Team

Todd Fromer

Todd Fromer

Principal

Todd is a Managing Partner at KCSA and oversees the firm's investor relations practice.

Todd specializes in the implementation of proactive investor relations programs for public companies, including crisis communications and IPOs. He has led successful corporate communications campaigns for more than 100 micro- and small-cap companies and has provided strategic communications counsel to hundreds of C-level executives.

Todd has been the recipient of the Silver Anvil award and The IABC Ace Award for Business Communications.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Hofstra University.

Lewis Goldberg Lewis Goldberg

Lewis Goldberg

Principal

Lewis is a Managing Partner at KCSA and oversees the firm's public relations practice.

For more than 20 years, Lewis has worked to implement eminence, thought leadership, and public affairs programs designed to build business and garner fairer valuations.

Lewis developed a campaign mentality working in national, state and local politics for U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. He designs programs with a specific business objective in mind, a targeted timeframe, attention to maximizing limited resources and a measurable ROI.

In 2015 Lewis helped found KCSA’s cannabis practice and has become recognized as one of the most effective strategic thinkers in this growing field. He is the co-host of KCSA’s weekly podcast, The Green Rush, and speaks regularly at conferences on the use of strategic communications to achieve specific business objectives.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University. Lewis is a fan of Rutgers, the Mets and Jets and tends to root for sports teams that have a long and storied history of losing. 

Jeffrey Goldberger Jeffrey Goldberger

Jeffrey Goldberger

Principal

Jeffrey Goldberger is a Principal and Managing Partner at KCSA, and oversees the firm’s Integrated Communications Services offering, as well as its Capital Markets practice delivered through IPO/APO One™.

For more than 30 years, Jeffrey has provided strategic counsel to both private and publicly traded companies. His expertise includes corporate messaging and capital markets advisory (IPO, SPAC, RTO and M&A) and crisis communications. He also co-leads the firm’s Healthcare practice, which primarily represents emerging life sciences and healthcare technology companies.

Jeffrey is a frequent contributor to IR Magazine, covering topics that include the evolution of investor relations, the importance of building a strong Board of Directors and the pitfalls of operating a micro-cap company.

Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2012, Jeffrey was a founding member and helped launch theEMPLOYEEapp (formerly known as APPrise Mobile), a development platform that allows companies to effectively communicate with employees. In 2011, Jeffrey co-founded Tri-Cycle Rentals, the triathlon industry’s original race-day bike rental company, which was acquired by American Bicycle Group, parent company of Litespeed and Quintana Roo Bicycles. For a decade, he actively participated in triathlons, completing both Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman Switzerland.

Danielle DeVoren Danielle DeVoren

Danielle DeVoren

Managing Partner

As a Managing Partner, Danielle DeVoren is a key member of the firm’s leadership team, helping to run the PR practice and serving as a trusted strategic advisor to clients across a range of industries.

For nearly 15 years, she has counseled clients – from technology startups to multinational conglomerates – use public relations to move their businesses forward, influence public policy and create new markets.

Her experience spans from working with a global leader in vision care and eyewear to spearheading the launch of the world’s largest and fastest free Wi-Fi network – LinkNYC.

Danielle currently oversees the firm’s advertising and financial technology practices, working closely with clients to help craft communications strategies to capitalize on these rapidly growing sectors, enabling her clients to use PR to support their growth strategies.

Danielle holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Pennsylvania State University (We Are!). She lives in Hoboken with her husband and son, loves Saturday mornings at the farmer’s market, any type of wine from Italy and reading magazines in print (yes, she likes to flip through actual pages).

Joseph Septon Joseph Septon

Joseph Septon

Chief Financial Officer

Prior to joining KCSA, Mr. Septon was the Director of Finance & Operations at UrbanDaddy, a rapidly growing digital media brand, delivering consumers unique and local lifestyle recommendations via the web, email and mobile platforms. During his 2 years there, Mr. Septon not only restructured the organization but was able to double revenue each year and secure funding at a significant valuation. Preceding UrbanDaddy, Mr. Septon was the Controller of Guidepoint Global, a primary research firm that provides investors and business decision-makers with on-demand access to industry experts. While there, he restructured the financial and operational infrastructure of the organization. In 2009, he was key in the acquisition and integration of Vista Research from Standard & Poor’s. Earlier, Mr. Septon grew through the ranks from Junior Account to Staff Account to Senior Accountant at Fortent Americas, formerly known as Searchspace, which established itself as an industry pioneer and leading provider of modern statistical-based Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) technology for the world’s top-tier financial institutions. While there, he prepared and analyzed budgets, forecasts, and financial statements for the board of directors, which consisted of members from Warburg Pincus’s Private Equity Group.

