McGrath Matter - Experience

Who We Are

McGrath Matter has assembled a team of senior counselors whose experience spans the full spectrum of communication disciplines and a wide range of industries. Following are selected biographies of the firm's senior staff.

George McGrath

George McGrath, Partner

George McGrath is a founding partner of McGrath Matter Associates. He has over 25 years experience in corporate communications, reputation and issues management, crisis preparedness and investor relations.

George has counseled senior management on public relations and public affairs at Fortune "500" companies across many industries, including banking, professional services, investment management, environmental services, manufacturing, consumer products, food service, energy and technology. He has helped clients launch new products and services, promote their ideas, defend their reputations against attack, advance their public policy agendas, and build support in the investment community.

Prior to founding McGrath Matter Associates, George was managing director of public relations for Brouillard Communications, an integrated communications agency based in New York City. He previously served as a partner in the public affairs firm of Osgood O'Donnell & Walsh. He began his public relations agency career at Hill and Knowlton, where he served as a vice president in the Financial Relations Division working on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and investor relations. Prior to Hill and Knowlton, George was communication manager for Saks Fifth Avenue, where he developed internal communication programs for the specialty retailer's 10,000 employees nationwide.

George is the author of a textbook on issues management and is the former chairman of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC), a 12,000-member global professional association of corporate communication specialists. He speaks and writes frequently on the practice of public relations at IABC, The Conference Board, Ragan Communications seminars, and other industry events.

Scott Matter, Partner

Scott Matter is a founding partner of McGrath Matter Associates. He has over 20 years experience in public relations strategies, media relations, public affairs and crisis management.

Scott's client experience includes work with leading real estate, financial services, healthcare, technology and consumer products companies as well as not-for-profit and industry associations. He specializes in developing communication campaigns to build companies' visibility and promote their products, services and ideas. Among recent assignments, he helped The Rouse Company put their next-generation retail centers on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and in leading regional and trade media; assisted Waste Management with press and community relations on a range of issues in New York City and State; and helped launch Incapital, a new investment bank that has emerged as a leader in the fixed-income market.

Prior to founding McGrath Matter Associates, Scott was associate director of public relations for Brouillard Communications, an integrated agency. He previously headed the public relations group at Mulryan/Nash, where he developed and implemented media relations programs for consumer products, healthcare and media companies, including Rodale Press (publishers of Prevention magazine), Agouron Pharmaceuticals and Chase Manhattan.

A political consultant by training, Scott served as National Field Director for Senator Robert Dole's presidential campaign in 1996, supervising organizational activities in all 50 states. He has also managed campaigns for several governors and members of the U.S. House and Senate, including Governor Kay Orr, Governor Terry Branstad and Congressman Jim Lightfoot.

Ann Pinkerton, Senior Counselor: Media Relations

A former journalist with 20 years in agency public relations, Ann Pinkerton has been an officer at public relations agencies such as Hill & Knowlton, Magnet Communications, Carl Byoir and The Rowland Company. During her career, she has had the opportunity to address the corporate and marketing challenges of major corporations in a variety of industries.

As a journalist in the US, France and Canada, Pinkerton wrote for such publications as The Wall Street Journal (Europe), The International Herald Tribune, Women's Wear Daily and The Montreal Star.

A graduate of UCLA, Pinkerton is chairman of the Women's Economic Round Table. She also sits on the board of New York City Outward Bound and on the New York planning committee of the Women's High Tech Coalition. She is a member of The Economic Club of New York, the Financial Women's Association, the Public Relations Society of America, Women in Communications, International Association of Business Communicators, Women Executives in Public Relations (former board member), New York Women's Agenda, the World Future Society and the National Association for Female Executives.

Carolyn Boyd, Senior Consultant: Creative Services

Carolyn Boyd has over 20 years' experience in marketing communications and graphic design. She has worked on both the agency and corporate sides, developing advertising and corporate communications materials for a wide range of industries.

Carolyn has worked on product launches and corporate image campaigns for clients over a range of industries, including education, environmental services, healthcare and technology. She has extensive experience in the design and production of brochures, ads and direct mail, meeting collateral, and education, training and technical materials. Her past experience includes serving as the marketing communications manager for an leading medical device maker and as production manager for the the Houston office of W.B. Doner Advertising.

Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Houston and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentration in Graphic Communications.

Mike Damon, Senior Consultant

Mike Damon is an expert writer with extensive experience in business-to-business communications. His work spans a range of vehicles, from annual reports to websites, and from technical literature to articles for scientific journals.

Mike is adept as distilling complex technical content into simple and powerful concepts and copy. He has put these skills to work for clients in the healthcare, insurance, environmental services and telecommunications industries, as well as a number of academic institutions. At McGrath Matter, Mike has helped clients develop employee publications and community newsletters, has worked on environmental issues and has developed communications to promote innovative recycling programs.

Mike holds a B.A. with honors in English from Duquesne University, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Verlee Prybyloski, Senior Consultant

Verlee Prybyloski is a senior consultant with expertise in business-to-business marketing and corporate communications. She develops thought leadership programs to position client executives and companies as “go to” experts in their fields, through speaking platforms, research studies and strategic media relations.

Verlee has extensive experience in business-to-business marketing and previously headed marketing communications for the financial services and manufacturing practices of Deloitte, the world’s largest professional services firm. She developed custom research, white papers, publicity programs and conferences to promote the firm’s capabilities to current and prospective clients.

Verlee worked on public policy and corporate issues with the New York City Partnership and at Hill and Knowlton, the global public relations firm. She also has worked as a political director for environmental groups and has served on municipal, state and Federal political campaigns.

Verlee holds a B.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia..