Crystal Destefano

About Crystal Destefano

Crystal is owner and president of Strategic Communications. She oversees both the Syracuse (NY) and West Palm Beach (FL) offices, focusing on leading the team in developing long-term strategies for current and potential future clients. Her team is dedicated to the media needs of client organizations - including proactive communications strategy, media pitching, media monitoring and response - so that organization leaders are able to focus on their businesses, and react to communication needs more quickly and effectively. Crystal Accredited in Public Relations by the Universal Accreditation Board, and through her disciplined use of Strategic Communications’ 5 Step Process for Strategically & Successfully Sharing Good News, she ensures every client benefits from her team\'s approach to maximizing the power of the news media, using both traditional outreach techniques as well as social media to get a message across.She advises clients on how to integrate public relations and social media tools into their communications efforts, with a focus on sharing proactive stories as well as responding to sensitive situations with employees, customers, local communities and the news media. Crystal understands how to maximize the power of the news media to get a message across. Crystal earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance at the State University New York at Albany. She has served as President of the Public Relations Society of America – Central New York Chapter, as Chair for the Northeast District of PRSA, and as the Northeast Regional Representative for the PRSA National Office. She is also a 40 Under Forty award recipient.

Experience

1. President

   Strategic Communications

   Jul 2014 — Present · Syracuse, NY, US

   Crystal DeStefano is President of Strategic Communications in Syracuse, N.Y. She is Accredited in Public Relations by the Universal Accreditation Board.After serving as Director of Public Relations for the company and providing public relations service to its clients for 6 years, Crystal became owner and president of Strategic Communications, LLC.Crystal brings a blend of traditional and social media expertise to the company. She advises clients on how to integrate public relations and social media tools into their communications efforts, with a focus on sharing proactive stories as well as responding to sensitive situations with employees, customers, local communities and the news media. Through her disciplined use of public relations, Crystal understands how to maximize the power of the news media to get a message across. She uses both traditional outreach techniques as well as social media to integrate blogs, podcasts, social networking sites, and other Web based tools.DeStefano earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance at the State University New York at Albany. She has public relations experience from agencies in Albany and Syracuse.Crystal has served as President of the Public Relations Society of America – Central New York Chapter, and as Chair for the Northeast District of PRSA. She now serves as the Northeast Regional Representative for the PRSA National Office. She is also a 40 Under 40 award recipient.

Education

• Onondaga Community College

  AS, Business Administration

  2003 — 2004

• University at Albany

  BS, Business Administration

  2004 — 2006