Ann founded the public relations firm that bears her name in March 1987, after more than a decade of corporate communications and national media relations.  As President and CEO of Stephenson Group, she oversees all financial, operational and business development efforts. Additionally, she is the lead contact for Stephenson Group clients, counseling management on such matters as strategic and action communications planning, issues management, investor relations and crisis communication.

Under Ann’s leadership, Stephenson Group has consistently enjoyed a track record of securing vast amounts of quality client publicity.  In 2003, Ann took advantage of this competitive edge and launch a new division: PayPerClip.  The first of its kind, pay-for-performance business model, whereby clients enjoy risk-free publicity.  Ann is also CEO of PayPerClip and oversees all aspects of the division.

From 1983 to 1987, Ann served as Vice President, Public Affairs, for Beneficial Corporation (now HSBC). During her tenure, Beneficial won the President of the United States' Award for excellence in community service and 15 national/state first place awards for outstanding corporate communications.  Previously, Ann served as Manager of Public Affairs for First Interstate Bank of California (now Wells Fargo Bank) and Director of Corporate Communications for Kentfield Investment Corporation, both headquartered in California.  She has held several editorial positions for various major metropolitan publications.

A frequent speaker at industry and business forums, Ann’s work has been recognized by several major publications and documented in industry reference material.  She is also listed in the Who's Who of American Leaders.

SOMER STEPHENSON, Senior Vice President, Media Relations

Somer shares with CEO Ann Stephenson, the company’s business expansion and financial management functions.  She also heads up the Media Relations Division of Stephenson Group and is responsible for the profitability of the division, the agency’s largest, which has grown by 500% since her appointment.  Her day-to-day work includes overseeing client media outreach, including journalist relationships, press releases, media/analyst tours, press kit and collateral execution, customized story development and thought leadership writing/placement. 

Somer has served major corporate leaders, including SAP, IBM, Oracle Corporation, National Philanthropic Trust, and Siberian Energy.  Somer’s clients have been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Crain’s Business, New York Post and hundreds of others.

Philanthropically, Somer currently directs a non-profit organization where she was solely responsible for passing a federal congressional bill on prison reform.  She and her work have been featured on the Today Show, NPR and NJ Star Ledger.  She sits on the board of several other non-profit and volunteer organizations.

Somer is a graduate of the Anglo-American University, St. Petersburg, Russia.

PAM ABRAHAMSSON, Vice President, Account Manager

Pam is responsible for development and implementation of public relations program strategies for Stephenson Group clients.  In her role as vice president, account manager, she oversees the activities of account team members, and ensures that Stephenson Group clients earn exceptional return on investment for their program dollar.

She also oversees Stephenson Group’s Rising Star practice; in which Pam and the Stephenson Group team of seasoned professionals guide emerging technology companies to reach their market success goals.  This success is measured by the client’s business objective targets: achieving market leadership, acquiring key partnerships or attracting an acquisition offer.  Rising Star clients have earned acquisition offers from Fortune 100 companies, and organizations serving the Fortune 100.  Pam works closely with growing companies to help ensure brand-focused communications that will attract and retain the attention of the marketplace, key industry and business/technology media, and the organizations that will help make their success strategy a reality.

In addition to providing account management and Rising Star strategic services, Pam is helps guide branding and web communications strategies for both clients and internal Stephenson Group initiatives. 

Pam has procured client coverage in such media as Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, Reuters, InfoWorld, USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, Los Angeles Times, American Banker, Bank Systems & Technology, New York Times, Bon Appetit, Univision, Sirius satellite radio and other broadcast and print outlets.  Her clients have progressed from new market entrants, to earning award-winning leadership strategy, within as little as one year of program service.

Prior to her affiliation with SG, Pam served as founder and president of Abrahamsson & Associates, a public relations and marketing communications firm serving the corporate, real estate and e-commerce verticals. 

Her educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree in communications, public relations emphasis, CSU Fullerton; certification in e-marketing strategies, University of California, Irvine.  Professional and honor affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America, and Technology Council of Southern California.  Pam lectures and writes on issues within the public relations practice.

RICHARD VIRGILIO, Vice President, Account Manager

Richard’s extensive background, working in production and in public relations for twelve years, has proven to be a significant catalyst in securing strategic, revenue-generating media coverage for Stephenson Group clients. His experience in product / corporate media launches, creating industry experts, media training, image consulting and managing ongoing publicity campaigns earned him a nomination for PR Week’s “PR Person of the Year, 2003.” Recent client successes include interviews in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Time, Fortune, Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, CNN, and CNBC .

As a producer at CBS Syndicated Radio, Paramount Domestic Television and Warner Brothers Domestic Television, Richard developed award-winning programming daily and weekly.

Richard is regularly sought out by top media outlets for commentary regarding image management and corporate positioning issues and was featured in PR Week’s “My First Job” column.

Prior to joining Stephenson Group in 2000, Richard honed his media relations skills at a financial PR firm and Household Intl. Richard graduated cum laude from Kean University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.

LORY TORGERSON, Director of Operations

Lory Torgerson brings over 20 years of broad experience to her role with SG, ranging from accounting and account management to technical support and web design in public relations firms and advertising agencies in Denver and San Francisco.

Since joining SG in 1995, she has performed a variety of roles including that of accountant, HR manager, webmaster and IT manager, all of which now round out her role of Director of Operations. 

Lory holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University, and her affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America and the Denver Advertising Federation.

RICHARD STRASBURG, Research & Development

Richard Strasburg has a wide range of consulting experience in the financial services, consumer and business-to-business e-commerce, and information technology fields. He is responsible for directing the research team at Stephenson Group, with specific oversight of competitive intelligence and market awareness services.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Riverside, and a Ph.D. from Emory University.

For pay for placement public relations, visit our affiliate, www.PayPerClipPR.com