Consulting and creative experience in higher education
PS&D has extensive experience in higher education marketing, branding, and admissions, and philanthropy communications. For more than 20 years, the firm has worked with a wide variety of universities (including UC Berkeley, UCSD, and UCLA, Stanford, Emory, USC, Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, and University of the Pacific), and liberal arts colleges (including Saint Mary's College of California, LaVerne, Mount St. Mary's, and the University of Judaism).
Marketing, branding, and philanthropy
While some firms specialize in either corporate or not-for-profit work, PS&D's comfort and familiarity in both worlds enable them to serve clients more effectively. Their understanding of what works in marketing ideas, products, and services in the corporate world helps them better serve nonprofit clients. Their understanding of the relationship-building that goes on in philanthropy helps them serve corporate clients more effectively.
Comfort in all media
PS&D is familiar with the strengths and vulnerabilities of all communication formats - print, face-to-face, electronics and events. This familiarity enables them to help clients think through the best choices for each project.
Understanding of and respect for the UC system
PS&D has been fortunate to work with many UC clients over the years. And while each institution has clear distinctions, the firm has accumulated considerable experience in understanding some of what makes many UC institutions special - and appealing to key constituencies. In addition, PS&D's focus on understanding and communicating diversity - a key asset at UCR - will help guide all final recommendations.
PS&D Team Members for UCR Project:
Linda L. Peterson (UCR Project Leader)
Linda Peterson is a founding partner of Peterson Skolnick & Dodge, a communication consulting and creative services agency, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before establishing the agency in 1979, Linda held a variety of communication and training posts with Metropolitan Life and Pacific Bell. She has held office in several professional organizations, including service as President of the San Francisco Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Linda's consulting and creative services clients include a mix of corporate, academic, and arts organizations. In recent years, her college and university clients have included Emory, the Pacific School of Religion (GTU), Saint Mary's College of California, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Santa Clara University, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCSD, the University of Southern California and the University of Judaism. She has also served as faculty for Stanford's Professional Development series, as a featured speaker for the annual Minary conference for college alumni programs, and has been a CASE judge and conference speaker. Recent arts, culture, and environmental clients have included the Nature Conservancy (Washington, DC and California), the National Audubon Society (New York, California, Texas and Arizona), The Campaign for the New Main Library, Campaign for the Restoration of the Opera House, and Campaign for the New de Young in Golden Gate Park.
Her corporate clients have included a mix of traditional Fortune 500 and emerging companies, including American Express, AT&T, Audi, Bechtel, Electronic Arts, National Semiconductor, and many others. Linda is a 1971 honors graduate of Stanford University.
James V. Assing
(Russian Hill Associates Market Research)Jim Assing has more than 20 years experience in marketing and market research. Before leaving corporate life to pursue an independent consultancy, he worked as Manager of the Management Science Group at Levi Strauss & Co., Manager of Market Research at Royal Viking Line and as a consultant to Booz-Allen and Hamilton. His marketing research expertise includes analysis of large databases, survey design, tabulation and analysis, management and development of focus groups and one-on-one interviews.
Jim earned his undergraduate degree in management science at Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, and his MS in statistics at Stanford University. He has worked with PS&D for more than 15 years, including several assignments on UCSD projects.
Betsy Brown
Betsy Brown has provided diverse communication support to a variety of universities and colleges, established corporations, start-ups, and nonprofit groups since 1985. With Peterson Skolnick & Dodge, Betsy has developed communication materials for a wide range of organizations, including the California Academy of Sciences, the National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, the California State Parks Foundation, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Bechtel Corporation. Her university clients include Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSD, University of the Pacific, Santa Clara University, McGeorge School of Law, and USC.
Before joining PS&D, Betsy developed editorial content and collaborated on design for 10 years of Pacific Telesis Group annual reports and quarterly reports. She also wrote investment analyst newsletters, employee magazine features, public policy brochures, op. ed. pieces, and material for the company's Web Site. Betsy has also created print and/or online material for AirTouch Communications; Fred Meyer, Inc., and its charitable foundation; Intel Corporation; workplace consulting firm PdK of San Francisco; experiential learning company One World Music; and Satterwhite Design of Portland. Betsy graduated from Stanford University in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in creative writing.
Bob Rucker
Bob Rucker is a senior writer and project manager with Peterson Skolnick & Dodge. Bob has more than 20 years' experience in corporate communications, including four years as Manager of Institutional and Investor Communications at Pacific Telesis. He has also held corporate and brand identity management at Pacific Bell and marketing and employee communications management positions at Guy F. Atkinson Construction, Mervyn's, and Shaklee Corporation.
Bob currently serves as lead project manager for PS&D's UCSD, recent UC Berkeley School of Information Management and Systems brand work, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Oakland Museum of California work, in addition to nearly five years of managing all contract work for PS&D Bechtel projects. Bob's experience includes writing for all types of publications and executive communications, project management, video production, and websites. He is a 1977 graduate of Macalester College.
David L. Skolnick
David L. Skolnick is a principal in Peterson Skolnick & Dodge. Since joining the agency in 1988, David has provided consulting, conceptual development, and creative work for many clients in industries as varied as consumer products, health care, financial services, high-tech, and travel. Prior to joining PS&D, David was Manager of Communications for Levi Strauss & Company. In this position, he created and managed numerous communication campaigns targeted to diverse audiences around the world.
Before moving to the Bay Area, David was a Department Head and Associate Professor of Communication at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In addition to administrative responsibilities, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in group dynamics, public speaking, interpersonal communication, and mass media. During his time in Washington, David was retained as a communication consultant for several federal agencies and research organizations. Among his clients were The Federal Bureau of Prisons, The Department of Health,Education and Welfare, and The Guggenheim Foundation. David's background also includes working as a television news producer and director for Westinghouse Broadcasting, and service in the U.S. Army. David holds a Master of Arts Degree in Communication from Penn State University.