Dawn Dankner-Rosen, President

Dawn is an award-winning public relations specialist with expertise in media relations and strategic communications strategies.  She develops public relations campaigns that integrate the best of traditional and social media tactics for clients that cover a wide range of fields including health care, beauty, fashion, nonprofits and school districts. Her most recent client list includes Prudential Financial/ Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, Westchester Institute for Human Development, Barksdale Home Health Care Services, the Westchester Italian Cultural Center, Gilda’s Club Westchester,  Westchester Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Prudential Holmes & Kennedy Real Estate, Greyston Foundation, JP McHale Pest Management and Coyaba Beach Resort & Club. 

With 28 years in the PR industry, Dawn has a network of media contacts developed over almost three decades and has been recruited by both small and large businesses to develop strategies for new product and new business launches, image creation and repositioning programs, cause marketing campaigns, as well as to develop effective crisis communications solutions.  She recently won awards for her crisis communications campaigns for the Katonah Union Free School District and the Harrison Central School District. In addition, she received awards for noteworthy cause marketing campaigns including the “Love Where You Live” photo contest for Prudential Holmes & Kennedy Real Estate and the “Get Buggy With It” contest in schools for JP McHale Pest Management; as well as for her strategic communications campaigns for Gilda’s Club Westchester targeting men, women, children and families touched by cancer, and for the Westchester Institute for Human Development and the launch of its Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, the Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center and the Children’s  Advocacy Center.  Read more...

Jennifer Topiel, Account Supervisor

Jennifer Topiel has 20 years of experience as a media relations executive for national and New York-based non-profits and Fortune 500 consumer brands. Until recently, Jennifer was the executive director of communications at the not-for-profit College Board for 10 years. She worked on multiple crisis communications campaigns including a 2001anthrax scare, a 2005 SAT scoring error, among others. In addition, she oversaw communications activities for K-12 programs and services including the Advanced Placement Program and SAT, and the Inspiration Awards for America’s Most Improved High Schools.

Prior to the College Board, Jennifer oversaw communications and publications at the Central Park Conservancy, the public-private partnership charged with the day-to-day care of New York’s crowned jewel, Central Park. At the Conservancy, Jennifer worked closely with the media on news stories related to conservation, stewardship, park use and public safety.

Jennifer began her career supporting international brands including Microsoft, Sharp Electronics, Audiovox and GlaxoSmithKline at internationally-recognized public relations agencies Weber-Shandwick and Marina Maher Communications.

Melissa Napolitano, Manager of Graphic Design and Client Services

Melissa Napolitano has been with DDRPR for over ten years with expertise in developing and executing community relations campaigns, special events, as well as media relations and strategic communications programs for DDRPR clients. Melissa specializes in corporate identity, graphic arts and web design. She is also a professional photographer and often responsible for photographing client events, as well as arranging client photo sessions to develop “special shots” for additional media uses, and for collateral designs and marketing materials.

Prior to DDR Public Relations, Melissa was a graphic designer at Design Monsters, where she created logos, identity packages, brochures, posters, postcards, invitations, CD packages and websites for clients including John Mellencamp, Stamford Center for the Arts, Divabetic and Katreese Barnes (Saturday Night Live Music Director).

Melissa is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College with a BFA, concentration in graphic design. She received the Seniors Recognition Award for Graphic Design at Purchase and was honored with the Leadership Award for her senior project design by the Westchester Fund for Women & Girls.

Alex Rosen, Account Executive

Alex is a DDR Public Relations veteran, starting in high school and throughout college.  A graduate of The George Washington University with a B.A. in International Affairs concentrating in International Economics, Alex enjoys researching news and lifestyle trends, as well as the challenges of pitching media and developing social media marketing strategies.