Mark Gilman
President
When we say Mark Gilman has experience all over the map, we mean it two ways – he's been almost everywhere (with a well-stamped passport and former addresses in 9 states and 13 cities) and he's seen action in a wide range of public relations and marketing fields – military, political, legal, technology, business-to-business and more.
Mark launched his PR career while serving in the Navy and studying Journalism in the exclusive Defense Information School. He served for six years as a “Propaganda Specialist” before shoving off for a civilian career and finishing his education at Keene State College in New Hampshire.
Mark's penchant for traveling didn't stop there – beginning as a television, print and radio reporter, stringing for CBS, ABC , CNN and Mutual Radio, this native New Englander eventually managed talk radio stations across the country and hosted shows in Boston, Detroit, D.C., Houston, Baltimore, Tucson and Albuquerque.
In addition, he served as a Capitol Hill correspondent and a Pentagon correspondent during the first Gulf War.
Mark's taste for travel also found him crisscrossing the country with Fred Goldman during the O.J. Simpson trial, managing events that brought together victims of similar tragedies. The focus of the events was to discuss moving on and turning disastrous experiences into positives. Mark helped ensure that the media took a similar approach – focusing on encouraging stories of positivism and perseverance rather than tragedy.
Over his many miles, Mark has also gathered experience in many industries. For EDS, he successfully managed communications and media coverage to help put a positive face on the company during a share-dropping, office-closing point in its history. Mark also helped a Detroit area law firm that was previously seen as an institutional tax firm to reframe itself as a technology and business firm worthy of much more media attention. New clients and alliances followed. Other organizations Mark has served include Comcast Corporation and Safe Streets, a public policy group in Washington D.C.
Bill Gray
National Media Director
Bill Gray has travelled a well documented national media career, serving as a national magazine editor/writer covering aspects ranging from the NBA hardwood, NASCAR tracks and the NHL arena to the PGA of America links and the international tennis stage.
It's that both-worlds media background that gives Bill an edge in knowing what editors and producers want by finding the "hook" and focusing on the strategy that will sell readers, viewers and listeners.
This hybrid media career started as the sports editor of his hometown newspaper, The Birmingham (Michigan) Eccentric. But after a year on the job of covering high school sports, he received what was an irresistible offer for someone who had practically grown up with a hockey stick on the frozen Michigan lakes -- an offer to do PR for his beloved Detroit Red Wings.
The sports PR experience would serve him well later in his career as an account director for PCGCampbell in Detroit, an agency that specializes in NASCAR public relations and promotion, doing media outreach and strategy from the onset of the racing season at the Daytona 500 to the grand finale championship at Miami-Homestead.
Bill has also created the editorial tone and manner for the likes of the NBA (NBA Inside Stuff for kids) and the PGA (PGA Magazine) for its touring and teaching pro membership, and served as a senior editor at TENNIS Magazine, the sport's largest consumer publication.
But his career hasn't been all-sports-all-the-time. Bill has also served as a daily columnist for The Detroit News, the features editor of The San Diego Union and in corporate communications and PR for General Motors and the Ford Motor Company.
Bonnie Caprara
Director of Written Media
Bonnie Caprara has held a number of hats in her career, but they've all been covered in news print. Bonnie is an accomplished and award wining writer and editor, serving in long-term roles as a reporter for the Grosse Pointe and Detroit News as well as working in media relations capacities for medical and educational institutions and non-profits.
She has also a demonstrated proficiency in not only writing meaningful stories as a journalist, but mastering the art of “creative pitching” -- which serves her well in her capacity as a writer and media relations specialist at Decus as Director of Written Media.
The Wayne State Journalism grad and Clinton Township resident also stays busy keeping up with her two sons at Fraser High and Western Michigan University, while spending her other hours as a bona fide patron of the arts, handling publicity for the Grosse Pointe Artists Association. If journalism and writing expertise can be considered art – Bonnie has found an easel at Decus where her work is admired daily.
Katie Dear
Account Supervisor/Office Manager
At a time when many young professionals are looking to spread their wings in bigger cities and warmer climates, Katie Dear knew where she wanted to be -- home.
