CLS Hires McNeil as Senior Principal

Sarah McNeil has been named senior principal and chair of the business-to-business and technology practice groups at public relations firm Carmichael Lynch Spong and will be based out of the Minneapolis office. Besides her role as chair of the two practice groups, McNeil will help lead clients Digital River and Foresters.

McNeil comes to Carmichael Lynch Spong from Fleishman-Hillard where she was a senior vice president leading its Minneapolis / St. Paul Technology and Business-to-Business practice. McNeil brings expertise in brand development, media and analyst relations, corporate reputation, and extensive experience leading international, category-leading accounts. She’s also experienced in global communications programs, including preparing companies for IPOs, acquisitions, divestitures and crisis issues.

With 15 years of experience, some of her former clients have included CommVault, Imation, Fair Isaac, GlassHouse Technologies, Sistina Software, the Association of Storage Networking Professionals, and I-TECH.

"Sarah is a star asset for Carmichael Lynch Spong," says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of Carmichael Lynch Spong. "Not only does she have an exceptional business-to-business and technology pedigree, but she’s also a proven leader and will contribute greatly to the firm’s continued success. We feel fortunate to have her on our team."

Prior to joining Fleishman-Hillard, McNeil was an account executive at Kathleen Davies & Associates for five years. There she managed media relations programs for companies such as Plasmon IDE, Microboards Technology, Rimage, Taiyo Yuden and Ricoh DMS.

Active in the community, McNeil is the marketing chair for ProjectLead!, an advisory board of Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest . She’s also a MENTTIUM 100 mentor, which is a one-to-one mentoring program designed to accelerate leadership learning for high-performing female talent. In addition, she’s served as an advisor to the Peace Maker Foundation, a Minnesota-based organization that provides Minnesota schools the tools they need to stop violence and is a resource for people interested in creating safe school environments and helping kids reach their full potential.

McNeil has also received several professional honors. In 2006, she received the John D. Graham Award from Fleishman-Hillard, which recognizes employees who excel at public relations while being an exemplary leader and team player. She was chosen from more than the 2,000 employees worldwide and was one of only 14 employees to receive the award. McNeil also received a first place award in the category of “Investigative Reporting” from the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

McNeil received her bachelor of science degree in mass communications from Bemidji State University .