Who We Are

Vivian Kelly’s whole career has been around technology, but her whole life is about family.

In 1984, Vivian went to work in her hometown of Reading, England, for a computer dealership that sold the first Apple Macintosh computer.

“I never looked back,” she says. “Throughout my life people have given me opportunities or encouraged me to go for it. I try to emulate that with others.”

So, though her title is chief executive officer of Interprose (the company she founded in 1998), Vivian considers a more apt description of her true role to be “chief motivator.”

“I empower my team and our clients to shoot for the moon and stretch beyond what they feel they are capable of,” she says. “When I’m not doing that, I run the company and collaborate with customers to devise communications strategies that work.”

Vivian’s biological and Interprose family comprise her top priority.

“Valuing family and friends is the glue that binds Interprose," she says. "The job is extremely rewarding, but by far what I like best about Interprose is the incredible collection of people I’m surrounded by and learn from every day. The people are second to none and that includes my team, our clients and the influencers we interact with.”

Cathy Palmen didn’t as much move in to the high-tech sector as technology moved into hers.

Cathy has spent her whole life in the area of California that has come to be known as “Silicon Valley,” and she joined Interprose in 1998, the year the company was founded. As senior vice president, she assists with all of Interprose’s clients, either through day-to-day interaction or with brainstorming and strategy setting.

“I like the team spirit of Interprose—everyone working together for the success of our clients,” she says.

In 2012, Cathy launched the Interprose Wellness Program with a walking challenge—arming each employee with a pedometer and incenting them to count their steps to better health while having fun.

Fun, in fact, is had by Cathy most all of the time. She enjoys raising two daughters with her husband in a small historical community, cooking and gardening and spending time with friends and family.

Having lived her entire life in the heart of Silicon Valley, Becky Obbema has evolved with the area’s technology giants. With more than 20 years of experience in high tech and 15 years with Interprose, Becky has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the global media and analyst communities, focusing on the telecommunications industry, particularly wireless and wireline infastructure, along with vertical markets such as government, public safety, financial services, healthcare, education and high-performance computing.

Organizing a comprehensive communication strategy that aligns with the corporate goals and marketing strategy is “exciting to me, a passion I enjoy.” A senior program director with Interprose, Becky equally loves “working with such a talented group of brilliant people and helping companies with their communication strategy and leading them into successful ventures.

Becky and her husband are the proud parents of twin girls who are both playing NCAA softball.

“Softball has been a big part of all of our lives,” Becky said. “I’ve coached my girls since they were 4 years old, and I continue now as a mom coach--more life than softball technique now, however.”

A day in the life of Minu Seshasayee, a senior program director with Interprose, encompasses counseling clients on strategic initiatives and tactics before unveiling announcements. She engages heavily in media relations by successfully shaping and influencing a story from the messaging stage to the controlled twists and turns on the way, and she is equally at ease handling crisis communications.

Minu is passionate about technology making a difference in the lives of end users. Over the course of 15 years in public relations and communications, having worked and lived in both Silicon Valley and the Seattle area, she has represented organizations in retail technology, video management, cloud computing, smart grid, productivity software, semiconductors, identity security and ecommerce, among other technology spaces.

"The positive and distinctive company culture, fun group of PR pros, and open communication style at Interprose, make it all worthwhile," adds Minu.

When she’s not busy with her Interprose duties, Minu participates in hatha yoga classes for physical agility and studies dhrupad, the oldest form of Indian classical music. She and her husband participate in ongoing vocal lessons with the dhrupad maestros, the Gundecha Brothers, via Skype. Minu considers herself “very fortunate as it has brought me immense levels of happiness and relaxation, as I try to understand and visualize the beauty, joy and nuances inherent in this aesthetic art form.”

Additionally, on weekends, Minu enjoys “driving sportily on the open and scenic country roads” near her home.

Lisa McCausland has been rolling up her sleeves with successful, fast-growth companies in technology, telecommunications, software and publishing for more than 20 years.

“I love working with smart, dynamic people who understand what it takes to build a business and aren’t afraid to get dirty,” she says.

From strategic, “Big M” marketing and communications to tactical program development, Lisa has helped a range of companies communicate value to customers, build brand awareness and understand their market dynamics. Before joining Interprose in 2014, Lisa’s experiences included running her own consulting firm, Geneva Street Marketing, and serving as vice president of marketing for a startup providing document-security solutions for enterprises, SignetX.

Lisa lives in Denver with her husband, two children, two dogs, two fire-bellied toads and a tree frog. She’s a runner, hiker, camper, skier and tennis player.

