because your story is:

uni

que

because your story is:

Great story telling humanizes brands.
It inspires. It persuades. It motivates and drives action.
It even stimulates brain activity!
DOES YOUR STORY DO THAT?
At Pazanga Health Communications, it’s all we do.

because your story is:

power

ful

because your story is:

Pazanga pops. With power. And purpose!
And it literally means “progress”
(in Lithuanian)
WE ARE PAZANGA HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS*
– expert storytellers bent on making the healthcare market move.
*Formerly Nobles Global Communications
We help
our clients…

…to help change lives
around the world.

because your story is:

our

passion

because your story is:

Stephen Covey was right when he said,
Begin with the end in mind.

But it’s equally important to start at the beginning. In the beginning, there is story.

What is your brand’s story? Is it crisp? Compelling? Differentiated? Inspiring? U.S. adults alone already consume 12 hours of media a day 1. Why should they listen to you?

Pazanga is relentless in crafting unique narratives for our clients that capture, inform and influence stakeholders. Then we tell those stories in ways that build relevance, reputation, and ultimately, revenue.

But it’s equally important to start at the beginning. In the beginning, there is story.

What is your brand’s story? Is it crisp? Compelling? Differentiated? Inspiring? U.S. adults alone already consumer 11 hours of media a day 1. Why should they listen to you?
Pazanga is relentless in crafting unique narratives for our clients that capture, inform and influence stakeholders. Then we tell those stories in ways that build relevance, reputation, and ultimately, revenue.

[1] Q1 2019 Nielsen Total Audience Report

Do you need expert strategic communication counsel ?
That’s Pazanga.
Do you need expert communication programming that drives business results ?
That’s Pazanga.
Do you need an agency that “gets” you ?
That’s Pazanga.
Do you need expert strategic communication counsel ?
That’s Pazanga.
Do you need expert communication programming that drives business results ?
That’s Pazanga.
Do you need an agency that “gets” you ?
That’s Pazanga.

because your story:

motiv

ates

because your story:

Laura Nobles

Founder and Chief Persuader

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It all started in an accidental rhetoric class. That’s where Laura Nobles found herself as a UC Berkeley freshman many years ago. There – and in subsequent courses – she learned to argue a case, tell stories with power, and move audiences to act. And she’s made that passion her life’s work ever since.

Today, Laura is a trusted C suite advisor who offers clients strategic thinking and communication programming designed to drive market adoption, sales growth and, when appropriate, successful exit strategies.

With more than 20 years of experience, Laura is steeped in healthcare and adept across virtually all communication disciplines. Since opening Pazanga (previously Nobles Global Communications) in 2006, Laura has overseen growth-focused public relations and integrated marketing programs for U.S., European and Israeli clients ranging from emerging venture-backed companies to mid-size and Fortune 500 organizations. Her knowledge spans clinical segments.

Laura was previously senior vice president/managing director for FischerHealth, a subsidiary of global PR firm Porter Novelli. There she provided senior counsel to medical device, health information technology, health services and life sciences clients and led the execution of numerous strategic public relations and integrated marketing programs. Over her five-year tenure, Laura’s many clients included Boston Scientific, Medtronic, DePuy Orthopaedics, Thoratec Corporation, CSL Behring, Elsevier and Epocrates.

Laura wasn’t always in healthcare, even though it’s where she was destined to be. Her earlier leadership roles were in the high tech, industrial manufacturing and consumer products segments.

Laura is one of a long line of entrepreneurs, which includes her great grandfather, both of her grandfathers, her grandmother and her father. She lives in Newport Beach, Calif. with her husband (also an entrepreneur), 11-year-old daughter and three dogs.

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Helen Shik

Helen Shik

Strategic Programming and Execution

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A political science major in college, Helen got the PR “bug” at her first job out of college at a jewelry company. She sent out a press release to Boston media about a landmark jewelry store’s impending closure after a century of business in Downtown Crossing. Within a few hours, reporters from the local TV stations and newspapers were at the store to report the news.

Several decades later, Helen still gets a thrill from seeing her clients featured in the news. Her next job was at a PR and marketing boutique agency where she got to work with medical device and technology clients.

