Gabrielle Bernstein –Partner

Entrepreneur from the get-go and superior networker, Gabrielle is the lady around whom everybody gathers. Dynamic and upbeat—she delivers, no matter what the job. Whether it's raising money for The UN Women's Conference on peace or securing media placements for clients in high profile national publications, you can count on Gabrielle to deliver.

In March 2002 Gabrielle co-founded The Women’s Entrepreneurial Network (W.E.N), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to assist the efforts of female entrepreneurs in the business world. Later that fall Gabrielle incorporated her second company, SparkPlug Communications, a boutique Public Relations firm that surpassed all projections in its first year.

Despite her busy schedule, Gabrielle still finds time to sit on the Young Professionals Council for Choice (YPCC) for the non-profit organization NARAL New York. In 2003 Gabrielle coordinated NARAL’s first young professionals fundraiser and continues to raise the bar each year. As President of NARAL’S YPCC Gabrielle is currently organizing their third fundraiser for May 11, 2006.

In the past year Gabrielle has launched eight new venues, was featured as a weekly speaker on Sirius Satellite Radio’s station Shade 45, and coordinated daylong networking workshops for W.E.N while increasing revenues and awareness for clients ranging from restaurants to fitness experts. 

At this point in her career, she has kicked her entrepreneurial drive into high gear. Through her gregarious personality Gabrielle is constantly building significant contacts and creating new opportunities. 

As a Partner of SparkPlug Communications, Gabrielle cuts a swath through New York’s competitive events and public relations jungle and gives her clients visibility in a tough market. Award winning restaurants, nightclubs, fitness programs, beverages and clothing lines count on Gabrielle’s energy, enthusiasm and professionalism. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre from Syracuse University.

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Marisa King-Redwood, Co-Founder

Born and raised in the heart of Greenwich Village NYC, this entrepreneur’s interest in the business world began at an early age. Marisa King, daughter of an Orthopedic Surgeon and a Registered Nurse, always knew that success was not an option.  Coming up behind two brothers, one an attorney and the other a National Marketing Manager for a Fortune 500, Marisa knew she needed to get started early. 

Marisa has gained her knowledge and experience hands on, having interned within the entertainment industry during college, where she earned her degree in Marketing, along with having worked at several prestigious companies such as Grubman Indursky, P.C. where she was responsible for the strategic management of client accounts ranging from Martha Stewart Living to Alicia Keys to the NBA, for a Senior Partner; Universal Music Group where Marisa was able to increase public awareness and consequently increase revenue generated by urban artists through grassroots marketing, brand development and promotion; and NAK Marketing where she focused on market growth in the United States for the Heidelberg account, Heidelberg being the world’s leading solution provider for the print media industry.  In addition, over the last five years, as a Consultant, Marisa has assisted in the creation and implementation of both urban and general marketing campaigns for H.I.P., Coca-Cola and Citigate Financial Intelligence, enabling the companies to better reach their target market. 
 
In June 2000, with enough experience under her belt and the determination to make it on her own, Buzz International was born.  Buzz is a full service public relations and event design firm that boasts a client list including HBO, Latina Magazine, Doubletree Hotels and some top names in entertainment.  As a Partner at The Morgan Redwood Group (MRG), a management and consulting firm, Marisa leverages her relationships throughout the industries to provide effective business solutions for small businesses to increase overall productivity and their presence in the media through brand development and publicity.

This young woman has definitely taken her entrepreneurial talents to the next level with her companies.  She brings her extensive database of the “who’s who” throughout the country along with her marketing and leadership practices, in order to focus on Business Development and creating the Strategic Partnerships necessary to bring the company and its ventures to the forefront of this extremely competitive industry.

Marisa is also the Co-Founder of W.E.N., The Women’s Entrepreneurial Network, a company devoted to assisting women in making their mark in the business world while maintaining a healthy lifestyle with the proper work/life balance.

Danielle Harroch, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Services

As Director of Marketing and Creative Services, Danielle Harroch is in charge of all branding and marketing efforts at Women’s Entrepreneurial Network (WEN), a non-profit organization, whose mission is to further assist the efforts of young female entrepreneurs in the business world, which she Co-founded. Supervising website development and content for W.E.N online and providing website consulting services for W.E.N members.

Danielle is currently a Partner in Sparkplug Communications, where she sees projects through from conception to completion. Working on the constant evolution of the strategic marketing and promotional plans for national and international fashion and lifestyle brands, as well as high profile restaurant and nightclub venues, her range of capabilities, problem solving, and creative thinking ensure optimum results. Known for promoting visibility and buzz as well as regular involvement with all ongoing projects and clients, Danielle's service are highly in demand. These talents can be seen most recently in a three day long series of trunk shows which took place in NYC’S trendy Meatpacking District featuring 26 different designers.

Heather Tierney, Director of Editorial

Heather Tierney, founder of Sorted, has built a solid base of expertise in
New York's imposing restaurant scene by working over the years as a restaurant and bar critic for Time Out New York. Her career as Eat Out Associate Editor at TONY has allowed her to dine at and evaluate the city's top restaurants. Her work has been published in numerous publications including Time Out New York magazine, the Eating & Drinking Guide, the Nightlife Guide, as well as Time Out London.
People began calling upon Heather for advice on where to dine, and she began to consult and book tables for not only people living in New York, but those who fre-quently travel here. Friends of friends, business executives and celebrity publicists began to rely on Heather to sort out their restaurant bookings and private events. The word spread, and Sorted sprung to life.
Heather currently lives in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and continues to visit and review restaurants, bars and clubs around the city.

Randy Braham, Director of Publicity

Randee Braham has become widely known throughout the hospitality industry and New York journalism community as the principal of her boutique firm, Pass It On Public Relations. Randee founded Pass It On to address clients in the restaurant, food and wine industries, and has found resounding success. She conceived of the company while working at Food Arts magazine, a respected industry trade publication, and her first client, Daisy May’s BBQ USA, drew notices in The New York Times, Time Out New York, The New York Daily News, and The New York Post, as well as local TV and radio. In the time since, other clients, including Public, Applewood, Mary’s Dairy, and Natchez, have garnered reviews and press coverage in a broad range of media outlets including The Village Voice, Vogue, the Associated Press, and Paper.
Before founding Pass It On Public Relations, Randee Braham spent 8 years in the foodservice industry in California and Wisconsin taking on a variety of front of house and managerial roles. Since moving to New York, Randee has worked as a marketing manager at Food Arts magazine for 3 years and coordinated there annual event with Share Our Strength, the Food Arts/SOS Championship BBQ. Aside from her role as the Director of Public Relations for WEN, she is currently the event chair for Share Our Strength’s first ever Taste of the Nation Brooklyn event taking place in June of 2005.