Communication consulting team

Alison Davis
Founder and CEO

Alison sets the strategic direction for her firm, leads the development of new products and services, and provides senior counsel to clients such as BNY Mellon, ITT, Johnson & Johnson, MasterCard, Merck and PepsiCo.

She is co-author of the book, Your Attention, Please (Adams Business, 2006), and writes a weekly blog, Insights. Davis is a former online columnist for The New York Times and frequently writes articles for business publications, including The Conference Board Review, Communication World and PR Strategist.

A sought-after speaker on communication issues, Alison facilitates 10 to 15 speaking sessions per year for national organizations and associations. In 2009, she was rated a top speaker at the national Society for Human Resource Management Annual Conference.

Alison was recently appointed a member of the Northeastern University Communication Program Global Advisory Panel, and she is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Society of America and the Council of Communication Management. Alison earned her B.A. from Douglass College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Matt Davis
COO and Senior Communications Consultant

Matt works closely with clients to provide consulting services on Internet and intranet strategies, publication management, research and measurement and using communication vehicles effectively. He also directs Davis & Company’s internal systems, financial, web technology and creative services.

Matt has won numerous awards for his work and helped build the company’s technology, graphics and web design groups. He has led successful web projects for Aetna, J. M. Huber, Georgia-Pacific and many other organizations. In addition, Matt is a consultant who has led successful research, design and change projects for BASF, Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth and others. His knowledge of writing, corporate communication, strategic consulting and web technology provides a perspective that is unique to the industry.

Matt

David Pitre
VP, Consulting Services

David is a senior consultant and project resource for Davis & Company clients. His work in employee communication stretches from strategy to implementation and includes measurement, writing, information architecture, facilitation, training and multi-media delivery. He has developed and implemented annual communication plans, intranets, brand building programs, large change initiatives and HR programs (including compensation, benefits and pension) for many Fortune 500 companies. David is co-author of the company's latest book, How to conduct employee focus groups.

He has conducted workshops for the Canadian Pension and Benefit Institute and the Institute of Communications and Advertising. In 2008, Pitre chaired the Council of Communication Management's annual conference. Recent speaking engagements include: the Conference Board's Employee Communication and Measurement conference (New York and Chicago), and the IABC Heritage Region conference (Cleveland).

He holds a bachelor's degree in Instructional Media from Ryerson University (Toronto) and an MBA in design management from the University of Westminster (U.K.). Pitre is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Council of Communication Management.

David

Kimberly Gavagan
Senior Communications Consultant

As senior communications consultant, Kimberly is responsible for providing consulting and implementation services to clients that include Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer and Wyeth. Kimberly has successfully managed a variety of projects ranging from newsletter management to research to helping managers communicate. Though her specialty is writing, Kimberly also enjoys employee research and has moderated numerous focus groups for Davis & Company clients. Kimberly is an award-winning writer and helped co-author, How to conduct employee focus groups.

Her prior work experience includes a position as Senior Specialist of Employee Communications at Philips Electronics North America Corporation in New York City. While at Philips, she developed and implemented communication programs for the company’s 30,000 North American employees, with a special focus on human resource communications. Kimberly earned a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Journalism from Utica College of Syracuse University.

Kimberly

Julie Weissbach
Project Director

As project director, Julie helps Davis & Company clients solve their employee communications challenges. Since joining the Client Services team in 2001, Julie has used her in-depth knowledge of design and technology to provide consulting and implementation support to a number of clients including Dow Corning, Lafarge and Merck. Julie has also participated in successful employee research, intranet and change management projects.

Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey and completed a Web Master Certificate Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Julie

Rich Stanton
Project Director

As a project management resource, Rich draws upon his experience in communication planning and measurement, executive messaging, and internal vehicles and channels, to help our clients reach and engage their audiences. He has worked with clients such as Johnson & Johnson and Rogers Communications to solve their communication challenges.

Prior to joining Davis & Company in 2010, Rich spent ten years working in the corporate communication groups of Ernst & Young and Bowne & Co., where he focused on employee communication. Rich holds a bachelor's degree in Radio and Television Production from the State University of New York at Cortland and a master's degree in Corporate Communication from Ithaca College.

Rich

Liz Kuhns
Project Manager

Liz’s extensive background in marketing, internal communications and project management helps drive successful employee communication projects for Davis & Company clients such as Wyeth, Merck and BASF.  Prior to joining Davis & Company, Liz was responsible for managing a Speaker Bureau program at a pharmaceutical marketing agency. Additionally, she worked for Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, administrating projects for one of the university’s research centers.

In 2005, Liz was awarded a prestigious fellowship at Johnson & Johnson world headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J., in conjunction with Rutgers University.  In her work with the J&J Corporate Communications team, Liz assisted with the production of internal publications and helped promote the company’s partnership with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as well as other philanthropic programs. She holds a master’s degree in Communication and Information Studies from Rutgers University.

Liz