Katie Roland

Katie Roland

Chief Human Resources Officer

Katie Roland is the Chief Human Resources Officer at KCSA. She brings with her 15+ years of Human Resources experience from companies that include Forbes Media, Leucadia National Corporation, JCDecaux, Daily Racing Form, and KCD. 

Katie has demonstrated success in building HR departments from the ground up.  She does so with an eye toward collaboration, inclusion, and belonging.  To her, HR is a partner to the company and its employees which helps build strong managers, empowered employees, and a culture where everyone’s skills and talents are celebrated.

Katie resides in Garden City, New York with her husband Brent and two sons Ben and Jo Jo.  She likes to spend her free time with family and friends on the North Fork of Long Island, in Windham, New York, or trying out new restaurants in New York City.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland and her SPHR Certification from HRCI.

Philip Carlson Philip Carlson

Philip Carlson

Managing Director

Phil Carlson is a Managing Director of Investor Relations at KCSA. He has developed proactive investor relations and communication strategies for several multi-national, micro and small cap companies in various sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services and natural resources. Phil also leads KCSA’s Cannabis Investor Relations practice. Through his extensive network, Phil has helped position his cannabis clients as thought leaders in the emerging cannabis industry. He has secured speaking engagements at premiere conferences and has organized several cannabis industry panels which have included himself as well as his clients. Phil is a Wall Street and Investor Relations veteran having worked at firms such as JPMorganChase and Merrill Lynch. His experience includes IPOs and reverse mergers, implementing retail and institutional road shows, and providing strategic counsel to clients. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kent State University.

Anne G. Donohoe Anne G. Donohoe

Anne G. Donohoe

Managing Director

Anne G. Donohoe is a Managing Director in public relations and heads up the Los Angeles Office at KCSA. She has been with the company for more than 15 years and her work spans many different industries including financial services, technology, media & advertising, professional services and consumer products. For the last eight years, she has led the cannabis and, most recently, the psychedelics practice. With a passion for innovative companies with good stories to tell, she has honed her skills in strategic planning, writing, media relations, messaging and content creation.

Her voice can be heard on The Green Rush, a podcast about the business of cannabis and psychedelics, which she not only hosts but co-created and co-produces.

Anne received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Monmouth University in New Jersey. She spent most of her life on the east coast, but relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 to open and lead the KCSA LA office. When she and her husband are not competing (from their couch) on Jeopardy!, they can be found rooting for the Clemson Tigers and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Jon Goldberg Jon Goldberg

Jon Goldberg

Managing Director

Jonathan Goldberg is a Managing Director and Media Director in public relations at KCSA. In this position, Jonathan works closely with clients to develop and execute tailored public relations campaigns as well as strategize media campaigns for all of KCSAs clients. His clients include billion dollar publicly-traded companies, private fintech companies, as well as biotech firms.

Prior to joining KCSA, Jonathan worked in broadcast journalism, starting his career at ESPN, followed by Fox News Channel, and ultimately one of the co-creators of CNBC's Fast Money.

Jonathan holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters Degree in Communications from Syracuse's Newhouse School of Communications.

Caitlin Kasunich Caitlin Kasunich

Caitlin Kasunich

Managing Director

Caitlin Kasunich is a Managing Director in the public relations department at KCSA. In this position, Caitlin works closely with both B2B and B2C clients across a range of industries – from technology and biotech to hospitality and education – to develop and execute tailored, integrated public relations campaigns. Prior to joining KCSA, Caitlin worked in-house at Lincoln Center in the public relations department, as well as worked as a freelance reporter covering local news start-ups for Columbia Journalism Review. Caitlin holds a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Communication / Rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh.

