Mark Gilman
President
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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.

Before founding Decus Communications in 2006, Mark enjoyed a rich and varied career which spanned many states and leadership opportunties. Mark launched the PR aspect of his 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.

Mark is has been asked to speak on marketing and public relations strategy to a number of groups including the Association of Legal Adminstrators, the Troy and Macomb County (Mich) Chambers, American Marketing Association and the Michigan Non-Profit Association. He has also taught broadcast journalism classes at Oakland University. A licensed Realtor, Mark is a frequent commentator on residential real estate issues on WWJ NewsRadio 950 in Detroit and WDIV TV 4. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Salvation Army of Eastern Michigan and Enough is Enough in Washington, D.C.

Dan Jankowski
Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
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Dan Jankowski is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Decus Communications LLC, the strategic communications and marketing firm with offices in Clarkston, MI and Charlotte, NC. Dan has more than twenty years’ experience in a broad range of communications disciplines including media and analyst relations, marketing and crisis communications, public affairs and speechwriting. He is an advocate of the strategic use of communications to connect with the media, analysts, customers, employees and other key stakeholders.

Dan’s global experience spans the high technology, automotive, cable & telecommunications and publishing industries. During his career, he has worked closely with C-level executives at some of the world’s largest corporations (including GM, Comcast and Covisint) and with local, national and international media outlets and industry analysts.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan and is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Jennifer Champion
Director, Business Development and Client Services
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Jennifer Champion is Decus' Director of Business Development and Client Services. A veteran of more than 12 years of marketing and sales experience, Jennifer leads our growth initiatives as well as enhance our client services portfolio.

Before joining Decus, Jennifer worked in a variety of industries ranging from medical and pharmaceutical to local television stations and advertising agencies as well as the Detroit Regional Chamber. These experiences have allowed Jennifer to work with companies from small businesses to some of the nation’s largest corporations.

Developing and maintaing strong professional relationships is not something Jennifer saves for the nine to five.  She has also been actively involved in a variety of volunteer activites for a number of years and thrives when given a challenge.

A native of the Detroit metro area, Jennifer returned home in 1996 after a working in sports marketing with the NASCAR racing industry in Charlotte, N.C. A graduate of  Oakland University, Jennifer has a daughter that is the light of her life and is blessed with great family and friends.

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.

Mike Scott
Director of Media Strategy
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Mike Scott has nearly 15 years of experienced as a strategic marketing communications professional, consultant and freelance writer. His work has appeared in more than 100 magazines, newspapers and websites and he has worked directly in marketing communications positions in such industries as healthcare, financial services, energy/utilities and non-profits. He has worked in marketing communications management positions for such companies as The Detroit Medical Center and DTE Energy.

Mike is extremely proactive in developing value-driven marketing strategies for his clients. He has become an expert in the use of social media to promote companies, causes and brands and has a wide range of media contacts through southeastern Michigan and nationally. He maintains regular communications with clients and Mike's personal motto is to never miss a deadline.

You may have seen Mike's work in local magazines, newspapers and websites as a bylined article. You likely have also seen Mike's work without byline as he provides copywriting services for corporate websites, collateral, direct mail pieces and more for his Decus clients. His work has appeared on such websites as CNN.com, DetroiterOnline.com and MLB.com and in such magazines and newspapers as Cigar Aficionado, Legion magazine, 911 magazine Crain's Detroit Business and The Oakland Press.