“And I enjoy family time, wine, cooking, chocolate and reading—sometimes in different orders.”

Interprose’s resident redditor, Wikipedian, LOLcat aficionado, geek translator and Jill-of-all-trades, social-media ringmaster is Melissa Drozdowski.

“I’m a nerd,” she says. “I think the smart grid is dead sexy.”

Melissa is the social media director with Interprose. What she likes best about working for the company is “the people, of course,” she says. “I get to work with brilliant people every single day of the week. Amazing!”

Melissa is a wife and irreverent mom of five. She’s an extreme couponer, a Salvation Army bell-ringer, a former politician, game producer and Girl Scout leader...

“But I can’t cook worth a damn.”

Amy Foschetti’s favorite part about working with Interprose is the virtual business model. “I enjoy the flexibility,” she says. “It enables me to have a balanced life between work and family.”

Back before she was the balanced and well-adjusted Mrs. Foschetti (née Miller), raising three beautiful children with her hubby in North Carolina, however, she was known as “Killer Miller.” Back on the northern Virginia school soccer circuit, Amy was a team captain and relentless sweeper—the last defender before her team’s goalkeeper.

“I would do everything in my power and ability to stop the other team. It was tough to get through or around me.”

Amy says, “I still love to be active, work out and be healthy. And I hope to get back into a league at some point, even if it’s coaching my kids’ soccer teams.”

For now, however, Program Director Foschetti plies her unstoppable “Killer Miller” tenaciousness only on behalf of Interprose’s clients—helping them communicate effectively with their customers through media- and analyst-relations programs.

Renée Ayer considers herself "a translator for engineering to the rest of the world."

As a senior program director with Interprose, Renée establishes and maintains relationships among press, analysts and clients; strategizes, sources, writes and manages material for outreach, presentations, social media and crisis communications, and manages speaking placements at business conferences.

"I’ve been in high-tech PR a long time, from back in the days when engineers didn’t get out much," Renée says. "Technology and engineers are so much more mainstream today. But it’s still brainy work, and in high-tech PR we have to be storytellers and puzzle piecers."

When she's not working, Renée spends as much time outdoors as possible, fiddles around with her cameras, does yoga and meditates (“sporadically”).

"I’m all about being outside and in nature," she says. "That’s where I am most myself. I can free my busy thoughts, look up at the sky, appreciate what is around me, explore and take some photos. I grew up in an active, outdoorsy family, and almost any outside activity interests me."

Eric Nance Woehler writes and edits press releases, contributed articles and other PR and marketing materials for Interprose clients.

“I try to help them accurately convey the value that they offer and/or plan to offer,” he says. “I like it when we tell a good story well, and I especially like it when everybody involved feels more energized than drained by the process.“

Eric joined Interprose shortly after the company’s launch in 1998. “I feel so fortunate to work in such a caring and cooperative environment.”

Eric and his wife moved back to her Madisonville, Ky., hometown shortly before the birth of their daughter in 2009. Eric’s favorite thing to do in his spare time is getting lost driving around Kentucky, listening to the car radio and finding his way back home.

First, there are the clients.

“They invariably turn out to be intelligent, driven, kind and interesting people, so it is always a plus when we get to meet new ones,” says Jill Miley, a public-relations manager with Interprose. “They create so many incredible technologies, solutions, programs and thought-leadership trends, and they work hard for it. I am filled with respect for them.”

Then, there are the media and analysts.

“They are also incredibly intelligent and interesting, and they work hard, too,” Jill says. “I think they have the fastest-paced jobs in existence. They work 24/7 to provide the world with news, which never stops.”

And, finally, there are the teammates.

“Interprose is the communicator between these two sides,” Jill says. “Success on our front requires perpetual creativity, tenacity, intelligence, kindness, well-oiled teamwork and excellent leadership. And the Interprose team is loaded with all of that, and then some.

“I love my job for these three reasons. It is really cool stuff—always.”

Jill is a kite-surfer, a CrossFitter and a huge, huge Rolling Stones fan.

“One of the many things I like about being an Interprose team member,” says Brian Walker, “is the spirit of camaraderie...

“There’s an understanding that people can be highly self motivated when allowed to work in their own way and focus on their core strengths. But while everyone is in some fashion self-reliant, there is an uncanny willingness across the team to share best practices, offer assistance as needed and generally watch each other’s backs.”

