Our marketing experts, public relations strategists and experienced designers have made Focus Media a preeminent full-service communications agency known for its creativity, innovation and cutting-edge marketing strategies.
Josh Sommers
President and Chief Executive Officer
Josh Sommers, a former veteran radio broadcaster, newspaper columnist and casino marketing executive, founded Focus Media, Inc. in 2002 with the aim of bringing Madison Avenue quality and innovation to his clients. Today, Focus Media is one of the largest public relations and marketing firms in New York outside Manhattan, and in recent years, has been recognized as one of the fastest growing agencies in the nation (PR WEEK).
Sommers serves as president and CEO of Focus Media, which celebrates more than 20 years of success. He advises world-renowned companies and their CEOs on crisis communications, public relations and marketing. Some of his work includes helping guide Resorts World Catskills in the site selection process for its casino resort in New York, and Simon Property Group in publicizing the redevelopment of Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, its flagship center. Sommers also served as a key consultant and lobbyist for the approvals of the $500 million LEGOLAND New York Resort.
Under Sommers’ leadership, Focus Media has won more than 200 national awards for marketing in health care, tourism and economic development. Sommers is also a known leader and promoter of economic development.
Despite the expanding reach of Focus Media, Sommers remains committed to his local community. He is First Vice Chairman of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp.; Past Chairman of Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan; Past Chairman of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development; and Past Board Member and Officer of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. He has chaired many nonprofit galas raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for persons in need and cancer research.
In 2012, Sommers received the Walter A. Rhulen Award from the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, the organization’s highest honor, for his leadership in economic development, philanthropy and commitment to the community. He also received the Pillar of the Community Award from Cornerstone Family Healthcare in 2014. Other honors include the Alice Dickinson Award from Rural Development Advisory Corporation (RDAC) and in 2020, he was the very first recipient of the Champion of the Chamber Award from the Orange County Chamber of Commerce.
Bill Bratton
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
William Bratton has more than 30 years of experience in financial and IT consulting. He joined Focus Media as the Chief Financial Officer in January 2012.
Bratton served as the Senior Technical Solution Manager for IBM Global Services, consulting on financial and performance strategy for international organizations as well as assembling and leading teams of IT architects and specialists to assemble overall solution strategy. Bratton specialized in developing highly customized IT outsourcing solutions for high-profile clients.
Bratton received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. He serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties and is the lead representative for the Michelle Renee Bratton Memorial Scholarship Fund serving Pine Bush High School.
JP McGuirk
Senior Vice President
Bringing nearly 30 years of marketing and public relations experience, J.P. McGuirk joined Focus Media in January 2015 as Vice President. In this role, McGuirk oversees business development, marketing, public relations, crisis communications and advertising needs for the agency’s clients.
Prior to joining Focus Media, McGuirk was the Director of Marketing for North East Dental Management (NEDM) in Paramus, N.J. He was responsible for all marketing and public relations activities for 57 practice locations and 14 brands. Previously, he has served as Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris; the Assistant Vice President, marketing and communications lead for Endurance Services Limited in White Plains; and Assistant Vice President of Marketing at the Irwin Siegel Agency, Inc., in Rock Hill.
McGuirk was also a member of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and served as chair of its Publicity Committee. He is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management.
Stuart Shinske
Vice President of Media and Government Relations
Stuart Shinske brings more than three decades of executive leadership, content and marketing expertise to Focus Media, which he joined in February 2020.
Shinske is a key voice in creating messaging, public-relations strategies and media approaches that deliver results by powering clients’ communications with diverse audiences and public officials.
Shinske’s experience includes 27 years as an editor for Gannett Co., Inc., including 10 years as executive editor/director of content and audience development of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal and PoughkeepsieJournal.com. He led the newsroom’s evolution into a nationally honored investigative and digital-news powerhouse that included the newsroom being named, four times, the Associated Press’ Newspaper of Distinction as the best news operation of its size in New York State. For Gannett, Shinske also helped spearhead national digital-news initiatives that transformed online subscription and content strategies. He also has worked at USA Today and The New York Times Co.
