The PR First Team
Jim Farrell, President
Jim Farrell, President/ founder of PR First, is the former Manager of Public Relations for Dickinson Direct, Braintree, MA and prior to that vice-president of Dubin & Farrell Advertising/Public Relations, Weymouth, MA. Before venturing into the world of PR, Jim was the editor and publisher of two weekly newspapers, the Kingston Independent Voice and the Carver Independent. He has written columns for a number of publications. Jim is a member of the Board of Directors of the New England Environmental Marketing Association, and maintains memberships in the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of New England, and the Better Business Bureau.
jfarrell@prfirst.com
Colleen Cimini, Vice President
Colleen is a former reporter for the Amarillo Globe News, Amarillo, TX, where her news coverage included police, medical and religious beats. She is a former freelance reporter and writer for numerous publications including the Wellesley Townsman, Wellesley, MA, and the Boston area Tab papers. She was a freelance editor for the American Heritage Dictionary published by Houghton Mifflin, Boston. A graduate of Providence College, Colleen earned numerous writing awards as a member of the Texas Press Women; and she also served as Chairperson for Enrichment for the Newtown, CT Cultural Arts Committee.
ccimini@prfirst.com
Sharon Nery, Account Manager
Sharon is the former editor-in-chief of The Southeastern Massachusetts Business Journal. She brings 18 years of experience as a newspaper editor, reporter and columnist to her role at PR First. Prior to her tenure as editor, she was a 10-year correspondent
for The Enterprise of Brockton. She has also done extensive work for the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Canton; The Free Press, North Attleborough; Community Newspaper Company, Needham and Sharon; and Wagner Communications of Mansfield. She currently writes a humor/observational column for The Buzz Newspapers chain of Mansfield. She has also contributed to a number of educational, political and entertainment periodicals and was the former host of a regional cable access show.
snery@prfirst.com
Arlene Anderton, Client Relations Director
Arlene Anderton fills a variety of roles at PR First. In addition to serving as Office Manager, she schedules and tracks PR placements for our clients and oversees the distribution of press material. Arlene's background includes work with a Hanover, MA legal firm and a management role with a Weymouth, MA graphic design firm. Arlene is past treasurer of the Weymouth High School Hockey Boosters and is a former Board of Directors member for Weymouth Youth Hockey. Prior to joining PR First, she was affiliated with a startup PR firm in Weymouth.
aanderton@prfirst.com
Michelle McGrath, Media Relations Specialist
Michelle is the former Customer Service Manager for a New Bedford, MA commercial printing operation, where her responsibilities included coordinating open houses and trade shows, and direct mail marketing/business programs. She is a former Textbook Executive Planner for the Courier Corporation, Stoughton, MA, where she oversaw all aspects of textbook design and production. She has written both print advertising and radio copy as well as a number of professional brochures.
mmcgrath@prfirst.com
Claire
Burgess, Account Manager
Claire C. Burgess brings considerable PR experience to her work
with PR First. She has worked independently providing public
relation efforts for small boutique clients. She has combined
her experiences in public relations, marketing and promotion
planning to offer companies cost-effective methods and creative
planning and marketing strategies, using her industry expertise
and in-depth understanding of corporate management and planning
functions.
Previously, Claire served as Director of Marketing and Operations
for a private hotel management company, representing a prestigious
collection of small and mid-sized hotels in the Caribbean and
throughout the world. She also worked as a meeting planner for
the Government of Ontario as well as a tour coordinator for one
of the country’s major tour companies. She is a trained
Travel Agent, and holds a Hospitality/Tourism Management Degree
from Newbury College. cburgess@prfirst.com
