NOREEN HERON & ASSOCIATES, INC., One of the Nation’s Leading Strategic Communications Firms, Announces Executive Promotions

Noreen Heron & Associates, Inc., a full-service public relations, marketing,advertising and social media firm, proudly announced today several promotions within the company. Kate Hughes, 33, and Lianne Wiker, 29, both formerly Senior Account Executives, have been promoted to Vice Presidents of the agency. Ellen Molina, 23, formerly Assistant Account Executive, has been promoted to Account Executive.

“Kate and Lianne have been instrumental to the growth and success of the company”, says Noreen Heron, President and Founder of the agency. Hughes has been with the company for 12 years, and Wiker for 8 years. “It takes a special individual to be able to execute all that we manage at the agency. Kate and Lianne are driven and creative publicists who go above and beyond for both our clients and the company. Throughout the years, they have led and mentored strong teams that have been an integral part of our clients’ success. They both have tremendous abilities to manage PR and marketing initiatives to achieve desired results. ”

Ms. Hughes, an Evanston resident and Taylor University alum, oversees a variety of accounts including Drury Lane Theatre; Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park; Hyatt Regency O’Hare; The Royal George Theatre; The Apollo Chorus and First Folio Theatre among many others. Ms. Wiker, a resident of Chicago and UIC alum, manages accounts including The Marriott Theatre, Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center, The All Chocolate Kitchen, Massage Envy, Theatre at the Center, Geja’s Café, Stage 773 and more. Ms. Molina joined the team shortly after graduating from UW-Madison in May 2013 and assists in the development and execution of public relations, marketing and social media campaigns under the supervision of Ms. Wiker.

Noreen Heron & Associates executes dynamic, comprehensive integrated marketing campaigns for a variety of broad spectrum of corporate, hospitality and entertainment clients. The agency focuses on creating strategic initiatives that reach specific audiences, build brand exposure, and increase revenue. Founded in 2001 by Noreen Heron, it is known as a one-stop-shop that provides creative public relations services, targeted advertising strategies, grassroots marketing efforts, SEO consulting, and innovative social media practices. The agency prides itself on cultivating successful long-term relationships with clients and collaborative partners.

A pioneer of new communication and digital technologies, Noreen Heron & Associates was the first agency to create an e-mail database to directly target a diverse demographic of individuals and groups in the Chicagoland area, which has now grown to include over 50,000 contacts. It was also the first to launch a YouTube channel to showcase the talents of its clients. The company’s unique combination of dovetailing strategic PR campaigns with grassroots marketing efforts creates results that are truly measureable in terms of profitability for their clients. The entrepreneurial agency is now expanding into brand activation, brand representation and management, influencer and blogger engagement, experiential marketing and data analysis.

Since its inception, Noreen Heron & Associates has enjoyed steady growth and now employs a staff of 12 communications specialists including Kate Hughes, Lianne Wiker, Holly Gustavson, Katharine Nichols, Ellen Molina and Kelly Erdman.  The family-like atmosphere present within the agency has led to a nonexistent turnover rate.  Virtually every employee who has started with Noreen has stayed at the agency.

Noreen Heron & Associates, Inc. has represented over 150 clients nationally such as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Smirnoff Vodka, The Chicago Office of Tourism, The Harlem Globetrotters, Massage Envy, The World Tour of Gymnastics Superstars, Blue Plate Catering, the Chicago Wolves, the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute, Chicago Lake Shore Medical Associates, Concierge Preferred Magazine, Sesame Street Live, the ‘11 Champions Challenge (McEnroe, Bjorg, Agassi), The Highland Games, Geja’s Café, SportBrain, David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, broughtonHOTELS, Standard Market, and several National Tours (including C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters and Celtic Thunder). They have represented artists such as Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Wynonna Judd, Louis CK, The Beach Boys, Jerry Seinfeld, Martina McBride, Michael Feinstein, Jewel, and Andre Rieu.

For more information on Noreen Heron & Associates, Inc. call 773.969.5200 or visit,www.facebook.com/HeronPR, follow at www.twitter.com/HeronPR, or visit www.heronpr.com.