<strong><a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DawnDankner-Rosen.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-12" alt="DawnDankner-Rosen" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DawnDankner-Rosen.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a> Dawn Dankner-Rosen, President</strong>

Dawn is an award-winning public relations specialist with expertise in media relations and strategic communications strategies. She develops public relations campaigns that integrate the best of traditional and social media tactics for clients that cover a wide range of fields including health care, beauty, fashion, nonprofits and school districts. Her most recent client list includes Prudential Financial/ Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, Westchester Institute for Human Development, Barksdale Home Health Care Services, the Westchester Italian Cultural Center, Gilda’s Club Westchester, Westchester Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Prudential Holmes &amp; Kennedy Real Estate, Greyston Foundation, JP McHale Pest Management and Coyaba Beach Resort &amp; Club.

With 28 years in the PR industry, Dawn has a network of media contacts developed over almost three decades and has been recruited by both small and large businesses to develop strategies for new product and new business launches, image creation and repositioning programs, cause marketing campaigns, as well as to develop effective crisis communications solutions. She recently won awards for her crisis communications campaigns for the Katonah Union Free School District and the Harrison Central School District. In addition, she received awards for noteworthy cause marketing campaigns including the “Love Where You Live” photo contest for Prudential Holmes &amp; Kennedy Real Estate and the “Get Buggy With It” contest in schools for JP McHale Pest Management; as well as for her strategic communications campaigns for Gilda’s Club Westchester targeting men, women, children and families touched by cancer, and for the Westchester Institute for Human Development and the launch of its Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, the Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

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

Prior to opening her agency, 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 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 currently serves on the board of the Child Abuse Prevention Center and is a member of the Business Council of Westchester and the Public Relations Society of America. She has been quoted about PR trends in Crain’s New York Business, The New York Times and the Westchester Business Journal. Dawn graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a BS in Public Relations and Psychology. She now lives in Chappaqua, NY and has four children.

&nbsp;

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

Jennifer Topiel has 20 years of experience as a media relations executive for national and New York-based non-profits and Fortune 500 consumer brands. Until recently, Jennifer was the executive director of communications at the not-for-profit College Board for 10 years. She worked on multiple crisis communications campaigns including a 2001anthrax scare, a 2005 SAT scoring error, among others. In addition, she oversaw communications activities for K-12 programs and services including the Advanced Placement Program and 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.

&nbsp;

<strong><a href="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MelissaNap.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-14" alt="MelissaNap" src="http://ddrpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MelissaNap.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a>Melissa Napolitano, Visual Branding Director</strong>

Melissa Napolitano has been with DDRPR for over ten 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.