Jim Farrell, President, founded PR First in March 1998 after seven years experience in the field of public relations. He is the former Manager of Public Relations for Dickinson Direct, Braintree, MA and Vice-President, Client Services at Dubin & Farrell Advertising/Public Relations, Weymouth, MA. Jim worked in the newspaper industry prior to public relations, and was the editor and publisher of two weekly newspapers, the Kingston Independent Voice and Carver Independent. Following the sale of his newspapers, he worked at Mariner Newspaper Group, Marshfield, MA. He is a former columnist for the Business Journal of Southeastern Massachusetts, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the New England Environmental Marketing Association, and for the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Hanover, MA Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is active in a number of business associations including AM Business, Business Builders and the Better Business Bureau.

jfarrell@prfirst.com

Colleen has been a member of the PR First team since August of 2000. She began her career in journalism as a reporter and editor for the Amarillo Globe News, Amarillo, TX, where she covered  breaking news and was assigned to the police, medical and religion beats. In addition she provided feature articles for the weekend edition. She is a former freelance reporter and writer for numerous Massachusetts publications including the Wellesley Townsman, the Metrowest Daily News 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.  Locally Colleen served as publicity chair for the Norwell project of Habitat for Humanity and is currently a member of the advisory board of Campus of Caring, an organization committed to building a non-profit hospice home on the South Shore. Colleen and Jim Farrell are co-founders of PR Delivered, a business designed to bring a complete public relations campaign to small business owners and not-for-profit organizations.

ccimini@prfirst.com

Claire 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 experience in public relations, marketing and promotion planning to offer companies cost-effective methods and creative planning and marketing strategies. Claire’s industry expertise and in-depth understanding of corporate management and planning functions provide clients with a complete marketing program. 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 holds a Hospitality Management Degree from Newbury College.

cburgess@prfirst.com

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 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 fills a variety of roles at PR First. In addition to serving as Office Manager, she schedules and tracks PR placements for 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. Prior to joining PR First, she was affiliated with a startup PR firm in Weymouth.

aanderton@prfirst.com

Cara Cimini, Account Executive, joined PR First in 2008. She is a graduate of Providence College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Cara has taught English to inner city high school students in Hartford, CT and Boston, MA. Cara also served as a community organizer in Miami, FL for the Obama for President Campaign. She is an avid Boston sports fan and enjoys traveling in her spare time.

cara@prfirst.com