ELEXIS SCHRODER
Founder, Head of the Haus
Elexis has built a reputation as a strategic marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years experience in agency settings and within a growing CPG company. She specializes in developing and implementing integrated, brand-building programs that help authentically share a company’s mission to drive trial, sales and loyalty. She is known for building camaraderie and buy-in from teams across functions and organizations to get things done, all while making people laugh along the way. Elexis founded SchroderHaus based on the belief that there is a better way to serve purpose-driven organizations that put people and the planet just as high on the priority list as profit. As the Head of the Haus, Elexis aims to inspire the SchroderHaus crew to do kick-ass work daily, and to be a trusted advisor to her clients.
GET TO KNOW ME
Why I love what I do: I have the special privilege to creatively problem solve for our clients while also providing opportunities for our kick-ass crew to learn and grow. What keeps me motivated is seeing a compelling client program come to life, celebrating wins as a team and watching those around me succeed.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Vegan chocolate chip cookies, La Croix (it’s a habit I just can’t kick), Artisan Tropic Plantain Strips dipped in plant-based queso, Daily Harvest smoothies (with Justin’s Nut Butter added in), Athletic Brewing craft beers and a spicy tuna hand roll.
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Removing fear and anxiety from the hearts of those I love. Without those obstacles in the way, creation would be boundless!
What instantly makes my day better is: A good sweat sesh! Whether I hop on the Peloton bike or tread, head out on a jog around Wash Park or take a strength or HIIT class, movement both clears any negative energy and reminds me of the strength I have to tackle anything that’ll come my way!
The three words that best describe me are: Empathetic, Imaginative, Motivated.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Trying out the newest workout – I’ve been known to try anything from breaking a sweat on a mini trampoline to acrobatic yoga; adventuring in the Rocky Mountains with my family; roaming the halls of the grocery store to discover new delights; or trying out new restaurants with friends.
Elexis Schroder
Founder, Head of the Haus
Emily Rado
Account Director
Emily is a communications professional with experience in consumer media relations, project management, social media strategy and more. She brings a background of agency work, journalism and improv performance and training to SchroderHaus. Emily received her master’s in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and worked as a freelance journalist for outlets across Boulder and Denver during and following her graduate program. She then switched to a PR agency role working on premium food brands, national restaurant chains and health and wellness organizations, securing billions of impressions in more than five years, as well as awards from PRSA National and PRSA Colorado. Since joining the ‘Haus crew in 2021, Emily has enthusiastically helped develop and implement numerous campaigns for clients to drive awareness and build brand reputations.
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Why I love what I do: I love getting to know the stories of brands and the inspiration of the people behind them, and then being trusted with the honor to help tell those stories in ever evolving and meaningful ways.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Cookie Bars – so delicious and ethically made! Justin’s Honey Peanut Butter that makes for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Tacos, nachos or any combo of protein, tortilla, lettuce and cheeses. Of course Clipper Tea – the English Breakfast in the morning and then rotating the herbal blends in the afternoon. Finally, potatoes in pretty much any form – fried, mashed, baked, whatever the process is for tater tots. It’s all good.
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Is it wrong to say mind control? I feel like I could solve so many problems by just making people do what I say, but I also realize that is something an evil villain would do….but I would use it for good! Like ending wars and helping fight hunger. Or flying.
What instantly makes my day better is: Seeing my son’s smile; any time my husband prepares me a meal or snack; getting outside and moving, even when it’s freezing; a beautiful spreadsheet.
The three words that best describe me are: Witty, planner and competitor.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Walking with my family, including my two rescue dogs Huxley and Tilly; kayaking; at the beach; or playing with my son.
Emily rado
Account Director
Emily Stepanian
Account Coordinator
Originally from Southern California, Emily moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder. Now, with a degree in Strategic Communications and minor in Media Studies, she is excited to expand upon her skills and learn from her colleagues. Emily’s passions for the food and beverage industry and health and wellness extend to her personal life as she is an avid home cook and enjoys experimenting with healthy recipes. She is most excited to strengthen her experience in media relations, social media and influencer marketing, and bringing creative integrated marketing campaigns to life.
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Why I love what I do: I love building relationships and working with diverse, creative teams to make meaningful and impactful projects. I also have always been passionate about using digital media to bring together different ideas, communities, and cultures.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Iced matcha lattes, sushi (any kind), dumplings, dolma, street tacos, and margs!
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Teleportation. I’d use this to travel around the world, for free of course.
What instantly makes my day better is: Taking an evening walk, watching my favorite shows, and catching up with my friends/family.
The three words that best describe me are: Thoughtful, creative, adventurous
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Exploring Denver’s restaurant/bar scene, hosting a dinner party or traveling to a new city.
