About
TEAM
James Cortese, Founder
James is a technology marketing leader with 16 years of experience building and running comprehensive marketing communications programs. In February 2015 James founded Gryphon Agency. Before starting his own company, James led the communications team at frog, the global product strategy and design firm. He oversaw the company’s content strategy, including editorial, executive communications, media relations, social media, events, and awards. Prior to frog, James worked at Edelman Public Relations, where he ran PR programs for energy and materials companies, including multinationals like GE and Dow Chemical Co. He was a founding member of Edelman’s clean-tech practice and helped launch and scale many successful energy startups like residential solar pioneer SolarCity. James got his start in Silicon Valley at the respected technology PR firm A&R Partners, where he worked on PR programs for high-tech clients like Palm, Adobe, Akimbo, and Roku in its early days. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MBA with an emphasis in sustainability from Presidio Graduate School.
Kathleen Williams, Entertainment Strategist
Kathleen is an entertainment marketing professional who operates with the belief that strategic leveraging of pop culture can catapult a brand’s awareness in the public psyche to new levels. Her 25 years in public relations and entertainment marketing for consumer, technology and fashion brands have given her a keen understanding of the power entertainment and pop culture serve as vehicles to promote brands. Over the years Kathleen has developed entertainment marketing programs that leverage television, film, and music product placement, brand evangelist programs and studio promotional partnerships. She works on a daily basis with Hollywood studios, television shows and producers, always on the lookout for new ways to insert her clients’ brands attention-grabbing projects. Kathleen received a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. Mary’s College.
Paul Urenda, Associate
Paul is an Austin-based Communication Associate and Advertising Graduate from the Moody College of Communications at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Gryphon full-time after a successful internship with the agency, he completed a marketing internship with product design and innovation firm, argodesign which strengthened his understanding of social strategy and media relations. Along with a previous graphic design internship with technology integration provider TouchMate Inc. these experiences have furthered both Paul’s knowledge and love for design, communication, and technology.
Alex Tassopoulos, Associate
Alex joined Gryphon as a part-time communications associate in August 2018. A recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film, he is now based in Los Angeles, where he is pursuing screenwriting as well as consulting work in marketing and production. He recently worked as an assistant at Buchwald, the full-service talent agency. While in college he completed internships at Gryphon, the digital political advertising firm Harris Media, and the consumer products department of NBC Universal.
