Tom Becktold serves as Business Wire's Senior Vice President of Marketing.  In addition to leading the company's U.S. marketing efforts, Tom was instrumental in establishing successful programs as the company expanded internationally, including in Canada, the U.K, Germany, France and Japan.   

A 20+-year Business Wire veteran, Tom also oversees the company's successful trade show and events division, which builds relationships with the world's leading event organizations to provide public relations support services to member companies and their audiences.

Tom was promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing in December 2006.   He joined the company in 1988 as a news editor in the Los Angeles bureau, and later held positions as an account executive and regional manager (Newport Beach office).

He has served on local chapter boards for the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Prior to joining Business Wire, Tom worked in consumer and media relations at Hill & Knowlton, Los Angeles.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Pat Evans was promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Human Resources in June, 2006. She oversees the company's newsroom operations and human resources departments and works closely with senior management to set policies and procedures for both areas.

Pat joined the company in 1981 as a biller and soon after moved over to the newsroom as an editor. She continued her growth in the newsroom, becoming national operations manager in 1985 before moving to human resources in 1995.

Prior to joining Business Wire, Pat was a Loan Processor at Provident Mortgage Corporation in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Pat received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.

Neil Hershberg was named Senior Vice President in 2005. He joined Business Wire in 1998 as Vice President of Global Media. He is in charge of worldwide media relations, including building strategic relations with international partners.

Prior to joining Business Wire, Neil spent more than 25 years in the news industry. He began his journalism career as a Newsman with United Press International, New York. Hershberg later joined Newsweek, New York, where he remained for more than 11 years serving in several editorial and executive positions.

Neil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York, and a Master of Science degree in Urban Affairs from Hunter College, New York.

Laura Sturaitis was promoted to Senior Vice President, Media Services & Product Strategy in August 2007. Prior to that she was Vice President of New Media Development. She directs Business Wire's U.S. Media Relations Specialists as well as our ExpertSource, Licensing & Online Content Development and Information Services teams.

She also develops Business Wire's New Media Products & Services offerings such as EON: Enhanced Online News, Smart News Release and the BusinessWired blog and cultivates Business Wire's products, services and partnerships with the leading online, social media and technology companies, in order to provide our members with the best tools to help them craft, deliver and measure their news message and to identify and reach new audiences both via traditional and new media as well search engines, online sites, blogs and social media sites.

Laura joined the company in 1992 as Regional Manager, Florida and held that position until 2000.

Prior to joining Business Wire, Laura was Vice President and General Manager at International Business Chronicle, Miami, and before that Circulation and Marketing Director at The South Florida Business Journal, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English from St. Thomas University, Miami, and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.

Frank Yetter was promoted to Senior Vice President Global Sales in December 2006.

Frank joined the company in 1996 as a Regional Manager for the Boston office and was named a Senior Vice President in 2005.

Prior to Business Wire, Frank was publisher, one of many positions held, at Community Newspaper Company, Needham, Massachusetts, where his career spanned more than 12 years.

Frank received a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.