Valter Pinto Valter Pinto

Valter Pinto

Managing Director

At an early age, Valter Pinto found a passion for finance and particularly the stock market, fascinated by how businesses were built, how companies accessed the capital markets, valuations, and how senior executives told their story. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working closely with C-Level management teams of public and private companies, globally, with a specific focus on those with valuations under $500 million.

Valter’s expertise is in the capital markets, with deep relationships both on the buy-side and sell-side. A generalist, Valter has experience across all industries including technology, healthcare, biotech, cybersecurity, media, internet, resources, and cryptocurrency. For over 15 years, Valter has provided strategic advisement to clients on proactive institutional marketing, messaging and preparing for IPO, RTO and public/private offering.

Valter looks at every company with an open mind. All are at varying states of maturity and each with their own vision of the world. Throughout the years Valter has been able to leverage his knowledge and passion for the market to develop unique communications and marketing strategies. While tactics vary and are always evolving, his high-level focus remains the same; formulate the right strategy, deliver the right message and ultimately market to the audience that will help you achieve your goals as a public company or soon to be public company.

Prior to joining KCSA, Valter was a Partner at a boutique financial communications firm based in NYC. In December 2016, he and his Partner merged their business with KCSA, a leading Public Relations, Investor Relations and Social Media agency. Today, Valter is Managing Director in the Investor Relations Department.

Valter is fluent in Portuguese, played Division I soccer, and currently resides in Westchester County with his wife and daughter.

Jack Perkins

Jack Perkins

Senior Vice President and General Manager: Investor Relations

Jack Perkins is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Investor Relations at KCSA.  He is passionate about Capital Markets and Entrepreneurship, and at KCSA has found the ideal platform to help micro to large-cap companies access markets to build and grow their businesses, from pre-IPO to acquisition. 

Jack has been a strategic consultant for over 20 years, working with national and global organizations ranging from Boeing Aerospace and Ball Aerospace, to International Royalty Corp. (Mining Finance), Pershing Gold Corp. (Precious Metals), and USA Diving (USOPC sanctioned national governing body). His specific industry experience includes; metals and mining, aerospace, software, semi-conductors, consumer products, real estate, biotech, and Olympic sports. He has a deep knowledge of Investor Relations and specializes in working with C-level executives to help them grow and adapt their organizations, through both bull and bear market cycles.  

Jack holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from George Mason University. He is an avid springboard and platform diving coach, where he volunteers much of his free time.  His wife and daughter both speak Spanish fluently at home.  Jack speaks passable Spanish and survival Mandarin, and likes to spend his vacations traveling and learning about new cultures with his family. 

Michelle Aselta

Michelle Aselta

Senior Vice President

Prior to joining KCSA, Michelle Aselta was The SVP of Beauty + Wellness/Head of Strategy at Jennifer Bett Communications, specializing in business development, agency growth, client + brand development and media strategy.

Michelle has cultivated and grown brands both in house at Nutrafol and through agencies like People’s Revolution, The Door and Rubenstein Communications. Michelle has more than 18 years of experience in developing and implementing communications programs, specializing in media relations, strategic brand partnerships, event production and innovative publicity opportunities. Michelle has managed accounts ranging from household names, such as Christie’s Auction House, Pantone, Jeremy Scott and Ben & Jerry’s to challenger and contemporary brands like Little Spoon, WLDKAT, Act + Acre, LOOPS Beauty and Bloomi, as well as large-scale events, including Tribeca Film Festival, Scope Art Fair and Fashion Week in New York, Miami, Paris and London.
Kristin Cwalinski Kristin Cwalinski

Kristin Cwalinski

Senior Vice President

Kristin Cwalinski is the SVP of media and broadcast at KCSA, bringing more than a decade of financial news experience to the firm.  She works closely with clients across the firm to strengthen their media messaging and strategy, as well as gain exposure to major media networks. Prior to joining KCSA, she worked at CNBC for more than 7 years, where she ran “Power Lunch” and “Fast Money” as a Senior Producer.  Prior to that, she was a producer on “Countdown to the Closing Bell” at Fox Business Network. During her career, she’s driven the coverage of retail traders, cannabis and cryptocurrency at major networks as well as working on talent development for on-air personalities.  Kristin received her bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College for Broadcast Journalism and Politics.