Helen Shik is a seasoned communications professional with 25 years of experience helping healthcare innovators break through the clutter and tell their stories to reach, engage and influence critical audiences. Helen spent the bulk of her career in agency, including 19 years at Schwartz Communications (acquired by MSLGROUP) where she progressed from senior account executive to senior vice president, healthcare. In that time, Helen advised clients across the corporate life cycle, from early stage to commercialization. She derives great satisfaction from working with emerging companies and start-ups—and especially entrepreneurial game changers. From a tiny automatic external defibrillator that drove a paradigm shift in awareness and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest, to the first “pacemaker for the brain” to treat epilepsy and depression, to the first implanted device for obstructive sleep apnea—she has developed, managed and executed PR and communications campaigns for these and other game-changing technologies, providing the essential blend of strategic communications counsel with impeccable program execution.

As strategic partner, Helen develops, manages and executes PR and communications campaigns and is a trusted advisor and an extension of her clients’ marketing and communications teams. She works closely with the C-suite and top executives to develop corporate positioning and communications strategies; engages patients and caregivers to educate and advocate; develops positioning and strategies to drive awareness and influence adoption, reimbursement and policy. Helen provides the essential blend of strategic communications counsel with impeccable program execution.

Helen has worked with a wide range of healthcare companies spanning device, diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceutical and digital health developing new therapies and diagnostics in addiction, neurology, psychiatry, diabetes, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, transplant medicine, orthopedics, and women’s health. Her clients have included: AbbottPOC, Accuray, The Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (UCSD), American Society of Breast Surgeons, BIOTRONIK, Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, Cyberonics (now LivaNova), EnteroMedics, Hologic, Inspire Medical, Proxima Therapeutics (now Hologic), Quest Diagnostics, Sanarus Medical, SPR Therapeutics, Saluda Medical, TransMedics, WellDoc and Wright Medical.

Helen earned a B.A. in political science from Boston University. A soccer mom and proud Brooklyn native, Helen loves to run, cook, travel, practice yoga, go to the movies and spend time with family.

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Danielle Cormier Smith

Strategic Programming and Execution

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Danielle Cormier-Smith is a strategic communications and PR veteran with 20 years of experience leading both agency and corporate teams. She has an uncanny knack for message development and brand positioning to help companies and organizations look their best, stand out from competitors and reach key decision makers.

The daughter of a journalist, she learned at a young age what makes a good story, and has spent her career driving integrated communications strategy for brands and organizations in a number of industries, telling compelling stories to key stakeholders and audiences across multiple channels. Naturally inquisitive and adept at thinking ahead, Danielle can anticipate a journalist’s questions before they’re asked. Her spokespeople are always prepared for any question that may get thrown their way.

Danielle’s career began in some of New York’s top independent agencies representing a diverse slate of accounts. Her experience includes launching startups and managing communications programs for iconic brands such as Bank of America, Polaroid, Pampers and Duracell, in addition to cause marketing and reputation management.

After 10 years honing her craft in agencies of all sizes, Danielle spent eight years in corporate communications at Oracle. There, she oversaw communications efforts for the company’s largest division, drove the company’s communications efforts during its massive transformation to a cloud computing company, and handled communications for dozens of acquisitions.

Danielle believes in giving back and can often be found volunteering her time and skills for a number of non-profits, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF). She spent three years on the steering committee of the Young Professionals of ALSF, including two as chair, helping to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.

While she has spent her entire career working seamlessly across time zones, Danielle makes her home in Philadelphia with her family. In her precious free time, she enjoys running, practicing yoga and gardening.

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Michelle Thaler | Content Strategy

Michelle Thaler

Content Strategy

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Michelle Thaler

Content Strategy

Before becoming a health communications strategist a decade ago, Michelle was an economics and tax policy reporter in Washington, D.C. where she discovered that transforming complex and sometimes arcane material into lively, relatable and persuasive stories was one of her superpowers.

Today, Michelle is a seasoned health communicator with a mix of agency, in-house and consulting experience and a proven track record of leading award-winning public relations campaigns for market-leading and emerging growth pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic industry clients. She brings exceptional writing skills, a keen reporters’ eye and a desire to continuously learn to helping clients develop and present powerful and engaging product and corporate-focused stories that drive business growth, protect brands and engage employees and customers.

Before hanging up her own shingle as a consultant, Michelle held roles as Associate Director of Product Communications at Alkermes Inc. and a director in MSL’s healthcare practice where she led development and execution of award-winning public relations campaigns for clients including Astellas Pharma, Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, Medtronic, Exact Sciences, Toyama Chemical Co., Cubist Pharmaceuticals (now part of Merck), and Circassia Pharmaceuticals. Michelle regularly serves as senior content strategist, authoring high-visibility PR plans including ghostwritten executive content, internal communications, audience-specific messaging and scenario plans as well as product-focused copy including disease state and product backgrounders.

