Chris Davis and Juliana Minsky met as executives at a national public relations agency in 1997. In late 1999, they decided to bring their combined experience together to form SurfMedia Communications, a marketing and public relations company.

SurfMedia Communications staff is experienced in national and regional media relations and complex project management. We also manage a talented team of professional staff, partners and consultants for media relations, graphic design production, event management, web development, and video production.

Founder/Partner Bios

Juliana Minsky, Partner
Minsky is co-founder of SurfMedia Communications, former Information Technology Marketing Consultant, and co-founder of Universal Access, Inc., an Internet software development company. Minsky's consulting clients included Qwest Communications new product division.

Minsky was Director of New Media and Electronic Commerce for Cyberspace Public Relations where she led strategy for new media opportunities for Internet companies, and for large companies establishing their first online presence, including Time-Warner properties People Magazine and Book of the Month Club. She was senior account executive for the agency's cornerstone consumer technology account: Networks Telephony Corporation, the first Voice Over IP provider, and garnered major national business and news media attention for her accounts. Previously, Minsky co-founded and served as Vice President of Product Marketing for Universal Access, Inc., an early Internet technology company whose team developed the first online banking system for Wells Fargo. She established master software and marketing agreements in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. Key customers included MCI Executive Intranet, Hearst New Media, and McGraw-Hill Publishing.

Minsky spent "the grunge years" as co-owner and operator of a popular Seattle café and art gallery, curating and promoting more than 30 shows of emerging artists. Minsky serves on the Board of Directors of the Casa Esperanza Homeless Center in Santa Barbara.

Christopher Davis, Partner
Before co-founding SurfMedia Communications, Davis served as Vice President of Cyberspace Public Relations. He was responsible for the management of all accounts and consultants. Davis was instrumental in account development including People Magazine Online and Toshiba Medical. He served as account manager for People Magazine Online, Book-of-the-Month Club, Virtual Job Fair, and Networks Telephony Corporation.

Davis served as the Media Associate for Disasters at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC. He was the National Spokesperson during disasters from Washington, DC and disaster locations and was interviewed on/for numerous national TV, radio shows and for publications including CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, and the New York Times. He managed the work of nearly 400 public affairs workers in 50 states and assigned public affairs teams to disasters. During his tenure, Davis was responsible for a marked increase of national media exposure for the American Red Cross. Davis was featured in the Wall Street Journal about a successful marketing idea he originated and managed with Red Cross and Warner Brothers movie Twister.

Davis worked for four years as Senior Public Affairs Specialist for the national headquarters of the Peace Corps in Washington, DC. His combined media placement accomplishments include seven national magazine covers, arranging for hundreds of interviews with radio, TV, print publications, over 200 major article features, and literally thousands of story inclusions.

Davis was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala from 1987-1990. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Northern Arizona University in 1987. He was the recipient of the PRSSA National President's Award in Washington, DC in 1986. He has published articles in numerous publications and a chapter in the book, To Touch the World. He serves on the board for several local charities.

Senior Staff Bios

Marjorie Wass, Senior Account Executive
Before joining Surf Media Communications, Marjorie Wass was an Account Executive at another Santa Barbara based public relations firm. She created and implemented successful PR campaign strategies for national clients leading to media placements in publications such as First for Women and Glamour magazines. She was responsible for coordinating important media placements in print and radio and she also managed client tradeshows.

Prior to her work in Santa Barbara, Marjorie taught English at the American Language Center in Rabat, Morocco for two years. She also studied Arabic and French during this time and coordinated the school’s drama club.

Marjorie studied theatre at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina with a minor in linguistics. She graduated magna cum laude.

Daniella Elghanayan, Account Executive
Prior to joining SurfMedia Communications, Daniella Elghanayan participated in several leadership activities and internships in public relations and marketing for non-profit organizations. She worked for UCSB’s Alcohol and Drug Program, as part of a student task force, and helped implement an anti-DUI campaign to raise awareness and reduce the number of DUI’s and related injuries around the area.

Daniella attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with high honors and a degree in Communications and a minor in Professional Writing for Business Communications. Throughout her work in the minor, she specialized in web design and producing different communication tools. In addition, she worked as a consultant and helped create a marketing plan for the launch of Santa Barbara’s Green Business Program.

Mickey Nelson, Account Executive
Prior to joining Surfmedia Communications, Mickey Nelson was part of Weber Shandwick Worldwide in Minneapolis , Minnesota , one of largest public relations firms in the world. As part of the technology practice, he managed media relations campaigns in trade, online and national media ranging from Forbes to Outside Magazine. He also created and managed blog relations campaigns and advised clients on social media initiatives. His client work has ranged from clean technology to corporate social responsibility and everything in between.

Most recently, Mickey has been working as a freelance media relations coordinator for public relations firms across California . His primary role is advising clients on online media strategy and garnering publicity in major national and online publications.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations with a Minor in Marketing Management from Drake University in 2006. He lives in Santa Barbara.

Consultants

Christine Gregory
Web and Graphic Design Consultant
Christine Gregory is the owner of a local web and graphic design business, Gregory Graphics, and provides website and print design support for SurfMedia Communications. She has completed three professional certificate programs through UC Santa Barbara's Extension Program in Website Design, Multimedia Design, and E-Commerce Development. Christine also provides support to UC Santa Barbara as a Website and Publications Designer.

Stephen Muraoka
Multimedia Consultant
Stephen has been working as a consultant for SurfMedia Communications since 2006 on projects related to multimedia graphics, web animation, video editing, and photography.

Stephen’s talents also extend into the realm of martial arts. He has been trained in a variety of martial arts techniques for 16 years, is an instructor, and has also competed in martial arts competitions around the world. Stephen is a part-time special education teacher/aid for the Goleta School District. He attended Community College as a student of cinematography and motion graphics.