David Hanover David Hanover

David Hanover

Senior Vice President

David Hanover possesses over 20 years of Equity Investment Management/Research experience in the small cap arena. He had previously been a Senior Equity Analyst for a top-ranked long-biased small cap hedge fund for over seven years. Prior to this, he was the Portfolio Manager of a technically-based hedge fund and a fundamentally based hedge fund for a family office. He has also Co-managed a small cap growth mutual fund and has been an Equity Analyst on a top- ranked mutual fund in Israel. He began his career in Prudential’s Accelerated Career Entry (PACE) program.

Ellen Mellody

Ellen Mellody

Senior Vice President

Ellen brings 25 years of experience in strategy, communications, issue management, and crisis communications to KCSA clients, honed through her work with Fortune 50 companies, the White House, and in the political, cannabis, and media/entertainment sectors. She co-founded Powerplant Global Strategies, one of the first strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations firms exclusively focused on the legal cannabis industry.

Ellen began her career in the Clinton Administration, working daily with the White House Press Corps. She went on to hold senior strategy and communications roles in the Gore 2000, Kerry 2004, and Obama 2008 presidential campaigns, the Office of the New Jersey Governor, Comcast-NBCUniversal, and General Electric.

In 2022, Ellen was honored as one of PRNEWS' Top Women in PR in the Changemakers category. The award celebrates women who have made bold advances in crisis management, brand reputation, media relations, content creation, social media marketing, and more for their organizations or clients.

She holds certificates of achievement from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a degree in Communications from the University of Scranton, and is a National Outdoor Leadership School Wind River Mountaineering graduate
Aaron Paine

Aaron Paine

Senior Vice President

Aaron is the SVP of Digital at KCSA.

For the last 15 years, Aaron has stood at the vanguard of the digital and social spaces. Creating campaigns and launching brands on both B2C and B2B sides of the fence. More importantly, his strategies and executions yield results. 

From Champion Apparel, Lucky Brand, Avion Tequila, Keds and Polaroid to Time Warner, PayPal, Novartis and Pennsylvania Power, Aaron's has repeatedly utilized his outlook, love for the space and desire for connective reasoning to achieve the goals of some of the world’s top brands. He brings a clear understanding of both the traditional and digital processes that sets him apart from the field. Aaron describes his holistic approach as the creation of digital and social ecosystems that, once established, continue to sustainably live and thrive independently.

When not working, Aaron can be found hiking, cooking or kayaking with his 7 year old. When not doing any of the aforementioned, he can even can sometimes be spotted fighting crime on the rooftops of New York City.

Kristi Papanikolaw Kristi Papanikolaw

Kristi Papanikolaw

Senior Vice President, Capital Markets

Kristi Papanikolaw is head of Capital Markets at KCSA.  In this position, Kristi works closely with the IR Team and our clients to make introductions to the investment community and sell-side.  Having started her career as a NY Silver Market Maker at Mocatta Metals, now ScotiaMocatta,  she then found her passion within the equity markets.  Kristi has over 20 years of experience in institutional equity markets, which started at Lehman Brothers.  From there, she went on to Natexis Bleichroeder, opening and running their Boston office, as she did at Merriman Curhan Ford.  She had also worked at Wunderlich Securities, William O’Neil and Telsey Advisory Group.  Throughout her career, Kristi became known for her ability to ‘greenfield’ accounts selling all types of equity products and in just about every vertical and market cap.  Kristi is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance.

Katelyn Tumino Katelyn Tumino

Katelyn Tumino

Senior Vice President

Kate Tumino is a Senior Vice President in the public relations department at KCSA. In this position, she works closely with the firm's clients in the media / advertising technology and financial services sectors to develop and execute tailored public relations campaigns.

Prior to joining KCSA, Kate worked at Rubenstein Public Relations where she built relationships with a wide variety of media contacts at newspapers, online and television outlets.

Kate holds a Bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog Jax and is a professional at binge watching TV series.

Scott Eckstein Scott Eckstein

Scott Eckstein

Senior Vice President

Scott Eckstein is a Vice President of Market Intelligence in the investor relations department at KCSA.

