Our Team

Name: Scott Smith

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Overview: Scott founded Westbound Communications in April 2003 with a mission to go beyond the usual offerings of most public relations firms. The result is a firm that offers superior public relations and marketing counsel with an exceptional value proposition. Scott brings a cerebral approach to his role as senior counselor and strategist through the application of social science research to affect behavior change and build brands. With more than 30 years of expertise, Scott has directed programs for a wide range of clients from major consumer brands to local governments. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Scott is a cum laude graduate of Cal State Fullerton and also holds a Master’s Degree from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication.

Unique fact: Scott’s greatest adventure was riding his bike from Canada to Central California.

Name: Christopher Perez, APR

Title: Partner and General Manager

Overview: Chris has helped over 125 businesses and organizations in brand marketing, public relations, video production and coaching/training. He is also an adjunct professor, most recently in the Annenberg School of Communications at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. He is a former journalist, and a frequent speaker for industry groups and trade associations. His personal mission is to try and help organizations better understand the tools of the digital age as well as new approaches to engage customers and key stakeholders.

Unique fact: An avid film buff, Chris has produced two independent feature films.

Name: Linda Shipkey Martin, APR

Title: Partner and General Manager

Overview: As partner and general manager, Linda manages clients and teams to help them achieve their goals. With a background spanning food, retail, public affairs and community outreach, she focuses on building and implementing strategies and integrated programs for her clients. From 2008 to 2016, Linda led global public relations for Almond Board of California, a role that took her to more than a dozen countries, including China and India. Her dream is to work on a golf or travel client – two of her passions. Linda is a proud graduate of California State University, Fullerton (GO TITANS!) and a native of Southern California.

Unique fact: In 2002, Linda was inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Communications Department Hall of Fame, one of just 95 graduates to be so honored.

Name: Daniel Rhodes

Title: Senior Vice President

Overview: Daniel is a senior vice president with more than 25 years of branding, marketing, and public relations and communications experience. His responsibilities include practice management, strategic integrated marketing program development and management, customer relationship management, staff advancement, business development, building new profit centers, and serving as a senior branding, marketing and public relations counselor. Currently, his B2B and B2C client work spans the following industries: commercial real estate, healthcare, technology and consumer electronics, professional services (law, staffing), nonprofit, and transportation and infrastructure. Recent industry experience includes banking and finance, food service, homebuilding, and education. Daniel received his Master of Professional Writing from University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, and his Bachelors of Arts in Communications from American University in Washington, D.C. (his hometown).

Unique fact: Daniel is a former adjunct professor at Chapman University, where he taught media relations and case studies classes. He loves his former students!

Name: Tami Moran

Title: Vice President of Business Operations

Overview: Tami is responsible for all aspects of administration including Finance and Human Resources, along with the strategic direction of the Company.  With over 25 years of experience, Tami has supported the most senior executives and together managed organizational change, increased operational effectiveness, and accelerated business growth.  Tami is unique in her ability to be both creative and analytical in motivating a talented team to focus on process improvement and profitability in a rapidly changing landscape.  Her loyalty to the Company and commitment to customer service is driven by her family’s entrepreneurial spirit. Tami began her career at Deloitte and became a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona and California. She is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Unique fact: Tami has a passion for musical theatre and all things Christmas.  Her favorite roles to date are being a mother to Keegan and Tara and Auntie Em in the Wizard of Oz.

Name: Robert Chevez

Title: Account Director

Overview: Robert is an account director with more than 22 years of experience in leading public relations, branding and marketing campaigns for a wide range of clients from Fortune 500 to public agencies. He currently helps lead public affairs and multicultural practices for the agency. His expertise includes developing and managing public outreach programs for all phases of a project development process from Project Approval/Environmental Document to Design, Design/Build, and Construction. Robert is also bilingual in Spanish and bicultural and has helped numerous clients engage with Latino audiences at a local, regional and national level. Currently, he is serving clients in transportation (environmental and construction), land development, healthcare, and government. Responsibilities include counseling clients on branding, messaging, media relations, community engagement, and crisis management. Robert has a B.A. in Journalism with an Emphasis in Public Relations and a Minor in Marketing from California State University, Long Beach. He was born in Los Angeles and has lived in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties.

Unique fact: Robert was a member of the Westbound team that won a national PRSA Silver Anvil Award for the San Bernardino Associated Governments I-215 Widening Project. Robert is also a professional photographer that has captured special moments and milestones for numerous clients.

Name: Kelly Imbriani (Koehler)

Title: Account Director

Overview: As an Account Director with more than 10 years tenure at Westbound Communications, I oversee the strategic and timely management of consumer, government, healthcare and environmental projects. With multiple teams and accounts to look after, it’s important to develop a process and communication style that works for each one. Adaptability is my middle name! Lists and production schedules are great for keeping things on track! I fell in love with communications and storytelling in college and earned two college degrees from Cal State San Bernardino (BA) and Cal State Fullerton (MA). Go, Yotes and Titans!

Unique fact: When I’m not at my desk, you can find me whipping up a new recipe in the kitchen or enjoying quiet moments on my yoga mat.

