<strong> <a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Dawnheadshot2015.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-349" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Dawnheadshot2015-300x300.jpg" alt="Dawnheadshot2015" width="200" height="200" /></a>Dawn Dankner-Rosen, President —<b> Award-Winning Public Relations/Branding Specialist</b></strong>

Dawn Dankner-Rosen is an award-winning public relations specialist with expertise in branding, media relations, social media and strategic communications strategies for more than 33 years. She develops campaigns that integrate the best of traditional media and social media tactics for clients that cover a wide range of fields including small and large businesses, health care, real estate, nonprofits and school districts. Among her current and recent clients: Prudential Financial/ Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, New York Health &amp; Wellness, Access Nursing, Sunshine Children’s Home, Bulls &amp; Bears, Trion Real Estate, Abby Rodman LICSW, the Katonah Museum of Art, Westchester County Department of Public Works &amp; Transportation, New York Gastroenterology Associates, MDxpress, JP McHale Pest Management and the White Plains Performing Arts Center.

Dawn has a network of media contacts developed over three decades and has been recruited by both small and large businesses to develop strategies for new product and new business launches; branding, image creation and repositioning programs; special events, ribbon-cutting events and cause marketing campaigns, as well as major crisis communications programs.

She recently won a <strong>Big W Gold award in the Integrated Marketing Campaign</strong> category for the <strong>Westchester County Department of Public Works &amp; Transportation Senior B.E.A.T (Be Educated About Transit)</strong> program. She has also won a series of awards for her crisis communications campaigns for both the Harrison Central School District and the Katonah Union Free School District.

Throughout her intensive career, Dawn has spearheaded publicity efforts for many high profile launches including MSNBC, QVC and the Fashion Center Business Improvement District.  Other past noteworthy clients include Revlon, Playtex, Easy Spirit, Pantene, Lane Bryant, Rit Dye, LU Cookies, Piaget, Hush Puppies and Fred Perry.

Prior to opening DDR Public Relations, Dawn was the Director of Public Relations at the Kinney Shoe Corporation where she created an in-house agency for its 10 retail divisions (including Foot Locker and Lady Foot Locker). Earlier she was the Senior Media Relations Executive at Cushman &amp; Wakefield and held account positions at various major public relations agencies in New York City including DeVries Public Relations, Marina Maher Communications, NW Ayer Public Relations, The Softness Group and Peter Martin Associates.

She is currently the president of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and a Community Advisor for the Daily Voice.com hyperlocal news site; and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Business Council of Westchester. In addition, she was previously Board President of the Child Abuse Prevention Center of NY.  Dawn graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a BS in Public Relations and Psychology, and is currently working towards her Master’s in Branding &amp; Integrated Communications at City College of New York.

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<strong><a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/JenTopiel.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-13" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/JenTopiel.jpg" alt="JenTopiel" width="200" height="200" /></a></strong>

<strong>Jennifer Topiel, Account Director</strong>

Jennifer Topiel has 22 years of experience as a media relations executive for national and New York-based non-profits and Fortune 500 consumer brands. Previously, Jennifer was the executive director of communications at the not-for-profit College Board for 10 years, where she oversaw communications activities for K-12 programs and services including the Advanced Placement Program, the SAT, and the Inspiration Awards for America’s Most Improved High Schools.

Prior to the College Board, Jennifer oversaw communications and publications at the Central Park Conservancy, the public-private partnership charged with the day-to-day care of New York’s crowned jewel, Central Park. At the Conservancy, Jennifer worked closely with the media on news stories related to conservation, stewardship, park use and public safety.

Jennifer began her career supporting international brands including Microsoft, Sharp Electronics, Audiovox and GlaxoSmithKline at internationally-recognized public relations agencies Weber-Shandwick and Marina Maher Communications.

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<strong><a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MelissaN.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-328" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MelissaN.jpg" alt="MelissaN" width="200" height="200" /></a>Melissa Napolitano, Visual Branding Director</strong>

Melissa Napolitano has been with DDRPR for over 15 years with expertise in developing and executing community relations campaigns, special events, as well as media relations and strategic communications programs for DDRPR clients. Melissa specializes in corporate identity, graphic arts and web design. She is also a professional photographer and often responsible for photographing client events, as well as arranging client photo sessions to develop “special shots” for additional media uses, and for collateral designs and marketing materials.

Prior to DDR Public Relations, Melissa was a graphic designer at Design Monsters, where she created logos, identity packages, brochures, posters, postcards, invitations, CD packages and websites for clients including John Mellencamp, Stamford Center for the Arts, Divabetic and Katreese Barnes (Saturday Night Live Music Director).

Melissa is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College with a BFA, concentration in graphic design. She received the Seniors Recognition Award for Graphic Design at Purchase and was honored with the Leadership Award for her senior project design by the Westchester Fund for Women &amp; Girls.

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<strong>Kristin Taveira, Content Creation Manager</strong>

Kristin is our in-house writer and content creator. In addition to her work at DDRPR, Kristin is a regular writer at <em>Newsday.</em>

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<strong>Jennifer Bancroft, Senior Account Executive</strong>

Jennifer is a graduate of Ohio University who brings 20 years of experience in client relationship management, sales and not-for-profit leadership from working with Morgan Stanley, MassMutual, Warburg Realty Partnership and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

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<b>Megan Borho, Account Executive</b>

Megan is a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications; Public Relations. Prior to DDR Public Relations Megan worked for nonprofit organizations in South Carolina and New York.  She adds a fresh take and perspective to our team.

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<strong><a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nicole-e1436206526749.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-373" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nicole-e1436206526749.jpg" alt="nicole" width="200" height="200" /></a>Nicole Ponte, SEO/Technology Specialist</strong>

Nicole is a technology specialist with more than 15 years of experience specializing in website design, internet marketing campaigns, search engine optimization (SEO) and social media integration. Her experience allows her to assist business owners to move toward a technology driven environment, which enables efficiency and is more cost effective. Nicole has worked with many businesses, organizations and school districts throughout Westchester including a range of businesses, award winning authors and concert pianists. For over a decade she has offered courses through Purchase College Teacher Center to assist teachers in integrating technology into their various curriculum areas. In 1999, Nicole received her first Masters of Science degree from Pace University, concentration Technology Curriculum and Instruction.  She completed her second masters program at Mercy College, Internet Business Systems, in 2006.