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Our Team

Key Team Members

NewsUSA is comprised of a team of former journalists and PR professionals whose mission it is to make our clients look good and gain visibility.

Rick Smith, Chairman and Founder of NewsUSA

Rick Smith

Founder & CEO
Rick Smith founded News USA in 1987, and more than 30 years later continues to innovate new ways to make his customers and clients look brilliant. Early in his career, while at Deloitte & Touche, Rick realized that PR and advertising people were basically ‘flying blind’ since no news feature service was then providing real, solid metrics to measure success. So he founded News Canada, then launched NewsUSA. He has served on the faculty of the Young Presidents Organization, judged the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Awards, and himself has been a Blue Chip Enterprise Award Winner for re-inventing his company. Along the way, Rick authored six books, including three self-help business titles: Getting Started, Getting Money and Getting Sales. Today, Rick is on numerous advisory boards and is an early seed investor in 100+ emerging companies ideally where his contacts, media clout and marketing strategy can help scale them faster.
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Cindy O’hara

Managing Editor
Cindy O’Hara is a journalist with more than 20 years of experience, 10 in the Washington, D.C. area. While there, she covered the energy, oil, and construction industries and has written for newsletters, business newspapers, and wire services. She has co-authored a novel, edited several manuscripts, as well as covered the online gaming industry on a freelance basis. She has been the senior writer for NewsUSA for 15 years.
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Nora Garcia Farr

Vice President
Nora has more than 20 years experience in general and Hispanic media, and has helped blue-chip advertisers see the wisdom of embracing bilingual marketing while at Viacom and NBCUniversal.
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Sharon Rosenthal

Senior Vice President
Sharon has an uncanny knack for making everything seem easy. It’s been that way since her journalism days, including stints at Us magazine, TV Guide, the New York Daily News, and as an on-air commentator at ABC’s World News Now. It’s also a big part of why clients trust her the way the Yankees once did Mariano Rivera to shut down opposing teams. Though she handles all types of clients, most are huge financial firms. (She was actually a financial planner at her own boutique shop, and has been known to joke – as only she can – that if anyone up there is really counting, at least she’s got having helped small investors through the Great Recession going for her.) She joined NewsUSA in 2011 and has been instrumental in its rise. Oh, and she really, really likes fast sports cars.

Caroline Van Jones

Vice President - Sales
Caroline has over 15 years of professional sales experience in the media and broadcasting industries. Caroline’s career path has included being a DJ on college radio, radio promotions and affiliate relations, and selling advertising and business management solutions to broadcasters and podcasters. Caroline’s clients have ranged from large broadcast groups like Univision and Sinclair Broadcast Group to local stations serving their communities. Caroline has a passion for developing business relationships and always making sure the client’s needs are met, which has led to a successful career in sales and account management and growing revenues for companies.

Cari Randall

Vice President - Sales
Cari is a detail-oriented syndicated sponsored content sales and public relations practitioner. Over the course of her career, Cari has provided a myriad of public relations services within small, mid-size and large global agencies including Golin, Edelman and more. Cari’s experience includes a number of verticals and industries including healthcare (human and animal), food and beverage, technology, professional services, consumer brands, higher education and more.

Tom Hessemer

Vice President - Sales
Tom began his professional career as a Television Syndication Coordinator at Viacom International. His first job experience in the public relations industry was with NewsUSA 25 years ago. Since then he increased his expertise and value to clients (corporations, PR agencies, associations and non-profits) at several major broadcast PR companies that included WestGlen, MultiVu, News Broadcast Network and DS Simon. Based out of New Jersey, Tom is a father of four sons and a fanatic of sports and music. He is excited to recently rejoin NewsUSA as a Vice President of Sales.

Mitria Di Giacomo

Vice President - Sales
Mitria is a communications and marketing professional with broad experience in consumer marketing, digital marketing, business development, brand content, e-commerce, omnichannel retail, and media sales with focus in the luxury space. She has directed advertising sales at the Los Angeles Times’ Distinction Magazine and Bel Air Magazine and has produced and directed high-profile events including global fashion and design galas such as Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars, Design 21 with Unesco, and Tribute 21 with Robert Rauschenberg.

Ann Krauss

Vice President - Sales
Ann Krauss is a creative marketing and PR executive with over 15 years of experience. Ms. Krauss has a proven track record for successfully launching and promoting associations, companies, executives, and products. Her work has generated results including awards, leading analyst recognition, top-tier articles, partners, increased valuation, sales, social media engagements, qualified leads, and web visitors. Ann has worked with many notable technology industry luminaries including the former sales leader for CA, Mercury, McAfee, and AppDynamics; the former Senior VP and CMO for Jabil and former VP and CMO for Dell's Software Division; the former strategist and director of worldwide business development for FedEx and many others. Overall, Ann most enjoys helping companies gain well-deserved recognition. Are you ready to be a star in your industry?
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Dave Mashek

Director of Operations/Information Technology
David Mashek is a veteran developer with more than 20 years of experience in both team and solo development and project management. His primary expertise is 4D Database development. Dave also has significant knowledge of Web development (including HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, SQL) and has done some mobile platform development. In addition, Dave has also provided many software and database solutions for clients’ in-house projects and maintained and converted mission-critical web applications.
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Lorna Lewis

Social Media Manager
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Heidi Splete

Writer

Let's Get Started

Ready to work with us? Or start a conversation about content marketing?
Contact Us: 703.508.8700 or [email protected]