Founder and Principal of GMK Communications, Stephanie has spent over 30 years as an expert media strategist, corporate image builder, media coach and reporter. A hands-on leader who actively pitches stories to key contacts, Stephanie has been closely involved with a wide range of accounts including Auth0, Battery Ventures, Benchmark Capital, Canva, Eventbrite, Gainsight, Gecko Robotics, LinkedIn, Matrix Partners, Minted, NextDoor, OpenTable, Reliable Robotics, Scale Ventures, Sony, Trunk Club, Upwork, and XYZ Venture Capital. Before founding GMK in 1998, Stephanie directed the public relations activities of PointCast Incorporated and led media relations efforts of high-tech clients Apple Computer, Applied Materials, and Merix Corporation for the public relations firm PRx. Stephanie graduated from U.C. San Diego with a BA in Communications and a minor in Sociology.

Leslie is responsible for material development and messaging for GMK clients, writing hundreds of press releases over the course of her tenure. With an uncanny ability to bring fresh ideas to industry trends, Leslie frequently writes contributed articles, securing placements in tier-one outlets and solidifying GMK clients as thought leaders on topics from security to fintech to climate change and regulation. Prior to joining GMK in 2007, she managed PR for Neoteris (acquired by Juniper Networks) and was an early team member at SparkPR. She holds a BA in English from Vanderbilt University and an MA in Language and Literacy Education (with a focus on digital literacy) from the University of Georgia.

Based in Portland, Leigh has a demonstrated ability to understand client needs, provide strategic guidance, and deliver impactful results. Leigh is highly skilled at crafting targeted media programs customized to meet client needs, leading to heightened brand awareness and dynamic media coverage that moves the needle. She has over 10 years experience managing diverse client portfolios including venture capital, fintech, enterprise and healthtech PR among other industries. Leigh not only oversees data management, analytics, measurement, and reporting for GMK clients but also delivers invaluable insights that drive decision-making and strategy. She spent more than a decade at Waggener Edstrom as a senior analyst and worked on PR initiatives including Microsoft’s Online Services Division and programs for K-12 schools. Leigh holds a BA in Elementary Education from Linfield University

Over the past 10 years with GMK, Carmen has led accounts in climate, robotics, fintech, and more. Carmen is known for her strategic thinking, tireless work ethic, and ability to connect with clients. She has secured hundreds of media placements and broadcast interviews to put companies on the map. She previously spent over a decade at Waggener Edstrom handling Microsoft’s analyst relations program and working with press. She holds a BS in Journalism & Communications Studies with minor in Business Administration from the University of Oregon.

Virginia is a tech PR veteran with more than 30 years of experience working with large companies and start-ups alike. A consummate communications professional, Virginia has worked with a wide range of clients, from enterprise to fintech over her last 20+ years at GMK. Virginia was a founding partner of Catapult Partners Public Relations, where she worked with clients like Netscape, Softbank, Autodesk, Macromedia and others. Prior to starting Catapult, she led PR at Silicon Graphics after beginning her career at McGrath Power Public Relations. Virginia has a B.A. in Communications/Marketing from with an Emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Chico

Kristan is a communications professional with 20 years of experience driving PR for software, education, bio-tech, robotics and data analytics clients. She loves diving into the business story, determining the media strategy to exceed client expectations and leveraging creativity and tenacity to yield successful coverage results. Kristan worked at Waggener Edstrom for more than 10 years, spending much of that time managing the partner and client PR programs for Windows Client, Windows Server and AMD. Kristan holds a BS in Mass Communications and Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations from Kansas State University.

An early GMK team member, Megan recently returned to the firm after running the corporate marketing team at devtools unicorn Harness until January 2024. She managed PR, executive communications, social media, customer marketing, and brand, achieving a 12x increase in share of voice, 923% increase in year-over-year executive social growth and published over 40 customer stories in her tenure. She also led PR and global communications for several key business units at AWS, including database, analytics, blockchain, open source and devtools. She defined, developed and executed end-to-end PR strategies, interacted at the highest levels of corporate leadership, managed campaigns, and served as global liaison for international PR teams while managing sensitive reputational issues, cultivating relationships with media, and managing spokespeople.

At GMK, Megan handles announcements of all kinds, from seed funding, product launches, to major company acquisitions, as well as proactive PR for companies in AI, edtech, fintech, logistics, security, and enterprise software of all kinds. She has also had a focus on venture capital for firms, general partners, and their portfolio companies.

Megan is able to distill deeply technical concepts and is driven by a great story and delivering against clients’ KPIs. She holds a BA in English with a secondary concentration in French from Bates College.

A founding member of GMK, Jody has more than 25 years of communications and marketing experience for companies ranging from start-up to major technology brands. Jody is an executive that specializes in corporate, venture, consumer, business and product public relations as well as brand building, public affairs and crisis communications.

She began her career in Washington DC as deputy press secretary for a U.S. Senator from NY. After moving to the Bay Area, she joined a leading public relations firm, and provided strategic counsel on media relations, political affairs and crisis management, for clients such as Applied Materials, Cypress Semiconductor, Xerox, Apple Computer, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Jody was an early hire at Netscape, helping to build one of the first, and best-known Internet brands. After AOL acquired Netscape, Jody went on to lead communications for a host of start-ups as well as major technology companies, passionately crafting narratives regarding corporate visions, engineering genius, customer successes and community involvement.

Jody graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts in English Literature.