Our Team

Name:  Scott Smith

Title:  CEO and Managing Partner

Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Education:  A.A. from Cypress College, B.A. from CSU, Fullerton and M.A. from USC Annenberg School of Communication

Brands Served:  Anheuser Busch, Pioneer Electronics, Nintendo, Coors Brewing Company, Sprint, Technicolor, Toyota Motorsports, Ralston Purina, Gardenburger, Alaskan Brewing, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Port of Long Beach, Time Warner Cable, Deluxe, Orange County Transportation Authority, California Department of Transportation and Mission Hospital, ReadyOC, American Red Cross

Previous Employment: SVP at Magnet Communications, CEO at CSP Communications, AS at Golin Harris, Brand Manager at Pioneer Electronics, SAE (and intern) at Fleishman-Hillard.

Awards and Achievements: From my first PRSA Prism award earned in 1989 for an Anheuser-Busch project to the 2014 OC PRSA Distinguished Service Award, I’m proud of the many awards received throughout my career as recognized by peers and professional associations. My favorite is a national Platinum Award for an effective responsible drinking program we directed for Coors back in 2000.

What I love most about working in PR:  Coming up with great programs that enhance our clients’ reputations.

How life has prepared me for the world of PR:  As a youngest child I loved to talk. I enjoy selling – was the only kid on my block to hold yard sales to sell my used toys.

Campaign/project/media hit I’m most proud of: Getting Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel to sing karaoke on the Today Show back when we were first introducing this new concept to the U.S. market.

News source I have to check every day: Wall Street Journal

Career highlight: Building two agencies with many of the same friends and team members.

My greatest adventure: Riding my bike from Canada to Central California; wait a minute that pales in comparison to raising my son… 

My favorite quote: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

When I’m not working, you can find me…:  Running, biking, playing golf or tennis and chasing my toddler son around the backyard

StrengthsFinder: Strategic | Input | Learner | Individualization | Achiever

Name: Carrie Gilbreth

Title: Senior Partner

Education: B.A. from Chapman University in Communications

Brands Served: Universal Technical Institute, SANBAG, Caltrans, Coors, DeVry University, Riverside Public Utilities, KB Home, Macy’s, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, County of San Bernardino, Sprint

What I love most about working in PR:  The power of persuasion and how communication influences people to live better, work harder and play more.

How life has prepared me for the world of PR:  I was raised to be loyal to where you came from and always help those around you.  With more than a decade of experience working for national brands and commuting, my backyard came calling.  We opened an office in the Inland Empire and today we bring our national expertise to our own region.

Projects I’m most proud of: “21 Means 21” Alcohol Awareness Assembly – Working with Coors to promote no underage drinking in a border town resulted in no alcohol-related accidents during prom season.

The I-215 widening, only one of six $100M+ transportation projects in the nation to be awarded stimulus funding. The project is launching a revitalization of the entire Inland Empire. We put the region on the national radar — and AP, the Wall Street Journal, and even Vice President Biden and Congress took note.

My favorite quote: “This too shall pass” – my grandma

When I’m not working, you can find me…:  With my family!

Strengthsfinder: Achiever | Positivity | Communication | Individualization | Arranger

Name:  Christopher Perez, APR

Title:  Partner

Birthplace: Los Angeles

Education: B.A. in Public Relations, University of Southern California

Brands Served: Experian, American Cancer Society, Toyota Motorsports, Johnson & Johnson, Coors Brewing Company, California Department of Transportation, Centers for Disease Control, AQMD, and over 80 other brands and/or organizations.

Pertinent Extracurricular Activity: Adjunct Professor for PR/Communications for Chapman University.

Previous Employment: Founder, Chris Perez Consulting; Senior Vice President, EuroRSCG Magnet; Founder/President, CSP Communications; Account Supervisor, Fleishman-Hillard; Senior Account Executive, Golin Harris.

Awards and Achievements: I’m fortunate to have worked with teams that have won dozens of awards ranging from PRSA, PR Week, Latino Marketing Association and more. But I suppose I am still particularly pleased being awarded the Best Place to Work by our local business journal.

