Strongpoint is a communications consulting firm with a specific focus on public and media relations. The company was founded in 2003 and is based on 18 years of communication and media experience in Phoenix and Southern Arizona as well as an additional 10 years of experience on both coasts and the Midwest.
- Mary Rowley. APR, Principal
President and owner of Strongpoint, Mary Rowley has nearly 30 years in marketing, media, grassroots public information, business-to-business communications and government. She first came to Arizona in 1979, when she worked for The Arizona Republic. Nationally accredited in public relations, Mary holds a bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in theatre and a master's in business administration. She teaches marketing and public relations at the University of Phoenix.
Her experience includes serving as press secretary to the Delaware Superintendent of Education while the K-12 standards were created, introduced and approved by the State Legislature, consultant to Tucson Unified School District and working for successful passage of TUSD's 2003 bonds and the 2006 Joint Technical Education District, which was approved in all 11 Pima County school districts. She currently serves as a trustee of the Arizona Theatre Company, marketing chair of the Pima Community College Foundation Board of Trustees, second vice president of the Tucson Advertising Federation, and as a member of TUSD's Blue Ribbon Committee. Mary also has served as professional development chair of the Southern Arizona Public Relations Society of America, development chair of the Southern Arizona Womens Foundation and co-chair of the University of Arizona Brain Trust. Contact Mary Rowley.
- Jan Howard, APR, Communications Director
Jan Howard has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, integrated marketing, news, legislative advocacy, fund raising, risk management communications, employee communications and consumer relations. Nationally accredited in public relations, Jan began her career in Washington, DC, working as a lobbyist for an international oil firm and later went on to cover the industry as the Oil & Gas Editor for a major midwestern newspaper. She moved to Tucson in 1989 to lead the marketing launch of a comprehensive heart center, and has held key communications roles for two of the community's top 15 employers.
Her past work also includes creating and managing the communications infrastructure for fund raising and in promoting and operating a large performing arts center. She led the marketing team and has done extensive work with the Udall Foundation, Carondelet Health Network, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, Tucson Medical Center Foundation and El Rio Community Health Center. Jan has a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in economics. Most recently, she served on the communications advisory council of the nation's largest faith-based health care organization. She is currently on the Community Advisory Board for the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic, serves as Communications Chair for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women event, and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America. Contact Jan Howard.
- Jennifer Malleo, Account Manager
In addition to her public relations experience, Jennifer Malleo brings business and human resource management to the Strongpoint team. A former professional dancer and instructor with the Tucson Metropolitan Dance Company, her previous accomplishments also include operational development and restructuring of a local retail and contracting firm, and as human resource director for SimplexGrinnell (a division of Tyco International), the industry's largest life-safety organization. She is responsible for providing research, media relations, event planning and account support for clients that include the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Simply Bits/Nextrio, Carondelet Health Network, Augusta Resource Corporation, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Contact Jennifer Malleo.
- Carol Brorsen, Writer
Carol Brorsen has produced award-winning writing and editing for more than a decade, Her news and feature stories have been featured in newspaper, magazine and online publications. Carol's writing style is fluid, adapting to hard-hitting news, professional journals, sports magazines and faith-based publications. You'll find Carol's work in The Austin Chronicle, Bike.com, the Daily Oklahoman and Texas Highway Patrol Magazine. She's also written for the University of Arizona College of Public Health, St. Edward's University, Texas Council for the Humanities and Cowley Publishing in Cambridge, MA. Carol has a Master's of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School where she received the Adelaide Teague Case Award for Education and completed the Magazine and Book Publishing Program at Rice University, Houston. Her bachelor's degree in News-Editorial Journalism is from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, where she was named the President's Distinguished Scholar. Contact Carol Brorsen.
- Clyde Kirkpatrick, Consultant
Clyde Kirkpatrick specializes in writing, copyediting and proofreading. Clyde also knows how pictures work to tell a story. He can write a 90-second TV script or a full-length novel. Majoring in Creative Writing and English Literature in college didn't prevent him from becoming a down-to-earth writer and working in the television news business for over 30 years as an assignment editor, newswriter, film critic, documentary writer/producer, videographer and special projects writer/producer in the Los Angeles, CA, and Tucson markets. He has edited magazines, proofread manuscripts and even authored a non-fiction book on movies and history. Contact Clyde Kirkpatrick.
- Colleen Bagnall, Consultant
Colleen Bagnall spent 21 years in the television news business as an anchor, reporter and producer. She worked in various cities including Tucson, Albuquerque and Yakima, Washington. In 2005, she was honored with the Golden Mic Award from the Tucson Advertising Federation. After leaving television, Colleen served as Business Development Director for Orca Communications PR firm, editor of Tucson Sport Magazine and Communications Director for Child & Family Resources, Inc. Volunteering for community is very important to Colleen. Over the past 20 years, Colleen has been the master of ceremonies at more than 100 community events and volunteered for dozens of non-profit organizations. She is currently the producer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon and member of the St. Joseph's Catholic School Foundation board. Contact Colleen Bagnall.