Shinske’s marketing experience prior to joining Focus Media includes strategizing outreach strategies for a nonprofit focused on the Hudson Valley’s growth, and being senior editor for a regional hospital network, partnering with executives, physicians and fundraising teams to support patients and well-being initiatives. In addition, he was a radio commentator and analyst for nine years and is a graduate of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Barry Rothfeld
Business Development
Barry Rothfeld, the former president and publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal, manages business development for Focus Media in Dutchess County.
Rothfeld retired from the Poughkeepsie Journal in June 2015 after a successful 42-year career with the Gannett Co., Inc. He previously served as publisher of The Ithaca Journal, editor of the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, and executive editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Rothfeld serves as chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and as vice chair of the Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He also holds board positions on the Dutchess County Economic Development Advisory Council and the Half Moon Theatre, and is a board advisor for Pattern for Progress.
He previously completed six-year runs on the boards of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House (he currently serves on its Advisory Council) and the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp., including five as chair of one of its Economic and Community Affairs sub-committee. He has completed two terms on the executive board of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.
Victor Coreas
Assistant Vice President & Creative Director
Victor Coreas joined Focus Media in May 2014 as Associate Art Director and was promoted to Art Director in January 2015. In his role as Art Director he oversees the agency’s graphic design team to maintain and grow the firm’s superior creative design standards. He works closely with account executives and the design department from a project’s creative conceptualization to its completion, ensuring that it adheres to design best practices and that it will appeal to and stimulate the client’s target audience.
Victor brings over 15 years of experience in branding, advertising and licensing. Working at agencies throughout Manhattan such as 4Sight Licensing, Icon Studios and Entertainment One, among others. With a wide range of industries and clients such as Macy’s, Cole Haan, Nickelodeon, Sam’s Club, Corcoran Group Real Estate and Major League Baseball, where he developed and implemented strategic repositioning and strong brand identity to increase market share. Victor adeptly applies his diverse experience to all creative projects at Focus Media.
Kevin Green
Assistant Vice President
Kevin Green joined Focus Media in June 2012 as Senior Web & Graphic Designer, was promoted to Web Development Director in 2015 and most recently to Assistant Vice President. Green, who has extensive experience in the tourism and health care industries, brings a variety of design and web development expertise to the agency. At Focus Media, he is responsible for managing all web site design and development projects, however his versatility has allowed him to take on traditional design tasks as well.
Green previously served as art director of a Westchester-based public relations and advertising agency for 15 years, where he spearheaded design for clients’ advertising efforts, collateral materials, signage, corporate identity, email marketing and web sites. In his time at Focus Media, Green has developed award winning materials for clients such as Orange County Tourism, Garnet Health, Healey Brothers, Mount Peter, Aurochemicals and more.
Green holds a master of science in Internet business systems from Mercy College and a bachelor of arts in advertising and public relations from Bloomsburg University. Outside the office, Green spends time with his family and sits on the board of directors for Hudson Valley Honor Flight.
Emily Hilliard
Account Director
Emily Hilliard brings nearly a decade of experience in digital marketing and graphic design to Focus Media. Such diverse expertise enables her to strategize tactics and precise messaging tailored for each client – a partnership that identifies and maximizes a pathway to attain their goals.
Hilliard’s tenure as creative director at other marketing agencies, and partnering with clients across multiple industries, are a deep foundation for creating high-impact marketing content, video and social media campaigns that power engagement with specific target audiences.
Hilliard is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in graphic design. Outside of the office, Hilliard enjoys time with family, hiking and painting in her home art studio.
Ken Valenti
Public Relations Manager
Ken Valenti entered public relations and marketing in 2014, after spending 27 years as a journalist for the White Plains-based Journal News/lohud.com and its print and digital predecessors. He joins Focus Media after providing public relations services for several school districts in Westchester County, and building a freelance enterprise with clients in government, healthcare and business. His vast expertise spans areas that include education, the environment, transportation, economic development, government operations and more. Valenti, who also has published several short stories, holds a master’s degree in writing from Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fordham University in the Bronx.