What I love most about working in PR:  Building the skill set and expertise of the professionals I have hired, taught, worked with or mentored.

How life has prepared me for the world of PR: I always appreciated the importance of the news media and for years thought I might be a career journalist; that is, until I recognized that PR is the career that shapes what journalists cover.

Campaign/project/media hit I’m most proud of: Winning Tecate Cerveza as a client, which firmly established the Latino Practice I launched on the national PR scene.

News sources I check every day: Los Angeles Times; Business Insider; Today Show

Favorite morning news show: The Today Show

Career highlight: Building and selling a successful PR firm with amazing professionals; several of which I work with to this day.

My greatest adventure: Producing an independent feature film.

My favorite quote: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:13

When I’m not working, you can find me…:  Hiking, enjoying live music, volunteering, or playing guitar with the Soggy Bottom Boyz.

NAME: Daniel Rhodes

TITLE: Senior Vice President

BIRTHPLACE: Washington, D.C.

EDUCATION: B.A. in Communications from American University; M.P.W. (Masters in Professional Writing) from University of Southern California

BRANDS SERVED: Port of Long Beach, Kelly, Pioneer, BENQ, Irvine Company, Alzheimer’s Association, Ericsson, Technicolor, Universal Technical Institute (UTI)

WHY I DECIDED TO GO INTO PR: Solving branding, marketing, and communications problems for organizations and people.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN PR: Because I believe in the “train your own replacement” philosophy of management, what I love most is growing teams and watching the individual members succeed over time.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING AT WESTBOUND: The firm’s commitment to applying behavioral sciences to solving marketing challenges for our clients. We read, think, and discuss a great deal about what influences people and how what we learn can be built into marketing programs that affect change.

HOW LIFE PREPARED ME FOR THE WORLD OF PR: The older I get, the more I try to put myself in the shoes of others to understand what motivates them. It is that understanding that enables difference-making communication. There’s a reason why you can’t spell perception and perspective without the letters PR.

CAMPAIGN/PROJECT/MEDIA HIT I’M MOST PROUD OF: CBS Morning Show segment for HomeAid’s Project Playhouse featuring an American Girl-branded house that was literally hauled across the county, then driven curbside outside CBS Studios in Manhattan.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: A recent one was breaking a world record for the longest line of carved pumpkins at Great Park Neighborhood’s Pumpkin Glow event in October 2014.

ONE COMPANY I WOULD LOVE TO PUT TOGETHER A PR PROGRAM FOR: SpaceX

NEWS SOURCE I MUST CHECK EVERY DAY IS: Mashable, HuffPo, and the entertainment trades

MY GUILTY PLEASURE: I waste more time than I should on fantasy baseball

MY FAVORITE QUOTE: “No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.” Yoda from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING, YOU CAN FIND ME…: Teaching public relations classes at Chapman University

STRENGTHSFINDER TRAITS: Strategic | Input | Ideation | Learner | Achiever

Name: Dannella Pennington

Title: Administration Director

Birthplace: Westminster, CA

Brands Served: Every Brand Westbound Communications serves!

Previous Employment: 37 years of experience in Operations, Finance, and Administration.

Achievements: Spending time with my amazing Westbound team.

Why I decided to go into Management, Administration, and HR:  I enjoy helping others; I love numbers and the challenge of a great budget, and ensuring that staff has an efficient and healthy work environment.

What I love most about working in PR: I enjoy the grand opening events and networking.

What I love most about working at Westbound: It all comes back to the great people I work with and being able to help the staff in their personal and professional growth.

How PR influences my daily life:  I enjoy the challenge of helping our agency grow.

A business moment I’ll always remember:  Devore Interchange Project groundbreaking ceremony with a golden shovel and the helicopters hovering over the Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project groundbreaking.

The PR program I am most impressed by:  Ready OC, because it was my first PR outreach experience.

News source I have to check every day:  FOX News

My greatest adventure:  Going fishing with my Dad.

