ReFERENCES
Gino Colangelo - President
Colangelo & Partners
“Stefan worked for my agency, Colangelo & Partners, for seven years, joining us right out of his NYU graduate program in public relations. It was personally very rewarding to observe -- and be a part of -- Stefan's growth as a PR professional. From the very beginning he demonstrated all of the attributes of any great PR pro: strong written and verbal communications skills, a keen understanding of media, the ability to establish strong relationships, a great work ethic and the perseverance to deliver feature hits for his clients. Over the years, Stefan developed into a great manager as well (maybe his greatest strength). He was always clear in his direction when organizing work for his staff, sensitive to the nuances of team dynamics and available to team members to help them do their jobs better. Stefan is an incredible mentor; he was always the first senior person in the office to whom junior staff would go to in need of advice or simply to talk through a difficult situation. Every agency needs key senior members who makes other employees happy to come to work, and happy to work together. Stefan is that person.
In addition to growing as a manager, Stefan developed valuable business skills, understanding agency profitability and understanding how to manage for profit while still delivering excellent client service. The proof of this ability was Stefan's client retention. His clients always liked him and wanted to work with him. Any company that employees Stefan will be lucky to have him.”
Juliana Colangelo - Vice President
Colangelo & Partners
“I had the pleasure of working with Stefan over the course of 7 years, from his very first interview in 2015. From that first meeting to his last day this past July, Stefan has led with respect, grace, kindness and compassion in every aspect of his job. I was lucky to grow with Stefan as a peer, and leaned on him often for advice on client and team management and lifestyle media relations.
During his tenure at Colangelo & Partners, he approached communications from a human-first perspective, developing strategies to not only introduce our wine clients to the media but help educate the press on what can be an intimidating category (wine). On that note, he developed incredibly personal relationships with his colleagues and media alike, especially among the lifestyle press in NYC; I can’t count the number of times I received unsolicited praise from top tier media from Robb Report to Martha Stewart to Food & Wine and beyond.
Stefan’s academic background in communications provided him with the skills and background to be a true team player in our agency, where he could lead accounts and develop strategies for everything from introducing English sparkling wine to the U.S. market to engaging digital influencers and media for National Prosecco Week.
Any team would be lucky to have Stefan on their side!”
Julie Adrat - Senior Account Executive
Colangelo & Partners
“While Stefán hones many skills from the numerous hats he's worn, he flourishes and is a natural when it comes to management. Not only does he approach each project with extraordinary knowledge and research, but is able to trickle it down to those he mentors, prioritizing developing the skills of those around him. He has an unselfish nature in every aspect of his work and treats each project with equal respect and dedication regardless of the task. He remains calm and level-headed when challenges are posed and focuses only on finding solutions. His leadership skills are unmatched and anyone who is lucky enough to work with him will learn so much and be better for it.”
Leah Isenberg - Account Executive
Colangelo & Partners
“Stefán is a thoughtful and insightful manager and mentor. He leads with a people-focused approach to all his work. By this I mean that no matter how taxing the project, or whatever potential hurdles, he maintains a positive energy for his colleagues and always remains a support system. I have learned countless lessons from Stefán—from client relations advice to razor-sharp writing skills—but by far the most valuable message I’ve gained is the importance of truly showing up for your team. Stefán is adept at reminding each person of their value and capabilities, and always has time to prioritize others when they need a boost. He brings an engaged, humanizing quality to everyday work, and strikes an excellent balance between professionalism and genuine connection.”
Megan DeAngelo
Senior Account Supervisor
Colangelo & Partners
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Stefan for six years at Colangelo & Partners, the communications agency at which Stefan held a senior role. Stefan takes a strategic and thoughtful approach to his work, taking pride in truly providing the best for his clients with the utmost integrity. Not too quickly after we met, Stefan and I became dear friends, and can attest that Stefan puts the same care and attention into his personal life, as he does work. Stefan sets the bar high, and goes beyond his responsibilities to enrich the experience for the client. Stefan has mastered the art of communication, which he demonstrates not only with his media contacts, but as a team leader and mentor. He is genuinely beloved by his peers, and admired for being a badass business professional with a heart of gold. Stefan defines the term media relations specialists, and he always pulls it off with a smile - he's one of a kind.”
Michelle Erland
Senior Account Supervisor
Colangelo & Partners
“Stefan is a knowledgeable and skilled professional, with whom I had the opportunity to work with. I have always appreciated and commended his drive to become an expert in his craft and admired his dedication to continuous improvement as a person and as a manager. Stefan is well organized, precise and thoughtful, and able to combine great respect and care for both his colleagues and clients with a result-oriented mindset and the ability to work under tight deadlines.”
