Management

Each Matter employee brings an outstanding track record and proven talent - experience that will be applied to your communications challenges. We approach every assignment with a fresh eye - taking advantage of our instincts, experience, and industry contacts to deliver cost-effective campaigns.

Scott Signore

Scott Signore is Principal and CEO of Matter Communications. After holding senior positions at both large and small public relations agencies, he founded Matter Communications in 2003 with a goal of creating a results-based PR firm that would have a more direct impact on clients’ businesses. During the past seven years, Matter has grown from two clients and four employees to just fewer than 40 employees and 35 clients. Over the same period of time, Matter’s annual revenue has increased by 40 percent on average and currently exceeds $5 million.

Matter’s growth can be directly attributed to Scott’s strong leadership, refreshing approach to communications, minimal client and employee turnover, and the consistent delivery of high-impact results. In August of 2010, PRWeek named Scott one of the industry’s “40 Under 40” for the successful launch of a profitable PR agency, as well as his ability to navigate Matter through the recent economic downturn while avoiding job, salary and benefit cuts.

Prior to launching Matter, Scott was Senior Vice President at Boston-based FitzGerald Communications, now part of Fleishman-Hillard, managing high-profile accounts including ADT, Tyco Electronics M/A-COM and Texas Instruments. In addition to his PR agency experience, Scott also held in-house sales and marketing positions at Agfa Corporation and Eastman Kodak. At Agfa, Scott managed all PR, marketing and product communications activities for the Desktop Digital Imaging Group, helped launch the company’s line of award-winning digital cameras and flatbed scanners, managed the company’s worldwide agency relationship and executed international product launches.

Scott’s career began in New York, with agency positions at Shandwick International, Miller/Shandwick Technologies and Dorf & Stanton Communications, where he contributed to the success of many accounts including Kimberly-Clark, Konica-Minolta and Sharp Electronics, to name only a few.

Having amassed significant experience in the digital imaging industry, Scott actively supports relevant industry associations. He is a board member of the Photoimaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA), and a featured speaker who delivered his perspective on "Becoming a PR Pro in Retail Imaging" at DIMA 2010 during the Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show.

Outside of the day-to-day operation of the agency, Scott tirelessly dedicates his time and energy to a lengthy list of non- and not-for-profit causes. Through financial contributions, sponsorships and volunteerism, his generosity has benefitted the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), Salvation Army (Newburyport, MA), Wediko Children’s Services (Boston, MA), Camp Sunshine (Casco, ME), Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), and Lowell’s Boat Shop (Amesbury, MA). In addition, Scott holds a Board of Director position at the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center (Newburyport, MA), the Newburyport Youth Soccer Association (NYSA), and PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA).

Gene Hunt

Matter principal and CMO Gene Hunt, has 25 years of experience in business-to-business technology PR and marketing communications. Through his work for global companies such as Raytheon, Agfa Corporation, Agfa-Gevaert N.V., TyCom, and others, Gene has developed and implemented programs in every form from print to video, multimedia and the Web. He's an accomplished communications and PR/IR strategist who's written hundreds of press releases, articles and promotional materials, presented on multiple topics at industry events, and successfully launched products, campaigns and companies.

Gene's specific industry knowledge includes digital printing and imaging, graphic design, prepress and production, as well as optical networking, telecommunications, and alternative energy. Earlier in his career he lived and worked in Belgium for four years and speaks French and Dutch.

Patty Barry

As one of the founding employees and a Principal at Matter Communications, Patty helps to manage the agency as it continues to grow, and is also the account lead on CVS/pharmacy, Compellent Technologies and The Addison Gallery of American Art. Patty brings nearly two decades of public relations experience to bear on her daily work, combining a strategic view of communications and corporate positioning with a keen eye for short-term opportunities for publicity via traditional communications (print and broadcast media relations, press releases, speaking engagements, awards) and non-traditional (Web 2.0, citizen journalists) outlets. Patty's track record of working with a combination of consumer brands and high-tech companies, which is reflected in her current client portfolio, provides her with a unique view of the communications landscape. She has a proven ability to blend creativity with research-based PR programs that yield high-impact business results for her clients.