My favorite spots in the U.S.: Muir Woods in San Francisco, Illinois, and Niagara Falls

My dream vacation destination: Hawaii

My hidden talent: Singing

My guilty pleasure: A box of frozen Junior Mints

My favorite quote: “One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.” –Elbert Hubbard

When I’m not working, you can find me: Being pampered by my husband

Strengthsfinder: Woo | Individualization | Achiever | Relator | Strategic

Name: Robert Chevez

Title: Account Director

Birthplace: Los Angeles

Education: BA in Journalism and Public Relations; Minor in Marketing from CSULB

Brands Served: SANBAG, RCTC, OCTA, CVAG, Port of Long Beach, Caltrans, Omnitrans, Atkinson Contractors LP, HDR, Vali Cooper, Jacobs Engineering, Mission Hospital, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sprint, Tecate, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota Philanthropy

Previous Employment: Magnet Communications (Euro RSCG), Project Tomorrow

Awards and Achievements: Dozens of awards in the public relations/communications fields, including being a member of the Westbound team that won a PRSA Silver Anvil Award for the SANBAG I-215 Widening Project

What I love most about working in PR: The opportunity to strategically help educate audiences on a variety of topics; continual learning process.

What I love most about working at Westbound: The opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues to help a variety of clients achieve their communication goals

How PR influences my daily life: I am constantly evaluating and dissecting the messages received through various communication vehicles (TV, radio, online).

Campaign/project/media hit I’m most proud of: Securing the Wall Street Journal for SANBAG’s I-215 Widening Project funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

A business moment I’ll always remember: My first day working at an agency and heading to MSNBC with the CEO of Allergan. What made it memorable was that we drove on Interstate 5 right through the neighborhood where I grew up in East Los Angeles – the place where my parents came to the United States as immigrants from Central America seeking a better life for their children.

Career highlight: Launching the CDC’s “VERB. It’s What You Do” Youth Media Campaign in Washington, D.C. with former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson.

News source I have to check every day: NPR

My greatest adventure: I’ve been fortunate to travel globally a number of times.

My favorite spots in the U.S.: Chicago, Miami, New York

My favorite quote: “The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know.” – Socrates

When I’m not working, you can find me: photographing landscapes and cityscapes, watching documentaries, traveling the world or mixing electronic music.

Strengths Finder traits: Adaptability l Woo l Positivity l Connectedness l Empathy

Name: Kelly Imbriani, APR

Title: Account Director

Birthplace: Riverside, California

Education: B.A. in Mass Communications from CSU San Bernardino; M.A. in Communications from California CSU Fullerton

Brands Served: Inland Regional Center of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, Mojave River Watershed Group, Universal Technical Institute, Omnitrans, Riverside County Transportation Commission, County of San Bernardino, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Time Warner Cable, Macy’s, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), San Bernardino Economic Development Agency

Awards and Achievements: I have participated in 15+ award-winning social media, media relations and community outreach campaigns. Meanwhile, I am the proud recipient of the famous orange “Tough Mudder” headband! With a team of four men, I ran a 12-mile high-intensity obstacle course filled with fire, electric shock walls, 6 ft. climbing walls, and tons of mud!

What I love most about working in PR: A typical desk job just isn’t right for me! It is impossible to get bored working for a PR agency because we are constantly juggling strategic programs for a diverse set of clients.

What I love most about working at Westbound: Having colleagues that share a genuine interest in influencing positive community change. I love working collaboratively with creative intellectuals.

How life has prepared me for the world of PR: My Dad taught me the “Koehler Way” and my mom taught me how to be fierce and independent as a woman, which means I have worked hard for everything in my life.

Campaign/project/media hit I’m most proud of: In August 2014, San Bernardino Police Department Officer Gabe Garcia was shot on duty. Stepping in to help the department craft messages regarding the incident for social media and the media was an unforgettable experience. As a daughter and sister to law enforcement heroes, this work hit close to home.

One company I would love to put together a program for: Any company that has wellness, sustainability and mindfulness top of mind – how about Subaru!?