Name: Jessica Neuman

Title: Media Manager and Senior Account Executive

Overview: Jessica serves as the agency’s media manager, leveraging more than 17-years of local, regional and national media experience to develop and execute media relations strategies for organizations in industries ranging from retail to business-to-business, consumer products, higher education, government, technology, and more. She also leads the agency’s healthcare practice, managing public relations, media relations and communications programs for clients including Providence Health’s seven-state health system, along with local hospitals Providence Mission Hospital and Providence St. Joseph of Orange, CalOptima, Word & Brown, Emanate Health, among others. One of Jessica’s notable achievements is leading Providence Mission Hospital’s 2020 COVID-19 local and regional media relations campaign, which resulted in more than 250 print, online and broadcast stories featuring the hospital’s physicians, in 10 months. She is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, holds a B.A. in literature and journalism, and grew up in San Diego, Calif.

Unique fact: Jessica is a film and TV buff – some of her favorites include The West Wing, The Newsroom, Morning Show, along with the Star Wars series of films, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Blade Runner, The Matrix, and any films about journalism.

Name: Annie Sullivan

Title: Senior Account Executive

Overview: A gifted writer and digital media strategist, Annie provides media relations, copywriting, social media management, activations, and influencer work to the agency’s campaigns on behalf of the Irvine Company, the National Honey Board, the Port of Long Beach, Mission Hospital and more. Her background includes working with more than a dozen notable restaurants in Orange County targeting food-involved millennials and Gen Xers. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Annie’s a proud graduate of Chapman University and the proud mom to Ginger, her Golden Retriever who follows her everywhere, including the Westbound office.

Unique Fact: Annie has had the good fortune to travel to many amazing places with her family and her studies, the highlight being a 13-country voyage around Asia and Africa on a ship for a semester in college.

Name: Elle Carlos

Title: Account Executive

Overview: Elle is a communications professional with a specialty in digital media and advertising. Through video production, social media and media outreach she serves clients across her hometown of the Inland Empire to make sure that great stories are told. Elle is particularly proud of her work with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, especially the San Manuel Pow Wow. Elle grew up attending the annual event, now coined the largest Pow Wow in California, and she takes pride in garnering media coverage for the weekend-long celebration year after year. Elle is a proud alumna of California State University, San Bernardino with a dual-degree in public relations and mass media.

Unique fact: Despite being a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire, Elle is a diehard Ohio State Buckeye.

Name: Suzy Leanos

Title: Account Executive

Overview: Suzy is a communications professional with over 10 years of experience. She is a Marine Corps Veteran and a Latina micro-influencer with over 40,000 followers. She leverages her social and digital skills to create social content and programs that support traditional media relations. She is bilingual in Spanish and works on community outreach in the Orange County community. Suzy is a graduate of Brandman University and born in Northern California, raised in Central California, and settled in Southern California.

Unique fact: Suzy is a micro-influencer who shares brands that highlight her Latino culture.

Name: Scott Prusko

Title: Account Executive

Overview: As a digital and social content specialist, Scott brings creative experience and a deep understanding of working in the ever-changing world of online media. Scott supports clients with social media management, community engagement, content creation, graphic design, video production, website and app design, in-person activations, community outreach, and more. Scott takes pride in using storytelling to spread the buzz about Mother Nature’s favorite sweetener (honey), tell the stories behind one of America’s largest infrastructure projects at the Port of Long Beach, and helping SoCal residents find the latest trends, make their voices heard in the 2020 Census, prepare for emergencies, and discuss mental health. Scott grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, having studied Public Relations and Advertising.

Unique Fact: Scott is a huge Disney fan and is a guest lecturer at Chapman University, exploring Walt Disney’s storytelling abilities and tying in today’s storytelling trends to mentor upcoming graduates.

Name: B. Marty Martinez

Title: Assistant Account Executive

Overview: Marty serves as an Assistant Account Executive at Westbound Communications, specializing in community outreach and stakeholder coalition building. His six years as a community outreach specialist stems from his professional background as a seasoned campaign coordinator, playing an integral role in engaging Spanish-speaking communities. In conjunction with his outreach role at Westbound, Marty assists with digital marketing efforts including newsletter development, media pitching, and social media promotions. He is also the lead architect to client databases and manages digital tracking and analytics for clients.

Unique fact: Marty is a University of California, Riverside alum, having received his B.S. in sustainability studies with a minor in political science in 2017. When he’s not busy playing with his pup, Marty enjoys reading, road trips, and taking in the SoCal sunshine.

Name: Oscar Palma

Title: Account Coordinator

Overview: As a bilingual multicultural communications specialist, Oscar supports clients with on-the-ground outreach, social media management, content creation, video production, and more. His background includes managing and supporting social media content for Orange County’s 2020 Census, ReadyOC, Each Mind Matters, Port of Long Beach, and Irvine Company Retail Properties. Oscar is particularly proud of the work he did for the Orange County 2020 Census campaign, where he was a part of a production team that filmed 12 in-language PSA’s encouraging multiple diverse communities to complete their 2020 Census. Oscar is a proud graduate of California State University, Fullerton, and a native of Southern California.

Unique fact: As a member of CSUF’s 2020 graduating class, Oscar joined his brother, Eric, and became only the second person in their family to earn a college degree.