Stern+Associates Management

Our senior-level practitioners lead by example, and are intimately involved in all aspects of client programming, as well as the professional development of our staff – helping to inspire collaborative relationships and ensure superior results inside and out of the office.

• SUSAN STERN

  Public relations is not simply a profession for Susan Stern, it’s a passion. As president and founder of Stern+Associates, Susan strongly values her hands-on interaction with clients and staff alike. Leveraging more than 30 years of public relations and editorial experience, she regularly consults on the strategic direction of the firm’s clients, and continues to help develop campaigns for a wide range of business-to-business and consumer clients.

  Prior to establishing Stern+Associates in 1985, Susan was vice president at Carl Byoir & Associates, the world's third largest public relations firm at the time. She is a member of Counselor’s Academy of the Public Relations Society of America and holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and European History from Tufts University.

• DANNY STERN

  One never knows how previous experiences and current contacts can spur new ideas and opportunities. Danny Stern is testament to this. Danny joined Stern+Associates in 2002 after 24 years in the lecture industry, and is an integral player of the Stern+Associates team as the firm’s consultant – managing business development and providing high-level corporate and marketing strategy to clients.

  In his career at the Leigh Bureau and as its president for 10 years, Danny signed, managed and represented many of the great authorities, speakers and journalists on business issues of our era. Danny now translates his expertise, skills and intelligence in helping great thinkers develop and communicate their messages. Stern+Associates clients include thought leaders such as Clayton Christensen, Michael Porter, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Michael Beer, James Champy and Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of TESCO among others.

• NICOLE GAGNON

  Think like a journalist. A firm believer that this keen ability is a vital key to PR success, Nicole Gagnon continues to leverage her experience as a former reporter for Forbes Newspapers to further Stern+Associates in-depth insight into the mind of the media. As senior vice president, Nicole provides strategic counsel and creative programming to the firm’s diverse client base, and helps lead staff development, agency operations and new business activities.

  Nicole joined Stern+Associates as an account supervisor in 1998 when the firm acquired Princeton Public Relations Group. Since then she has expertly led a broad range of powerful consumer and business-to-business PR campaigns, helping clients to effectively shift public perception, build and maintain brand awareness, and position industry thought leaders.

• JOAN VANDER VALK

  Career growth and industry learning are often synonymous with multiple job moves, but
  Joan Vander Valk is the first to say that’s not necessarily the case. Joan joined the Stern+Associates team as an account coordinator in 1998, fresh out of college. Now vice president – responsible for providing strategic direction to our healthcare and architecture and design (A+D) client programs – she inspires others with her personal experiences at Stern+Associates.

  In addition to her leadership role at Stern + Associates, Joan is the professional advisor to the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at her alma mater, Seton Hall University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications. A member of the National Association of Medical Communicators, she also served two terms as President of the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America’s New Jersey Chapter.

• NED WARD

  A “business mind” is an invaluable attribute. Ned Ward’s natural flair for interpreting complex business theories and themes consistently translates into success for Stern+Associates’ management consulting and thought leadership clients. As vice president, his tactical leadership style combines with strategic thinking to effectively connect our clients with today’s critical business issues, garnering ongoing national media interest from top-tier publications such as BusinessWeek, Fortune and The Wall Street Journal.

  Ned’s experience in branding and marketing consulting also contributes to his ability to effectively position clients as industry visionaries and thought leaders in a variety of industries. He previously worked at Ruder-Finn and M. Silver Associates, servicing well-known organizations including American Express, Schering-Plough and Procter & Gamble. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Radford University.

• TOM HEALEY

  With knowledge comes strength – and success, according to Tom Healey. Leveraging intelligence gained from working closely with chairmen, CEOs and major business media, Tom brings intelligible and strategic value to Stern + Associates’ clients every day. As the team's counselor, Tom creates and executes strategic communications programs while helping senior executives shape and deliver key messages to a wide range of target audiences and influencers.

  Tom joined Stern + Associates following his service with a variety of corporate communications companies, translating his broad-based expertise to the firm’s thought leadership and health care clients. The recipient of the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver and Bronze Anvil awards and five New Jersey Astra Awards, Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Holy Cross College.