Filomena Fanelli

CEO/Founder

Impact PR & Communications’ Founder Filomena Fanelli is something of a publicity hound—particularly when it comes to getting the best media exposure for her clients.

She excels at what excites her, and that’s exploring the details of each client’s business to find the best, most unusual vein to mine for publicity. She loves storytelling and delves eagerly into company culture and context to determine what’s new or makes a client unique among competitors. Then she finds a fresh way to make it stand out in the overwhelming clutter of the media scene. Clients say she simply “gets it.”

Filomena got her start 25 years ago at Rubenstein Associates, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become a vice president. Recognized as a top publicist, she worked on some of the firm’s major real estate and financial accounts, representing Belz Enterprises, Commerce Bank, Faith Hope Consolo (at both Garrick-Aug Associates and Douglas Elliman), Grubb & Ellis, Lansco Corporation, Studley and others.

Today, she channels that energy to lead her own agency and help a diverse array of clients plot memorable events, secure speaking engagements, land leadership articles, craft sharp website content, engage in meaningful ways on social media and, of course, get their names in the news.

Being an entrepreneur is something of a family tradition, according to Filomena, who was named an ATHENA Leadership Awards Program honoree in 2018 and graced the cover of Hudson Valley Magazine’s Women in Business issue that same year. A past “Forty Under 40” recipient, she says she gets her business acumen from her late father, who founded a delivery service company, but the gift of being able to listen and problem-solve comes from her mother, a social worker. Her parents also gave her a love of the fresh air and green of the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Filomena is an involved member of the community and enjoys volunteering with Hudson Valley nonprofit organizations and national professional associations alike. She serves on the board of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the advisory board of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. Previously, she sat on the board of the Women’s Leadership Alliance and Hudson River Housing and on the executive committee of the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselors Academy. Filomena has served on committees for the American Heart Association, the Center for Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA), Family Services, The Arc of Dutchess, the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum and Special Olympics New York. She was also a founding committee member of HDSA Team Hope Walk – Hudson Valley, a community advisor for The Daily Voice and hosted HVNN.com’s news show, “Business Newsmakers.” Filomena has presented for the Public Relations Society of America and the 92^nd Street Y, among other venues, and is a frequent guest lecturer at Marist College, where she previously taught public relations writing as an adjunct professor and currently serves as the professional advisor to its Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.

filomena@prwithimpact.com

Kate Wark

Executive Vice President

With 20 years of public relations experience, Kate brings a creative and fresh approach to her role at Impact PR & Communications. She is a trusted resource for media, her clients and colleagues, and her thoughtful and results-driven approach to the job are her hallmarks.

Prior to joining the Impact team, Kate worked at Quinn and held senior management positions at Mower and Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications. A specialist in the lifestyle public relations space, Kate has driven the PR campaigns for Coney Island Brewing Company, Rosewood Bermuda, Capella Hotels & Resorts, The Roundhouse Beacon and more, garnering award-winning results including Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards in Bronze, Silver and Gold, and a Media Relations Award from PR Daily. She has an affinity for grand openings, product and service launches and re-positionings, and has spearheaded external communications campaigns for major brands across the globe in the food and beverage, travel and hospitality space.

Kate has served as a judge for the HSMAI Adrian Awards, and lends her time to her local schools and Meals on Wheels of Ridgefield. An avid photographer, voracious reader and involved community member, Kate was born and raised in the Hudson Valley. She now resides in Connecticut with her husband, two daughters and rescue pup, Charlie.

kate@prwithimpact.com

Kristin Delia

Vice President

Kristin Delia, a long-time Dutchess County resident with deep Hudson Valley roots and a passion for the region’s unique culture and history, is at home as a vice president at Impact PR & Communications. Clients benefit from her industry acumen, social media savvy, and zeal for the profession, which she puts to work to contribute fresh creative ideas, craft and execute strategic campaigns, and secure top-tier media placements on their behalf.

Before joining the Impact team, Kristin was on the fast-track at Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications, a Rockland County-based agency, where her knack for the PR business brought her from an intern to account coordinator to account executive. She spent those years managing events and conducting client communications and media outreach for a variety of well-known brands, including Coney Island Brewing Co.; The Roundhouse in Beacon, New York; Mexico Grand Hotels in Los Cabos, Mexico and Opal Apples, among other food and beverage, tourism and hospitality, and lifestyle clients.

Her passion for travel has led her across the world, inspiring her to spend her student years interning at a 5-star hotel in Lake Como, Italy, and, following graduating magna cum laude from Niagara University’s College of Hospitality & Tourism, working front-of-house at a luxury hotel in Westchester County. Combining her hospitality prowess with her love of storytelling and media made for a natural transition and, as they say, the rest is history.

