Jennifer K. Smith
Jennifer K. Smith, a founding partner and President of Smith Fairfield, is a consultant in public relations and public affairs. She has counseled associations, political candidates and corporate executives for over twenty years. From the women’s largest political association and the world’s largest senior organization to the world’s most prestigious newspaper, Smith has created indelible images, produced memorable events, and directed some of the most creative and winning media campaigns and strategies. Prior to founding the firm, Smith served in numerous consulting, lobbying and communications capacities. Specifically, Smith was a political and communications lobbyist for leading Fortune 500 companies, large associations, political organizations and presidential campaigns. Smith also served as the Finance Chief of Staff for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) where she served as the White House liaison and Senior Advisor to the President, Vice President and Cabinet Officers. A Miami University (Ohio) graduate with a bachelor's degree in political science, Smith received a Masters degree in American Government from Georgetown University.
Barry Huey
Barry Huey has spent thirty years in providing innovative approaches to selling products and managing client corporate and brand images. Huey was Founder and President of his own integrated marketing firm, Barry Huey Advertising, that specialized in media buying, market research, trade shows and consulting. The firm conducted extensive primary research including qualitative focus group analysis and quantitative nationwide surveys that resulted in the successful creation of comprehensive public relations campaigns for its clients. Huey spearheaded a complete marketing and communications campaign for the Arnold Palmer Golf Company that produced national television and print advertising campaigns featuring Palmer and the golf industry. In addition, he managed sponsorship and marketing programs on behalf of NASCAR and select drivers that produced national sports specials, held at Walt Disney World, for ESPN and TNN. Huey also developed print and broadcast creative for the national and international touring productions for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (RBBBC) and Walt Disney’s World On Ice (WOI). His efforts gained extensive national press coverage. Huey supervised the advertising and public relations for various arms of West Point Military Academy’s 2002 Bicentennial Celebration. The public relations efforts received coverage in several publications—Washington Post’s Parade Magazine, USA Today, Newsweek, Time—and feature stories on Good Morning America, and the Today Show. Huey has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Marketing/Advertising from the University of Alabama.
Teresa J. Larson
Teresa J. Larson brings more than eighteen years experience in corporate public affairs, public relations, event management and development to Smith Fairfield, Inc. Her experience spans the political, corporate and not-for-profit arenas. Larson also provides consulting services to New York City Public/Private Initiatives, Inc. and has worked on major projects in New York City such as the Grammy Awards, the NBA All-Star Game, and the newly-formed City Hall Conservancy. Prior to joining Smith Fairfield, she spent five years as Director of Development for the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC raising funds and in-kind services to support new and renovated exhibits, educational outreach, and public programs. Larson also directed corporate public relations for Merrill Lynch. Larson graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelors degree in Journalism.
Marilyn Funderburk
Marilyn B. Funderburk was the Founder and President of EMCEE International Inc., a minority woman-owned special events, communications and public relations company. Prior to forming EMCEE International, she was a freelance special events manager for some of Washington’s top special events and promotional firms and has done volunteer work for numerous charity organizations. During the administration of President Jimmy Carter, Ms. Funderburk served as the Deputy Social Secretary to The White House. In this capacity she was involved in the planning and execution of events such as; small private dinners held in the family quarters, political briefings and receptions, State Dinners and large events held on the South Lawn, such as the visit of Pope John Paul II attended by 5,000 people. She is currently on the board of the Recreation Wish List Committee which raises money to provide equipment to recreation centers in the neediest areas of Washington, D.C., and continues to do freelance event management. She is a graduate of Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in Purchase, New York.
Jennifer Norvell Farrell
Jennifer Farrell was Vice President and Director of Special Events for Resnicow Schroeder Associates from 1992 – 1995. Ms. Farrell has extensive experience in all aspects of events management with special expertise in corporate sponsorship and cultural communications programs. From 1989 to 1995, Ms. Farrell worked primarily on long-term sponsorship programs for Ford Motor Company and AT&T. She has implemented corporate-related events on behalf of clients including The Coca-Cola Company, Philip Morris, U.S. News and World Report, Hallmark Cards, Textron, and Paramount Pictures, among others. In addition to her special events background, Ms. Farrell has six years of Capitol Hill-related experience including service on the staffs of U.S. Senators Sam Nunn and Herman Talmadge and as a government relations representative for a defense consulting firm. Ms. Farrell graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Civilization and political science.
