About Us

With a record of creative excellence for its clients, SurfMedia Communications serves organizations with a commitment to community, society and culture. Juliana Minsky and Christopher Davis founded SurfMedia in 2000 to unite their combined expertise in marketing, national media relations, and technology with their passion for helping nonprofits and companies whose work benefits society. SurfMedia has fueled unsurpassed results for its clients across all media categories while providing exceptional service to its clients, their partners and stakeholders.

Our Team

Juliana Minsky, Partner View my profile

As co-founder of SurfMedia Communications, Juliana has developed and implemented strategic marketing and communications for dozens of organizations including Direct Relief International, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), and Parsons Group, Inc. Prior to founding SurfMedia, Juliana lead national media relations efforts on behalf of clients including Time-Warner Inc., People Magazine, Book of the Month Club, and emerging technology ventures. She was vice president of marketing for early web venture Universal Access, Inc., whose team developed the first online banking system for Wells Fargo and the first database-backed website development platform. At Universal Access, Inc., Juliana established master software and marketing agreements in the U.S., Japan, and Europe, working with key customers including MCI, Hearst New Media, and McGraw-Hill Publishing. She spent “the grunge years” in Seattle as co-founder of a cafe and gallery of emerging artists. Juliana serves on the Board of Casa Esperanza Homeless Center.

Christopher Davis, Partner

Chris brings expert communications and public relations strategy to groups including SEE International, Mental Health Association in Santa Barbara County, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc., Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, and the Rona Barrett Foundation. Chris previously served as vice president of Cyberspace Public Relations in Santa Barbara. Davis served as the Media Associate and National Spokesperson during disasters at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC, and was interviewed on/for numerous national TV, radio shows and for publications including CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, and the New York Times. He managed the work of nearly 400 public affairs workers in 50 states and assigned public affairs teams to disasters. Chris was senior public affairs executive at the national Headquarters of the Peace Corps, also in Washington, D.C.  He earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Northern Arizona University and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. He was raised in Santa Barbara.

Staff Bios

Marjorie Wass, Senior Account Executive

Marjorie brings insight from her national experience in consumer marketing, public relations and trade show management to SurfMedia’s clients in green/energy efficiency, humanitarian relief and the Arts.  Her work has led to media placements in high visibility national and regional news. Prior to her return to Santa Barbara, Marjorie taught English, studied Arabic and French, and coordinated the drama club at the American Language Center in Rabat, Morocco for two years. She graduated magna cum laude in theatre studies with a minor in linguistics at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.  In 2010, Marjorie was selected to participate in Rotary’s Group Study Exchange program, travelling  in Bangladesh for one month with a team of young professionals to learn about the country and exchange professional skills.

Candice Tang,  Account Executive

Candice brings her compassionate soul and a business communications background to her work for SurfMedia’s clients in energy efficiency and green energy upgrade financing, and women’s, youth and seniors programs. Before joining our team, Candice worked for an investor relations and corporate communications agency, and also served as Distribution and Marketing Manager at BabyFirstTV, an international television channel offering educational programming for youth audiences.  She was responsible for international business development and creation of marketing materials, including company and product presentations, product catalogs, media kits and e-mail campaigns. Previously, Candice was an account executive at the Pacific Coast Business Times. Candice earned her master’s in business administration from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management with an emphasis in marketing and her bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in English from the University of California, Irvine.

Kelly Kapaun,  Account Executive

Kelly brings a background in education and healthcare to SurfMedia. She served as Communications Specialist for the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas where she wrote and designed district publications, oversaw advertisement design, and assisted with video production for the district television channel. She also served as a Marketing and Communications Intern at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Kansas. Kelly received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. For three consecutive years, Kelly received the Excellence in Writing and Publication Award from the National School Public Relations Association and the Kansas School Public Relations Association.  As an AmeriCorps participant, Kelly served as a volunteer coordinator for a non-profit healthcare organization and supervised more than 60 volunteers.

Interns

Michael Gillooly, Public Relations Intern

Michael Gillooly is completing his BA in Political Science with a minor in English, with honors, at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Michael previously interned for the Congressional Management Foundation in Washington DC and the Congressional District Office of Lois Capps.  He was awarded the UCSB Kirby Jones Award, Jack O’Connell Award, United States Marine Corps Semper Fi Award, and Bank of America Leadership Award.