Earlier in her career, Michelle reported and edited for Congressional Quarterly and The Fiscal Times, where her stories were picked up by outlets including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, MSN Money, Business Insider, Harvard Business Review and Kaiser Health News. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

When she’s not working with clients, you can find Michelle dabbling with the latest recipes she can get her hands on, chasing after her two young boys or hiking with her family (to work off all of the food, of course).

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Joe Duraes

Media Relations

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Joe started his career as a media relations strategist over twenty years ago. He began as a book publicist at various publishing companies, including Houghton Mifflin Publishers and HarperCollins Publishers. In 2000, he left book publishing to continue his publicity career in healthcare, where he worked in-house at some of New York City’s top public relations agencies, including Manning Selvage & Lee and Edelman.

Over the years, Joe has been in charge of many exciting media initiatives for a variety of health organizations, including Weill Cornell Medicine, Consumer Reports, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, as well as large pharma and start-up biotech companies. His experience includes serving as the primary day-to-day client contact, providing insight and counsel from a media perspective, increasing brand visibility, creating targeted media lists, brainstorming and implementing various targeted media program strategies, attending media interviews and trade conferences, building media relationships, drafting PR materials, and doing media training. 

One of Joe’s proudest moments was when he spearheaded the FDA approval media campaign for a new category of cataract lens. The stories garnered included a CBS News interview with a New York doctor who performed the implantation in the United States. The story was picked up by 86 CBS affiliates in 39 states, including top 25 DMA markets (New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Atlanta, and Orlando), with more than 1.5 million broadcast media impressions.

Joe is passionate about healthcare and making a difference in the lives of people living with a variety of disease states. Having built relationships with health news media for the last two decades, Joe has an extensive network of media contacts across the country with a proven track record of creating, implementing, and executing strong storylines tailored to meet his clients’ needs with successful outcomes.

Joe is also an accomplished singer-songwriter. On most weekends, he performs his original music live with his band to enthusiastic audiences. The band even opened up for Gin Blossoms two years ago.

Joe lives in northern Westchester County, NY with his wife and their fifteen-year-old daughter.

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Sam Choinski | Media Relations

Sam Choinski

Media Relations

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Sam Choinski

Media Relations

Sam graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and minor in Spanish in 2007. She made her way to the Greater Boston area from Connecticut, started at a small boutique healthcare public relations agency and never looked back. Although Sam never thought she’d be in the healthcare space when leaving the QU campus, she couldn’t imagine working with clients in another industry now.

In 2014, she began working at a large public relations agency and quickly learned the ins and outs of both regional and national media outreach for healthcare clients ranging in concentrations from an at-home colon cancer screening test to an Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial recruitment program and immediately felt a passion for healthcare media relations. Placements she has secured for clients include quality print, online and broadcast stories to create awareness about client news and drive measurable results for product interest and clinical trial recruitment. Her pieces have run on the CBS Evening News, NPR’s All Things Considered and Prevention Magazine. She also recognizes the significant impact a regional piece of coverage can have and secured articles in publications including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and South Florida Sun Sentinel, as well as a health feature story syndicated on Hearst stations across the country.

One program that was a true growth opportunity came in the package of an opioid dependence treatment option, where she brought the company from AdCom through FDA approval and ended up on a plane flying to help a patient with a CBS Evening News interview the day of FDA approval after securing interest from the broadcast show’s producer and explaining the patient’s amazing story with the treatment method. After seeing the impact on the patient’s life and the passion from both the pharmaceutical company and physicians treating the patient, she knew healthcare PR and media relations was exactly what she wanted to be doing.

Give Sam your story, and she’ll make sure it gets in front of the right audience, conveys the right message and bring about the best results for your company’s goals. Three key principles shape Sam’s work – mindful communication with a client, strategic media outreach (no blast emails here!) and thoughtful written content.

Sam now lives on a beautiful lake in Southern New Hampshire, a short drive from the home of her beloved Boston sports teams, with her two children, husband and two dogs – always providing a chaotic and adventurous life filled with love.

