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

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.

Julie Sickel

Senior Content Strategist

Julie uses her expertise in copywriting, longform content creation and marketing to help companies better tell their stories. At OnWrd & UpWrd, she works with clients to reach the right audiences, break into new markets, and achieve their business goals.

Before joining OnWrd & UpWrd in July of 2022 as part of its acquisition of Dots & Lines, Julie served as managing director of D&L in Europe. She previously led marketing content creation for the B2B corporate travel arm of HRS and before that served as lodging editor of Business Travel News and managing editor of Travel Procurement. Julie earned her MBA from NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business’ Langone Program and holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Kent State University.

Keaveny Hewitt

Senior account executive

At OnWrd & UpWrd, Keaveny brings a strategic approach to client PR efforts. She helps clients secure earned media coverage by crafting compelling pitches and press releases, connecting with targeted reporters and monitoring the media scene. She regularly receives media placements for clients in everything from industry trades to local media outlets across the country to top tier outlets like Bloomberg and Fortune.

Keaveny also works on client marketing campaigns, client-related research and internal marketing efforts.

Keaveny has a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations & Strategic Communication and a minor in Marketing from American University. Prior to joining OnWrd & UpWrd, she held various PR internships and social media positions within the food industry.

Hope Barrón

Account Executive

At OnWrd & UpWrd, Hope supports the team with all PR efforts. She conducts client-related research, builds media lists, monitors media coverage, writes pitches and press releases, assists with reporter outreach and helps manage social media efforts.

Hope is finalizing her master’s degree at American University’s School of Communication and will graduate in Summer 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.

Hope began her journey at OnWrd & UpWrd as an intern in Spring 2023. She has also held various communications and social media internships and fellowships with The Education Trust, the Advising Success Network at NASPA and more.

Raquel O'Brien

Bilingual Digital Marketing Consultant

At OnWrd & UpWrd, Raquel uses her expertise in digital marketing to help clients amplify their story, get in front of targeted audiences and meet their business goals. She is a marketing strategist who excels in digital advertising. She has extensive experience implementing and executing digital creative advertising strategies and executing B2B and B2C marketing campaigns focused on brand development, event registration and lead generation.

She previously worked as a marketing specialist for the Global Business Travel Association where she managed strategic planning and execution of marketing campaigns and oversaw budget and execution for LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Adwords, SEO and email marketing. Before that, she worked at a digital agency for four years specifically focused on planning and running digital media campaigns.