Preston Kelly Expands Women in Leadership with New Public Relations Director & Vice President, Account Director

Laura Silverman & Sharmila de Silva, two seasoned communications professionals, bring client-side experience and global thinking to the “Good Wins” agency.

Minneapolis, MN (March 11, 2021) – Preston Kelly, a brand-building agency that creates meaningful work that is welcome in people’s lives, announces the addition of two more women to its leadership team. Laura Silverman, Public Relations Director, and Sharmila de Silva, Vice President Group Account Director, will bring Preston Kelly’s leadership team to 68% women.

Silverman brings 15 years of global public and media relations experience to expanding Preston Kelly’s public relations department.  Most recently, she was Communications Director for Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in producing live family entertainment including Disney On Ice, Monster Energy Supercross, Monster Jam, and more. There she oversaw PR efforts for all brands touring through the Midwest and Eastern Canada, including several shows in the Twin Cities area.  Other experience includes Cirque du Soleil, the City of Chicago, Chicago International Film Festival, and Chicago Public Radio, all brands that actively add value to people’s lives, which is right in line with Preston Kelly’s Good Wins.

De Silva brings more than 20 years’ experience at advertising agencies around the Twin Cities to elevating and leading Preston Kelly’s account management team. Most recently she was the Director of Marketing at BrandPoint Services, where she was a member of the leadership team and oversaw all marketing and branding strategies. Prior to that she worked at Olson and Hot Dish Advertising, building brands in a variety of industries from packaged goods to franchise and home improvement businesses. De Silva loves working with entrepreneurs and creative thinkers and is at her best when bringing people together to create positive experiences.

“Laura and Sharmi are coming on board at an important time, expanding on the business building work Preston Kelly is known for,” said Jennifer Spire, Partner and CEO of Preston Kelly. “In an industry that is historically led by men, it’s incredibly important that we continue to cultivate an agency that is diverse in gender, race, and ethnicity. Good Wins is the core of our agency practice, not just in the work we put out into the world, but also in how we operate and the culture we create. We know that Laura and Sharmi’s experiences, their fresh perspectives, and just being truly good people, will build deep relationships with our clients and community.”

“I was initially intrigued by Preston Kelly because of their Good Wins approach to their clients, their employees, to marketing and communications, and to the world as a whole,” Silverman said.  “As PR and the traditional media landscape continue to evolve, and as people yearn for good news, it’s imperative that campaigns are not only creative, but also intentional. I’m excited to work with an integrated team to create work that consistently adds value to people’s lives.”

“I have followed Preston Kelly for several years and took notice when they launched their ‘Good Wins’ approach. I love the strategy and as I met more of the team, it was obvious they were walking the walk too,” de Silva said. “Preston Kelly cares about their clients, creating very good, very strong work. And they care about their team, creating a good culture that enables us to thrive. These are my kind of people. I look forward to bringing my experience to collaborating on even stronger work for our clients.”

In their new roles, Silverman will spearhead public relation efforts for key accounts including Paisley Park, Lifespark, NoDoz, and Wings Financial Credit Union, as well as providing guidance and insight into other clients and assisting in growing Preston Kelly’s visibility. De Silva will provide leadership for many of Preston Kelly’s accounts, including Lifespark and UCare, as well as overall management and guidance of the account management department. Both Silverman and De Silva will be an integral part in securing new business opportunities.