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Timothy J Polakowski

Media Relations

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As a child attending Catholic Church, Tim was nicknamed “the mayor” by his Dad. At “Peace be with You,” when most parishioners shake hands with people on either side, young Tim would stroll the pew shaking everyone’s hand in front, aside and behind him. Dad would say, “What, are running for Mayor? Get over here and sit down.” This networking tendency and fearlessness to approach people he didn’t know bode well for his public/media relations and military careers and his almost 1,500 connections on LinkedIn.

With more than two decades of experience, Tim has worked in corporate, agency and freelance positions to enhance the visibility and awareness of companies large and small. Tim’s experience includes story placement in top national news, business, trade and online publications. His client experience ranges from NETGEAR, Novell and Corning to startups.

Tim received his bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Worcester State University, Mass.

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Brad Perriello

Brad Perriello

Content Strategy

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After a 15-year career in journalism, Brad jumped to the “Dark Side” (as his journo buddies never tire of reminding him) in November 2019.

His experiences working at the Associated Press, daily newspapers, and industry magazine publishing exposed a vacuum in independent coverage of the medical device industry. In 2009, Brad and a partner launched MassDevice.com, quickly establishing it as the go-to source for information on medtech. After a successful exit to a larger publishing entity, Brad stayed on to lead the acquirer’s medical editorial team, overseeing the launch of three new publications – Medical Design & Outsourcing, Drug Delivery Business News, and The Robot Report.

Brad brings his deep knowledge and understanding of the medical technology industry and the broader life sciences sector to bear in helping companies clarify and tell their stories.

Brad earned a B.A. in English and Irish literature from Union College, and an M.S. in journalism from Boston University. A former professional brewer, Brad enjoys homebrewing and is an accomplished cook, ardent music fan, and avid cyclist. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and teenage son.

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Sarah Bricker

Sarah Bricker

Digital Marketing

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Sarah Bricker is a dynamic omnichannel marketing strategist and executor with more than 10 years of experience leading innovative agency and corporate initiatives for B2B and B2C audiences. Her career has primarily been focused within the healthcare industry, where she’s established herself as a reputable jack-of-all-traders. Sarah helps clients develop strategic and high-performing campaigns and efforts for content marketing, social media, paid digital media and social media advertising, video content marketing, influencer marketing, events, and brand growth.

She began her early career in college as a sports reporter and photojournalist and was fortunate to be able to cover the stories of a few Olympic qualifier swimmers and a renowned Olympic historian, local sports teams and more. Her exceptional storytelling and relationship building resulted four national and regional journalism awards including a Top Ten Associated Press Sports Editors in the 30,000 and under feature category, winning the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Region 7 for Long Sports category, as well as two 2013 Missouri Press Association Best Newspaper Contest award for sports and the outdoors.

Following college, Sarah began the early years of her career freelancing for Yellow Scene Magazine, ALIVE Magazine, the St. Louis Business Journal, and the St. Louis Rams, before landing a B2B and B2C digital marketing agency in St. Louis. A personal disability and blog landed her a role with Starkey Hearing Technologies in 2015, where she revolutionized their corporate, national and international blog, social media, video campaigns, event promotion and product launch campaigns and materials to exponentially grow each YOY. During her last few years at Starkey, she was also blessed to take over the social media strategy and marketing campaign efforts for the Starkey Hearing Foundation’ So the World May Hear Gala and Race for Change partner event.

A chance to grow beyond the hearing health and technology came in 2018, with UnitedHealthcare, where Sarah took over the social media, paid media and content strategy work for Medicare Made Clear. Under her time, the program saw increased national and corporate attention, MOM and YOY growth in social media, paid media, email, organic traffic and SEO.

During the last five years, Sarah also began her own freelance business as a single contractor. She’s been fortunate to work with major brand and organizations with clients in healthcare, holistic wellness, medical device, pain management, retail, travel, food, photography, transportation and business software solutions spaces.

Today, she lives her career as a jack-of-all-trades who prides herself on providing clients with strategic ideas that are connected and high-quality. And while spends her career working across different time zones and on a variety of products, Sarah makes her home in the mountains of Colorado, the cities of Texas, or wherever her travel itch desires.

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Nik Vale

Digital Marketing

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Nik Vale was 4 years old when his Dad purchased their first home computer. It was a Memotech MTX 512. By today’s standards it wasn’t very powerful but it was enough to spark the curiosity in a young boy and it would end up shaping his education and career.

