Tara Coomans
Founder & President
Tara Coomans is a creative leader with the unique ability to develop strategies that drive action. Tara started her agency in 2008 because she is passionate about driving results in a nimble, digitally savvy environment that moves objectives forward for clients.
She has spearheaded viral campaigns throughout her career, hosted and designed hundreds of events, secured essential TV and print coverage, and guided clients through complicated PR situations and messaging. Tara’s ability to “read the room” is her secret weapon. She serves as the creative vision of the campaigns and the analytical enforcer, ensuring we meet your expectations – and ours.
Justin Simon
Vice President of Client Strategy
Justin’s talent is cutting through the noise and finding the connective tissue in messaging. Owing to his background Fox Sports, Justin is our eyes and ears for content and our creative secret weapon for activations. Justin never settles, his critical eye and emotional intelligence ensures his strategic vision hits all the right PR notes at the right time. Justin is an indispensable member of our PR strategy team.
Melinda Adamec
VP of Strategy
Melinda is a creative and insightful consumer product brand strategist. Her experience in ambitious brands across wellness, home goods, and food crosses from startups to nationally known brands. Melinda’s deep knowledge of communication strategies encompasses PR, brand activation, social media, and marketing. Melinda is based in Washington D.C.
Anu Kher
Sr. Public Relations Director
L.A.-based Anu is a collaborative, strategic, and detail-oriented public relations executive and copywriter with 15 years of experience in several industries, including B2B technology, cannabis & CPG, real estate, and psychedelics (biotech, wellness). Prior to joining the Avaans team, Anu worked at global and mid-size PR agencies, including KCSA, Edelman and Ketchum. She has an M. A. in journalism and communications from New York University and a professional certificate in digital marketing from Northwestern Kellogg University.
Megan Hanson
Public Relations and Media Manager
Colorado-based Megan puts the “relations” into media relations and the “social” into social media. Megan’s digitally savvy public relations approach scores points with both clients and journalists alike.
AJ Feuerman
Senior Public Relations Director
AJ is our resident go to for hip and emerging stories and crossover opportunities in the entertainment space. AJ is always on the groundbreaking of emerging trends and she digs in to find the storytelling threads for all her clients. AJ is based in L.A.
Gretchen Giles
Public Relations Manager
Award-winning alt-weekly editor and NEA Visual Arts Journalism Fellow Gretchen’s interest in emerging industries started with her work supporting the Maker Movement and STEM/STEAM modalities for children. Her natural curiosity and activist energies led her to legal plant-based movements, including cannabis and psychedelics. Gretchen is based in Northern California.
Shelley Simpson
Community & Social Engagement Manager
A creative and emotionally intelligent natural communicator, Shelley is the day-to-day delight providing community management and social media implementation. Her eye for opportunity is unmatched and when she’s at the keyboard, she drives loyalty and passion for your brand.
Josh Weissman
Public Relations Manager
Josh is a well-connected publicist with a flair for buzzy partnership opportunities. Josh specializes in emerging industries, in particular, cannabis. Josh is based in Los Angeles.
Howard Daniels
Editor
Piia Aarma
Executive PR Advisor
Jason Kama
Web & Digital Design
Laura Dvir
Print Design & Branding
Meredith Mcilmoyle
Event Activation Specialist
Sarah Lewis
Social Media Specialist
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