Our Team

Cecilia Russo Turner, Cecilia Russo Marketing, Savannah Georgia Public Relations (1)

Cecilia Russo Turner, President and CEO

In 2008, Cecilia Russo Turner founded Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC (CRM) to help businesses and organizations increase their visibility locally, nationally, and globally through reputation management, consultation, and fundraising strategies. Throughout her more than 30 year career, Cecilia has managed and participated in philanthropic activities, raising millions of dollars for nonprofit charities and civic improvements in communities throughout Savannah and the Lowcountry and Southeast region of our state. CRM’s team provided strategic direction, public relations, and major gift solicitation for the most successful campaign ever held by the Veterans Council of Chatham County: the World War II Memorial, ‘A World Apart,’ erected on historic West River Street and dedicated in November 2010. Additionally, Cecilia has enjoyed a successful and strong list of small business and corporate clients while also serving as a fundraising consultant and advisor for organizations such as Tour de Georgia, Susan G. Komen Savannah Race for the Cure®, Leadership Southeast Georgia, SAFE Shelter, Inc., American Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgia, Benedictine Military School, Savannah Technical College, and America’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia. Cecilia was the co-founder of Savannah’s Fashion Night Out through Vogue’s Conde Nast in 2013. She was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by Junior Achievement of Savannah in 2013 and named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Savannah Chamber of Commerce in 2018. She is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Southeast Georgia and a proud alumna of St. Vincent’s Academy and the University of Georgia. Cecilia’s most recent civic volunteer efforts include serving as the 2021-2022 Campaign Chair for the United Way of the Coastal Empire, raising a record-breaking $13.1 million last fiscal year, and impacting more than 206,000 people through UWCE’s agencies and programs. She currently holds board positions at the Savannah Technical College Foundation and United Way. Previously, Cecilia actively served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire, Horizons Savannah, Senior Citizens, Inc., Rotary Club of Savannah, and Kiwanis Club of Skidaway Island. She is married to Bob Turner, and they have five grandchildren.

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Suzanne Smith, Cecilia Russo Marketing, Public Relations and Marketing in Savannah

Suzanne Smith

Suzanne Smith joined the Cecilia Russo Marketing team as a Public Relations Coordinator in 2017 and specializes in pitching and coordinating media coverage, campaign research, report generation, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Georgia Southern University. Suzanne served as Chairman for a 2019 Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) Man of the Year, helping to raise more than $26,000 for LLS. Through various donation drives and hands-on volunteer opportunities, Suzanne is always looking for ways to help her community. A native of Cartersville, GA, Suzanne made her home in Savannah in 2006. She is married to Chris Smith, and they have two children, Tinsley and Walker. When she’s not working or chasing her kids around, she enjoys cooking, baking, and reading.

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Kate Hester, Director of Digital Marketing and Strategy

Kate Hester joined the Cecilia Russo Marketing team as the Director of Digital Media Strategy in September of 2023. In this role, she plans and executes data-driven digital strategies and website development. Kate is a skilled project manager, working with clients to understand their needs and help them achieve their goals. She also works on event coordination and management, copy editing and media relations. Kate is a proud “Double Dawg,” earning her journalism BA in 2021 and MA in 2023 from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She also holds a certificate in entrepreneurship from the Terry College of Business. During her graduate studies, Kate worked as the graduate teaching assistant for the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership earning her the Cox Institute Leadership medal. Additionally, she had the incredible opportunity to lead a group of exceptional students on a study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark. Kate’s academic contributions include co-authoring two practice papers presented at the National Association of Leadership Educators annual conference and a practice poster showcased at the International Leadership Association annual conference. A native of Monroe, Georgia, Kate now immerses herself in the vibrant life of Savannah (when not cheering on the dawgs in Athens!). In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city’s unique quirks with friends, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and expressing her creativity through painting.
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Madison Jones, Director of Media Relations

