Biographies

Nicole Vandenberg
BIOGRAPHY

With more than 15 years of public relations and public affairs experience, Nicole's work has focused on strategic communication campaigns at the intersection of arts and activism.

Her firm, Vandenberg Communications, provides media relations, community relations, crisis communications, strategic philanthropy and special event coordination for clients in arts and entertainment, business, and nonprofit sectors.

Past and current clients include: Pearl Jam, Gloria Steinem, the 2004 Vote for Change tour, Choice USA, Living Legacy Foundation, YouthNoise, Music for America, Future of Music Coalition, Air Traffic Control, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Groundwork 2001 concert series, Experience Hendrix, Honor the Earth, People for the American Way, The Songbird Foundation, Avocado Productions, Voters for Choice, Vitalogy Health Club Foundation & the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young 2000 tour.

Prior to starting Vandenberg Communications in 1998, Nicole oversaw the arts and entertainment division of Seattle- based Pyramid Communications, a national public affairs firm.

Nicole has assisted in coordinating and publicizing a variety of large-scale political events including: the 2004 Vote for Change tour; The "Let Ralph Debate" rally at Madison Square Garden; The International Group of Seven Jobs Conference in Detroit; the US Department of Labor Women's Bureau "Working Women Count" events; President Clinton's Americorps launches; the US Department of Housing and Urban Development "HUD for a Day" empowerment zone projects and numerous events with former President Clinton and former Vice President Gore.

Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in Communications.

Jennifer Bergman
BIOGRAPHY

With 13+ years of experience in public relations, event planning and fundraising, Jen specializes in strategic publicity campaigns for nonprofit organizations, events and artists.

At Vandenberg Communications, Jen's past and present clients include: Living Legacy Foundation, Huntington's Disease Society of America, National Network for Youth, YouthCare, Tell us the Truth Tour, Experience Hendrix, Scenarios USA, Seattle International Film Festival, The Rendezvous Cafe, Chris Robinson, The Presidents of the United States of America, and the Honor the Earth tour with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and the Indigo Girls.

Jen previously ran publicity and promotion campaigns for the Seattle Art Museum (SAM Goes Black and White Ball), Evergreen Hospital and the Susan G. Komen Foundation while running her own business. Prior to that, she managed fundraising, special events and media outreach campaigns for various national nonprofit agencies. Jen has also created and implemented strategic communications for clients in the hotel and event industries.

Jen's experience extends beyond public relations to event planning and fundraising, creating a well-rounded approach to her client's needs and an extended outlook on strategic partnerships. She enjoys finding creative ways to get a message out, training others in the field of public relations, and raising awareness of causes.

Jennifer has volunteered on the University of Washington Alumni Board and with local homeless youth organizations, and lends her writing expertise to area parenting groups. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in Speech Communications. .

Sarah Seiler
BIOGRAPHY

Sarah coordinates publicity and promotional campaigns and special events for artists, activists, and nonprofit organizations at Vandenberg Communications. Her past and present clients include Pearl Jam, the Vitalogy Foundation, the Seattle Tattoo Expo, the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy, Tom Morello's Justice Tour, People for the American Way, Music for America and Air Traffic Control.

Sarah additionally serves as an onsite media and philanthropic coordinator for concert tours and special events. Her work in this capacity has included media coordination for Pearl Jam's 2005-present world tours and facilitation of the band’s Vitalogy Foundation chartable giving program on tour.

Prior to joining Vandenberg in 2002, Sarah served as Senior Manager of Star Course, a nonprofit concert promotion organization for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Overseeing a staff of one hundred members and twelve Junior Managers, she was responsible for organizing concert and special events for the University.

Sarah has a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign.

Chris Nelson
BIOGRAPHY

Chris Nelson is principal and writer at Campaign Shoutin’ Communications, a writing firm that develops and conveys clients’ stories with power and efficiency. Clients include Vandenberg Communications, Sub Pop Records, and others.

Before launching Campaign Shoutin’, Chris cultivated an award-winning career in music journalism. From 1993 to 2007, he wrote a total of 2,000 pieces for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Mojo, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, MTV.com and other outlets. In 2000, he won Scripps Howard’s National Journalism Award for sonicnet.com’s year-long investigative series, “Playing With Fire: The Untold Story of Woodstock ’99.”

Chris’ background also includes extensive work in nonprofit communities. He served two year-long national service tours with Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA), where he was placed with the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank. In 2000 and 2004, he led youth exchanges to Cuba. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from James Madison University.

Virginia Piper
BIOGRAPHY

Virginia specializes in event planning, media relations and grassroots campaign development. She has coordinated and facilitated numerous large-scale events and benefit concerts, and has managed and implemented several public involvement projects. Her past events have included the Pine Ridge Building Summit in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the Department of Labor’s National Skills Summit in Washington, D.C., the Groundwork concert series on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Vote for Change concert tour. Her past clients include Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, Rock the Vote, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Pearl Jam, Honor the Earth, Rolling Thunder and Artists for a Hate Free America.

For the past five years, Virginia has also provided seasonal support to the Sundance Film Festival where she has assisted the Filmmaker Services team in coordinating filmmaker's on-site presence at the festival.

Prior to joining Vandenberg Communications, Virginia served as the Public Relations Manager for the Seattle Theatre Group where she oversaw media relations for both the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres. Home to fine arts programming, Broadway, comedy and music, Virginia successfully implemented media campaigns across a variety of genres.