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Marijane oversees all public relations strategy and implementation for theONswitch.
With more than 20 years experience on both coasts, she brings a strategic public
relations and media placement specialty to theONswitch. She is currently managing media relations,
corporate speaking engagements, and press interviews for clients in education/parenting, real estate,
the "green" products sector, services, food, fitness and mental health categories.
Her track record in securing coverage for clients of theONswitch is near perfect, with
media mentions for clients in their target media usually within a 3-month timeframe. She regularly
arranges interviews for local businesses and personalities in the Journal-News, Westchester County
Business Journal, Westchester Magazine and the Westchester section of the New York Times.
Successes extend into national press regularly. Marijane has recently secured feature
coverage for clients of theONswitch with the Associated Press, Forbes.com and The New York Times
Business and Style sections (front page stories) as well as Glamour and Self magazines. Other recent
"press successes" include client interviews with the Wall Street Journal, Business Week (online
edition), People, and Real Simple Magazine.
Prior to joining theONswitch in 2005, Funess consulted for many major public relations
firms including Cohn & Wolf, Chandler-Chicco, Edelman Worldwide, and Ruder Finn. Her work included
assignments in health care, banking and prescription drugs. This followed an eight year tenure with
Burson-Marsteller in Los Angeles and New York, where she was responsible for brand assignments and new
product launches for Hunt-Wesson, Suzuki Motorcycles, Bell Atlantic, Kodak and Sears.
Marijane began her career as a book publicist, placing prominent authors like Danielle
Steele, Joan Didion and Margaret Atwood on media and lecture tours. Following a five-year publishing pr
stint, she opened her own boutique agency in Los Angeles, MJPR. MJPR was ultimately acquired by Ogilvy
& Mather Los Angeles where Marijane became a VP in the consumer division, with a specialty in creative
media strategy. For clients including General Foods and Polaroid, Marijane helped train corporate
spokespeople; plan new product launches and secure media appearances.
When she is not busy "securing 15 minutes of fame" for theONswitch clients, Marijane
is involved in fundraising for the Pelham Picture House Foundation.
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