Austin, Texas-based anthonyBarnum is a full-service public relations and communications firm specializing in creating high-impact campaigns for companies in diverse sectors nationally and internationally.

We work in close partnership with our clients to define public relations and reputation management strategies and tactics aligned with their business objectives.

Our mandate is to provide the highest level of public relations services available today for clients in Texas and across the globe. Our priority is to help organizations communicate their offering and value to both internal and external audiences, while remaining true to their corporate mission and culture.

Melissa Anthony, Founder

Melissa Anthony, founder and president of anthonyBarnum Public Relations, has created and executed public relations strategies for leading international, national and regional organizations. As a PR strategist and practitioner, Melissa has worked with executives to both refine and completely redefine their organization's perception in the marketplace.

Prior to founding anthonyBarnum, the native Texan was in New York City for seven years. While in the Big Apple, Melissa practiced PR at the renowned firm Ruder Finn and spent several years as vice president of MacMillan Communications, a boutique firm whose clients included U.S. Bancorp, Piper Jaffray, the Hallmark Channel and leading multimedia companies.

Melissa's specialties include communicating high-sensitivity issues, working with leading regional and national media to generate coverage, and developing strategies that create industry thought leaders.
     

Her PR expertise and commitment to excellence have been invaluable for clients ranging from CzechInvest, leading Department of Defense aerospace companies, and architecture, law and commercial real estate firms throughout Texas.
    

Melissa is a member of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, Texchange and the Real Estate Council of Austin.

melissa@anthonybarnum.com

Amanda Abbott, Vice President

Amanda Abbott brings boundless energy and unequalled experience in the newsroom to anthonyBarnum’s clients. A broadcast journalist for nearly 13 years, Amanda knows news and can drive home a message.

From interviewing three American Presidents to reporting from the eye of Hurricane Katrina, Amanda has covered news coast-to-coast for leading national and local broadcast stations.

At anthonyBarnum, Amanda leverages her extensive media background to help companies reach their strategic public relations objectives. Her expertise includes media training, crisis management and national and local print and broadcast visibility strategies.

Prior to joining anthonyBarnum, Amanda was a Marketing/Public Relations manager with a network security-tele-communications firm, Spohn and Associates, where she helped with strategic marketing and public relations efforts. Prior to Spohn, she was a reporter and anchor for CBS, ABC and FOX news.

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism from Texas State University. She’s active with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  She’s also a member of the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA).

Amanda@anthonybarnum.com

Darryl Frost, Account Executive

Darryl Frost, a former US Army communications soldier and a current officer in the Texas Army National Guard, brings a strong focus and strategic vision to anthonyBarnum. He leads media outreach activities for several of the firm’s most prestigious clients and has garnered coverage in numerous regional, trade and national outlets.

Darryl has written and orchestrated media plans for nationally known non-profit organizations, Central Texas political campaigns, Austin-based military organizations and leading professional services organizations.

Working with diverse clients, Darryl has crafted countless thought-leadership and breaking news pieces in support of clients’ business objectives. Harnessing the power of the Internet, he has helped organizations maintain a dialogue with the public through Web stories, managed complex search engine optimization and other online public relations campaigns.

Darryl earned a Bachelor of Science in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin.

darryl@anthonybarnum.com

Shelly Pace-Creative Manager

Shelly is an accomplished designer with a unique balance of creative and technical expertise coupled with a strong portfolio in print and Web design. For more than seven years, Shelly has helped develop corporate and brand identities, as well as market positioning strategies, for leading organizations in Texas. With a background in marketing and a degree in advertising, Shelly understands the importance of translating a company's long-term vision into compelling design.

Before joining anthonyBarnum, Shelly was the director of marketing for Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. In this role, she led efforts to rebrand the association, developing its mission statement, logo, marketing materials and Web site. Her experience ranges from designing annual reports, brochures, advertisements, catalogs, logos and Web sites.