Since graduating from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., Katie came back to Michigan and worked at two other local public relations firms, where she specialized in retail, non-profit and special events, before coming to Decus Communications.
"I love the interaction with clients and knowing my work will make a difference," Katie says. Most likely you'll talk to Katie when you call Decus, because she's there all the time, holding the agency together and making sure everyone is on schedule.
Katie's work definitely makes a difference outside of the office, too. She teaches a kindergarten class and works with middle school girls at her church.
Katie also spends time with the people who lured her home -- her family. We're certainly happy to have her part of our family at Decus Communications, too.
Marsha Carter
Client Executive – Media and Public Relations
Style, energy and infectious enthusiasm are the traits that best describe this Detroiter's personality, which perfectly blends with her media facing duties as Decus' media relations maven. An experienced and well-traveled radio reporter in Michigan at WOOD-AM in Grand Rapids, WSJM-AM in St. Joseph and in the Illinois state capitol of Springfield with WMAY-AM, Marsha has also lead TV news teams as assignment editor at WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids and KIRO-TV in Seattle.
A proud Bronco, Marsha earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and received her master's degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Like most of Decus' eclectic and well-rounded staff, Marsha proves daily that life is much more than a PR gig. In addition to managing (a term used loosely) her son Malone's daily enterprises, Marsha also lends her unique talents in various Detroit based venues where she recites original poetry. Among other places, she has performed at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, Detroit Music Hall, Baker's Keyboard Lounge and Bert's Market Place. Currently, she is the resident host of poetry night at one of Detroit's premier restaurants, Grand City Grille. Look for her new CD, coming out this winter and continued praise and adulation from the audience who appreciates her most – Decus' clients.
Ken Paulus
Director of Business Development - Carolinas
As a child, Ken had a taste for some of the finer things in life, Michael Jordan Basketball Shoes, Collectable Baseball Cards, Beastie Boys Tapes and Nintendo Video games. Frustrated by the lack of support from his mother and father to spend good "hard earned" money on such frivolous items, Ken became an entrepreneur at the age of 11 cutting lawns in the local neighborhood to support his consumer habits and to save money for college in order to become a lawyer (that lawyer thing is still on hold).
Upon graduation from Michigan State University, Ken went to work for a small venture capital firm specializing in early-stage high-growth industries. During that time he co-created Digital Detroit, a non-profit organization designed to foster the high-tech, business and entrepreneurial communities in the region through networking, marketing and media.
In 2005, Ken moved to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation where he served under Governor Jennifer Granholm as the Director of Entrepreneurial Affairs and acted as a liaison for all 15 Michigan public universities, handling the development of entrepreneurial and technology transfer activities. Ken also led a number of marketing and public relations initiatives including the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest, Governor's University Award for Commercialization Excellence (U-ACE) and the Technology Tri-Corridor Fund.
Ken moved to Charlotte, N.C. in 2006 to build the entrepreneurial community in the Carolinas covering sectors in biotechnology, legal, advanced manufacturing, information technology and university research. This includes serving as a producer for the annual Five Ventures® Business Plan Competition (www.FiveVentures.com) and the Charlotte Biotechnology Conference (www.CharlotteBiotechnology.com) before joining Decus to help spur its Carolina growth in gaining new technology and business clients.
In what little spare time he has, Ken continues to travel, participate in competitive men's baseball, entertains friends and family through guitar playing and spirited political discourse. Ken lives in the Charlotte area with his wife Sara and Black Labrador Dewey.
Patti Gilman
New Business Development and Client Relations
You've probably met the type of person who can sell ice cubes to Eskimos? Patti's the type of person who can sell the ice cubes, the freezer and the snow it sits on. With an impressive 15 year sales career where she constantly ranked in the top 2% of her profession, she is also one of the more genuinely nice people you'll ever meet. She's also one of those folks who walk into a room and everyone notices, which is obviously good for us. Patti recently joined Decus to help build new opportunities and managing client relations from a practical and relational viewpoint (her forte). Once you meet her, you'll never forget her. She only makes us all look better. A lifelong Michigander and devoted Mom, wife and real estate maven, Patti also loves softball, being a hockey and baseball Mom and devoting whatever free time is left to a myriad of charitable causes throughout the state and around the world.
