Meet Our Team | Who We Are Impacts What We Do

Patty Briguglio

CEO

Patty Briguglio is CEO of MMI Public Relations. As a recognized expert in the public relations industry, Patty is a sought-after media personality, speaker and business spokesperson who often addresses the topics of PR, crisis management and economic development issues on television, radio, and at local and national meetings and conferences.  Among her many media appearances are the front page of The New York Times (with President Barack Obama), CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and FOX Business Network. As a regular contributor on FOX Business Network, Patty has been named to the Small Business All-Stars broadcast team.

Instrumental in founding and promoting organizations that benefit entrepreneurs, Patty’s board affiliations include the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, its executive committee, its steering committee for Regional Transportation Alliance, and its steering committee for the “edge 3” and “edge 4” campaigns, major catalysts for economic growth and job creation.  Patty sits on numerous civic and charitable boards, including the Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board; the Advanced Energy Board, to which she was appointed by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue; the North Carolina Symphony Society; and the Raleigh Chamber Executive Women’s Luncheon, of which she is the 2013 co-chair.  Among her many awards are the 2009 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award from the Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, one of Enterprising Women magazine's Enterprising Women of the Year, and the Small Business Champion for North Carolina by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The Triangle Business Journal has named Patty one of the 25 most influential Women In Business. In Arizona, Patty was named the Arizona Business Alliance Businessperson of the Year, and in North Carolina, her firm has received numerous MarCom Creative, Communicator, Videographer and Millennium Awards.  She has led MMI to three consecutive Pinnacle Awards for Steady Growth and Profitability from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Before moving to Cary to open MMI Public Relations, Patty sold her award-winning PR firm in Phoenix, where she was recognized as one of the top 10 PR firms in Arizona by Ranking Arizona, Arizona Business Magazine and BizAZ Magazine. The Triangle Business Journal’s Book of Lists has recognized MMI as a Top Public Relations Firm every year since 2004.  Patty's promise of value is to help her clients start big conversations, make powerful connections and be heard.

Robert Buhler

President

Robert R. Buhler is president of MMI Public Relations, heading business development, the implementation of new technologies and products, and the expansion of divisions, departments and infrastructure for the firm. An experienced executive, Robert is responsible for a broad range of fiscal and strategic initiatives that generate revenues, create new business opportunities and ensure MMI’s competitive standing in the marketplace.  

Previously, Robert owned and managed the world’s largest corporation of vintage Chrysler auto parts, with sales in every major country. To improve efficiency and profitability, he replaced an aging 30-year-old, pen-and-paper system with a modern cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and implemented a new eBay store, increasing sales and acquiring new customers.

Drawn to the profession of public relations, Robert has a passion for helping clients tell their story to the public. He sold the business in Massachusetts and was brought aboard as president in the privately owned firm of MMI Public Relations by MMI CEO Patty Briguglio in May 2012.

Prior to his work in Massachusetts, Robert worked for a powerful public relations and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., where he managed major public relations campaigns. During his time in Washington, Robert worked with former congressmen to help build and create a large national health related association. Among other accomplishments, he worked with high ranking government officials on behalf of numerous consulting arms, which resulted in increases in business.

While interning at the Office of International Operations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert was awarded Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance. Like any former “G-Man” worth his salt, Robert is an athlete and a scholar who speaks multiple languages. Fluent in the Slovene language, he also has a working knowledge in Serbo-Croatian. He enjoys water skiing, snow skiing, golf, tennis and running, and was the winner of his age group in the Seattle Marathon.

Robert earned an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., and a Bachelor of Science in speech communication from the University of Utah, where he graduated cum laude. 

Michelle Fowler

VP of Account Management

Michelle Fowler is vice president of account management at MMI Public Relations, where she assists in targeting and securing new business opportunities for the firm.  Michelle began her career at MMI in 2005, and today she manages and mentors a team of account executives, writers, project coordinators, social media specialists and a traffic coordinator.  She develops and implements public relations efforts for clients across a broad range of industries. 

A Raleigh native, Michelle obtained her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Peace College.  She dedicates her personal time to many philanthropic organizations, including the American Heart Association and the N.C. Triangle Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  In 2009, she was named to the board of directors for Leadership Triangle, a nonprofit organization established to educate and promote regionalism across the separate communities of the Triangle.

Amy Davis

Video Specialist

Seasoned television news professional and compelling storyteller Amy Davis is MMI’s video specialist, heading our award-winning video division. Since sophisticated and top-quality multimedia is increasingly integral to the PR industry and communications as a whole, Amy shoots MMI videos in High-Definition (HD) format for use on television news stories and distribution online via YouTube and other media channels.

