Blue Practice

 

Our People: A Team of Experts

Blue Practice is a collection of senior-level creative and strategic communications specialists. Over two decades, we’ve collectively launched and helped brand more than 200 technology companies and products, built broad advocacy coalitions, and managed national marketing initiatives and product launches in the fields of technology, consumer goods, sustainability, architecture and design.

We bring a journalist’s mind to our craft, staffed with veteran reporters who’ve also contributed to leading media sources, like the New York Times, National Public Radio, Red Herring, The Denver Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Examiner, Wired, and PBS’ FRONTLINE/World.

At Blue Practice, we use our collective expertise toward supporting tomorrow’s transformative technologies and products. We hope to help promote the innovations and ideas that will solve crucial global issues and move markets to sustainability.

In addition to our team, we’re also fortunate to have a broad network of researchers, policy experts, decision makers, thought leaders, investors and entrepreneurs as collaborators or clients. These include the TED community, the Switzer Foundation, NGEN Partners, RockPort Capital Partners, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Fuseproject, West Coast Green, Plug-In America, The Electric Drive Transit Association, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, and the Innovation Journalism Fellowship program at Stanford University.

Blue Practice benefits from an ongoing working relationship with one of the largest independently-owned communications firms in the world, Ruder Finn.


Jessica Switzer

Partner

As former Vice President of Tesla Motors, Jessica Switzer directed marketing and launch strategy for the notable electric sports car manufacturer. Before Tesla, she was Managing Director of Ruder Finn, the second-largest, independently owned PR agency in the world.

Jessica came to Ruder Finn after the acquisition of Switzer Communications, a public relations and marketing firm, which she founded in 1995 with annual billings of $3 million and 25 employees. She also ran corporate communications for Broderbund Software, a consumer software company, where she served as company spokesperson and assisted the company throughout its IPO and numerous acquisitions.

Jessica specializes in product and company launches, integrated marketing campaigns, and public relations and crisis communications. She is an active member of the TED community. She is also involved with the Switzer Foundation, a $20 million family foundation devoted to creating environmental leaders through academic and project leadership grants. She received a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.


Tim Gnatek

Partner

For more than a decade, Tim Gnatek has communicated issues and ideas in technology, science, and sustainability. He has been a regular contributor to the New York Times and a researcher for Wired magazine. Tim has covered solar energy production for public broadcasting radio and The Technology Review; sustainable urban design for PBS’ FRONTLINE/World; and science, nature, and technology for the San Francisco Chronicle and PC Magazine. He’s also written for Outside Magazine, Mothering and a number of other national publications.

Previously, Tim managed creative programs, media relations, and partner communications for technology clients at Switzer Communications. He won various national and international awards for programs he helped design and implement, including two Mercury Awards and a Tenagra Award. He has also been a documentary consultant for a film studio and an editorial writer and speechwriter for an international relief and development agency.

Tim received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross.


Jessica Appelgren

Partner

Jessica has directed strategic marketing and public relations programs for the past ten years.

Jessica’s passion for innovative, sustainably-minded companies and initiatives is put to great service at Blue Practice, where she plays a dual role directing PR accounts and leading the agency’s marketing practice. Jessica works with client partners to establish clear messaging and branding guidelines and translates those plans into compelling campaigns, launches and initiatives. Under her direction, Blue Practice has created 20+ corporate websites, logo and branding materials, collateral, social media sites and strategies, videos and viral campaigns for clients across the agency’s roster.

Jessica came to Blue Practice with a background in the built environment, having led marketing for Prometheus Real Estate Group and EDAW, a global landscape architecture, planning and design firm based in San Francisco. Jessica began her career as a journalist in several posts at Bay Area magazines, including 7×7 Magazine, California Home and Design and Click. She has also written for Urban Land, Landscape Architecture, and The Potrero View.

Jessica currently sits on the host committee for the Young Urbanists branch of SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association).

She received a bachelor’s degree in Modern Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz and lives in Oakland, CA where she bakes award-winning pies.


Kevin Lewis

Manager

Kevin has more than ten years of public relations experience. He excels at designing and implementing creative strategic plans for clients that garner media mindshare. He has a background in diverse fields including both consumer and B to B technology, sustainability and non-profits. He has secured coverage with major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Good Morning America, FOX News, The San Francisco Chronicle and KQED-FM’s Forum. Prior to joining Blue Practice, Kevin was a freelance communications consultant specializing in high-level strategic planning. Additionally, Kevin has journalism experience as the former political columnist for San Francisco Spectrum. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from Ithaca College.


Stephanie Kays

Senior Associate

Stephanie brings to Blue Practice years of PR experience in clean technology, oil and energy, agriculture, waste & recycling, and government agencies. As a senior associate at Blue Practice, she acts as a direct client contact and assists in media relations and program management across our client roster.

