Telling The Story of A Veteran Battling Cancer While Getting His MBA

Our appreciation to long term client Brandman University, part of the Chapman University System; Chancellor Brahm and, most importantly to Bryan Fazio, a 28-year old Navy vet battling what may be terminal cancer while earning his MBA at Brandman for allowing us to tell his story. Bryan, along with his mother and caregiver Sheryl, have been inspirational in urging those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases to never give up and to pursue their goals. He doubled up on his courses for his MBA to make sure that he would graduate on time. Despite  the grim prognosis, Bryan has gone on to earn a second Master’s degree from Brandman and is scheduled to receive his law degree this year. Thanks to media and reporters such as Steve Lopez at the Los AngelesTimes; U.S. News; Bloomberg BusinessWeek and others over the past few years for reporting on Bryan’s commitment to assist veterans facing physical and psychological challenges.. Brandman has established the Bryan A. Fazio Scholarship to assist other vets in their educational objectives. Bryan is doing well and looking forward to a productive 2016!

Work Samples

Navy Vet, 26, Fights Terminal Cancer - KABC San Diego

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Navy Veteran and Cancer Patient - CBS-LA

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No time for that pity party

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Phone: 310.849-5573

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Web: www.smithpr.com

Testimonials

We brought Steve onboard to help us define our position in the marketplace and provide a marketing strategy to take us to the next level. He performed a comprehensive audit of our senior staff, board members and other key parties to provide a positioning for our business model, searched for a branding agency overseeing all elements of the RFP, and conducted an advertising agency resource review with equal skill and professionalism. He handled these challenging tasks with enthusiasm and efficiency that made our senior staff’s time effective throughout this process. Following the completion of the branding and advertising searches, Steve supervised a number of other marketing programs including a public relations outreach which resulted in highly positive exposure in USA Today, CNNRadio, ABC television, CBS Marketwatch and many more placements for our new brand. He has become an important part of our team and I would recommend him without reservation as a professional who is a quick study, able to drive a marketing campaign to successful goals and is focused on providing tangible ROI for his clients.
Gary Brahm, Chancellor & CEO, Brandman University, part of the Chapman University System, Former EVP & COO, Chapman University
Articulating the broad-based philosophy and passion of the founders of a truly revered product requires a skill set that is much more strategic and complex than a traditional marketing campaign. Steve Smith and his team were selected to craft and implement just such a program for Cakebread Cellars which would persuasively convey the family’s commitment to community, education and the joy of wine and food. The quality and demand for their premium wine was the foundation for communicating the Cakebread’s ideals and values to a high end audience through a flow of ‘backend’ stories by top-tier media and through proprietary events. This included the American Harvest Workshop, which brings together leading chefs and journalists and Cakebread U, which provides a three-day educational program for students from leading universities about the world of wine. The agency focused on the most powerful non-wine press continuing to build on brand cache and the vision of the founders. There aren’t many agencies that get it but Smith PR does.
Cathleen Burke Visscher, Founder, Wine Works & Co., Former senior vice president and director of corporate development at Kobrand Corp., a leading high end wine and spirits company with interests in California, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and more