Kricun Media led communications and media relations for Portillo’s Scottsdale launch and Tempe expansion. The campaign connected with Chicago transplants and introduced the brand to a wider Valley audience through food, business and general-interest media.

Highlight: Scottsdale’s opening was the largest in company history, according to founder Dick Portillo.

Susan’s embedded leadership connects brand, PR, fundraising communications, digital, direct mail and events. Her work has also included leading a stakeholder process to revise the organization’s mission statement, directing a comprehensive website overhaul and relaunch, managing outside specialists and vendors, and supporting the executive director with key organizational communications.

Highlight: Nearly a decade of integrated communications leadership connecting day-to-day execution with larger organizational, fundraising and leadership priorities.

Kricun Media developed and delivered two corporate events tied to a major solar initiative at ASU. Susan shaped a sustainability-themed tailgate concept with a distinctly Southwest and ASU feel, leading creative development, partner coordination, full production and onsite delivery.

Highlight: Two distinct events — an executive reception and a larger corporate gathering — were connected through one sustainability-themed creative concept carried through the setting, program and guest experience.

Susan and communications colleague Kim Rockley created the Fix.Adopt.Save. name, logo and campaign brand for an eight-organization animal-welfare alliance. The engagement spanned a three-year communications strategy, messaging, media relations, community outreach and public launch.

Highlight: A unified campaign supporting a $6 million initiative to reduce pet homelessness.

Artigue Agency brought Susan in to lead media relations for Taste of the NFL during Super Bowl XLIX. Over eight months, she directed local, regional and national publicity for the event and its hunger-relief mission.

Highlight: Coverage included NBC’s TODAY, CNN, NBC Sports, Reuters and USA Today.

Susan spearheaded communications for ASM Global’s reimagination of Desert Diamond Arena. The campaign shaped the public story around the venue’s transformation, bringing together project partners and positioning the arena for its next chapter in music and entertainment.

Highlight: Communications for a $42 million transformation spanning nearly 25 redesigned spaces.

Kricun Media led grassroots publicity in Arizona as the independent film built a strong local following. The relationship grew into additional work with the filmmakers, related entertainment projects and early publicity for Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Highlight: The film achieved a record-setting 11-month run at Harkins Valley Art Theatre.

Kricun Media created and managed the groundbreaking for Valley Metro’s light-rail project. Susan led planning, budgeting, media strategy, civic-leader coordination and the run of show, connecting a major public milestone with a memorable event experience.

Highlight: Civic leaders activated a giant custom ON/OFF switch to mark the project’s beginning.

Susan stepped into the Zoo’s PR and media-relations function during maternity leaves, maintaining continuity across programs, attractions and media opportunities. Those relationships also led to additional project publicity, extending the work beyond the original interim assignments.

Highlight: The Phoenix Zoo brought Susan back for three separate interim assignments, maintaining communications continuity and extending the relationship into additional project work.

Kricun Media led publicity for Echo Coffee’s philanthropic partnership with the Arizona Humane Society, introducing a first-of-its-kind Valley model that combined an ongoing commitment of one percent of revenues with a new Echo Coffee location inside AHS’s Papago Park campus. The story connected business, community and animal welfare while positioning Echo as a long-term philanthropic partner.

Highlight: Coverage included Arizona Republic/azcentral, a front-page Arizona Business Gazette feature, Arizona Foothills Magazine, Daily Independent and News Channel 3.