By Joshua Burd
Public relations firm Violet PR has doubled its staff with five new hires, as it looks to serve its growing roster of economic development, professional services and social good clients.
According to the Montclair-based agency, the additions include Georgette Gilmore as senior copywriter and Luke Gavronski as assistant account executive. Also joining its team are account coordinators Claudia Velasquez, Joelle DeCaro and Rachel Lessig.
“Violet PR has been on an impressive growth path since 2021, and these new hires are critical to helping us serve our new and existing clients,” said April Mason, president of Violet PR. “I’m particularly excited to welcome Georgette Gilmore, as she has 15 years of experience as a journalist, social media manager and creative writer — plus a wealth of connections here in Montclair.”
Gilmore previously was the social media manager and creative writer at the Montclair Art Museum, where she grew the museum’s Instagram presence to more than 12,000 followers, according to a news release. She also served as a daily editor at Baristanet, a hyperlocal website focused on news, arts, culture and lifestyle for Montclair and surrounding communities.
Gilmore holds a bachelor’s in visual arts from Montclair State University, where she graduated with honors.
“I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic team at Violet PR,” Gilmore said. “As one of the top boutique PR firms in New Jersey, VPR displays a commitment to helping clients make a positive impact on the world. I look forward to supporting their continued success in my new role as senior copywriter.”
Gavronski, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, brings expertise in writing, media relations and digital marketing, the news release said. He previously was an account coordinator at Conway PR & Marketing, where he gained experience in social media content creation and management for clients, including Malaysia, Santa Clarita Valley and Trinidad and Tobago.
Velasquez, for her part, holds a master’s in public and organizational relations and a bachelor’s in communication and media arts from Montclair State University, the firm said. Her extensive internship experience includes work for 5W PR’s media relations team, as well as stints at major media companies Sony Music Entertainment and iHeartMedia.
A recent graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, DeCaro is currently pursuing a master’s degree in communication, the news release said. She is a former communication and development intern for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County, where she gained media relations skills.
DeCaro’s other internship experience includes social media management at DeCaro and Sons, a family-owned HVAC company, and Card My Yard-Florham Park. She is expected to graduate with high honors in December 2022.
Lessig joins Violet PR full-time after interning with the firm for the past six months, the news release said. She has supported on media relations and social media campaigns for various clients, including the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs and Carbon Valley, Wyoming, having graduated from Monmouth University with a bachelor’s in political science and bachelor’s in communication with a concentration in public relations and journalism.
At Monmouth, Lessig was vice president of Public Relations Student Society of America, a student-run PR firm, where she helped nonprofit organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters implement PR strategies. She was awarded the Future PR Pro Award in her senior year.
Violet PR serves economic development, professional services and nonprofit clients throughout New Jersey, the news release said. Nationally, the firm manages media relations and social media campaigns for the states of New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Georgia and the regions of Kansas City, Kansas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Buffalo, New York and more.
