About Sunwest

About

Sunwest Communications is a global strategic communications, marketing and public relations firm founded in 1982. We help our clients tell their unique stories, increase visibility and build trust to meet their business and reputation goals.

SUNWEST NEWS

SUNWEST

SUNWEST COMMUNICATIONS

Sunwest develops tailored, strategic public relations and public affairs solutions that drive audience behavior for clients spanning industries and geography.

Leadership

Maggie Holley

General Manager

Maggie acts as general manager where she oversees client onboarding experience, firm marketing and team and resource management.

Crayton Webb

Owner and CEO

Crayton Webb is the owner and CEO of Sunwest Communications, a Dallas, Texas-based public relations and public affairs firm.

Wachelle Williams

Senior Vice President - Creative

With extensive marketing and design experience, Wachelle leads the agency’s creative services initiatives.

Meet Our Team

Sunwest is distinguished by the active, strategic and tactical involvement of experienced senior management on every account.

Tonie Auer

Senior Account Director Joined: 2022

Tonie is an award-winning writer with decades of experience in news and B2B reporting and media relations.

Hon. Jay Barksdale

Senior Advisor – Government Relations Joined: 2020

Public affairs veteran The Honorable Jay Barksdale brings decades of experience as a public affairs professional working with municipal, state and federal governments.

Chalon Anderson

Senior Account Executive Joined: 2024

With a master's degree in Communication, Chalon is a skilled social media manager with a deep understanding of how to harness digital platforms for maximum engagement.

Ambar Benitez

Account Coordinator Joined: 2024

With a degree in Converged Broadcast Media and extensive experience in media production, Ambar provides creative support to Sunwest's clients.

Michelle Buckalew

Senior Managing Director Joined: 2019

Michelle is a senior communications strategist specializing in media relations, corporate communications and crisis and reputation management. In her role, she provides strategic counsel to help define, develop and implement communication plans for Sunwest’s growing list of clients.

Sara Frederick Burgos

Account Director Joined: 2021 (Joined Shiroma Southwest in 2018)

Sara is a former journalist with decades of experience at The Miami Herald and The Dallas Morning News.

Melissa M. Cameron

Senior Counsel - CSR & Philanthropic Services Joined: 2019

Melissa is a veteran of Dallas area non-profits, serving as a volunteer, board member and in a variety of executive leadership roles.

Pio del Castillo

Vice President Joined: 2021

Pio is a seasoned communications professional with extensive public relations, corporate communications, reputation and crisis communications experience.

Lauren Dugger

Vice President - CSR & Philanthropic Services Joined: 1999

With a passion for writing and philanthropy, Lauren leads the CSR & Philanthropic Services team with heavy focus on corporate, community and private family foundations, as well as strategic counsel and management of corporate social responsibility programs.

Allison Golden

Senior Account Executive Joined: 2021

An experienced public relations professional, Allison has managed successful campaigns in industries such as healthcare, home goods, energy and B-to-B with a heavy focus on the nonprofit sector.

Ginger Greenberg

Vice President & General Counsel Joined: 2018

Ginger Greenberg has decades of experience solving communications challenges with expertise across a range of industries.

Melinda Guravich

Senior Account Director Joined: 2021

Melinda has a strong global perspective and extensive experience creating and managing communications, marketing and brand visibility strategies. As a member of the Sunwest team, she provides strategic counsel for leaders of iconic and new consumer brands.

Eads Hooper

Account Coordinator Joined: 2024

With a public relations degree, Eads brings an unwavering passion for helping clients tell their unique stories.

Madison Howard

Office Manager / Executive Assistant Joined: 2024

With a strong background in operations and administrative functions, Madison is instrumental in fostering an efficient and productive workplace.

Kelly Hunter

Vice President - Lifestyle, Hospitality & Tech Joined: 2021 (Joined Shiroma Southwest in 1992)

For decades, Kelly has helped guide the communications and media relations goals for clients ranging from world-class retail experiences to nationally-ranked entertainment events and more.

Angelica Jackson

Senior Account Executive - Social Media Joined: 2023

As a seasoned public relations professional specializing in social media, Angelica is an expert strategist on how to turn client stories into engaging content.

Kristen Jackson

Senior Account Manager Joined: 2014

Kristen provides direct support to multiple client accounts with an emphasis on the nonprofit division and has also served as lead on several project-based accounts related to education and healthcare.

Sara Jendrusch-Wong

Account Manager Joined: 2021

Sara is a senior account executive providing support to a wide variety of clients at Sunwest Communications. As a communications and marketing “jack of all trades,” Sara brings experience in media relations, internal communications and crisis communications, as well as international relations after her time living in Madrid, Spain.

Chelsie Jordan

Creative Account Manager Joined: 2021

With a keen eye for impactful design, Chelsie helps visually convey our clients' stories.

Megan Killebrew

Account Director - Social Media Joined: 2008

With several years of communications experience, Megan works with clients in a variety of industries, including nonprofits and commercial real estate companies.

Allison Klingsick

Account Manager Joined: 2018

Allison directly supports multiple clients with a specific emphasis on real estate.

Jen LeBlanc

Vice President, Reputation & Marketing Joined: 2023

With more than two decades of leadership experience, Jen has made her mark in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

Michael Lunceford

Principal, LuncefordWEBB Government Relations Joined: 2022

For 41 years, Michael was responsible for worldwide public affairs for Mary Kay Inc. in nearly 40 countries around the world. He has been active in civic affairs, serving on boards in Texas and Washington DC, and has served as a political advisor to many elected officials locally and nationally.