News source I have to check every day: Mind, Body Green, Huffington Post, Press Enterprise

My favorite spots in the U.S.: I love the hippie vibe, eco-friendly consciousness and natural surroundings of the Pacific Northwest, especially Portland, Vancouver and Seattle. San Diego is laid back and incredible too!

*My favorite quotes: “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Strengths Finder traits: Relator | Developer | Positivity | Empathy

Name: Jessica Neuman

Title: Media Manager and Senior Account Executive

Education: B.A. in Literature, with a minor in Journalism from the University of California, Santa Cruz

Brands Served: Kelly Services, If You See Something, Say Something™, ReadyOC, CaliforniaChoice, Chapman University, CalOptima, Providence St. Joseph Health, Mission Hospital, City of Huntington Beach, Baby Looney Tunes, etnies, Fisher & Phillips LLP, LPA, Inc., Pacific West Association of REALTORS®, The Joy Factory, University of California, Irvine, Chapman University, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Watson Land Company, among others.

What I love most about working in PR: I love being able to work with a client to define their public relations and marketing objectives and develop strategies to generate brand awareness, whether it is in the media or through community outreach. Also, I love the feeling I get when I place a client in a great print, online or broadcast story, and I appreciate hearing how the placement has helped their business.

Media hits I’m most proud of: I have two: securing coverage for the Oregon Bach Festival on NPR’s Weekend Edition; and placing Chapman University’s first national fear study in outlets including CBS This Morning, USA Today, the New York Times, Washington Post and more.

Career highlight: Having the opportunity to attend the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and manage/facilitate more than 100 in-booth media editorial briefings.

News source I have to check every day: there are many, but these are my favorites: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NPR, San Diego Union-Tribune, the Washington Post and the Orange County Register.

My greatest adventure: spending three months in Washington D.C. (in the winter) and interning with Foreign Policy in Focus, which launched my public relations career.

When I’m not working, you can find me…: reading, spending time with my family, including my niece and nephews, traveling, walking my parents’ dogs (someday, I will have one of my own) and hanging out with friends.

StrengthsFinder: Learner | Responsibility | Achiever | Maximizer | Intellection

Name: Christie Collins

Title: Account Executive

Birthplace: San Diego, California

Education: B.A. in Communications from California Baptist University; Two A.A. degrees in Communications and Behavioral Science from Mount San Jacinto College

Previous Employment: Marketing Coordinator for the Arlington Business Partnership, a Business Improvement District in the City of Riverside.

Awards and Achievements: My dog won first place at the National Collie Show.

What I love most about working in PR: I love being able to implement a company’s project and creatively find solutions to enhance their efforts to reach the public.

What I love most about working at Westbound: My team! A company is only as great as the people that work there, and Westbound has some of the most innovative and creative people I have had the pleasure to work with. You can be sure every day at Westbound is lively!

How life has prepared me for the world of PR: My previous work experience was driven by customer service, which is so important to the field of PR. You have to be able to work well with others and, above all, be able to communicate your ideas and affect change.

How PR influences my daily life: I am a better communicator, which helps in my relationships with my family and friends. It teaches me to have a mind that is able to dissect problems and create realistic solutions.

A business moment I’ll always remember: Coordinating my first big event was something I will never forget. It was a public Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Riverside.

One company I would love to put a PR campaign together for: KCRW, an alternative radio station in the LA area.

News source I have to check every day: Huffington Post and CNN…I also adore John Oliver’s “This Week Tonight.”

Accomplishment I’m most proud of: I had the opportunity to write a full-length play and perform in it twice.

My favorite spots in the U.S.: Seattle, Washington is my favorite city in the U.S. because the weather is perfect, the coffee is delicious, and the music scene is thriving.

My favorite quote: “Wherever you stand, be the soul of that place” – Rumi

When I’m not working, you can find me: Writing music, at the gym, hiking, swing dancing and thrift shopping.

