Category Archives: Principals

Sharon Ellman’s career began as a broadcast journalist with Metromedia Channel 5 in New York City. Although the position was fulfilling, Sharon chose to embark on a career in Public Relations, securing a post as Vice President of Media Relations for industry leader Rubenstein PR. During her tenure there, she directly handled Don King Productions, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Fox Residential Group, Ashford.com, Petrotech, and ecomplaints.com, among many others. After developing her own style of networking, Sharon branched out and created Ellman Public Relations. Ellman PR generated business-to-business and business-to-consumer press for companies such as Cendant Corporation, ERA Franchises, Lion Strategy Advisors, and MessageOne (founded by Adam Dell, brother of Dell Corporation founder, Michael).

Ellman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Maxwell School of Public Citizenship at Syracuse University. She is a unit publicist for The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 600, and is a member of the Entertainment Professional Publicist Society.

Email: sharon@dashmediapr.com

Wall Street Journal Article
New York Daily News Article

Before joining Dash, Donnette Dunbar was a prominent New York journalist and television spokesperson, whose editorial resources and expertise in the luxury consumer, travel, and lifestyle markets was sought out by local, national and international press. Donnette has written and edited for numerous publications, including The Los Angeles Times, Life & Style magazine, The Financial Times, The Omaha World Herald, and the New York daily Metro. She has appeared regularly on ABC, Access Hollywood, the BBC, CNN, E! and Fox News. Her longtime familiarity with the business, lifestyle, and travel press has enabled her to achieve prominent placement for a wide range of clients.

Ms. Dunbar also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Binghamton and a graduate degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. She is a unit publicist for The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 600.

Email: donnette@dashmediapr.com

Beauty, Fashion and Event Consultant

Nathan Johnson is a trained film, television and celebrity personality. As a make-up artist, his most notable credits include Project Runway (Seasons 4 and 5), Big Gay Sketch Show, The Tony Awards, The Early Show and Good Morning America. Nathan has worked on more than 50 famous faces, ranging from Annette Bening to Alan Cumming. His work has appeared in the pages of elite publications such Rolling Stone and Elle.

As a writer, he has contributed to Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Sephora and Running With Heels. In addition to private consultations with several major make-up and skin care lines, Nathan has also helped coordinate events for Tamara Tunie, Doris Panos Jewelers, Citigroup, Sprint, Elan and many others.

Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Marymount Manhattan College, earned a master’s degree from Columbia University and received his formal make-up training from Make-up Designory.

Vice President – Business Development (Technology, Non-Profit and Education)

Patrick A. Berzinski has worked in a variety of media during a career spanning more than 20 years. His principal medium is the written word, and his literary and expository writing have been the vehicles that have led to work in radio, video, web, public and media relations, and networking for business development. From 2000 to 2010 his work was primarily in institutional communications for Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, USA, where he most recently served as Executive Director of University Communications. He had previously acted as Associate Director for Media Relations.

He is a member and past co-chair of the board of directors of the Science Writers in New York, a member of the Public Relations Society of America, and sits on the Advisory Board of the executive search firm Kulper & Company, LLC. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, USA.

Berzinski’s feature articles and op-eds have appeared in The Houston Chronicle, The Los Angeles Daily News, Investor’s Business Daily, The Star-Ledger, The Asbury Park Press, SSoE InFocus, The Stevens Indicator, The Howe School Forum, The Innovation & Technology Management News, and TechNews NJ. He has been quoted on a variety of media topics in publications such as The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, PR Week, and The Bulldog Media Relations Insider, and appeared as a commentator on AT&T Tech Channel. Berzinski attended Upsala College in the 1980s and was a late-night broadcaster at its legendary radio station, WFMU-FM.

Email: patrick@dashmediapr.com

Dash UK

Kully Dhadda started her career with the BBC in 1989 as a news journalist and presenter on national BBC-Radio Five as well as presenting a daily current affairs program on BBC Radio West Midlands targeted towards the large Asian community. Her daily shows covered the news and topical issues of the day, and involved interviews with high profile spokespeople from all walks of life, including business, politics, sports and entertainment. As editor she was also responsible for 35 hours of local radio programs servicing the region’s large diverse communities. Her special reports were renowned for providing a high level of insight and understanding on a variety of issues in the headlines.

