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Sara Black

Sara is a senior PR and comms strategist with more than 15 years of experience generating brand awareness for global B2B and B2C companies.

5 questions with a Highwire VP

Sara works with clients across the Enterprise and Cybersecurity Practices.

What’s the one thing you really enjoy doing?

I’m passionate about helping clients tell their innovation story and leveraging data-driven media strategies that move the needle. My superpower is distilling dense, technical information into powerful, digestible narrative for distribution to the right audience at the right time.



What did you do prior to Highwire?
Prior to Highwire, I was a Vice President and Enterprise Practice Lead at a tech public relations and marketing firm, leading PR and comms programs for clients across AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data management, DevOps and networking such as Aryaka Networks, Cambium Networks, Digibee, Mendix, Monte Carlo and Open Systems. Before that, I worked for an agency in the interactive entertainment space, working with large video game publishers like Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Games. Earlier in my career, I worked with clients across consumer technology and CPG.
If you weren’t working in PR, what would you be doing instead?
If I weren’t working in PR, I would be working as an event planner or starting a nature tour or hiking guide business!
What I’m doing when I’m not working…
When I’m not working, I’m getting some quality time with my husband Andy on a hike in the local San Gabriel Mountains or planning our next adventure to a national park - I have a goal of visiting all 63 of them!  I’m also likely to be catching up with my daughter Lauren, a senior at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!). And I’m in the process of finishing up a two-year Executive MBA program at UCLA Anderson, taking classes on campus every other weekend.
What do you miss about where you’re from?
I grew up in northeastern Ohio and lived in the Midwest until my early 20s. I love Southern California and it feels like home, but I do miss having distinct seasons, particularly autumn when the leaves change into glorious colors.

Where the rubber meets the road

Everyone at Highwire is hands-on with client work and the principals are no exception. Some of the brands Kathleen has worked with.

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150+ thinkers and doers

Highwire’s team of skilled strategists excel at translating complex narratives into compelling stories. With hubs in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago, our integrated PR, marketing and creative design teams provide global coverage and work with a worldwide network of trusted collaborators. When you partner with Highwire we make a commitment to your success,
creating enduring business value.

Agency Leadership

Emily Call Borders

Principal

Carol Carrubba

Principal

Kathleen Gratehouse

Principal

Chuck Hemann

Chief Integration Officer

Kim Paone

General Manager, New York

Michael Byrnes

Managing Director, Health

Christine Elswick

EVP, Security

Mike Steavenson

EVP, Enterprise

Kate Adorno

EVP

Carolina Binstadt

EVP

Joe Ferrary

SVP, Enterprise

James Holland

EVP, Digital

Danny Maiello

EVP, Brand, Corporate & Energy

Ayanna Anderson

SVP, DIBs

Andrew Robinson

Head of People

Mags Cote

Head of Insights & Analytics

Mallory Cloutier

SVP

Dan Davies

SVP, Integrated Digital

Bob Gohn

SVP, Creative

Mazen Haddad

SVP, Delivery and Operations

Ross Levanto

SVP

Allie MacPherson

SVP, Social Media

Megan Phelan

SVP, Security

Saige Smith

SVP, Health

Katherine Zackel

SVP, Security and Crisis Communications

Joe Hamrahi

CFO

Emily McCrea

Controller

Ken Sugimura

Director, FP&A

Ali Balicki

VP

Shevaun Betzler

VP, Security

Sara Black

VP

Denise Jocson

VP, Creative

Megan Kernan

VP, Health

Morgan Mathis

VP, Health

Peter McCormack

VP

Melissa Roxas

VP

Tori Sabourin

VP, Digital

Amy Tsui

VP, Finance

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