Besides being an accomplished videographer, Amy is an avid blogger and the well-known author of Somebody’s Parents. The “somebody” of the blog is her daughter, Charlotte. Amy first started blogging about her pregnancy, chronicling her life as a new mother, and now shares with the world how she and her husband Greyson are floundering through early parenthood. Like all MMI staff, Amy contributes to the MMI “Be Heard” blog as well.

Prior to her position at MMI, Amy was a live reporter, videographer and fill-in anchor for the award-winning 24-hour news station News 14 Carolina. As a child, she wrote fan mail in crayon to her favorite news anchor, Adele Arakawa, now with KUSA in Denver.  With childlike optimism and a rainbow of colors, Amy predicted her own future when she told Arakawa she wanted to be on the news one day. Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and made her childhood prediction come true.

Anjelica Cummings

Account Executive

As an account executive for MMI, Anjelica provides traditional and social media PR support for a number of clients, in addition to overseeing and implementing strategic PR campaigns for her own client accounts. Focused on increasing brand awareness, Anjelica works with clients in industries including real estate, health care, food service, financial planning and the legal profession.

Prior to joining MMI, Anjelica was the regional consultant for Sageworks, Inc., where she developed PR strategies and implementation procedures for firms across the United States. A graduate of N.C. State University, Anjelica earned a bachelor’s degree in communication, concentrating in public relations. Outside of the office, she enjoys indulging in her love for fitness, retail therapy, travel and cheering on the Wolfpack. Originally from Pembroke, N.C., Anjelica resides in the Triangle with her husband, Jon.

Brooke Rouse

Office Manager

Brooke joined MMI Public Relations in May 2012. As the office manager, Brooke's position can sometimes be likened to that of an air traffic controller. She ensures that we have everything we need to keep the office running smoothly, and she juggles MMI President Rob Buhler's schedule.

Brooke graduated from Randolph Community College in Asheboro, N.C. in 2006 with a degree in photojournalism. After school, she worked as chief photographer at a small daily newspaper in Sanford, N.C. Because photography is her passion, she enjoys spending her personal time as a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, events and portraits.

Originally from Kernersville, a small town in North Carolina between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, Brooke now lives near downtown Raleigh with her husband and daughter. Taking advantage of the minimal free time in between working and chasing around a three-year-old, Brooke travels back to the Triad to see family and friends, reads, listens to her talented husband when he plays guitar and takes thousands of pictures of her adorable daughter.

Caitlin Russell

Account Executive

Caitlin Russell is an account executive at MMI Public Relations, where she manages the public relations efforts for clients from both a traditional and new media perspective. She has worked with clients in a broad variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, food service, real estate and design, and her efforts have produced media placements in such publications as USA Today, The News & Observer, Triangle Business Journal, and Woman’s Day, TV series such as Today and Live with Regis and Kelly, and multiple national trade publications.

 Prior to joining MMI in 2011, Caitlin worked as an assistant account executive and account executive with two area public relations agencies in Raleigh, where she managed public relations and event planning for clients. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2008 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also studied French, and she studied abroad at Université de Montpellier III Paul-Valéry in the south of France.

 Originally from White Oak, N.C. in Bladen County, Caitlin resides in downtown Raleigh, where she spends her free time supporting local music groups and restaurants and cheering on the Tar Heels.

Chris Buhler

Video Specialist

Chris Buhler is video specialist at MMI Public Relations, managing all the technical editing and shooting, and serving as the video division’s creative director to develop the firm’s creative products for clients. He works with a team that includes writers, account executives and other video specialists to make sure the client needs are met and the creative goals are on track.

For two years, Chris produced, edited and directed a successful local television variety show in Lexington, Va., which featured local actors and talent. As the creative director behind the video camera, Chris shot and edited every segment of the show. While working in Virginia, he also made many videos for charities and nonprofit organizations including food banks, clothes drives and toy donations at Christmastime for underprivileged children.

Since his high school days, filmmaking has always been Chris’ hobby. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, but even during college, he spent countless hours shooting videos and creating short films.

Prior to his position at MMI, Chris was human resources director at a Colorado-based business that services oil companies, with responsibility for about 70 employees. He also served as vice president of the world’s largest corporation of vintage Chrysler auto parts in Boston, Mass., which was owned by his brother, Robert Buhler, who is president of MMI.

Chris lives in Cary, N.C. with his wife, Emily, and their small daughter. 

