and marketing internships at MMI Associates, Inc. and Koroberi, Inc. Alex holds bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and political science and a minor in Spanish from UNC.
Alex is a marathon and ultra-marathon runner, with a passion for great food, worldwide travel and UNC basketball.
Sarah Haas, Account Executive
As an account executive at Largemouth Communications, Sarah Haas manages and executes public relations activities for clients in the retail and technology industries, including The Pantry and Eaton Corporation. She has applied her expertise in media relations on a variety of campaigns, from market-level and system-wide consumer campaigns to technical thought leadership, including the Kangaroo Express Salute Our Troops campaign which resulted in 519.67 million media impressions, averaging four media placements per day. The campaign has been highlighted in PRWeek and is a finalist in PRNews' CSR Awards.
Sarah comes to Largemouth with experience marketing to students at the Center for Sustainability at Penn State, where she assisted in the development and promotion of a student involvement and career development web portal, and local communities at the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in public relations and a bachelor of science degree in commercial recreation management from The Pennsylvania State University.
Beth Hawes, Account Executive
Event Planning and Vendor Relations
Beth Hawes joined Largemouth Communications in 2011. As an account executive, Beth specializes in event planning and vendor relations. She excels at strategic planning and implementation.
In 2011, Beth was responsible for managing vendors and partners for Kangaroo Express' Salute Our Troops campaign. One component of the campaign was a 1952 CJ-3 Willys Jeep Tour which traveled more than 13,500 miles to over 75 communities across eight states and visited more than 300 Kangaroo Express stores, and several local community events. Beth was instrumental in store activation and event coordination involving brands such as Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Red Bull and Monster. Beth also planned and executed the Salute Our Troops Grand Finale Celebration, with more than 700 attendees, mobile assets and an exciting run of show which included parachuters, rappellers and a performance by country music artist Jamie Buckley.
Before joining Largemouth Communications, Beth was an account manager at DBM, a leading global outplacement company based in New York City. Prior to that Beth spent two years with the Corporate Executive Board, a Washington DC-based firm specializing in best business practices. Beth holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Anthony Baldinelli, Account Coordinator
Since joining Largemouth in 2011, Anthony Baldinelli has provided account support, media relations, professional writing, and editorial planning and execution, among other services, for a diverse range of the Largemouth client spectrum, including a national nonprofit, retail chains and industrial businesses.
Anthony plays a key role in the media relations efforts of a global, diversified Fortune 250 company, and contributed to a record volume of news items for the sector in the fourth quarter of 2011, with key messages in the areas of industry leading technology and sustainability. He has also managed both consumer and business-to-business social media accounts, and shares partial oversight of the Largemouth company blog.
A North Carolina State University alumnus, Anthony holds a bachelor's degree in communications with a public relations concentration and a minor in journalism. Prior to graduation, he served as an intern at Largemouth. Anthony is also a member of the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) and has freelance copywriting experience in real estate, relocation and digital marketing industries.
Julie Cooper, Account Coordinator
Julie Cooper joined the Largemouth team in the spring of 2012. As an account coordinator, Julie provides professional writing, media relations, editorial planning and execution, and media monitoring services to a wide variety of Largemouth clients, including The Pantry and CORT Furniture Rental. She specializes in social media and online content development.
Julie joined Largemouth in her senior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an intern. Prior to joining Largemouth, she completed PR internships at French/West/Vaughan, the North Carolina Symphony and Rex Healthcare. Julie holds a degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in music from UNC.
In her free time, Julie enjoys singing, traveling and watching Tar Heel basketball.
Heather Hefner, Account Executive
Heather Hefner has worked at Largemouth since 2006, executing PR activities for clients in the technology, transportation, restaurant, retail and pharmaceutical industries. She is responsible for graphics production and layout of corporate deliverables in support of clients' communication programs.
A graduate of North Carolina State University, she earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in journalism. She is continuing her education by taking graphic design classes at Wake Technical Community College.
Heather is a member of AIGA Raleigh, a professional association for design. She enjoys photography, volunteering and playing her Wolfpack Red drum set.
