Massive Hires at PSB

Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc., has hired seven new employees to expand its consumer marketing, media relations, investor relations, manufacturing and technology, health care and agriculture practice areas.

Nissa French has joined the manufacturing and technology practice as assistant account executive. Since joining the firm she has garnered prominent trade media placements for clients such as Rockwell Automation, The Protomold Company and Fabcon. Previously, French was an intern in Padilla Speer Beardsley's manufacturing and technology practice, where she mainly worked with client Rockwell Automation. Prior to joining Padilla Speer Beardsley, French was marketing and communications intern at Hamline University, communications intern for Minnesota Women's Consortium, and market research intern for Market Research Associates. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Hamline University in St. Paul, and she is a member of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC).

Randy Fordice is an account executive in the manufacturing and technology practice. Fordice was previously communications account coordinator at Alliant Energy. Prior to working at Alliant, he was media relations manager at LawsComm Public Relations, public relations specialist at Forum21 Communications, and communications specialist at GO Media. His experience includes media relations, marketing communications, advertising and employee communications, and he has worked in several industries, in both corporate and agency capacities, including utilities, telecommunications, automotive, aviation, Internet services and e-commerce. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and he holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Sarah Stakston is an assistant account executive in the media relations practice. Stakston was previously an intern in Padilla Speer Beardsley's media relations and writing practice areas, where she worked with clients such as General Mills, Cub Foods, and TCF Holidazzle Parades. Since joining the firm, she has garnered national and local media placements and assisted with special events. She was a finalist for a PRSA Classics award and two Student Classics awards. Prior to joining the firm, she was marketing intern at Piper Jaffray, marketing intern at WCCO-TV, and intern at Allina Medical Clinic. She will graduate summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota, with a bachelor's degree in public relations and business management.

Shelley Ward joins the firm as a senior account executive in the consumer marketing practice. Ward most recently was a member of the technology practice at Waggener Edstrom Strategic Communications in Portland, where she worked with Microsoft. Previously, she was on the consumer public relations teams of GCI Group/Atlanta and JSH&A Public Relations in Chicago, where she conducted print and broadcast media relations, and planned events for Jim Beam's Small Batch Bourbon Collection, Einstein Bros. Bagels, DuPont STAINMASTER Carpet, EXPO Design Centers, Home Depot, Jiffy Lube, the American Cancer Society and others. She has garnered key media placements, such as USA Today, Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street Journal and many others. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in journalism and sociology and a Spanish minor, and she is a PRSA Silver Anvil award winner.

Krista Ulatowski is an assistant account executive in the investor relations practice. She supports a variety of public and private companies in the automotive, education, health care, banking and technology industries. Ulatowski was previously was a legal assistant in corporate and litigation practices at various law firms in Minneapolis. Prior to that, she was manager of media and technology for advertising agency WorldWalk Media, where she worked on a national business-to-business advertising campaign for Infowave Software. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and also completed UW-Madison's business certificate program.

Shandra Wendorff is an assistant account executive in the health care and manufacturing and technology practices. Wendorff works with a variety of health care clients as well as BASF and Rockwell Automation. Previously, she was a marketing intern for a Broadway production company in New York City, communications intern for Best Buy, public relations coordinator for the Iowa State Daily newspaper, and public relations intern for Iowa's Story City Chamber of Commerce. She was also a staff writer for Ethos Magazine, the Iowa State Daily, and a freelance writer for Eden Prairie News. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication with an emphasis in public relations from Iowa State University.

Megan Fairchild Anderson is an account executive in the agriculture practice. Fairchild Anderson was previously an agri-business public relations associate at a Twin Cities agency. Prior to that she worked in marketing communications at Chromatic Concepts. She has also worked for Zeneca Ag Products and St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives. She holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture business from the University of Minnesota College of Agricultural, Food & Environmental Sciences (COAFES), and she is a board member and committee chair for the COAFES Alumni Association. She is currently pursuing a masters in business communication at the University of St. Thomas.