Elevating Associations and Nonprofits

Why work with Onwrd & Upwrd?

How many times have you hired a PR or marketing firm only to have them come back to you with a list of things for you to do? Or worse, they use up your valuable time on creating reports instead of delivering real results.

Not here. With OnWrd & UpWrd, we specialize in helping associations and nonprofits become the go-to source in their industries through strategic earned media, thought leadership and organic social strategies. Our approach is hands-on and results-driven, ensuring you receive the support you need in strategic planning, project management and innovative solutions to tackle your to-do list.

Whether you need help communicating your value, raising your profile or simply need an extra set of hands from people who just get it, our team has the knowledge and background to produce remarkable results for your association.

The more we do, the more you can do. Let’s get to work .

We Do The Work.

OnWrd & UpWrd Leadership Team

Colleen Lerro Gallagher

President & CEO

Colleen uses her expertise in communications and advocacy, media relations and video and podcast production to help clients enhance their brand as an industry thought leader. At OnWrd & UpWrd, she works with clients to secure national and local media coverage, develop strategic communications plans and implement video and digital strategies to set them apart from the competition. She also serves on the Washington Women in Public Relations Board of Directors and the ASAE Communications Professionals Advisory Council.

Prior to joining OnWrd & UpWrd, Colleen was a Vice President at Curley Company, a DC-based brand and advocacy PR firm. Before that she was the Vice President of Communications & Research for the Global Business Travel Association where she led and implemented award-winning PR campaigns, launched a broadcast studio and provided strategic input for the overall direction of the association. She also worked on the communications teams at the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Consumer Technology Association. Colleen has a master’s degree in public communication from American University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the State University of New York College at Brockport.

Meghan Henning

Senior PR Strategist

Meghan uses her expertise in executive communications to help clients garner earned media attention and take their thought leadership efforts to the next level. Meghan is a co-founder of OnWrd & UpWrd. She is an award-winning communications professional with 27 years of experience in public relations, internal and corporate communications, and public policy. She has considerable experience using multiple media strategies to shape and convey desired messages to reporters, internal audiences, policy-makers and other key stakeholders.

Her work has earned recognition from PR Daily and Association Trends, among others. For the past nine years, Meghan served as Director / Vice President of Communications for the Global Business Travel Association, where she oversaw all messaging and publicity for the association’s regional offices throughout the world. Meghan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Scranton in English Literature and Philosophy.

Christine Stay

director of operations

At OnWrd & UpWrd, Christine uses her communication, marketing, design and logistics background to assist clients and handle internal organizational processes.

Prior to joining OnWrd & UpWrd, Christine has extensive experience in both the association and non-profit worlds. She was Associate Director of Events at Sunrise Association, a nonprofit focused on sending children with cancer to summer camp free of charge, and Logistics Manager for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – in both roles, she oversaw multi-million dollar fundraising events/campaigns. She was also the Senior Manager of Member Experience and Marketing at NAFA Association, the world’s largest membership association for individuals who manage the vehicular fleet and mobility responsibilities for their employers.

Christine has a master’s degree in public communication from American University and a bachelor’s degree in communication and multimedia from Rider University.