Our Team
Precision Media & Public Relations is a team of dedicated communications and creative professionals with a passion for helping clients refine their message, elevate their brand, and tell their story in a compelling way. Combining unparalleled insight into the mind of the media and message strategy with decades of experience developing the creative to deliver that message, Precision can be a valuable partner in your communications efforts.
DENNIS WILLARD / President
Dennis formed Precision Media & Public Relations after covering state policy and government as a statehouse reporter in Columbus for 23 years, the last 15 as bureau chief for the Akron Beacon Journal.
As a reporter, Dennis wrote about working and middle class families, children, women, minorities and others who needed a voice in the media. This passion helped him win state and national reporting awards on issues ranging from “The American Dream: Hanging By A Thread,” to the vast inequities in Ohio’s school funding system. Dennis brings that same passion to Precision Media & Public Relations.
From his time as a reporter and then the past decade spent running communications and earned media operations for numerous organizations, his relationships with members of the media across the state are unparalleled. Dennis’ understanding of the mind of the media gives Precision a unique edge when developing strategic communications, crisis communications and earned media plans for our clients.
In order to bring all aspects of a comprehensive communications strategy under one roof, Dennis expanded Precision to include a creative arm that would help drive branding, collateral design, visual support for earned and social media, and web design to ensure brand and message discipline across all communications tools for an organization. With digital communications being such a critical part of any communications and earned media effort, having the ability to run all aspects of communications in one shop gives Precision the ability to partner consistently with clients and provide support every step of the way. We are able to dig in, truly understand the voice of our clients and work as a seamless extension of their work.
Precision has been fortunate to work with an array of non-profits and advocacy organizations that are doing important work in Ohio and around the country. The nature of our clients require Precision to be experts in coalition building, getting buy-in from stakeholders at key points along the way and developing tiered communications plans that prioritize the various audiences – internal, stakeholders, media, public. The more effort we put into tailoring our message to these audiences, the smoother the implementation of any communications plan.
Dennis was born and raised in Youngstown, and joined the U.S. Navy after high school where he worked as a Navy Journalist for the American Forces Radio and Television Service during tours in Greece and Sicily. Upon his return, Dennis earned a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in journalism from The Ohio State University before taking his first statehouse reporting job as a stringer for his hometown newspaper, The Vindicator.
LORI MCCARTHY / Creative Director
Lori has two decades of experience working in design and strategic communications. Lori has worked at the intersection of branding and messaging her entire career, helping organizations round out their messaging framework and communications plan with a strong visual identity framework and brand discipline.
Lori got her start as an in-house designer for the American Red Cross and then went on to develop an independent consultancy with her husband where she worked with a variety of companies, organizations and non-profits. Lori consulted with the Ohio Board of Regents, working with then Chancellor Eric Fingerhut on developing the 10-year strategic plan for the University System of Ohio. She then took on the role of Creative Director, developing marketing materials and managing brand and message discipline for the organization. This included rebranding existing programs and new initiatives as sub-brands of the University System of Ohio, giving them each a fresh and unique look that aligned with the larger brand while being sensitive to the individual needs of the partners and allies at other agencies and institutions.
Lori teamed up with Dennis Willard and Precision Media & Public Relations in 2011 and oversees the creative elements of our work. Precision’s creative services include branding and visual identity, traditional print design, web design, video, and animation. Lori and the Precision team thrive on the opportunity to help clients to tell their story in a compelling way. Lori grew up on a small farm in western Ohio. She now lives in Clintonville with her husband Keary and their two young sons.
RAYA HAGE / Senior Designer
Raya Hage brings her creative talents to Precision in so many ways and is undaunted by any artistic challenge. Raya is a skilled graphic designer and can carry projects from concept through production. She is a talented video editor and animator. With her multifaceted skill set, Raya can take any client’s vision and find a creative way to make it a reality. Raya provides creative direction and support to most everything Precision does including web development, digital advertising, video production and print design.
Raya moved to the U.S. from Syria in 2013 and is fluent in three languages. She is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design, and she’s a proud cat mom to Toulouse and Atrees.
JESS WILLARD / Digital Director
Jess Willard serves as Precision’s digital director, supporting digital marketing efforts, and social media strategy and implementation. Jess has extensive experience in producing and placing micro-targeted digital ads and works with clients to get the results they need within their budget. Jess also provides additional communications and media relations support.
Jess is a classically trained pianist, singer and songwriter. Jess loves her bearded dragon Sunshine and playing games at the arcade.
ANDREW WILLARD / Web Developer
Andrew Willard is a proficient front-end developer in WordPress and other platforms. Andrew works side-by-side with our creative team developing sites that seamlessly integrate with our clients’ social media, online fundraising, email collection and any tools that are needed. Whatever our design team can dream up, Andrew can build it. He focuses his efforts on making sure that he builds tools on the back end that make your job easier when it comes to maintaining your website.
Outside of Precision Andrew is a professional musician. He has been playing piano for more than 20 years and is classically trained.