Prior to Matter Communications, Patty held senior management positions at Golin/Harris International, Hill & Knowlton, and The Weber Group (now Weber Shandwick). She has worked with large and small clients in a wide range of high-technology categories, from enterprise hardware, software and services, to consumer electronics and retail brands. Patty's strategic counsel on client messaging, product launches and media relations has brought success to such companies as Compaq Computer (now H-P), Texas Instruments, KPMG Consulting, Accenture, SAS Institute, and Sybase Inc. among others.

Colleen Sheehan

Colleen brings a blended background in technology and consumer public relations and marketing to Matter. With 15 years of experience, Colleen was one of the founding employees of the agency. She has served as account lead for established brands and start-ups alike, and brings to her accounts a creative, proactive approach that constantly pushes the bar higher. Having spent time on the client side, she understands client demands and the complexities of international communications programs.

In addition to managing thought leadership, editorial strategy, product launches and speakers bureaus for her clients, Colleen has also successfully executed integrated marketing campaigns that help her clients leverage the synergy between PR and marketing. Her domestic and international work also includes trade show strategy, analyst relations and lead generation. A recipient of the prestigious PR industry Bell Ringer Award, Colleen delivers high-profile media results in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune and Forbes, as well as top-tier coverage in trade and vertical targets that helps aggressively position her clients in the competitive landscape.

Jesse Ciccone

Jesse has honed his skills on both the agency and client side of the table, developing cross-functional knowledge that allows him to fully understand how Matter's work impacts his clients' business results. A PR agency veteran, Jesse held senior management positions at Financial Dynamics, an international PR/IR agency, and at FitzGerald Communications (now part of Fleishman-Hillard), prior to joining Matter. Jesse has also held the in-house positions of director of corporate communications at Signature BioScience and marketing specialist in the desktop products group of Agfa. Through this well-rounded background, Jesse has developed skills in PR, marketing, business development, fundraising and shareholder communications.

Believing that the best PR practices can be applied to any company, Jesse brings this expertise to bear for Matter clients in a variety of diverse industries like e-commerce, pharmaceutical services, photography and consumer packaged goods.

Andy Meltzer

Andy has managed and contributed to public relations campaigns for a wide variety of high technology and consumer technology companies over the course of his 10+ years in the industry. Prior to his position with Matter Communications, Andy served as an account manager for FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based technology agency now a part of Fleishman-Hillard. In addition, Andy held the position of account director at SVM, a technology PR firm based in Providence, RI.

Andy oversees the day-to-day operation and growth of Matter's Providence office. In that role he provides strategic direction for all of the office's accounts, as well as direct counsel to clients on messaging and planning.

Matt Landry

Matt has a strong background in public relations strategy and execution, focusing on integrated marketing programs for high technology companies. He joined Matter Communications from Topaz Partners, a small Boston-area technology PR firm. Prior to Topaz, Matt ran marketing communications and new business efforts for Boston-based LNS Communications. After working as an aide in Senator Ted Kennedy's Boston office, Matt began his public relations career in the Boston office of Miller/Shandwick Technologies (now Weber Shandwick).

Matt provides day-to-day client counsel in corporate and product messaging strategy, communications planning and tactics. He also brings deep experience in managing media and analyst relations programs as well as trade show planning and support.

John McElhenny

Former Associated Press reporter John McElhenny combines a journalist's perspective with years of experience managing PR programs for high-profile technology companies. John gives clients valuable insight into how reporters think and what it takes to secure the highest-impact media coverage, drawing upon a decade-long newspaper career for the AP and as a correspondent for The Boston Globe and New York Times.

A veteran PR professional, he specializes in raising a company's public profile through coverage in publications that are important to their business. He has secured favorable articles in high-circulation outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, International Herald-Tribune, National Public Radio and MSNBC as well as technical publications such as eWEEK, Network World and Wired.com. He has managed PR programs for public and private companies in many industries and developed particular expertise in enterprise software, IT security, open source software, VoIP, data integration and clean technology. Before joining Matter, John worked at Schwartz Communications. He has lived for extended periods in France, Germany, Belgium and Italy and can order a meal badly in four languages.