Karen Ann Curcio
Karen Ann Curcio has more than twenty-five years of strategic marketing/ communi-cations consulting experience for major international consumer product, high technology and pharmaceutical companies. Her areas of expertise include technology, health and nutrition, science and medicine, financial services, food and beverage, travel and leisure, entertainment and toys and games, among others. Curcio has a proven track record of developing cost-effective, results-oriented, and strategic marketing/communications programs that are planned, managed and executed in a timely fashion and within budget. Curcio has created programs for International Business Machines, Tektronix, American Express, American Brands/American Tobacco, Fisher Camuto/9 West Shoes, General Mills, Hiram Walker, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Quaker Oats, Random House, Ralston Purina, Parker Brothers, H.J. Heinz and many more. In the technology, healthcare, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, Curcio has extensive experience teaching executive-level presentation skills, and training and developing media spokespeople for a variety of international clients including Hoffmann-LaRoche, Pharmacia and Ortho Biotech Products, among others. She has also created me dia tours, speakers bureaus, scientific seminars and professional conferences for these firms. Additionally, Curcio served as a national media spokesperson for a major ophthalmic pharmaceutical company.
Joseph J. Curcio
Joseph Curcio has nineteen years of sales and marketing experience for major international financial services and high technology companies. He is an expert in electronic commerce and the consultative sales process. Curcio views business from the “C” level (CEO/COO/CFO/CTO/CIO) and has a proven track record of developing effective, results-oriented, sales and marketing programs that are planned, managed and executed on time and within budget. Curcio has been a sales and marketing consultant to Visa USA, Edocs, Inc., Intelidata Technology Corporation, InterSystems Corporation and Integrion Financial Network, among others. Prior to consulting, he was a Vice President at CitiBank where he created CitiPay, their first electronic bill payment delivery network, and was responsible for Merchant Relations, Home Banking and Payment Operations and ultimately, CitiPay Business Manager. He also spent several years with Visa Interactive selling home banking, bill payment services and Visa ePay.
Christopher J. Daly
With 22 years under his belt as a direct mail copywriter and consultant, Chris Daly is a contributing copywriter with a solid record of writing fund-raising and advocacy mail for some of the largest and most influential organizations in America today. Highly respected in his field, Daly takes great pride in his ability to work one-on-one with clients, grasp the challenge presented, put forth creative solutions and deliver direct mail packages that work. He started his career as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill where, for twelve years, he had a front row seat witnessing America's political decision-making process in-action while learning the political machinations of Washington, D.C. from the inside-out.
Theresa Burton
Theresa Burton brings 20 years of experience in media and public relations, corporate branding, product launches and marketing in the entertainment and culinary industries to Smith Fairfield, Inc. She was the Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for the Shorenstein Hays Nederlander Theatre Organization in San Francisco where she launched an in-house public relations agency from the ground-up and secured World Premiere engagements for the City of San Francisco. She has developed multi-city public relations and marketing campaigns for national and international touring productions for Clear Channel Entertainment. Burton managed the public relations departments of several non-profit organizations, including Houston Grand Opera and Society for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas. She counsels national clients in the retail and health industries and provides partnership opportunities and translation services in the United States for Italian culinary travel companies. Burton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of Texas.
Staci Bloom
Staci Bloom brings 16 plus years experience in event management, public relations, and sports and entertainment marketing to Smith Fairfield, Inc. Prior to joining Smith Fairfield, Inc. she spent 10 years as an account executive at a marketing firm of Barry Huey Advertising. She managed marketing and public relations programs for the World Football League owned by the NFL, Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus (RBBBC) and programs on behalf of NASCAR. Bloom spearheaded a 52 market tour for Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus “100 Years of Circus in America” sponsored by the U.S Postal Service. In addition, she strategically implemented and managed the national promotion of the Newborn Program for RBBBC—a national campaign to give every child born in America the chance to experience “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
Frederika VerHulst
Frederika verHulst has a diverse background in politics, management and computer sciences. She joined Smith Fairfield, Inc. in 1999 to expand the political outreach for various clients as well as develop and implement client communications strategies utilizing innovative computer technologies and programs. VerHulst was formerly the Executive Director, Membership Director and Special Projects Director for the National Federation of Republican Women. Prior to that, she was Vice President for Operations for Chez Clarisse, a French catalog company that she successfully created, developed and managed the day-to-day operations. She also managed the internal operations for the Corrections Corporation of America and headed the Translation Department for the Fluor Corporation. VerHulst has been a consultant to numerous political figures including former Congressman and Omaha Mayor Hal Daub, Senator Chuck Hagel and Governor Kay Orr.