Brian describes his role as "chef de writing, editing, website management and whatnot." That means managing writers’ assignments, writing releases and contributed articles and managing deliverables for crisis communications and reputation-management issues. “I get a lot of satisfaction from providing counsel to clients that is backed up by comprehensive and well-thought-out rationale,” he says.

An old “Air Force brat,” Brian “has lived in more states and countries that I can sometimes remember.” He loves history, foreign languages and cultures, traveling, cooking, cycling, general mechanical tinkering, his wife and “two beautiful teenage daughters.”

Formed in January 1998, exactly two years after the United States’ National Telecommuting Initiative was implemented, Interprose was an early pioneer of telecommuting. Everyone on the team works primarily from home-based offices—and no one is more thankful for that fact than one of its newest team members, Lisa Hoffman.

“After commuting four hours per day and working 10 or more hours per day at the office, I have a lot to catch up on. Interprose has given me a chance to have a life again, and, so, I will do whatever I can to support Interprose to the best of my ability,” Lisa said. “I’m so grateful to be part of a company that values its employees as real people.”

In joining the company in 2014, Lisa brought to Interprose administrative and leadership abilities honed over more than 25 years working for healthcare providers, insurance firms, research lab and nutraceutical companies. She lives in Littlestown, Pa., where she enjoys spending time with her daughter, April; grandchildren, Mykala and Jayden, and a whole slew of pets: Buddy, MoJo, Harley, Jade, Princess, Wizzy and Simba.

“My granddaughter named most of them,” she said.

Lisa likes to ride motorcycles!

Rachel is the "creative voice" of the marketing team, serving as Interprose's principal graphic designer.

She is proud to have graduated from the top public arts university in the country, VCU Arts, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography and Advertising Design and is a loyal VCU Ram. Rachel has designed everything from wedding invitations to digital banner ads, trade show handouts to newspaper spreads... even exterior signage and billboards. Rachel has a love for cleverness and wit in advertising and strives to put a creative spin on everything she conceptualizes.

Rachel and her husband were both born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. In their free time, they love to hike, travel, and take their dog, Millie, on adventures in Utah’s mountains. Rachel has also been dancing since she was ten, and is currently part of a professional performing company in Salt Lake.

Pamela Weedon's goals have always been to deliver results aligned with business and organizational objectives. With over 20 years of global experience supporting marketing initiatives, she has managed company teams and agencies to develop compelling content for web and print. She has produced thought-leadership assets to capture mindshare and solidify marketplace positioning for software solutions, while coordinating rebranding of marketing assets for various acquisitions.

"I love being creative! My most memorable project was creating a deliverable with no boundaries. Coming from a corporate environment that was very conservative, we created a very colorful pocket folder, brochure, and business card with pictorial elements from the Matera Caves in Italy. As a result, we received an industry award."

Pamela resides in Maryland and loves family gatherings. Having lived in Europe and Asia while growing up in the military, she developed a love of traveling abroad to experience the various lifestyles and cultures.

With over 20 years of marketing communications experience, Jeny Dowlin believes strong branding campaigns come down to three questions. "I always think about 'Will this stand out and get noticed? Is this message clear and authentic’ and ‘will it cause our target audience to react.'"

Jeny has been on both sides of the corporate-agency fence and has held such diverse titles as Senior Account Manager, Marketing Director, Web Producer and now Graphic Designer. For Interprose, she brings her background of developing branding strategies and seeing the big picture to the creative side in developing visuals that support the business objectives and stay “on brand.”

"The big challenge today is we are inundated with so many marketing messages daily. A strong visual can help a client penetrate the noise and be remembered," she says. "I love a good challenge."

From websites and social media elements to slide presentations and infographics, Jeny continually grows her design skills to achieve objectives.

A native Californian, Jeny resides along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and loves tweaking classic Deep South dishes to be healthier for her family (you won’t even notice the zucchini in her crawfish etoufee). Her favorite pastimes are walking with her family and Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Lucy; upcycling Mardi Gras beads into mosaic art; and cheering for her Alma Mater Michigan State University.

Join our team? It's more like... join our family!

Founded in January 1998, Interprose is a strategic communications company specializing in promoting high-technology brands and organizations. The company’s employees are located throughout the United States, and it operates a large international network of marketing and PR partners in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In addition, the company offers a competitive benefits package including annual paid leave, health insurance and retirement plan.

Interprose's history is unmistakably unique and altogether fun. Even better, you get to work from your home office and at the same time connect with people from around the world (some clients, some colleagues).

Interested? Jump-start your career and submit your résumé today!