In 1991 Kully won the highly coveted Silver Sony Award for her phone-in show on BBC National Radio. The prestigious industry award was granted in recognition of the high standard of broadcasting on the program.

From 1992-1994, she was a senior journalist with National BBC Breakfast Television. She began to focus on producing and editing programs while still reporting for a daily news program with a pro-active and aggressive news agenda. This involved interviewing politicians and business leaders on breaking news.

Vice President

Edwin Ramirez has worked on the national and international scene organizing events and managing publicity for high-end restaurants, fashion houses, and celebrities. A Vice President at Dash, Edwin brings enviable media resources and contacts to the agency. These make him a kingmaker in the world of promotions.

Edwin’s background includes a client roster of renowned fashion houses such as Calvin Klein, Valentino and Gucci as well as famed designers, Reem Acra, whose dresses have molded the bodies of numerous celebrities from Halle Berry and Star Jones to Reba McIntire and Queen Noor of Jordan. Within months of securing bridal designer Acra as a client, Edwin secured features in several fashion and shelter magazines including Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Allure, Elle Décor, and Cosmopolitan.

Edwin has played a key role in organizing and managing runway shows for Rebecca Moses in Milan as well as ’7th on Sixth’ catwalk shows for Vivienne Tam and Tuleh. He has extensive experience in event planning, having organized successful celebrity-studded parties that have drawn hundreds of New York tastemakers and media.

Email: edwin@dashmediapr.com

Marketing and Social Media Consultant

Christine Batten is the founder of The Media Incubator (www.themediaincubator.com), a marketing group specializing in branding, marketing strategy, social media campaigns, graphic and web design, and website development. At the helm of this group, Christine continues her career assisting businesses to impact their bottom line positively through comprehensive marketing plans that integrate the latest online and new media trends. As a media and marketing consultant with Puris Bernbach Partners (f/k/a Not Traditional Media), she advised advertisers and marketers as well as media and technology start-ups, gaining an understanding of the unique perspectives of both. During the past six years, Christine has met with and researched upwards of 700 start-ups and major players alike in the areas of new media, emerging technology and non-traditional marketing and advertising. Beyond direct relationships, she has extensive knowledge of the market and is familiar with thousands of associated entities. Christine has translated this knowledge of many media platforms into pertinent forecasts and strategic recommendations for Fortune 500 companies across many categories.

She continues to work with company principals Martin Puris and John Bernbach, serving as the Media and Market Trends Analyst for Engine USA, an American subsidiary of UK-based integrated communications company The Engine Group.

Christine is a graduate of NYU’s Stern School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with honors. In addition, she has pursued both graphic design and software certifications at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and at the Meridian Technology Center.

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Yael Baker serves Dash Media, LLC, as a Senior PR Consultant. Previously, she worked for Ruder Finn’s Travel & Economic Development, where her travel and leisure clients included the Jamaica Tourist Board, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, EL AL Israel Airlines, Travel Alberta, Frank Publishing, Barbados Tourism Authority, South African Airways and the University of Johannesburg. Yael had previously worked as an Account Executive at Rubenstein Public Relations, where she handled consumer, hospitality and entertainment accounts. Her clients there included Patsy’s Restaurant, Hospitality Holdings, The Friars Club, NexMed, Inc., greetNwin.com, Exude, Inc. and The Amazing Kreskin, among many others.

Along with public relations, Yael’s background consists of extensive experience in broadcast and print journalism. Before arriving at Rubenstein, Yael served as a writer for NY1 News, where she compiled daily news segments for broadcast. Previously, her journalism background afforded her many internship opportunities in broadcast news, including ABC NEWS PrimeTimeLIVE, 20/20 and Woman’s Day Television.

Born in New York City, Yael graduated with honors from New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in Journalism. Yael is a member of New York Women in Communications Industries (NYWICI), American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) and North American Airlines Public Relations Association (NAAPRA). She has traveled extensively for business and leisure throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Israel, the Caribbean and the United States.

Email: yael@dashmediapr.com