Executive Team
ANN STEPHENSON
Chief Executive Officer
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 CEO of Stephenson Group and PayPerClip, 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.
SUMMER STEPHENSON
Director of Media Relations
As director of media relations, Summer brings a wealth of experience as a published journalist and press outreach expert. As an author, her writing has been featured in mainstream and trade magazines and newspapers, both print and online. Summer is frequently called upon by members of the press to consult and provide background on publicity campaigns and crisis communications.
Since 1998, Summer has been developing and managing successful consumer, corporate and expert-positioning publicity campaigns for Fortune 500 companies in the technology, healthcare and financial industries. Under her direction, Summer’s clients were recently featured in People, Redbook, Essence, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, American Lawyer, The Enquirer, Today Show, National Public Radio, Fox News, CNBC, E! News and CBS Evening News. Summer’s efforts have been praised by her clients as the most significant revenue-drivers of their business.
Prior to joining PayPerClip, Summer worked with Publicis USA in San Francisco. She attended Lafayette University in Pennsylvania.