Originally from Columbus GA, Madison Jones graduated from Georgia College & State University with a B.A. in Mass Communication. With over 5 years of PR experience at Green Olive Media in Atlanta, GA directing public relations tactics, social media campaigns and crisis communication plans for a number of new and existing consumer products, hotels, resorts, bar and restaurant brands in various markets, Madison conducted each client in various press placement opportunities, drafted media & social materials, developed special event programs and more. Some notable clients that Madison served as an Account Manager for include; Canoe, C&S Seafood + Oyster Bar, Delta Meat Market, led by James Beard Award-nominated chef Cole Ellis, Easy Bistro & Bar, led by James Beard Award-semifinalist, Chef Erik Niel, Honeysuckle Gelato, King of Pops, King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort and Scofflaw Brewing Co. Madison secured notable press in local, regional, and national markets including Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Cheers, Drift Travel Magazine, Food & Wine, Forbes, Good Grit, Eater, Food Network, Garden & Gun, Saveur, Southern Living, Taste of the South and sets out to tell more compelling stories for her clients. As an ambitious and results-driven communications strategist, Madison now serves as the Director of Media Relations at Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC in Savannah, GA. From brand-building strategy to reputation management, Cecilia Russo Marketing leverages traditional and social channels to engage with key publics, consistently exceeding client expectations. Madison proudly brings her PR experience to a new market.

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Emma Tang

Emma Tang is the website developer and graphic designer for Cecilia Russo Marketing. She graduated in 2008 from Connecticut College with a degree in graphic design and received her Masters degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010 with a degree in information technology with a focus in website development and UI/UX. With over 15 years of experience, she’s had the privilege of working with businesses of all sizes spanning a multitude of industries. Together she takes your initial concept and turn it into a successful design. Design is more than just creating something that looks amazing – it’s about boosting your bottom line. Whether you’re looking for a full-blown e-commerce website or a redesign for your business branding, she’s here to help. She spends her free time with her overly energetic and amazing children and pole vaulting.
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Frank Ricci

Frank Ricci is a freelance writer living in Savannah, Georgia. In his career, he’s contributed to many Las Vegas megaresort brands owned by Mandalay Resort Group and Mirage Resorts. He’s also worked with Dell, Root Sports Network, Savannah College of Art and Design, ad agencies in Las Vegas and New York, and a few years in video slot machine development and production. Before that, he was the original music editor at SCOPE Magazine in Las Vegas. Originally from New Jersey, Frank is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC. He loves music, food, Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and driving slow cars fast.

Jason Herman

Jason Herman brings over 30 years of marketing and management success to businesses of all sizes and industries. As owner/builder of multimillion-dollar startups and executive officer of billion-dollar national chains, he has led staff sizes in the thousands and advertising budgets in the tens of millions. Having managed projects from within Google Headquarters, Jason gained invaluable insights which formed his proprietary digital strategy. Jason leads a team of over 500 experts in Google Advertising, Social Media Strategy, SEO, Reputation Management, and dozens of other service areas…all ready to serve our clients.

Melanie Schmermund

Melanie is an experienced freelance graphic designer, specializing in editorial design and branding. With almost 20 years of experience in the industry, she has worked for various clients to craft visually stunning designs. Melanie is also a contributing designer with Savannah Magazine. After earning her degree from Auburn University, Melanie has been able to turn her passion into a successful career. In addition to graphic design, Melanie loves traveling and exploring the world. In her free time, she has visited 12 different countries and is always looking for new places to visit. With her freelance graphic design experience and enthusiasm for travel, Melanie is an asset to any creative team. Her knowledge and passion are invaluable assets which ensure that each project she works on is of the highest quality. She believes that through collaboration with her clients, great designs can be achieved every time.
“I engaged Cecilia and her team very soon after we launched our business. I needed the word out that I was in a new place and reinforcement/broadcast of my brand. I learned to just be quiet and trust their methods and direction. Four years in, our work is consistently, positively covered in the press, on a monthly basis.”
Brian Felder, Felder & Associates