Before moving to Phoenix in late 2005, Ilisa ran a full-service public relations agency in Boca Raton. She has also served as a senior consultant with international public relations agencies including Golin/Harris Worldwide, Weber/Shandwick P.R. and Fleishman-Hillard. Her client roster includes Carl’s Furniture, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, CIGNA Healthcare, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Sensormatic Electronics Corp., SPSS Inc., Florida Venture Forum and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Previously, Ilisa was a senior vice president at Powell Tate in New York City. During her four-year tenure at Powell Tate, she spearheaded the launch of America's Health Network, creating special events and innovative media campaigns to promote the national television network's health and medical programming. She also supervised national marketing programs supporting MasterCard, Freddie Mac, ALLTEL Corporation, World Airways, and the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA), among others.

Prior to joining Powell Tate, Ilisa ran her own public relations firm in New York City. She also worked at several New York City-based public relations agencies, including Daniel J. Edelman, Inc., The Rowland Company, and Richard Wiener, Inc. (now Porter/Novelli).

While at these agencies, Ilisa supervised the launch of Coleco's Cabbage Patch Kids and developed retail and consumer marketing support programs for such international clients as Smith-Kline Beecham, Richardson Vicks, Chesebrough-Pond’s, Inc., Mita Copystar America and The Rado Watch Company. She also masterminded special events such as the International and National Monopoly Tournaments for Parker Brothers, Lever Brothers' Surf All-Star Softball Games and the Grand Marnier Chefs Ski Races. In addition, she created national campaigns for food/beverage companies including Weight Watchers Frozen Foods, The New Zealand Lamb Company, Absolut Vodka, and Allbrand's Clausthaler and Pilsner-Urquell beers.

Ilisa began her career as a health/beauty writer for Mademoiselle Magazine and as editor at several women's publications. She holds a B.S. in art and psychology from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. Ilisa has served as a board member of Women in Communications and an active member of Phi Beta Kappa and International Association of Business Communicators.

Ilisa spent much of her childhood as a “state department” brat living in such countries as Afghanistan, Thailand, Algeria, Philippines and Liberia. Today, as a working mother of two active red-haired children, she spends her “spare time” playing tennis, jogging and enjoying the creativity of her 15-year old son, Alex, and 12-year old daughter, Kayla.

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