Kristin is a Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Forty Under 40 recipient, graduate of the Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Dutchess Class of 2019, and a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) for Dutchess County, NY, an industry-recognized certification accredited through the Tourism Ambassador Institute®. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys the company of her family and friends, scoping out the best local restaurants and traveling near and far.

kristin@prwithimpact.com

Jessica Perrone

Senior Account Executive

Jessica, a New Jersey native, is an experienced communications specialist who recently joined Impact PR & Communications. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge of the industry, having worked with renowned brands like VTech, LeapFrog, Welch’s Fruit Snacks, and SodaStream. Throughout her career, Jessica has thrived in fast-paced environments while maintaining a strong attention to detail and building successful relationships with the media. With a focus on client and media communications, event execution, program planning, and implementation, Jessica consistently delivers successful outcomes for her clients. Her creative flair and passion for writing make her a valuable asset to the Impact PR team.

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two children, and their labradoodle, Duke, at their Jersey home. Their weekends are filled with family events and activities, leaving her just enough time to indulge in her Kindle reading obsession. During the summer, Jessica loves to make the most of the beautiful weather by visiting the Jersey Shore, where you’ll often find her soaking up the sun with her toes in the sand.

Jess@prwithimpact.com

Cheryl Sloofman

Senior Account Executive

A news fiend and voracious reader, Cheryl relishes the strategy and planning involved in PR. Determining how a client’s story weaves into the news cycle, looking for unusual or compelling angles and helping clients stand out among their competitors are some of her strengths. As a senior account executive with the Impact team, she manages and services accounts, including real estate and construction, non-profit, finance and banking.

Raised in New York and now residing in northern New Jersey, Cheryl earned a master’s degree in public relations and marketing from Boston University and a master’s degree in education from New York University before taking time off to be a stay-at-home mom for her two sons. She resumed her career as a public relations consultant in 2008 and joined the Impact team in 2014. Cheryl is involved with Action to Cure Kidney Cancer and likes to run, hike and indulge her inner bookworm in her spare time.

cheryl@prwithimpact.com

Isabella Paquette

Associate Account Executive

With an extensive background working closely with elected officials and communicating directly with the press, Isabella is perfectly positioned to assist growing businesses and organizations with their respective communication needs. Her creative, patient, and resilient nature makes her role as Impact’s associate account executive an integral addition to the team.

A lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, Isabella recently graduated magna cum laude from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In addition, Isabella also holds an associate’s degree in General Studies from Dutchess Community College.

In her career thus far, Isabella has helped broadcast the messages of federal, state, and local leaders to their constituents across the political spectrum. In her work with non-profit, advocacy, and grassroots organizations, she has had a hands-on approach to getting messages to the forefront of people’s attention. From developing marketing campaigns to the implementing and executing initiatives, while juggling questions and comments from the press, her direct and creative approach help clients’ messages reach their target audience.

Active in the community and always willing to lend a helping hand, Isabella is a U.S. Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist and certified figure skating instructor. During her college career, she participated in Disney’s College Program, a highly competitive internship program, where she received a number of leadership and other professional commendations from guests and peers at The Walt Disney Company.

Isabella@prwithimpact.com

Kayla Hannemann

Associate Account Executive

Kayla Hannemann began her journey at Impact PR & Communications as a public relations assistant. Following her graduation from Marist College with a B.A. in Communication, Kayla joined the team full-time as an account coordinator, quickly becoming a valuable member of the team – and a client favorite.  

Currently, Kayla works as an associate account executive, putting her skills into play on several of the agency’s nonprofit and professional services accounts.  

Kayla continues to educate herself on the communications industry, actively working towards a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication. She is extremely proficient in social media, holding certifications in Salesforce for Social Media Marketing and Engagement, Google Analytics and HubSpot for Social Media Marketing. 

Always eager to connect with the community, Kayla has co-presented for Dutchess Tourism’s popular Lunch & Learn series, served on the planning committee for Bronx-based nonprofit, Hour Children’s Mother’s Day Lunch and recently shared her expertise with PR News Online in her first byline, Communications Lessons from the Barbieverse.  

After calling the Hudson Valley home for the last several years, Kayla has returned to New Jersey, where she grew up. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, film photography and traveling, both near and far! 

kayla@prwithimpact.com

Michelle Obligado

Senior Account Coordinator

Michelle joined Impact PR & Communications in 2016 after spending 16 years at IBM in the human resources department, where she liaised with and advocated for consultants making their way through IBM’s extensive consultant certification program. She also led implementation and training efforts related to business software.