Emily Stepanian
Account Coordinator
Emma Feeney
Senior Account Executive
Emma is a public relations professional with experience in national and regional media and influencer relations, project management, material development, client relations and more. Originally from the Chicago-land area, Emma studied Public Relations with minors in Business and Communications at the University of Colorado, making Colorado her new home, and has now been on the SchroderHaus team for almost five years. She looks forward to strengthening her client, media and influencer relationships each day, and is continuously excited about the possibilities the ever-changing media landscape present. Oh, and would be more than happy to show you countless pictures of her three year old Australian Shepherd, Juniper.
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Why I love what I do: Not only do I love working in public relations because of the meaningful relationships that are built both with clients and content creators, I specifically appreciate working in the natural food and beverage industry with this wonderful team. To be supporting and collaborating with brands that are actively working to make the world a better place, whether it’s providing allergen-free options to consumers or raising the voices of farmers in Ghana, makes coming to work each day just that much more impactful.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Oh man, this is a tough one. The list can go on for days, but some top contenders that come to mind include Vietnamese egg rolls, Korean galbi, crispy spicy tuna rice and any kind of sushi, homemade chex mix and french fries (I know, basic, but extra crispy fries with some Old Bay seasoning, c’mon now!)
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Vibranium, well, sort of. Having the power to heal, everything from broken pancreases to broken hearts.
What instantly makes my day better is: Music and my pup, Juniper. No day is complete without a soundtrack to go with it, nor is any day the same without the unconditional love from a furry companion.
The three words that best describe me are: Loyal, compassionate and creative.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Trying to hold myself back from going to every restaurant in Denver, at some variation of live music, hanging out with Juniper or traveling with my partner and/or family.
Emma Feeney
Senior Account Executive
Erin Eastburn
Digital Director
Erin began her digital marketing career in NYC where she spent seven years at organizations like Hudson’s Bay Company working on the Saks Fifth Avenue e-commerce team, and Erno Laszlo where she orchestrated social media campaigns, launched influencer engagement programs and led various e-commerce projects. In 2019, Erin moved back home to Colorado and has since worked remotely for an award-winning, NYC-based digital marketing agency that supports CPG, beauty, wellness and hospitality clients like Brightland Olive Oil, Pact Clothing, The Source Hotel, Odele Haircare and many more! She is passionate about driving clients digital footprints by developing bespoke strategies based on their unique market positioning and staying up-to-date on digital trends. When Erin isn’t immersed in her dynamic digital projects, she transforms into a passionate adventurer and nature enthusiast with an insatiable love for exploring the great outdoors with her Labrador/German Shepherd, Delancey.
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Why I love what I do: I thrive in the dynamic, fast-paced environment where I can immerse myself in a diverse array of projects. The ever-changing landscape of social media excites me, as it challenges me to adapt and evolve my thinking, ensuring I remain at the forefront of this dynamic field.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Chips and salsa are my absolute weakness (especially when the chips are warm) and chocolate covered gummy bears are my guilty pleasure.
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Ability to master any skill. I have so many interests but never enough time to get to them all.
What instantly makes my day better is: A morning sunrise walk with my dog.
The three words that best describe me are: Driven, Passionate, Thoughtful.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: I’ll be up in the mountains! Come rain, shine, or a fresh layer of snow, I’m either hiking, skiing, or gallivanting around one of the many charming mountain towns. I’m always up for an adventure, whether it’s chasing trails or cozying up in a rustic cabin après-ski.
Erin Eastburn
Digital Director
Hannah Brandt
Account Executive
Hannah is a Midwest transplant and graduate of the journalism program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before starting her public relations and marketing journey, she worked for several years in customer-facing roles, furthering her love for building relationships and problem-solving. Though she’s only been on the ‘Haus crew since 2021, Hannah’s learned and accomplished a lot. From engaging with media and influencers to developing client strategies to managing social media community engagement, she’s always willing to take on any new project or challenge. She is also a current member of PRSA Colorado and serves as a volunteer to coordinate career-boosting programming for PR professionals in and around Denver.
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Why I love what I do: As a go-getter, I love that there’s never a dull moment in this ever-changing industry! There’s always something new to learn, new people to connect with or a new project to take on.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: La Croix, ginger kombucha, Hu Kitchen chocolate, seafood, Thai food. The list could go on!
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: I’d love to fly so I could avoid the always crazy Denver traffic. If you know, you know.
What instantly makes my day better is: A good cup of coffee or a long walk in the park with my three-year-old doggo.
The three words that best describe me are: Optimistic, adventurous, thoughtful.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Outside (weather permitting)! I love enjoying Colorado’s many sunny days, whether that means getting my ass kicked on a hike, catching a concert at Red Rocks or enjoying a cold drink on a patio in Denver.
HANNAH BRANDT
Account Executive
Jenn Tilliss
Account Director
Jenn comes to SchroderHaus with more than 18 years of experience in communications, including media relations, issues and crisis management, thought leadership, corporate communications, grassroots advocacy and reputation management. A seasoned project manager, Jenn is adept at communicating and marketing complex information through strategic planning, adaptive storytelling and successful media engagement. She is known for creating and executing integrated communications programs designed to grab attention and drive results in an increasingly noisy and competitive media environment. When it comes to working with clients, Jenn’s philosophy is simple – she believes in the power of relationship-building to foster collaborative and meaningful partnerships.