Molly Mannes

Account Supervisor Joined: 2021

Molly is a public relations professional with experience working in the professional services, aviation, broadcast, retail and nonprofit sectors.

Taylor Novarro

Senior Account Executive Joined: 2021

Taylor offers communications support to a variety of clients with an emphasis on direct selling.

Anna Nguyen

Account Coordinator Joined: 2024

Anna is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and has a passion for helping others craft their stories.

Wren Ovard

Senior Counsel Joined: 2024

In her role with Sunwest, Wren focuses on business development in Collin & Denton counties and assists with project development & implementation.

Brinton Payne

Senior Advisor, Government Relations Joined: 2022

Brinton has worked in and around the Texas Legislature and local governments in Texas for decades.

Holly Quartaro

Fashion & Lifestyle Director Joined: 2021 (Joined Shiroma Southwest in 2006)

Holly is an experienced marketing professional with a breadth of expertise in public relations and multi-platform marketing, including media relations, video production, photo styling, event management, public speaking and on-camera hosting.

Hon. Kim Quirk

Senior Advisor Joined: 2008

With decades of communications experience, Kim provides a depth of expertise and strategic counsel on all aspects of PR and public affairs for Sunwest partners.

Jimena Ramirez

Account Specialist Joined: 2023

Jimena Ramirez is a skilled public relations professional contributing her expertise to both Sunwest's consumer and nonprofit teams.

Hillary Redwine

Account Director Joined: 2006

Hillary has extensive experience in B2B and B2C communications.

Sarah Reed-Ruiz

Account Manager Joined: 2021

Sarah is a graphic designer and illustrator with extensive design experience working for some of the most notable entertainment and vacation destinations in Orlando and Las Vegas.

Joanna Riba-Riba

Accounting Manager Joined: 2022

Joanna serves the clients, vendors, and employees of Sunwest Communications to facilitate accurate and timely flow for all the various transactions that occur daily.

Mary Shiroma

Senior Counsel Joined: 2021 (1981 began Shiroma Southwest)

Until its merger with Sunwest Communications, from 1981-2021 Mary was founder and president of Addison-based Shiroma Southwest.

Kelsey Sparks

Senior Account Executive Joined: 2021 (Joined Shiroma Southwest in 2018)

Kelsey offers support to a variety of clients with an emphasis on retail, restaurants and events.

Merrie Spaeth

Founder - Spaeth Training Joined: 2023 (Founded Spaeth Communications in 1987)

With 40+ years of experience, Merrie is a highly sought-after public speaker who provides strategic communication counseling for companies and executives across the globe. She is acknowledged as one of the most influential communication counselors in the world.

Andy Stern

Founder and Senior Counsel Joined: 1982

Andy is senior counsel at Sunwest Communications, Inc. He founded Sunwest in 1982.

Fred Stern

Senior Advisor Joined: 2002

As Senior Advisor, Fred provides strategic corporate, product and crisis communication counseling for corporations and organizations in a variety of industries, including energy, financial services, real estate, health care, packaged goods and professional services.

Shaelyn Stone

Account Manager Joined: 2018

Shaelyn specializes in media relations and writing. She provides direct support to clients involved with education, nature conservation and the arts, but her forte and greatest passion is with philanthropic organizations.

Whitney Strauss

Senior Counsel – CSR & Philanthropic Services Joined: 2019

In her role at Sunwest, Whitney works directly with the nonprofit division team to expand services including strategic planning, fund development planning and process management focusing on civic projects, corporate social responsibility, foundations and nonprofit organizations.

Sydney Townsend

Vice President - Commercial Real Estate Joined: 2004

Sydney and the Sunwest commercial real estate team are the go-to PR and marketing experts for some of the biggest transactions in the country.

Emily Turner

Managing Director Joined: 2023 (Joined Spaeth Communications in 2004)

Emily brings over 20 years of experience in public relations, crisis management and communications consulting to her role as Managing Director at Sunwest Communications.

Patricia Valderrama

Account Specialist Joined: 2023

Patricia Valderrama is a lifelong storyteller who works with Sunwest’s consumer and non-profit clients.

Megan Willman

Account Coordinator - Social Media Joined: 2024

A graduate from the University of Arkansas, Megan creatively supports the social media team at Sunwest Communications.

The Intern Experience

At Sunwest, our philosophy on interns is simple: jump in and get as much experience as you can. Our interns are exposed to the full scope of agency life – from pitching media to team happy hours, and everything in between.

In addition to working in a challenging and fast-paced environment, Sunwest interns have the opportunity to experience multiple facets of PR through our diverse client list.

From the time I interviewed with Sunwest Communications, I knew they were unlike any other agency. It was clear that they were a group of professionals and a family. I moved to Dallas two weeks after I graduated from college to start my internship at Sunwest and the team immediately made me feel at home. They provided excellent training and made sure I felt like a valued part of the team. I worked with a variety of clients around the DFW Metroplex which quickly allowed me to get involved in the community. I worked in different core practice areas and was able to discover what my interests were. I loved building meaningful relationships with clients and I was always excited to go to work. This experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me so much about my industry and myself. My internship was a confirmation that I chose the right career path and I cannot thank the amazing Sunwest team enough!

Alicia King, 2019 Intern

Giving Back

Sunwest Communications is committed to changing the lives of families in need through community volunteerism, investment and sharing our skills and expertise through pro bono partnerships.

Learn more