An integral member of the Impact team, Michelle’s impressive interpersonal skills and technical savvy, along with her attention to detail and follow-up, make her an essential support person for her colleagues and Impact’s clients. From issuing press releases and tracking placements, to following up with clients and coordinating reports, Michelle enjoys the fast pace of the public relations world.

Born in the Bronx and raised in Westchester County, Michelle has been a Dutchess County resident for 19 years.  She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management from Pace University and serves on the East Hudson Women’s Soccer board, Goals for Hope committee and the Friends of Grinnell board in Wappingers.

Michelle lives in the Town of Poughkeepsie with her husband and three children.  In her off hours, she enjoys running, playing soccer, keeping fit at the gym, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

michelle@prwithimpact.com

Emma Guiney

Account Coordinator

A recent graduate from SUNY New Paltz, Emma Guiney has embarked on an exciting new chapter as an account coordinator at Impact PR & Communications. In this role, she showcases her exceptional organizational abilities and sharp attention to detail, ensuring seamless coordination between clients and the agency’s talented team.

Emma quickly recognized her aptitude and interest in the field while pursuing her previous major in marketing. With a determined mindset, she seamlessly transitioned into a communications program, specializing in strategic communication, where she honed her skills and flourished. Her foundation was further strengthened through two rewarding PR internships, where she acquired hands-on experience and invaluable industry insights.

As a communications assistant at Hockey Fights MS, Emma embraced a multifaceted role with various responsibilities. She traveled across the Northeast, attending hockey tournaments while ensuring smooth operations and utilizing social media platforms to engage with audiences effectively. Some years later, Emma began an internship with Avant Collective, where she conducted comprehensive research on media outlets, journalists, editors, and influencers, curating media lists to drive targeted outreach. Additionally, she discovered her love for writing as she crafted compelling media pitches on a regular basis.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Emma finds joy in the simple pleasures of life. She cherishes quality time with her close-knit family, who have been a constant pillar of support throughout her journey. She has a love for reading and maintains an active lifestyle through weightlifting.

Sheila Bogan

Consultant

An ability to move people to action and evoke emotion is at the center of what Sheila Bogan does as a consultant for Impact PR & Communications. With sharp writing skills and social media savvy, Sheila holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, Journalism and Digital Arts from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. Those, combined with her on-point project management skills, creativity and ability to create community connections, are what make her an invaluable asset to the team and client partners.

As a full-time community development manager at the American Cancer Society (ACS), Sheila manages one of the nation’s largest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks in Westchester, NY — an event that brings together more than 20,000 people at Manhattanville College each fall. Since 2015, her diverse portfolio of events have raised more than $1 million for the not-for-profit.

Sheila’s interest and involvement in the community mesh well with what Impact stands for. She is a Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Forty Under 40 recipient, Leadership Dutchess Class of 2019 graduate and co-chair for the Hudson Valley Young Professionals. In her spare time, Sheila, a Hudson Valley native and Dutchess County resident who enjoys spending time with her family, friends and cat named Shadow, volunteers for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and can be found raising a hand, and lending one, to various causes near and dear to her heart.

sheila@prwithimpact.com

Paige Duffany

Public Relations Assistant

A rising senior at Marist College looking to gain public relations experience in preparation for her graduation in May 2024, Paige Duffany has become a member of the Impact PR team as a public relations assistant. Studying communications with a concentration in public relations, Paige looks forward to applying her knowledge and experiences gained from education and time at Marist to her opportunity with Impact, as well as gaining valuable experience from award-winning professionals.

Initially accepted to Marist as a business major, Paige realized that business was not the profession she wanted to pursue; instead, public relations was more appealing to her interests as she grew to love all things social media and crisis communications. During her time at Marist, Paige has continued to strengthen her PR skills as an intern with Marist’s School of Communication and the Arts Center for Social Media and as an account representative on the publicity team for North Road Communications. Alongside these opportunities, she works as a proofreader for the college, tutors in communication and religion, and serves in a leadership role for Campus Ministry. These extracurricular activities provide Paige the foundation to continue to strengthen her leadership, problem-solving, and writing skills before entering the PR field post-graduation.

Originally from Connecticut with family throughout the Hudson Valley, Paige appreciates all the Hudson Valley has to offer, ultimately leading her to choose Marist to spend four years in the place she has called a second home. Outside of her education, Paige enjoys hiking and taking in the beautiful views of the Northeast, baking with the recipes passed down from her mother and aunt, playing pickleball, and being with her family and friends.