Our Team
McKeeman understands that the marketplace is constantly evolving. Consumer needs and desires are changing at breakneck speed. And, well, today’s traditional media is anything but traditional. Nah, you don’t want your mama’s PR firm (no offense, Mom).
McKeeman Communications. We really are marketing smarter.
After all, isn’t getting more insightful every day what it’s all about?
- Kim McKeeman, CEO/Owner, APR
-
• Over 20 years of PR experience.
• Communications counselor for clients like McDonald's Corporation, Blockbuster Video, Sprint PCS, XM Satellite Radio and Starbucks Coffee Company.
• First job: “I was the breakfast opener at a local diner. I loved the quiet of early mornings even then.”
• Most memorable media moment: “Freshly out of college, serving as a ‘handler’ for Michael Jordan during a charity golf tournament press conference.”
• Ideal Friday evening: “A movie recently released to DVD, a Monopoly marathon with the kids, and perhaps a nice California chardonnay.”
• First celebrity crush: “John Cusack. He had me at Say Anything. To this day, still my favorite celebrity crush.”
• Guilty pleasures: “Reading every People, Entertainment Weekly, and InStyle magazine I can get my hands on during vacations. Oh, and chocolate. I mean, what else is there?”
• Pets: “A yellow lab named Payton, a black lab named Zoey, and a Havanese named Bear.”
• Favorite recent movie: “Paranormal Activity 1 and 2. I’ve never been so afraid of the dark.”
- Stephanie Niblack, Senior Account Director
-
• Began her career at an international PR agency in Washington, D.C., and has worked at a variety of small and medium-sized marketing agencies.
• Great depth in a variety of national and local industries, including healthcare, retail, travel and tourism, financial and manufacturing industries.
• Most memorable media moment: “Seeing a story I pitched make it on The Today Show.”
• A career in PR because of: “ A love of writing combined with a passion for business.”
• Ideal Friday evening: “Family time with pizza, wine and early bedtime.”
• Top item on bucket list: “Retire and play golf at least every other day.”
• Favorite recent movie and book: “Movie is Cars 2; book is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.”
- Michelle Hubacher, Account Supervisor
-
• Has worked both sides of the media machine, managing public relations campaigns and freelance writing for 15 years.
• Was editor of Today’s Charlotte Woman, a regional women’s magazine awarded by the Magazine Association of the Southeast.
• First job: “Making potato salad at The Village Market in Bucks County PA. I was 14, and the stainless steel bowls I made the salad in were bigger than I was.”
• Most memorable media moment: “I coordinated an event for the release of Titanic to DVD. We had 150 attendees outfitted in period life jackets, that horrid Celine Dion song was playing on a constant loop, and people were losing their minds over this movie. I had hired two look-alikes to play “Jack” and “Rose” (dead ringers), and TV showed up to cover the event. I swear the reporter actually got misty-eyed while she was doing an interview with “Rose.” I thought this was hysterical (and slightly disturbing).”
• First celebrity crush: “Shaun Cassidy. C’mon, you don’t need to ask why… dreamy.”
• Favorite book: “Higglety Pigglety Pop: Or, There Must Be More To Life (children’s), and Ahab’s Wife (adult).”
- Leah Margulies, Account Supervisor
-
• Eight years of experience in PR, with an expertise in media relations, account/team/budget management and strategic and tactical planning.
• Worked with two large agencies in Chicago on various consumer accounts, including Greenies, Cocoavia and Army, as well as many healthcare accounts, including Genentech, Abbott, Pfizer and Takeda.
• A career in PR because: “In eighth grade, I took a personality test to see what kind of career would be a good fit for me. ‘PR Executive’ was at the top of the list, so I went with it!”
• Most memorable media moment: “When I was interning, I accidentally called a reporter from a top-tier print outlet who specifically asked to NEVER be called. Let’s just say that didn’t end well — rookie mistake!”
• First celebrity crush: “Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block — for absolutely no reason at all other than I believed I loved him with all my heart.”
• Coveted vacation destination: “Italy — food, wine, olives, history, shopping — my head is spinning just thinking about it!”
• Favorite book: “The Associated Press Stylebook. I love the certainty and comfort of knowing that there is a correct way of doing things.”
- Becky Ogburn, Account Coordinator
-
• Worked in the news business for 20 years, but truly found her passion when she moved into public relations.
• An organizer, who loves to dig into any project, and is able to bridge that gap between traditional and new media.
• First job: “Babysitting, but then I miraculously was given a job at FabricLand in Great Falls, Montana. Didn’t know much about sewing, but I sure learned fast.”
• A career in PR because: “I worked in journalism for 15 years, and was given a great opportunity to join McKeeman part-time. That is when I realized that PR was what I was meant to do. I absolutely love it!”
• First celebrity crush: “Thanks to TigerBeat magazine, I totally pictured being married to Shaun Cassidy. Or Leif Garrett. Or Donny Osmond. Or …”
• Favorite place in North Carolina: “I love Wilmington, and I love Asheville, and all kinds of places in between. The beauty of North Carolina is you can have the best of both worlds.”
• Favorite recent movie and favorite book: “Haven’t seen a movie recently, but my favorite movie of all time is Shawshank Redemption. Favorite recent read would be The Help.”
- Caroline Schmid, Account Executive
-
• A journalistic background, passion for building client relationships and proficiency in social media.
• Prior to McKeeman, worked at online print-on-demand publisher, Lulu.com, in account management, assisting authors in self-publishing ventures.
• A career in PR because: “In college, my education was more journalism-focused and I worked for a local television station. While the news was exciting and fast-paced, I soon realized that it was not for me and began exploring other options. I knew that I still wanted to be involved with media but also be allowed to think and write creatively and communicate with others — thus leading me to the wonderful world of PR!”
• Ideal Friday evening: “Let’s see, a perfect Friday evening would involve my husband, trying out a delicious new restaurant in Downtown Raleigh and catching the latest movie at a nearby theater.”
• Your first celebrity crush: “Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. I had the Barbie doll, sheets and concert videos!”
• Guilty pleasures: “Lifetime movies! The cheesier, the better.”
• One place you want to visit: “I would love to go to Argentina to tour the wineries and hike the Patagonia.”
