Boom Broadcast - Boomers

The staff at Boom Broadcast and Media Relations - Boomers - are seasoned professionals with over 30 years combined experience in broadcast relations, as well as, marketing and event planning. Boomers work closely with our clients to develop innovative ideas and strategies to ensure that your broadcast campaign is seen and heard.

For each project Boom assigns a custom-made team, which will always include a Boom partner. The Boom team is dictated by project parameters and usually consists of a project manager, broadcast consultant, production coordinator, producer and senior publicist. We will provide background and contact information for each team member every time you work with Boom.

Our quality and depth of production experience is unrivaled. We match your production needs with the producer who has exactly the right experience. And, our publicists are well-known for getting your message ’in-the-box.’

BARBARA KELLY-GUTJAHR
Barbara Gutjahr, founding Partner of Boom Broadcast & Media Relations, has over 14 years experience in consumer, health & medical, entertainment and business-to-business public relations.

Barbara gained experience in public relations while working at some of New York City’s largest and most creative agencies directing broadcast initiatives for product launches, as well as, designing communication plans for product and health awareness campaigns.

As an independent consultant, Barbara provided counsel and executed communication plans for a variety of clients including public relations firms, restaurants and Internet startups. She also toured the country as the lead publicist for Radio City Entertainment’s road production of The Wizard of Oz.

Barbara’s diverse expertise in media relations enabled her to create a company like Boom Broadcast that provides clients with unparalleled counsel, strategy and service. In her role as partner, she uses her broadcast savvy to work with clients to craft messages that make it ’in-the-box.’

Barbara resides in South Jersey with her husband John and their three terriers-The Notorious D.O.G., Ripley and Spike.

JOAN WINKLER
Joan (Joni) Winkler, founding Partner of Boom Broadcast & Media Relations, has over 17 years of marketing communications experience covering campaign strategy and execution for health/medical, consumer, travel and business-to-business clients.

Joni has worked specifically in broadcast media relations for over ten years. Prior to that, her career included advertising sales and service for publishers in both Cleveland and Chicago, business development for a Chicago writing and design firm, and account services for a Denver advertising agency.

Her cumulative experience in counseling, strategizing and managing marketing communications programs for PR and Advertising agencies, Fortune 500 clients and non-profit organizations has provided her the perfect foundation for creating a company like Boom Broadcast. In her role as partner, Joan draws on her experience to deliver a level of service to clients that reflects an unyielding respect for the clients’ mission and communications objectives.

Joni resides, runs, swims and bikes in beautiful Denver, Colorado with her husband Bryan, two sons Kyle and Jack, and chocolate lab, Blue, but to maintain perspective, travels where and when necessary to meet clients’ needs.

JULIA LIU
Prior to joining Boom as VP, Solutions, Julia Liu, Esq. worked as a civil litigation attorney in Atlantic City, NJ and New York City. And, when she wasn’t in court, she did some time as a freelance publicist at New York public relations agencies, where she honed her skills as a gifted negotiator.

Consistent with Boom’s philosophy of hiring smart, strong talent from a cross-section of industries, Julia brings finely tuned client service instincts to her role as VP of Solutions. Since joining Boom, Julia has managed productions from on top the Intrepid Space & Air Museum in New York Harbor to a tailgating SMT from Lambeau Field.

Julia is a member of the New York, New Jersey and American Bar Associations. She was awarded her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1996 and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.

Julia lives in South Jersey with her husband, Rich, and daughters Kiera and Vivian. Don’t forget to ask Julia about her piano prowess, should you get the opportunity.

HEATHER HARRISON
Heather Harrison, VP, Strategy has over 11 years of experience in broadcast news, Internet news and public relations.

Before joining Boom, Heather was the host and executive producer of a video news magazine show, as well as, a reporter and anchor for News 12, where she covered a wide range of stories including the Presidential Debates, World Series Championships and produced a weekly health and consumer segment. Having worked in news, Heather knows what kinds of stories will "fly" in the newsroom and counsels clients accordingly.

Heather was also one of the first news reporters to provide groundbreaking streaming video news content online.

With her extensive background in broadcast news, Heather will be a vital member of your media relations team and afford you a level of expertise essential to meeting or exceeding your campaign’s goals.

Heather lives in White Plains, New York with her husband Zach and their daughter Hayley.

LIZ GARGER
Liz Garger, Director of Boom Buzz, has over 12 years of experience in public relations and Internet marketing.

Before joining Boom, Liz was a senior consultant with a web design firm providing web marketing and public relations services to its clients. Prior to that, she was the Vice President at Athlon Communications, a boutique public relations agency, where she created various public relations campaigns specializing in company and product launches.

As Director, Liz will explore new avenues for client exposure within the broadcast as well as Internet markets. In addition, she will work to increase Boom’s product offerings so, in turn, we can continue to provide you with the latest services in the broadcast industry.

Liz lives in Bethpage, New York with her husband, John, and two sons with whom she creates finger-painted masterpieces.

OWEN LEVY
With over 20 years experience in corporate and entertainment public relations, Owen Levy is a Senior Publicist at Boom. Owen has worked for various agencies representing numerous Fortune 500 companies and institutions. He began his career in his native New York City as a theatrical and nightlife press agent representing Broadway and off-Broadway, modern dance and night clubs. For several years, he was a Berlin-based journalist filing stories for a number of US and British entertainment trade publications. Most recently, he has been involved in the promotion of video news releases and satellite media tours. He is a published novelist and member of the Authors Guild.