RICK FRENCH | CHAIRMAN & CEO
Rick is one of the nation's highest profile public relations counselors and is a frequent speaker at marketing conferences around the world. He is regarded within the communications field as a leading expert in consumer marketing, crisis management and corporate branding, and has co-authored a book detailing "best practices" in public relations. Prior to forming FWV in 1997, Rick served in senior management positions with several large public relations firms, and has also worked as director of corporate communications for an international chemical company and public relations manager for a national bank holding company. He began his career in Detroit as a print and television journalist, following his graduation from Oakland University, where he earned a B.A. degree in journalism.
Rick is past vice chairman of the board of directors of Special Olympics North Carolina and helped lead the successful bid to bring the 1999 World Special Olympics Summer Games to the Triangle region. He has held more than a dozen other civic and community board positions and is the current chairman-elect of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance; and immediate past chairman of The Greater Raleigh Sports Council. He also sits on the international board of advisors of the Global Water Foundation, a global charity that is committed to helping bring clean water and proper sanitation to underdeveloped parts of the world. Rick is also a member of the board of trustees of the internationally renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Rick's other business interests include his participation as a partner and member of the board of directors of Reagan Williams Licensing Group, a $100 million home furnishings and fine arts company headquartered in High Point, N.C.; a partner and member of the board of directors of Vincent Shoes, an international children's shoe company; and owner of the historic Tucker Furniture office and retail complex in downtown Raleigh. In 2001, Rick and a small group of investors bid for and were awarded a South Atlantic League expansion franchise. That minor-league baseball club, a Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, played one season in Wilmington, N.C. before it was moved to South Georgia, where it continues to operate today.
DAVID GWYN | PRESIDENT
He oversees all of FWV's lifestyle and consumer product accounts including Wrangler Jeans, GeneralSports Venue, AstroTurf, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Ford Motor Company, Justin Boots, Coca-Cola's tea brand portfolio (Nestea and Gold Peak) and orange juice portfolio (Minute Made and Simply Orange), Gatlinburg, TN, Poyner Spruill LLC, the North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesaler's Association and Tweetsie Railroad, among others.
As General Manager of the firm's home office in Raleigh, David spends a great deal of time working closely with young associates and effectively managing the office work flow and intra-office activities. Prior to joining the agency, he was a founding partner in a marketing consulting firm that developed and executed programs for Pepsi-Cola Company, BellSouth Mobility, Heinz Pet Foods and BB&T and a $200 million Nabisco Foods Group promotions account.
He began his marketing career with Intervisual Communications in New York City, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master's degree in business from Wake Forest University, and a master's degree in sports and special events marketing from New York University.
JACK GLASURE | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
A native Floridian, Jack currently leads the agency’s Tampa, Fla. office, which was opened in 1999, two years after the firm was established in Raleigh, N.C. Prior to co-founding FWV in 1997, he worked for 15 years in domestic marketing, retail operations and public affairs for oil industry brands Chevron (San Francisco), Ashland (Louisville, Ky.) and Clark (St. Louis). Recognized for his creativity and as a “Jack of all Trades,” he’s been instrumental in developing and executing award-winning campaigns to drive awareness, distribution and sales for hundreds of consumer products — from boats, blue jeans, rum and restaurants, to race cars, golf clubs, island resorts, furniture, art, books, celebrities, real estate properties and tourist attractions. In 2006, Jack authored the agency’s proprietary Communications Strategy Process,™ which helps uncover a brand’s Unique Selling Proposition and Key Messages.
As a media relations expert, Jack’s earned favorable editorial coverage for agency clients with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, "Today Show", People, Smart Money, Conde Nast Traveler, GQ, "Fox & Friends", "Good Morning America", Yahoo, Sports Illustrated, HBO "Real Sports", "Oprah" and scores of vertical trade publications, daily newspapers, television news broadcasts, radio programs and social media sites.
An active member of the community, Jack has been recognized as one of Tampa’s “Most Fashionable and Charitable Men,” reflecting the firm’s non-profit pro bono work over the past decade. As a travel industry veteran, he’s listed as a “Who’s Who in Travel & Tourism,” and has been honored by the Dude Rancher’s Association of Cody, Wyo. for lifetime achievement promoting the “Western Way of Life.” In 2002, Jack financed and produced the first post-911 effort to bring Tall Ships from around the world to the United States — culminating in a weeklong festival that attracted more than 150,000 people and a flotilla of nearly 3,000 vessels. In his spare time, Jack has published two books on college and pro football, executive produced three National Lampoon comedies, and supported numerous causes as a board or committee member, most notably the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Children’s Dream Fund, Chair Scholar’s Foundation and Metropolitan Ministries.
Jack has a B.A. degree in business administration and international marketing from St. Leo University, and an M.B.A. from Nova University. He’s currently on the advisory board for The College of Management at North Carolina State University, and has served similarly for The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, Eckerd College President’s Associates, and The School of Communication Arts, where he is an adjunct professor.
NATALIE BEST | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES
Natalie joined FWV in 2002 with over seven years of public relations and marketing experience including six years in the National Basketball Association. Working for the NBA league office in New York first, and then with the Charlotte Hornets, she handled the day-to-day public and media relations efforts for the Hornets including national media relations for over 100 games per year at venues across the country.