Drew Porcello

Charlotte City Executive

Drew Porcello is MMI Public Relations’ charlotte city executive. Located in Charlotte, N.C., he is responsible for all client interaction within the Charlotte area. With great experience in PR, Drew most recently spent time as a business development manager and as an account executive. In both of these roles, Drew used consulting skills to enhance clients’ communication, and provide content marketing, online analytics, press release distribution, search engine optimization tools, multimedia engagement platforms and social media solutions. He also participated in many events for public relations, and played a key role in investor relations and corporate communications. He is a Miller Heiman alumnus, and draws upon the skills learned through this certification to help him in his daily interactions with clients and businesses.

Originally from Allegany, N.Y., Drew attended the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, where he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He went onto earn his Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University, and has been a resident of Charlotte for 9 years. Drew is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Charlotte chapter, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, and is an avid participant of the American Marketing Association, the Business Marketing Association and the International Association of Business Communicators.

In his free time, Drew loves watching and participating in sports, especially football, basketball, tennis, running and waterskiing on Lake Norman. He is also passionate about live music and reading. He looks forward to working closely with Charlotte-area businesses and using his consultative approach to serve clients and help them reach their goals.  

Emily Packard

Assistant Account Executive

Emily Packard joined MMI Public Relations in 2011. As an assistant account executive, she leverages both traditional and emerging media to gain positive results for clients in a wide range of industries, including real estate, engineering, the arts, law, printing and more. Prior to joining MMI, Emily worked at a local marketing services company in Wake Forest. 

Originally from Advance, N.C., Emily currently resides in the Triangle area. She earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and mass communication, as well as political science, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then completed a master’s degree in communication at N.C. State University.

When not at work, Emily enjoys cooking traditional Southern recipes, jogging and Pilates, reading, and cheering on the Tar Heels (and Wolfpack). She manages to maintain a democratic association with both schools and supports the heated rivals, as she contends that having any excuse to watch more sports is never a bad idea.

Erin Smith

Senior Account Executive

As a senior account executive at MMI, Erin works with clients to develop and implement public relations campaigns, plan and manage events, and handle media relations. She has experience working with clients in a variety of industries, including fashion, real estate, healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device and food service. 

After graduating from N.C. State University with bachelor’s degrees in communication in public relations and Spanish language and literature, Erin moved to Boston where she worked as an account executive at a local PR agency where she helped launch a national women’s fashion brand.  Craving the southern lifestyle, Erin moved back to Raleigh, where she served as an account manager for several clients at a local marketing and advertising firm. Throughout her career, she has worked to secure coverage for her clients in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, Parenting, About.com and national trade publications.

An avid sports fan, you can always find Erin supporting the Wolfpack or coaching her high school girls softball team.  She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Chris, and her son, future Celtics’ all-star Connor.

Jake Potter

Senior Account Executive

As senior account executive at MMI, Jake works with clients to achieve measurable public relations success. Jake is obsessed with finding the latest communications tools and serves in MMI’s social media and crisis public relations departments. He uses his reporting background to connect with reporters, helping clients reach outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Fox News, CNN, The News & Observer and Triangle Business Journal.

Jake joined MMI after earning a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (He claims to have earned a minor in watching Tar Heels basketball and football, as well.) He has served internship stints with The Motley Fool and The Whiteville (N.C.) News Reporter. 

Jake lives in Raleigh with his wife, Lauren. When he's not hard at work, you can find him at a Carolina Hurricanes game or playing guitar and singing for his band.

Jennifer Fair

Senior Account Manager

As the senior account manager at MMI Public Relations, Jennifer Fair has used traditional and social media approaches to help establish her clients as experts in a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, economic development, biofuels, crop science, compliance management, politics and design. She has secured media placements for her clients in many media outlets, including CNN, L’Expansion (French equivalent of Business Week), The News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, Triangle Business Journal and TechJournal South.

Prior to joining MMI in 2007, Jen interned with the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic. She also worked as an account manager at Three Ships Media, where she managed digital marketing strategies for clients in various industries and helped increase online lead conversation. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she minored in French and studied abroad at Université Paris Sorbonne.

Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering for the Tar Heels, traveling to new places and running. Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Jen grew up in Cary, N.C., and now resides in Raleigh.

Jennifer Pearson

In-house General Counsel

Jennifer Pearson is the in-house General Counsel at MMI Public Relations. In this role, she will assist with high-level technical writing for clients and will serve as general counsel for the firm. A Salt Lake City, Utah native, she loves living in North Carolina. She attended Brigham Young University as a Coca-Cola scholar, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in American Studies. While at BYU, Jennifer studied abroad at the BYU London Centre and the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. 

Licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Jennifer earned her J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University, where she was an editor for the Education and Law Journal and Journal of Public Law. She was the student chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Student and Alumni golf club, Iron Justice, and was also a member of the Women’s Law Forum at BYU Law. As part of her law degree, Jennifer was fortunate to attend the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Law as a visiting student, and now feels loyal both to her BYU Cougars and UNC Tar Heels.

Outside of work, Jennifer loves reading, running, playing tennis, traveling, waterskiing in Lake Powell, and spending time with family and friends. Jennifer lives in Cary with her husband, John. 

Jordan Smith

Assistant Account Executive

As an assistant account executive at MMI Public Relations, Jordan leverages both traditional and emerging media to gain positive results for clients in a wide range of industries, including sports medicine, banking, engineering, health care, law and more. Prior to joining MMI in 2012, Jordan worked at a professional motorsport company as a public relations and social media specialist.  

Originally from Lewisville, N.C., Jordan resides in Raleigh where he is quickly learning how to navigate through the area. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public relations, as well as a minor in sport management at East Carolina University.

When not at work, Jordan enjoys exercising routinely, listening to music and attending concerts, travelling to the beach and visiting with family and friends. Jordan is an avid fan of Pirate football as well as the Carolina Panthers.

Katharine Buhler

Financial Manager

Katharine Buhler, financial manager at MMI. As an essential member of the executive management team, Katharine handles corporate business planning and strategy, corporate financial management and human resources management.

After growing up in Troy, Mich., Katharine earned a bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University, where she studied public health education and minored in gerontology. During school, she interned at WIC: Women Infants and Children, a federally-funded health and nutrition program, where she developed and implemented a strategy to increase infant and childhood immunizations.

Moving to California, Katharine worked as a records analyst in the Office of Admission at Pepperdine University, where she prepared applicant files for review, communicated with prospective students and their previous schools, and was involved in the enrollment process. From there, she moved to Boston, where she worked as the office manager at a local business and managed customer service, billing, payroll and human resources.

Katharine, wife of Robert Buhler, MMI’s president, is an outdoor lover who takes pleasure in hiking. She also enjoys cooking, travel and spending time with family. 

Kathleen Donnelly

Account Executive

Kathleen Donnelly joined MMI Public Relations in April 2012 as an assistant account executive, and in January of 2013, she became MMI's newest account executive, now leading accounts in projects such as maintaining strong client relationships, research, media placements and creating press materials.

As a summer intern at MMI prior to becoming an official member of the team, Kathleen worked closely with the account executives to produce press releases, blog posts, podcasts, articles and social media content. She attended the NC CEO Forum to assist with the event and press relations. Kathleen has also served as event coordinator intern for Enterprising Women Magazine’s 2012 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in strategic communications, concentrated in public relations, from Elon University in Elon, N.C.

Outside the office, Kathleen is an avid swimmer, runner and reader. She loves spending time with family and friends, especially at her family’s home in the beautiful Adirondack region of New York. She also enjoys traveling abroad, especially to Ireland, where she spent a semester studying.

Kelsie Murdock

Assistant Account Executive

With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kelsie Murdock was a social media specialist at a local digital marketing agency prior to becoming assistant account executive at MMI in 2012. She has experience maintaining relationships with clients, as well as writing and editing proposals, blog posts, presentations and social media content for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and blogs.

Originally from Denver—not the one in Colorado, but the small town near Charlotte, N.C.—Kelsie lives in Raleigh with a “spoiled little fat wad of a cat” named Jack.

When it comes to athletics, Kelsie grew up in a house divided. She loved journalism and so attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, while her dad had earned his degree from NC State University. She and her dad and mom have always had something in common:  their love of music. Throughout college she booked and promoted a series of relatively unknown (but awesome) bands, and she still vividly remembers singing along with her mom at the Billy Ray Cyrus concert when she was a small child. 

Wesley Hyatt

Senior Writer

With a professional writing career spanning nearly two decades from weekly newspapers to reference books, Wesley is also the author of seven books, the most recent being Television’s Top 100,  published in 2011.

At MMI Public Relations, Wesley writes blogs, news releases, brochures, case studies, white papers, media alerts, video scripts, articles for a variety of newspapers, magazines and trade publications, and other documents as needed by the staff and clients. He works jointly with all account executives at MMI on major projects to craft written content that is compelling and complete for the needs of any client, as well as contributes to new business proposals.

Wesley joined MMI in August 2006. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a double major in English and communications, graduating cum laude. The North Carolina native resides in Chapel Hill and enjoys reading, exercising, researching TV history, spending quality time with family and friends, and keeping the MMI staff on their toes with supposedly funny comments.