Today the Memotech lives on, but only as a “vintage” computer in a few museums. Meanwhile, Nik earned his Masters in Software Engineering and now has more than 25 years of experience in software and web development. Nik’s success has been built on the rare combination of technical skills and n artistic streak which allows him to build highly functional websites that also look amazing.

As “online presence” has continued to become more and more important to businesses of all sizes, Nik has made sure his toolbox has everything his clients need to be successful. Beyond building websites, Nik is also an expert in Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, and Social Media Marketing.

Lastly, Nik’s problem solving skills and good “tech karma” means that things just work when he’s on your side – just ask his wife how many times he’s fixed her phone by simply being present!

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Lauri Macey

Art Direction, Design

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With a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Chemistry and a part-time job running a printing press, it was pretty much inevitable that Lauri would end up in graphic design in Silicon Valley. For 10 years she worked in-house first designing mylar balloons (yes it was fun!) and later for a start-up laser company (better pay, less fun!). By the time she left the corporate world, she ran the MarCom department for a company, New Focus, that was preparing for an IPO. At that point, she realized that she was heading for a career in management. “If I ever wanted to design again, it was time to go out on my own.”

In 2001 she started working as a freelance designer and over the next 18 years she built a small design house that serves mainly start-up high-tech and medical clients. “Our goal is to be nimble and to fill in the gaps for our clients. People often ask me about my process, but after 18 years I’ve realized that each client is unique. There are no cookie-cutter solutions when you are working in the fast-paced world of technology. So, my process is to understand your needs and then work with you to figure out what it will take to meet them.”

The partnership with Nobles Global has been exciting. It brings together the power of a well-articulated brand and the emotional impact of visuals that back that power. “Laura Nobles and I have a deep respect for each other’s skills and enough creative tension to push each one of us to deliver our best.”

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Nizar Krayem

Design

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Nizar Krayem has been a graphic design professional since 1995. He is a multidisciplinary visual and UI/UX designer with experience in print, web and digital design, video, multimedia and software design. Nizar possesses a wealth of marketing and design experience spanning various industries and sectors including: Medical Devices, High-tech Manufacturing, Banking and Finance, Photonics and Optics, Education and Information Technology.

Drawing and doodling since he was a child, Nizar has spent a lifetime crafting his artistic design abilities. His influences stem from architecture, fine art, science fiction, comic books and action sports subcultures such as skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding.

While finishing his university degrees, Nizar worked as a graphic designer at Oregon State University. Upon graduating, Nizar got his professional start in the Silicon Valley working in high-tech. He later returned to Portland and worked at a design agency, then transitioned into web design. Nizar found his way back to corporate design as in-house designer for a large regional bank. After a promotion to Marketing Manager, he realized his design talent was not being used. He seized the opportunity to return to his graphic design passion in high tech.

Nizar earned his B.F.A. in graphic design and B.A. in English Literature from Oregon State University. Nizar enjoys travel, kayaking, hiking, and lives with his wife, daughter and two Labrador Retriever puppies in Portland, Oregon.

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Cheryl Russell

Agency Marketing

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Cheryl Russell

Agency Marketing

Picture it…the year was 1967. Cheryl Russell, a college freshman, is one of three female Marketing majors at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. As she tells it, in those days if she had $100 for every time she was asked whether she was majoring in grocery stores, she could have retired years ago.

Grateful that was not the case, Cheryl has more than 40 years of experience igniting her imagination and professional expertise in every aspect of marketing communications. She’s thrived in careers as a television news director, travel consultant, nonprofit development director, and business owner.

Her creative marketing ideas increased viewership 27% at KBAK-TV (ABC), annually produced $5 million in travel sales (1981-90) and from 1991-2005 garnered over $10 million for three large Orange County nonprofits. In 2005, she established CR Productions, a projects-based business providing marketing communications services including marketing campaigns, statistical analysis, PR/media support, website content development, and creative for publications and video. Informally, she describes herself as a word ninja, a CIO (chief imagination officer) and Thankyouologist. David Epstein, author of the New York Times bestselling book, Range, would call her a generalist who triumphs in a specialized world.

A newspaper columnist for nearly 10 years, Cheryl describes it as a written version of the late Andy Rooney’s commentary on 60 Minutes. She is also the author of four books and a feature writer for magazines. A native of Southern California, Cheryl enjoys hiking, line dancing dancing, and leading a laughter class for over 11 years at the senior community where she resides in Laguna Woods.

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because your story:

needs to

be heard

because your story:

Clients

because your story:

drives

action

because your story:

Testimonials