Natalie has developed and executed marketing and public relations programs for a wide variety of FWV clients including Coca-Cola (Minute Maid, Nestea, DASANI, Simply Orange), SunTrust Bank, the Oakland County, Michigan Office of Economic Development, the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism and AstroTurf. She also served in media relations roles for clients including Wrangler, Ford Motor Company, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitor's Bureau.
Natalie was named by the Triangle Business Journal as a "40 Under 40" business leadership award winner in 2007 and is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Raleigh. She has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Natalie's currently on the board of directors of the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education, North Carolina Action for Children and the UNC School of Journalism Alumni & Friends.
BARRIE HANCOCK | VICE PRESIDENT
Barrie is responsible for the strategy and oversight of multiple FWV accounts within the consumer marketing practice area.
Barrie is instrumental in developing earned media strategies for a number of agency clients including the International Gemological Institute, North Carolina State University and Campbell University School of Law.
Barrie has been with FWV since 2000 and prior to joining the agency, was a marketing and communications manager for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating Fuqua's marketing and communications strategies.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Connecticut, Barrie completed Duke's Program for Manager Development in 1999.
CHRIS SHIGAS | Vice President
Chris Shigas is an award-winning marketing, public relations, social media and crisis communication expert with an emphasis on integrating traditional public relations campaigns with digital media; Clients include Coca-Cola, Wrangler, Canada Post, Water.org, TVG Network and NC State University.
Chris is a frequent speaker on marketing and emerging social media techniques. His team recently won the Best in Category "Integrated Communication Award" from the Public Relations Society of America for a campaign that utilized a number of social media platforms, including Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr and Second Life. The award was given for a groundbreaking project with Water.org to raise awareness about the global water crisis.
Before his public relations career, Chris was an Emmy award-winning television news producer and has the distinction of producing the first high-definition newscast in the country.
Chris is on the board of directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina and has a B.A. degree from the University of Georgia.
JACQUELINE BURTON | VICE PRESIDENT
With her 20+ years of experience in the home furnishings, construction and lifestyle industries, Jacqueline Burton is known among journalists for her creative leadership and innovation in delivering the right message to the right audience in the most effective way.
As the former head of her own agency, she developed a client list of sophisticated products from around the world and continues to be called upon to give foreign companies a dynamic start in the U.S. marketplace. She has developed long-range public relations strategies for giant names such as Bosch, Marimekko, Sony and 3M, handled significant product launches, and has a considerable track record revitalizing brands, including Armstrong Floors and Scotchgard.
WENDY MCCARTHY | VICE PRESIDENT
Wendy's diverse professional experience extends across all aspects of marketing into the consumer products, healthcare, lifestyle, professional services, public affairs, real estate and entertainment industries for clients including Procter & Gamble, Universal Studios, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, bioMérieux, Capital One, Virgin Atlantic and more.
Previously, she served as marketing director for Integrative Therapeutics, a manufacturer of more than 250 nutritional supplements distributed exclusively through physicians, experience she currently puts to use on behalf of the nutritional supplement and healthy lifestyle company clients.
During her 12-year career, Wendy has also served in account management roles with Edelman Worldwide, Porter Novelli and Curley & Pynn, the Orlando, Fla. Manning, Selvage & Lee affiliate. Wendy graduated magna cum laude from Central Connecticut State University with a B.A. in politics and journalism
JESSICA O'MAHONY | VICE PRESIDENT
Since joining FWV in 2006, Jessica has been responsible for developing and executing public relations programs for a variety of agency clients including Minute Maid, NESTEA, Wrangler, Justin Boots, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and TrustAtlantic Bank.
Jessica's diverse career in public relations began more than nine years ago with Ketchum (Atlanta) - one of the world's largest PR agencies - where she worked primarily with The Home Depot and Georgia-Pacific Building Products. She managed the national long-lead and women's magazine media relations program for both clients, and also served as the account lead for The Home Depot's Southern Division and EXPO Design Center. In these roles, Jessica managed public relations programs and product launches designed to raise company visibility and drive product sales.
Her media relations efforts have earned placements for clients with a host of national outlets including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS "Early Show," AOL and The Associated Press as well as top trade and
regional outlets nationwide.
Jessica graduated from Wake Forest University with a major in Communications and a minor in Journalism.
ROBIN ADKINS VOSLER | VICE PRESIDENT
Robin serves as the lead strategist and general manager in the Tampa office, where she oversees the development and execution of public relations and marketing campaigns while handling the office work flow and intra-office activities.
Robin’s company, Relations PR & Marketing, was acquired by FWV in September 2009. Her firm built an impressive local and national client roster including several high profile clients from Super Bowl XLIII, and FWV saw an opportunity to become engrossed in the Tampa Bay community through Relations’ past efforts. Robin was honored as one of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” in 2007, and was named one of Tampa Bay’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders by Tampa Bay CEO Magazine in 2009. She was also chosen by Cadillac as a Woman of Influence in the Tampa Bay area. Robin recently received the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “Up and Comers Award”, and additionally was the first person inducted into the Business Journal’s Hall of Fame.
Robin is involved with many organizations in the Tampa Bay area, including the Outback Bowl, the Fashionistas, and is on the board of directors for Voices for Children of Tampa Bay. In 2008, Robin founded the group S.T.Y.L.E. for young professionals (South Tampa Young Leaders & Executives). She is well-respected in Tampa for her philanthropic efforts and her contributions to the community. Robin earned a B.A. in Mass Communication with a minor in Theatre from Winthrop University in South Carolina.
