Sara Grote Cerrell, Principal
Sara Grote Cerrell brings more than 15 years of political, nonprofit and private sector experience to her clients. Before co-founding Global Change Network in 2008, she was Vice President at DDB Issues & Advocacy, a progressive issues marketing/communications practice, which is part of DDB Worldwide Communications.
Sara’s work has centered on international development with an emphasis on family health and women’s empowerment. She has managed communications campaigns for the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), the Center for Reproductive Rights, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Save the Children, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation, among others. Notable achievements include:
- Developing the messaging strategy for the Global Health Technologies Coalition, which is charged with convincing policymakers to invest more in new health interventions in the midst of an economic downturn;
- Producing the first-ever AIDS awareness ad during the Super Bowl and Emmy award-winning campaign for the Kaiser Family Foundation;
- Winning a Silver Anvil award for Save the Children’s effort to empower mothers in developing countries; and
- Coauthoring a policy brief on the integration of reproductive health, AIDS and economic development for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Sara’s career began in The White House where she coordinated First Lady Hillary Clinton’s involvement in several initiatives, ranging from health care to women’s rights to children’s issues. Sara went on to serve as Government, Board and Community Relations Officer at the Seattle Art Museum, where she institutionalized an office of government affairs and initiated an organization-wide effort to diversify the museum’s audience. Additionally, Sara served as independent consultant for such clients as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, managing projects like Nelson Mandela’s 1999 visit to Seattle and the rollout of the Foundation’s education program. She also worked on the Clinton/Gore 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns.
Sara’s community involvement has included positions as communications chair for the Center for Women & Democracy and Jubilee Women’s Center. She lives in London with her husband and three children.
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Arlene Fairfield, Principal
Arlene Fairfield brings more than 15 years of experience marketing social and environmental issues to nonprofit and advocacy groups, corporations and foundations. Arlene co-founded Global Change Network in July of 2008 and leads the U.S. outreach efforts. Immediately prior to Global Change Network, Arlene led DDB Communications Worldwide’s corporate citizenship communications practice, the Brand Integrity Group.
Whether sustainability, women’s reproductive health, energy conservation or human rights, Arlene works with clients to develop effective and memorable communications strategies. Her passion and creativity foster an environment in which great ideas can flourish, resulting in a variety of speaking engagements and award-winning programs.
Arlene began her career focusing on environmental and nonprofit health-related clients including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and Women’s Capital Corporation (Plan B emergency contraceptive). Arlene oversaw the national brand campaign for Energy Star™ and led the effort to launch the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s campaign for international family planning. In October of 2000, PRWeek named her one of the top 50 health care agency executives in the country. Accounts managed by Arlene have won a gold Effie, Cannes Lion, Emmy, Silver Anvils and a CLIO.
Her community involvement includes her positions as board member and former board president of the Women’s Funding Alliance and founder of the Pacific Northwest Corporate Social Responsibility Network. Arlene has a BS in Marketing from Georgetown University and a Masters in Business and Environmental Management from the University of Washington. Arlene lives in Seattle with her husband and four-year-old daughter.
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Geoffrey Gougion
Digital Strategy and Outreach
Geoff Gougion is Managing Partner of Mediatavern, LLC, a leading full-service digital agency and studio with offices in NY/CT, LA and SF. A frequent speaker and writer, Geoff is considered a pioneer in the digital space.
Prior to Mediatavern, he served as Managing Director of Tribal DDB, the world’s largest digital agency network, in Brand Management at Nestle and in Account Management at Modem Media, the world’s first digital agency. He has helped some of the world’s largest brands navigate the evolving digital and social media space including AT&T, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, IBM, Clorox, and (PRODUCT) RED. His recent work for McAfee was just awarded 3 Effie Awards recognizing it as one of the most effective advertising efforts in the United States over the past year. Geoff’s career has transcended the digital marketing arena, serving in multiple capacities of government and politics, working for Former Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R-IA), on the Presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush and Gov. Lamar Alexander, and for leading government relations and public affairs firms, Cassidy & Associates and Capitoline/MS&L.
Geoff earned his MBA from Thunderbird and a BSBA in International Business and Marketing from Georgetown University. He lives in San Francisco, CA with his wife, Kathy.