Throughout his career, Scott has worked with companies in multiple industries ranging from micro and small-cap companies to Fortune 500 leaders. He brings 20 years of investor relations experience in both agency and corporate roles. His background includes strategic consulting, message development, institutional targeting, investor marketing and corporate communications.

Scott began his career at KCSA in the investor relations practice. He later worked at companies such as Thomson Financial and The Financial Relations Board, where he provided advisory services and developed targeted institutional and retail branding programs for a wide range of organizations, before returning to KCSA.

Scott holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Raquel Cona Raquel Cona

Raquel Cona

Vice President

Raquel Cona is a Senior Account Executive at KCSA.

Prior to joining KCSA, Raquel worked at a boutique public relations agency where she managed accounts for some of New York City's most prominent residential real estate projects and brokerages working on a project-specific and corporate basis. While there, she was tasked with creating/launching strategic PR campaigns and partnerships while managing day-to-day account work. She brings proven success in media relations, securing top-tier press placements for clients on a national and international scale in both print and online media.

Raquel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Hofstra University.

Tori Loiacono

Tori Loiacono

Vice President, PR

Tori Loiacono is a public relations executive with nearly a decade of experience successfully creating mass awareness for digitally native brands in the media. Throughout her tenure, Tori has worked with clients within the fashion, home, lifestyle, parenting, and women's health categories. Prior to joining KCSA, Tori was a Director at Jennifer Bett Communications and a freelance PR consultant. Tori has worked with notable brands such as The Honey Pot Company, Unbound Babes, Stoggles, RMA of New York, Stix, Parachute, Parelel, Tia Clinic, Lia, Cerebelly, and REAL. 
Jenny Robles Jenny Robles

Jenny Robles

Vice President

Jenny Robles is a Vice President with over seven years of experience in corporate communications, public affairs, and client management across various business-to-business industries, including professional and financial services, technology, human resources, medical cannabis, and advocacy/philanthropy.

Jenny is responsible for new business, creating strategic corporate communication plans, as well as ensuring the successful execution of client PR programs. She brings proven success in media relations, securing top-tier press placements for clients on a national and international scale in broadcast, print, and online media.

Jenny is a member of the KCSA team awarded PR Daily's 2019 Best Viral Campaign. Before joining KCSA, Jenny was a marketing intern for BMW of Manhattan and MINI of Manhattan.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Baruch College, where she was Director of Public Relations for PRSSA’s New York chapter.

Charles Whiteman Charles Whiteman

Charles Whiteman

Vice President

Charles Whiteman has 20+ years-experience in the institutional investment banking and institutional fund management fields. Mr. Whiteman served as Managing Director of Roswell Capital Securities and Director of Institutional Private Equity for Roswell Capital Partners, LLC. Also during his tenure, Mr. Whiteman served as Director of Investment Banking, Private Placements and Institutional Sales with the primary responsibility for managing the firm’s efforts focused toward public issuer development and institutional investor relationships. From 1996 – 2001, Mr. Whiteman served in various supervisory capacities at Swartz Investments, LLC. During this time, Mr. Whiteman provided oversight and direction to the firm’s Corporate Finance/Investment Banking professionals. From 1992-1996, Mr. Whiteman was with SunTrust Bank Corp. Positions held at SunTrust were Commercial Loan Officer responsible for new business development in the Southeast US, Corporate Banking Representative and Credit Analyst. Mr. Whiteman received a BBA – Finance from Georgia State University.

Andrew Young

Andrew Young

Vice President

Andrew Young is an Account Director in the public relations department at KCSA.

With over a decade of experience with global tech and consumer brands such as Amazon, Samsung, MoMA, and Van Cleef & Arpels, Andrew works to deliver media and marketing opportunities that allow brands to reach new consumers and establish presence beyond their endemic verticals. As an Account Director at KCSA, Andrew leads media strategy and outreach for clients across key business sectors and media types, ranging from leading national newspapers through to hyper-targeted B2B and financial outlets. He is primarily based within KCSA’s media and technology practice but provides strategic and creative council across all divisions of KCSA.

Andrew majored in Communication and Media Studies at Monash University, Australia before moving to New York City in 2008, where he currently resides. In addition to his role at KCSA, Andrew is on the social committee of the Saint Andrew’s Society of New York, one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the United States.