MEET THE TEAM
You shouldn't have to invest a lot of time training and, worse yet, re-training your agency's account team.
At PR Works, our team is made up entirely of seasoned veterans — mature, field-proven professionals who know your industry and can get the job done with minimal input and supervision.
Click on the links below and meet our key players.
Joseph Feeks, president and creative director
Editorial
Jim Carlton, field reporter
Diana Delmar, science editor and senior field reporter
Steven Fox, field reporter - print and broadcast
Susan Spiegel, copywriter
Phil Stewart, field reporter
Graphic Design
Susanna Ronner, art director
Internet
Jesse Jenifer, web developer
. . . . . .
Joseph Feeks, president and creative director
Joe is a seasoned journalist and marketing PR consultant with more than 30 years' experience in agriculture, animal health, nutrition, genetics and related fields.
He got his start in agriculture while earning his journalism degree at the University of Maryland. One summer he landed an internship with the Cooperative Extension Service and, before he knew it, found himself writing press releases and brochures on everything from managing insects in no-till soybeans to controlling mastitis in Holsteins.
"It was a sobering eye-opener for a young guy who had visions of being an investigative reporter for The New York Times," he confides. "But for some reason, agriculture and I just clicked. The technology was fascinating, but more than anything, I just loved the people involved with the industry."
Following graduation, Joe spent eight years in New York City working for two agencies that, at the time, did a lot of work in agriculture and animal health. Joe quickly worked his way up the ladder and was named vice president and director of PR for a New York advertising firm.
In 1986, Joe started his own agency, Feeks Communications, Inc., and later changed the name to PR Works to underscore the company's focus on public relations. Agriculture and animal health remain his sole focus.
Although Joe is president, owner and creative director of PR Works, he insists on regularly tending to his first love — writing — and gets closely involved with all aspects of clients' programs.
When he's not consulting with clients or crunching on another deadline, you'll find Joe chilling with his family or paddling his sea kayak on the Nantucket Sound or Hudson River.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Jim Carlton, field reporter
Jim was born and grew up in a farm town in California's San Joaquin Valley and moved to the Great Plains region in 1978, when he became farm editor for the Omaha World Herald.
Since then Jim has worked as associate editor for Nebraska Farmer, editor of Swine Practitioner and a copywriter/PR executive at an advertising agency in Kansas City.
Jim, who now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, joined the PR Works team in 2007.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Diana Delmar, science editor and senior field reporter
Since 1993, Diana has worked as a tireless reporter and science editor for PR Works, covering everything from livestock and companion animals to crop production.
She has more than 30 years' experience as a medical and agricultural writer and editor. Before joining PR Works, Diana served as a reporter and managing editor of Family Practice News and Pediatric News, where she received an award for Excellent Medical Writing from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association and an Award of Commendation for accurate reporting from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In 1989, Diana began to combine her experience in medical journalism with her interest in animal care by focusing on the veterinary field. For several years, she was the managing editor of Veterinary Practice News.
Diana is also an accomplished author, publishing three books on companion animal care: The Guilt-Free Dog Owners Guide, The Puppy Owner's Manual and Taking Up Riding As An Adult. Diana has also edited or ghost written several books on animal care and continues to write a column for the British Veterinary Journal.
When she's not writing, Diana enjoys relaxing at her West Virginia hideaway, playing with her dogs or tending to a full stable of horses.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Steven Fox, field reporter - print and broadcast
Steve has been a medical writer, editor and audio/video producer for more than 25 years. He began his career with the Physicians Radio Network, New York, and later moved on to writing and producing medical video with The Network for Continuing Medical Education, also in New York.
He has much experience covering international medical and veterinary meetings and interviewing researchers and clinicians. He's also moderated scores of roundtable discussions and, from those roundtable sessions, has produced highly acclaimed audio and video programs.
Steve, who joined the PR Works team in 2002, writes and produces pieces for both a consumer and professional audience and is adept at making even the most complex issues understandable. His work has appeared in a variety of media, including the Boston Globe and Scientific American.
Steve is also an accomplished composer and musician. His most recent CD is entitled Rhythm Road.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Susan Spiegel, copywriter
Sue came to PR Works in 2008 with 20 years’ experience in medical, technical and promotional writing. Since graduating magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in English, her editorial career has run the gamut from college textbooks to product development, branding and, of course, copywriting.
She’s also a quick study on virtually any topic. Her versatility and attention to detail allow her to jump easily from technical to commercial assignments.
In her spare time, Sue pursues many other creative outlets, including writing music and playing guitar.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Phil Stewart, field reporter
After what he calls a "brief and disastrous career" as a secondary school teacher, Phil found that shaping words was infinitely more rewarding than attempting to shape young minds.
A native of New Zealand, Phil originally spread his wings as a writer as the editor of a skydiving magazine. He went on to train as a journalist in the government sector, specializing in agricultural writing.
After a couple of years working on a farming magazine in London (he says "time spent working in the old country is still a rite of passage" for most young New Zealanders), Phil returned home to work in the public relations industry as a writer. He joined the PR Works team in 2001.
Writing about agriculture and animal health are still his major writing specialties, although Phil can happily turn his hand to most subjects.
Phil lives in Wellington with his wife, Rose, and three children. He long ago abandoned skydiving for the more gentile pastime of fly-fishing.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Susanna Ronner, art director
Susanna came to PR Works in 1997 as a graphic designer, but her background in other art forms — dance, music and fine arts — quickly demonstrated why she has such a keen eye for color, texture, balance and imagery.
Her print and web work expresses a unique and memorable visual impact, elegance and clarity, all of which has brought PR Works and its clients much success.
Susanna received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois, where she graduated with honors and was singled out for "Outstanding Senior in Graphic Design," earning her place in Who's Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities
After graduating, Susanna went on to San Francisco to work for many years alongside some of the most highly respected and internationally renowned graphic designers.
In addition to animal health, Susanna has worked extensively for non-profit organizations, hospitals, colleges, museums, dance companies and recording artists. Her design work is included in many design books and publications, including numerous editions of Print magazine's Regional Design Annual and Print's Best Logos and Symbols (Vol. 3) and American Corporate Identity (Vol. 3). For many years, Susanna also taught graphic design at State University of New York at New Paltz.
Meet the rest of the PR Works team
Jesse Jenifer, web developer
Jesse says he’s “passionate about building websites that are fun, informative and easy to use” — and it’s easy to understand why.
Our creative and solutions-oriented web developer has been building sites since 1996, a time when many marketers wondered if the internet was a passing fad or a legitimate marketing tool.
Today Jesse specializes in building user-friendly interfaces, employing the latest technologies to make them compatible with all browsers. He also has an amazing talent for taking complex, intricate designs that look great on paper and making them look just as dazzling on the web.
Jesse graduated from Binghamton University with a B.S. in computer science and a B.A in economics. When he’s not creating websites and other multimedia solutions, Jesse is tending to his new bride, playing with his new puppy or consistently breaking par on area golf courses.