Strenghtsfinder: Futuristic | Communication | Individualization | Developer | Arranger

NAME: Annie Sullivan

TITLE: Account Executive

BIRTHPLACE: Boulder, Colorado

EDUCATION: B.A. in Communications with a minor in Public Relations from Chapman University

BRANDS SERVED: Port of Long Beach, Providence St. Joseph Health System, Mission Hospital, Chapman University, Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County Healthcare Agency, Orange County Waste & Recycling, Universal Technical Institute, ReadyOC, If You See Something Say Something, California Choice, CalOptima

WHY I DECIDED TO GO INTO PR: I have always had a thirst for new ideas and knowledge. You know what they say… The more you read, the more you know. But with me, the more I know, the more I realize I need to know. PR comes in countless shapes and forms, interacting with every media and touching every industry, all the while constantly evolving with the rest of the world. I am energized by the challenge of keeping up.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN PR: There is always something to learn. And something to do. I love the fast-paced and energetic environment that is PR.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WORKING AT WESTBOUND: Intelligent, creative and hardworking co-workers that value integrity and encourage me to grow.

ONE COMPANY I WOULD LOVE TO PUT A PR CAMPAIGN TOGETHER FOR: Airbnb.

NEWS SOURCE I HAVE TO CHECK EVERYDAY: The Skimm, CNN, Mashable, NPR and the OC Register

MY GREATEST ADVENTURE: Traveling around the world, visiting 13 countries from Asia to Africa, on a ship for a semester in college.

MY FAVORITE SPOT IN THE U.S.: Allen’s Lake in Colorado.

MY NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURE: Dogs.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE: Creativity is intelligence having fun. – Albert Einstein

WHEN I’M NOT WORKING, YOU CAN FIND ME: walking my dog, with my friends and family, traveling, cooking or reading.

STRENGTHS FINDER TRAITS: Input | Learner | Intellection | Empathy | Futuristic

Name: Elle Carlos

Title: Assistant Account Executive

Birthplace: Redlands, CA

Education: BA in Public Relations and Mass Media from California State University, San Bernardino

Brands Served: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Mojave River Watershed Group, San Bernardino County – Lake Gregory Dam Improvement Project, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority

Why I decided to go into PR: When I thought about what I wanted my career to be, I weighed my passions and found that PR allowed me to combine my love for writing, creating social media content, event planning, and design. Most importantly, I knew I never wanted a job that restricted me to sitting behind a desk every day. PR gives me a healthy balance of time in the workplace and being on the go!

What I love most about working in PR: There is never a dull moment! I love having the opportunity to work with clients from various industries and the daily challenge of new assignments.

What I love most about working at Westbound: We truly are a team and have the advantage of holding genuine friendships and working relationships with one another that lead to a collaborative work environment and ultimately brilliant results for our clients.

How PR influences my daily life: I find myself thinking strategically before offering input and being much more of a listener in my personal life.

Campaign/project/media hit I’m most proud of: I am most proud of the San Manuel Hotel and Casino Expansion project. As a life-long resident of the San Manuel area, being on the strategic side of a project that will bring jobs and grow business for my city is especially dear to my heart.

Career highlight: Generating the idea of creating a flight experience through Prezi for the SBCTA 3CMA presentation. A small brainstorm snowballed into a detailed Prezi presentation that had the audience raving afterwards.

One company I would love to put a PR campaign together for: Steve Madden

News source I have to check every day: Rollingstone, Buzzfeed, BBC News, Mashable

Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Graduating with a dual BA degree in front of my family and having my mom (CSUSB faculty member) on stage to hand me my diploma.

My greatest adventure: My greatest adventure to date was studying abroad in London in 2014. This was not only my first time out of the country but also my first time meeting my U.K. relatives.

My favorite spots in the U.S.: Los Angeles, CA and Encinitas, CA. Los Angeles, because I’m a big city girl and there’s something magical about being in a place where dreamers gather from around the world.  Encinitas, is my hideaway when I need to unplug, enjoy the beach and surf a bit.

My guilty pleasure: Powdered donuts

My favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Strengths Finder traits: Futuristic, Strategic Responsibility, Focus