Tel: 212.736.2727
NextUP is a new video series produced by D S Simon Media and Ragan Communications featuring young leaders in communications. Every NextUP episode gathers advice and experiences through conversation from professionals with under ten years of experience in the industry. Watch the NextUP series here.
Meet the NextUP Co-Hosts

Gabrielle Torres is the Executive Marketing Manager at D S Simon Media. Her role focuses on increasing website visitors and establishing a robust content marketing program as well as new opportunities for revenue growth. She previously worked at POLITICO on their new business team. She is currently a graduate student at Georgetown University studying competitive business intelligence. As a fellow “new” voice in communications, she’s excited to learn about the path others have taken to get where they are.

Lynsey Stanicki is the Digital Video Production & Marketing Content Producer at D S Simon Media. Lynsey records, edits, and produces the “NextUP” and “PR’s Top Pros Talk” series. She also supports marketing initiatives for the company. Lynsey is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Lynsey is ecstatic to help share the journeys and advice of young communicators in the industry.

Isis Simpson-Mersha is a conference producer and reporter at Ragan Communications where she writes content for Ragan.com, PR Daily and Ragan’s Workplace Wellness Insider. She also produces conferences (live and virtual), workshops, bootcamps and webinars with strategic content. Before joining the Ragan team, Simpson-Mersha worked for MLive as a digital and newspaper journalist, reporting on communities and businesses and other topics in mid-Michigan. She also worked as a radio news producer and host at NPR member station, WCMU Public Radio during her time at Central Michigan University. She is so excited for this this series and to learn from the some of the brightest comms leaders in the industry!

Kaitlyn Colón is the Client Service and Marketing Associate at D S Simon Media. She supports both the sales and marketing team in developing content strategies, assists with client service initiatives and research, and aids in creating and optimizing content for social media platforms. Kaitlyn is thrilled to be a part of the “NextUP” series and looks forward to learning and growing from this experience.

Dante Muccigrosso is the Client Reporting & Media Planning Manager at D S Simon Media. He creates analytical reports & media plans to ensure clients expectations are met. As someone who has experience in media planning and analytics, Dante is excited to hear about other aspects of the communications field and some advice on how to thrive in it.