Jeff KrakoffPresident

Jeff has more than three decades of PR, branding and marketing communications experience and has been inducted into the PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Hall of Fame. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a degree in Journalism & Public Relations and has held leadership positions at several organizations, including Burson Cohn Wolfe (BCW) Global. Jeff is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh Business School.

His hobbies are cycling, soccer, golf and music. Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife Lori, three adult children Andy, Rachel and Josh, and their golden retriever Leo.

Scott BowlinCreative Director

Scott ran his own graphic design firm for more than 15 years before rolling it into Krakoff Communications. He works on everything that includes design from new brands to signage, ads, printed/digital collateral, websites and more. Scott has delivered design solutions for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups. He earned his degree in design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Scott is also a firefighter and spends his free time working out, cycling and spending time with his wife Erica and their boxer Piper.

Kate McPhersonCommunications Manager

Kate began her career as a radio journalist in Australia, reporting on business, natural disasters, health and politics across the Asia-Pacific region. She then moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she covered a range of topics, from politics and environmental issues to fires and snowfall records.

After returning to Australia to work for a national news network, Kate transitioned into media and public relations roles within the hospitality and health industries. She enjoyed working for a large hospital and health system, where she wrote stories for social media and website publication and coordinated media coverage of significant research breakthroughs and remarkable patient recoveries.

In 2020, Kate moved to New York City to serve as a public affairs advisor for the Australian Government. She now lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and son and is excited to use her experience and skills to help KCI’s clients achieve their goals.

Kate received her Bachelor of Arts from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, majoring in journalism and international studies.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys spending time in nature, stargazing, reading historical novels, and can most often be found playing with cars, dragons, and dinosaurs with her toddler.

Sylvie AugustCommunications Associate

Sylvie is a writer at heart, and she enjoys storytelling in any medium. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Digital and Print Journalism and a minor in Art History.

Throughout her classes and multiple internships at Penn State, she studied technical journalism composition but also marketing, film production and social media. She was the Copy Editor for the University’s premier student-run life and style magazine, VALLEY, where she collaboratively edited and helped advise a team of 30 writers.

In her free time, Sylvie enjoys cooking, reading, shopping and exploring the city.

Josh KrakoffCommunications Associate

Josh has worked at KCI in various capacities over the past couple of years and currently works on a variety of client projects while also driving our firm’s new business activities.

A graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising/Public Relations, Josh has experience working with global paints and coating giant PPG as a Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Intern as well as a Corporate Communications Contractor. Additionally, he was a Marketing Intern at Thompson Creek Window Company, one of the nation’s largest independent window manufacturers and retailers serving Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and North Carolina.

Josh is an avid golfer and enjoys fitness, friends and family.

Rachel WilesCommunications Associate

Rachel is an established public relations professional with robust experience in media outreach, writing, content creation and more. Prior to joining the KCI team, she served as an Assistant Account Executive at a Boston-based PR firm, where she specialized in strategic branding development for various clients. Rachel also enjoyed having a hand in communication efforts for non-profits such as the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. A proud Florida Gator, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a concentration in Communications from the University of Florida in 2022.

Outside of work, Rachel dives into her passion for watching her favorite sports teams, writing restaurant reviews and watching way too many movies.