Mariellen Burns, Chief Strategy Officer/News, Politics & Crisis Management

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Mariellen has more than 20 years of experience in media and public relations. As Chief Strategy Officer for News, Politics and Crisis Management, she assists all RCG teams in strategically approaching client needs whether it be creating a newsworthy connection or angle to a business or political story, or managing an impending or existing crisis. Mariellen oversees crisis management for regional and national clients, working with our most seasoned news and public relations veterans, managing special projects and accounts.

Mariellen spent 13 years working in the Boston market as a television news reporter and anchor, covering many local and national stories including the Oklahoma City Bombing; her coverage of an MBTA bus crashing into the Charles River won an Emmy. She has extensive experience in radio news and still works as a talk host and frequent guest commentator. Mariellen also spent several years managing high volume media/communications director posts for the Boston Police Department, and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority/Central Artery Tunnel Project. She co-chaired the public affairs sub-committee with her counterpart at the United States Secret Service for the 2004 DNC, the first National Convention to be held since 9/11, and established the (JIC) joint information center for the event. In addition she acted as spokesperson for the joint planning committee of the federal, state and city security and transportation agencies involved in planning and executing the event. She was also involved in creating the after action report, which has become a blue-print for future conventions. Mariellen has a close working relationship with electronic and print media in Boston and across the nation. She has done extensive media training for various constituencies, including CEO’s, political candidates, and law enforcement personnel.  Mariellen is involved with several not for profit organizations.  She has helped run S.C.O.R.E. – Boston’s Urban Hockey Initiative since its inception in 1995; she is an honorary board member and active volunteer with AccesSportAmerica and is a Shelter Captain with “Christmas in the City”.

William J. (BJ) Finnell, General Manager of Administration

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As General Manager of Administration, B.J. supervises our Team Leaders to ensure that we are meeting all of our clients’ public relations needs. He also works closely with other senior managers to grow existing business and identify new business opportunities.

B.J. brings a wealth of broadcasting experience to Regan. Before joining the firm in October 2010, B.J served for two years as News Director at WLNE-TV, the ABC affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island. In that position he oversaw operations for the Rhode Island News Channel, a 24-hour local news channel.

He was also Vice President and News Director at WJAR-TV, the NBC affiliate in Providence, and at WVIT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Hartford, CT. B.J. is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.

Casey Sherman, General Manager of Client Services

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Casey is an award winning journalist and best-selling author who brings two decades of senior level experience in media and public relations. As General Manager of Client Services, Casey works with our valued clients to ensure that their business goals are met through strategic and impactful messaging and branding campaigns.

Casey is the internationally acclaimed author of several books including The Finest Hours, Bad Blood, Search for the Strangler and Black Irish. The Finest Hours was a finalist for 2010 Massachusetts Book of the Year honors and is now in development for a major motion picture by Walt Disney Pictures. Casey spent twenty years in both broadcast and print media as a former producer of the 6pm newscast at WBZ-TV and a contributing writer for Boston Magazine, Boston Common, The Huffington Post and The Open Case.com.

Casey was the 2010 recipient of the Truth & Justice Award presented by the prestigious Cold Case Investigative Research Institute in Atlanta, Georgia for his landmark re-investigation of the notorious Boston Strangler case. Casey has also received the Edward R. Murrow Award for News Excellence as a member of the WBZ news team and has been nominated for an Emmy Award.

Casey has appeared as a featured analyst on dozens of network television programs including The Today Show, Dateline NBC, FOX News, The View, The CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC World News Tonight, The History Channel, National Geographic, Discovery and The Travel Channel. Casey Sherman is also a sought after public speaker who has delivered speeches at prominent venues including The US Coast Guard Command Center in Washington, DC, The National Press Club, The Wilbur Theatre, The Historic Somerville Theatre, and the Boston Public Library.