ANDREW ROBERT ABRAMSON
Andy Abramson is the founder of Comunicano, Inc., an asymmetrical
communications consultancy geared to providing clients with Senior
Advising, Marketing, Social and Corporate Communications as well as
Marketer-In-Residence services to start-ups, companies in transition
and established brands with regard to marketing, advertising, public
relations, promotion, events and reputation management.
A veteran of the media, marketing and public relations industries, Andy
has over 34 years of experience in all facets of marketing and
corporate communications. He started his career in the marketing
department of a professional sports team in his native Philadelphia at
age 14 and has been at it ever since.
During his career Andy has worked with numerous clients and
corporations that include traditional package goods product and
manufacturing companies, developed and promoted sports and
entertainment events and place based properties, worked for
professional and amateur sports organizations and with leading
entertainment figures, companies and organizations. He has helped
launch a record label as well marketed companies in the new economy and
technology sectors in both the United States and internationally. Along
the way he has held positions ranging from Communications Officer and
Executive Director, to President and CEO. His diverse array of clients
have included apparel, financial services, online marketplaces,
meta-mediaries, mobile, telecommunications, technology, food products
to an assortment of media, entertainment and sports properties
including teams, athletes, celebrities and facilities.
Since 1994 Andy has also served as a Senior Marketing and Strategy
Consultant to more than a seventy-five startups and B2B, B2C and C2C
companies that sell and market products and services over the web.
Prior to establishing Comunicano in 1993 Abramson guided The Upper Deck
Company's Public Relations and Sports Marketing efforts from 1991-the
fall of 1992 following a two year stint in Account Management with
Foote, Cone & Belding's IMPACT group. There he developed and
implemented Integrated Marketing programs for a wide range of clients.
His advertising and promotional agency role followed a 14 year career
in sports marketing with the Philadelphia Wings, Denver Nuggets and the
Philadelphia Flyers where he served in a variety of capacities ranging
from Group Sales Representative, Office Manager and eventually
President of the team's youth hockey operation, Hockey Central/Office
of Amateur Hockey Affairs from 1976-1988, where he established over 25
programs that remain active today.
In addition to his daily marketing and public relations activities Andy
also co-hosts "The World Technology Round Up," a daily technology
webcast that is heard via KenRadio.com and its syndication partners, by
more than 300,000 daily listeners around the globe. He has also served
as the BBC's Consumer Electronics Market analyst in the USA at CES, and
was seen in 46 countries and 45 PBS stations, by more than 11 million
people. Along with Rutkowski, Abramson co-hosts the annual CommNexus'
(formerly the San Diego Telecom Council) GadgetFest, each fall,
providing a preview event of the newest and coolest consumer technology
products around.
Often quoted both in the consumer and industry press on a wide range of
subjects, Abramson authors VoIPWatch, a daily web-log (blog) along with
Working Anywhere and WiMax Watch as well writing a weekly wine column
for the Del Mar Times.
An active member of associations and advisory boards, Andy is a
Director Emeritus of the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association, a past
Commissioner on the Solana Beach Public Safety Commission and immediate
past president of the Saratoga West Home Owners Association. Most
recently he was named to the Board of Advisors of Vringo, pioneers in
video ringtones from Jerusalem, Isreal, Agito Wireless, an early stage
wireless company based in San Jose, CA, Toronto, ONT based Foncloud and
Pulver Media, producers of the VON conferences, in addition to his
already existing advisory roles with American Telecom Services,
BridgePort Networks, Ottawa, Ontario based iotum and Berkeley, CA based
SightSpeed, the leader in online video and voice communications
services.
Andy holds a B.S. in Journalism, with a concentration in advertising,
from Temple University in Philadelphia where he often serves as guest
lecturer. A telecommuting pioneer since 1989, Andy calls Del Mar, CA
home, where he overlooks the famed Del Mar race track and enjoys a
white and blue water view of the Pacific Ocean along with his oversized
10,000 bottle wine collection.
He is married to Dr. Helene Malabed, with whom he shares an active
lifestyle and a love of wine, travel, dining and technology.