Dennis O’Reilly
Copywriter
With more than ten years of experience, Dennis has developed conceptual advertising campaigns for all kinds of clients, including Swedish Medical Center, JanSport and Exclusive Resorts. His experience in the non-profit sector includes work for the Gill Foundation, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, The National Recycling Coalition, The Alzheimer's Association of Western Washington, and Boys' & Girls' Clubs of King County. Prior to starting his own creative shop, Svelte, LLC, Dennis was a senior writer at DDB Seattle.
Chris Garces
Powerpoint and Graphic Designer
Over the course of his 14 year advertising career, Chris has dabbled in just about every facet of communications, giving him a unique perspective for designing and producing presentations for clients. Chris recognizes and understands the importance of compelling story-telling, and tries to bring that to presentations in a manner that makes them an invaluable asset for marketing communications. Among the many clients that Chris has designed presentations for are PATH, Equality California, NYSERDA, The National Recycling Coalition, Gill Foundation and 826 Seattle.
Mary Meagher
Public Relations
Mary Meagher offers clients the seasoned perspective that comes from 25 years of political, business and communications experience. Her background includes expertise in strategic planning, crisis management, communications and media relations for both the public and private sectors. Her counsel has been trusted by a wide range of clients, most notably those in the fields of health care, energy, technology and financial services.
Before joining forces with the Global Change Network, Meagher was Managing Director for Public Strategies, Inc., a global public affairs firm. Her broad experience in the federal government spans both chambers of Congress, as well as the executive branch where she served as chief spokesperson for the U.S. Labor Secretary. Meagher was the political communications director for the DCCC, and also worked in government affairs for Microsoft Corporation, developing its external affairs program.
Geoffrey Garin
Research
Geoffrey Garin is the president of Peter D. Hart Research Associates, one of the nation's leading survey research firms. Geoff has undertaken landmark policy research for many of the nation's leading foundations and educational institutions. He has conducted major studies on high school reform and global health issues for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as research for the Pew Charitable Trusts on foster care, early education, and consumer credit. He has conducted influential studies related to higher education for the University of California system, the College Board, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Mr. Garin's work on health care issues includes research for Stanford University's Center on Longevity, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He has undertaken research studies on foreign policy issues for the United Nations Foundation, and the U.S. Center for Global Engagement, and CARE, among others. Additionally, he conducts the direct marketing research for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and many other donor-based charitable and advocacy organizations, and has led major research projects for major corporations and trade associations in a variety of sectors.
Mr. Garin graduated from Harvard College in 1975. He has appeared on the news programs of every major network, and he has served as on-air analyst for CBS Radio's coverage of the national election returns for every election cycle since 1990. He is married to Deborah Berkowitz, an expert in occupational safety and health, and is the father of two sons, Andy and Danny.
Karen Finney
Communications and Public Affairs Strategy
With more than 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors, national politics and campaigns, Karen Finney is an accomplished communications strategist and commentator. Karen is currently an independent consultant in Washington, DC working with clients in the areas of political and communication strategy, media training, crisis communications, thought leadership development and public affairs.
Karen most recently served for four years as the Director of Communications for the Democratic National Committee where she helped guide the DNC’s communications and media strategy for the successful 2006 Congressional elections and DNC strategy for the 2008 presidential campaign. Karen has worked in a number of high-profile campaigns, serving as Director of Communications for Elizabeth Edwards during the Kerry/Edwards Presidential Campaign in 2004 and Press Secretary to Hillary Clinton’s successful bid for the Senate in 2000. Karen served in the Clinton Administration as Deputy Press Secretary to the First Lady and as Deputy Director of Presidential Scheduling for President Clinton.
With a strong interest in education, Karen has also worked in both the private and public sectors to help improve public education, working for Scholastic Inc. and the New York City Board of Education. As Director of Business Development and Strategy, she developed and oversaw the growth of Scholastic, Inc. into new market areas and cultivated strategic relationships with key organizations in the public and private sectors. As the chief spokesperson for all communications for the New York City Board of Education, Karen also managed crisis communications in the aftermath of 9/11. Karen has served on the boards of the Women's Leadership Forum Network, NY; Teach for America, NY and the Women's Vote Center.
Karen is a member of the French American Foundation’s prestigious “Young Leaders” program and appears regularly on MSNBC, Fox News and CNN.