Stephanie values the “high-touch” approach she offers clients and enjoys putting to work her sincere interest in the ever-evolving world of clean technology and sustainability.

Prior to joining Blue Practice, Stephanie spent several years as a public relations and political consultant in Davis, California at James Burchill & Associates, Inc. As a senior associate on multiple accounts, including NextEra Energy, Stephanie managed community outreach regarding wind turbines in Solano County and was the media point of contact in California regarding quarterly Proposition 65 announcements for Kinder Morgan Energy. In addition, Stephanie managed a supervisor campaign in Solano County in 2010.

Stephanie also had the opportunity to represent clients such as Calpine Energy, Chevron Richmond and Recology while at Singer Associates in San Francisco.

Outside of Blue Practice, Stephanie enjoys trips to Lake Tahoe and hiking and with her husband all over the Bay Area. She received her bachelor’s degree in history and communications from UC Davis.


Jane Park

Associate

Jane comes to Blue Practice with a background in global development and climate change as it pertains to corporate social responsibility. At Blue Practice Jane leverages her passion for environmental issues to advocate for market-based solutions to environmental degradation and climate change.

Prior to Blue Practice, she worked at the Taproot Foundation engaging individuals and corporations alike to expand both the strategic business and philanthropic impact of private sector service to the nonprofit sector. While at the Taproot Foundation, Jane authored the whitepaper, ‘Making Pro Bono Work: 8 Proven Models for Community and Business Impact’.

Previously, Jane worked at the Brookings Institution researching the intersection of global poverty and climate change and had the honor of working on Global Economy and Development’s flagship event, the Brookings Blum Roundtable. She also worked at the National Writing Project, facilitating the development of a member network of nearly 200 regional sites across the country.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies with a concentration on environmental economics from the University of California, Berkeley and lives in San Francisco, CA from where she takes advantage of the epicurean delights of the Bay Area.


Karen Omholt

Marketing Strategist

Karen is the acting principal of Omholt & Associates, a specialty marketing firm for branding and positioning services. She has been providing strategic marketing counsel to emerging and high-growth businesses for over 12 years, and has been a long-time collaborator on marketing projects with Blue Practice founders Jessica Switzer and Tim Gnatek. Karen has over 15 years of experience in the marketing and successful introduction of consumer and business products for organizations such as Shutterfly, LEGO MindStorms, Hospice of Marin, All-America Rose Selections and Avery office products.

Karen works with client partners in developing brand positioning, crafting key messages and creating integrated marketing communications campaigns that build brand awareness and customer loyalty. She also has experience in creating effective web marketing programs that build site traffic and drive sales. Additionally, she provides counsel and direction for partner marketing initiatives that enable businesses to leverage each other’s marketing assets and generate incremental sales.

Previously, Karen served as Senior Marketing Manager at Broderbund Software and was responsible for the company’s Home Productivity Group. The group’s flagship product, 3D Home Architect, became an award-winning best seller in the cluttered home design software category. She also held senior positions at Ketchum Public Relations where she was responsible for integrated marketing communications initiatives for a number of global brands.


Liz Batchelder

Creative Services

Based in Portland, Oregon, and holding BA and MFA degrees in writing, Liz brings print and interactive design and strategic marketing skills to Blue Practice. In her more than ten years of professional experience, Liz has crafted effective communication and collateral for a wide variety of purposes, including advertisements, brochures, websites, e-communications campaigns, speeches, and conference materials.

Her recent background includes senior writing duties, message management, Flash development, and Web product oversight for EDAW, a global design, environmental planning, and economic, social, and cultural services firm. She has been published in Urban Land and Landscape Architecture as well as in more targeted vehicles such as Port Technology International, and has provided services on a consulting basis to clients including ETwater Systems, an innovative Web-based irrigation controller company.


Portia Switzer

Senior Communicator

Portia is a Senior Communications Expert based in the Southern California market. Most recently, as Vice President of Investor Relations (VPIR)with International Rectifier, a $1 billion leader in advanced power management technology in Los Angeles, California, Portia was acting company spokesperson during a multi-year financial restatement & SEC investigation, hostile bid, heated proxy battle, and was the direct liaison between Board members, the new management team, and the financial community.

Prior to joining IR in 2003, she was an investor relations manager for four years with STMicroelectronics, Inc, a $7 billion global semiconductor supplier, where she managed the US investor relations for a global company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to her work at ST, Portia was an Investor Relations Manager at FORE Systems, Inc. a data networking company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She held an Account Manager position in corporate communications, technology and business media with Switzer Communications, Inc.

Portia has been an active NIRI member since 1995, and previously served as LA Board Member and Vice President, Programs for the Los Angeles chapter as well as Vice President, Communications for the Pittsburgh Chapter. She is also past Regional Director and founder of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Women in Technology International (WITI). She received her B.A. in English from Portland State University, Oregon.