MEET THE TEAM

Gina McKenzie, President & Founder

With more than 20 years in communications, Gina is a creative, strategic and results-driven leader with experience in spearheading creative, innovative, multi-platform campaigns and brand initiatives targeting consumer and trade audiences.

Prior to opening GEM Public Relations, Gina was vice president of publicity at Turner Broadcasting System. There, she served in a key role in the evolution of three major cable television networks. She helped lead the re-launch of TBS into a comedy brand; led the expansion of TNT into more original programming, and served on the leadership team that built Turner Classic Movies (TCM) into a lifestyle brand. In her role at TCM, she was key to the creation and execution of the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, Calif.

Gina has a proven track record in key areas, including team leadership, executive counsel, campaign strategy development, media relations and entertainment program publicity, event ideation and management, corporate and internal communications, talent relations, social media and digital strategy and tactics, experiential brand extensions and crisis communications. She is highly regarded for building strong, collaborative relationships with leadership teams, colleagues, outside vendors, media and stakeholders.

Melanie Gilbert, Brand & Marketing Strategist

Melanie is a seasoned marketing communications professional with 20+ years experience building strategic, insights-driven marketing campaigns and programs for brands such as EarthLink, Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, Meredith Corporation, Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and Crazy Legs Productions. She began her career with an internet service provider at the dawn of consumer high speed internet and has been on the ride of digital media and marketing ever since.

As our resident social media leader, she is committed to building “brands not platforms” and ensures that your unique value proposition, voice, perspective and messaging is felt across every surface.

She loves cooking, entertaining, traveling, birds and gardening and lives in Atlanta with her husband, daughter and head of the household – a 16 year old cat named Phee.

Marianne Standish, Social Media & Digital Marketing

Marianne is a social media and digital marketing consultant based in Cary, North Carolina. She has over 10 years of experience launching multi-platform brand activations and establishing loyal communities for entertainment brands, consumer goods, non-profits, and medical professionals. Areas of expertise include social media management, influencer partnerships, digital advertising, brand strategy, experiential events, and editorial.

For recent examples of work, please view her portfolio.