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Why I love what I do: I love to leverage communications to help brands and organizations achieve their business objectives and build their reputations. Communications is paramount to business success, and it’s a privilege to be a part of helping shape how an organization tells its story and engages with its stakeholders.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: French fries, candy and wine (all in moderation of course!)
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Teleportation because I love to travel.
What instantly makes my day better is: When something good happens to someone I love.
The three words that best describe me are: Funny, Caring, Curious.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Hanging out with my family or friends.
Jenn tilliss
Account Director
Kate Richter
Finance & HR Manager
Kate has been building her bookkeeping empire over the last eleven years, primarily serving a handful of PR and Marketing agencies in Denver. Her client base and expertise has grown to cover many industries, but she enjoys the inter-agency business connections, friendships, support network and #girlboss determination that is prevalent in this field. Working with a broad range of clients and markets, Kate continuously develops her expertise and is always looking for opportunities to bring in her
knowledge to support her clients, create more efficiencies in their accounting practices and provide peace of mind that anything ‘accounting’ is magically taken care of!
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Why I love what I do: I love to use my experience and expertise to provide support to those that have made the leap to go out on their own in business. Creating a trusting relationship with a client and knowing that my efforts help support and relieve work-load and stress from a small-business owner, is pretty satisfying for me.
Foods and beverages I can’t live without are: I’ve reached that chapter in life where, like a good Brit, I truly appreciate a good cuppa tea and slice of homemade banana bread!
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Being able to simultaneously parent a toddler and take a nap… Would. Be. Amazing.
What instantly makes my day better is: Music.
The three words that best describe me are: Planner. Overthinker. Dreamer.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: Weekends are often spent with my husband and son tracking down new coffee shops and breakfast joints to test out in and around Denver.
Kate Richter
Finance & HR Manager
Lori Varsames
Senior Account Director
Lori is a passionate, collaborative and impactful communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in corporate, retail and agency environments, including innovative marketing and sales communications, strategic internal + external messaging for start-ups to category leaders, corporate and brand reputation management, thoughtful problem-solving, crisis and issues management, social media engagement, corporate communications, advocacy outreach, retail logistics, professional talent and special event management. Lori is a clever, decisive and dedicated project manager known as a trusted team leader and team player. She has a keen eye for the cross-pollination of brand positioning, hitting all cylinders to help drive positive business outcomes. Lori is passionate about customer and client relations, steeping herself into a business to be a valued partner (and that includes taking client crisis calls at 3:00am).
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Why I love what I do: I love to help a company sell their products and the deep dive it takes in a company’s business to strategically plan how communication campaigns can elevate their brand.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: I’m a coffee with oat milk lover until noon and a lover of hummus and dark chocolate in the afternoon.
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Healing Ability…to help those in mental and physical pain.
What instantly makes my day better is: hearing my pooch whip his tail on the door.
The three words that best describe me are: dedicated, decisive, and clever.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: I’ll be outside enjoying a trot with my 120-pound Berner, laughing with my girlfriends, and hanging out with my sons.
LORI VARSAMES
Account Director
Robin Zimmerman
Senior Account Manager
For 15 years, Robin has helped brands find their voice and drive brand awareness with consumers through media coverage. Combining her passions for storytelling and relationship building, Robin cultivates lasting media relationships that benefit her clients. Robin regularly secures stories in key trades, local and national outlets, including The Associated Press, TODAY, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and more. Her career in public relations began with internships at Ohio’s largest PR agency and USA Swimming while earning her communications degree at The Ohio State University, where she was named the Top Student in the Strategic Communications program. Robin spent. two years on the DISH Network communications team where she served as a company spokesperson and championed the brand’s social media presence. Since that time, Robin has provided counsel from the agency side. She leads strategy development and media relations activities for clients across a variety of categories – her media savvy earning coverage totaling millions in impressions and numerous PR industry awards.
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Why I love what I do: My job requires that I’m always learning – how cool is that? I’m also competitive, so I love the part of this gig that requires tenacity, persistence and creativity to earn those client wins.
The foods and beverages I can’t live without are: Nearly every dish in Gregory Gourdet’s and Adrienne Cheatham’s cookbooks are on regular rotation. Black Cherry sparkling water is a must and a glass of red wine on a Friday is the perfect treat.
If I could have a superpower, it’d be: Teleportation. I’d use it to bop around the world.
What instantly makes my day better is: Having my pup snuggled up by my side.
The three words that best describe me are: Thoughtful, dependable and tenacious.
Where you’ll find me outside of work: One of two options. 1) At the park or on a patio with my husband and our dog, Rylan. 2) At the airport catching a plane to the next city we want to explore.
Robin Zimmerman
Senior Account Manager
Brette Carpenter
