Who We Are
From Somali pirate negotiations to operating heavy equipment, our team has seen and done (almost) everything for the sake of communications. Learn more about who we are and what makes us tick.
B.J. Talley
Founder & President
Former chief communications officer, business problem solver, founder & Tar Heel
What’s one moment in your career that shaped how you lead communication today?
April 9-12, 2009. I was the company communications lead for the Maersk Alabama piracy incident (the real-life subject of the movie "Captain Phillips" starring Tom Hanks) and was on the ground in East Africa managing media and PR. The most challenging and exciting week of my career — and it completely evolved my approach to crisis communications. Unsurprisingly, I never got a call when they were scripting and casting the film!
What makes a communication partner great — not just good?
An ability to operate within a client's culture, understand their industry, and "speak the language." As communicators, we have to understand the operating environment (and do it quickly) to be strategic advisors to our clients The best communicators quickly ascertain which stakeholders to connect with and what questions to ask to become "combat effective" quickly.
What's my favorite travel spot?
There is a small family-run ranch in the Pike National Forest of Colorado with no wifi or cell service, where I can ride horses with my wife and daughter, hike, fly fish, and read at least one book cover-to-cover. It's glorious!
Kristen Weidenmuller
Vice President
Communications & change pro, demystifying the art & science of corporate communications, book nerd, avid DIY attempter
What’s a tool, framework, or mental model you use regularly to get clarity fast?
Know, Feel, Do is what I start with for almost everything. What do I want my audience to know, how do I want them to feel and what do I need them to do. Once I have a clear understanding of my goals (and they’re aligned with everyone involved), I can build my engagement or communication plan to achieve those goals. We so often jump ahead to the flashy tactics or assume everyone’s expectations are the same, but starting with this thought exercise ensures alignment, clarity and efficacy of your communication!
How would your clients describe you?
Building relationships is what excites me and brings me joy. I’m only effective as the trust I build, so I think my clients would describe me as a true partner who wants to help them succeed. I’m known for asking questions to get to the root of whatever we’re talking about and I think humor and levity in the right moments can make complex topics feel lighter and more manageable. I’m here to make my clients look good and it’s a role I take very to heart.
What’s your latest DIY project?
Besides my newfound love of gardening, I recently added crown molding to my office, framing to my dining room and am contemplating how brave I want to be in DIYing my bathroom…
Sandra Perez
Vice President
Corporate affairs for defense tech leaders
What’s a challenge you’ve faced in-house that changed the way you partner with clients now?
In-house communications leadership is a lonely business even if you have the very best team in the world. There are three competing dynamics at play, no matter the organization. As a leader responsible for communicating to all stakeholders you must: 1) move fast, deliver results and report the metrics; 2) create ritual and processes to keep up with demand and crises so as to not burn out your team; and, 3) protect enough white-space to keep current on the trends and technologies that change the game of influence. No one can go it alone, and no one team should be responsible for keeping each of these competitive balls in the air. We know our place is to create the operating space that fosters creativity in a hyper-competitive marketplace.
What’s a misconception people often have about our field—and how do you like to prove them wrong?
That we are a gourmet deli for marketing campaigns. We are the supplier, the POS system, the kitchen and the line chef. We are problem-solvers first and foremost. We show the owner where there is an opportunity and where there is a breakdown. All business and governance problems emerge as a communications challenge; but deep down, there is a strategy that needs adherence, and beneath that, there’s a team that needs alignment. Our super-power is getting to the root of the issue and working our way to delivering a campaign that changes attitudes, behaviors and minds.
How is this different from anywhere else you’ve worked?
I’ve thrived in a big agency, built small agencies, led government contracts, and was an in-house leader. Gladius is different because we all share that well-rounded experience; but we took the best and left the rest. We aren’t wed to the agency model of yore, we don’t abdicate responsibility for our clients’ growth objectives, and we relish the opportunity to do everything differently whether there’s appetite for new LinkedIn graphics or stealth campaigns before a big investment announcement.
Paige Knapp
Vice President
I eat social media for breakfast.
How do you embed yourself into a client team so it doesn’t feel like “consultant work”?.
Nerd alert: I never stop learning about the client, their industry, and their broader business. I love to learn new things, and our work constantly drops me into spaces I’d never otherwise get to explore. Every new client is an invitation to immerse myself in their world and learn to speak their language.
What’s a misconception people often have about our field—and how do you like to prove them wrong?
A common misconception is that social media only works for flashy consumer brands. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: social can actually be even more powerful for B2B and B2G organizations. These audiences are smaller, more specialized, and harder to reach through traditional channels; social lets you meet them where they are with credibility and consistency. Many of our clients are prime examples. The proof is in the (results) pudding!
What is something others would be surprised to learn about you?
I have seen the band Train in concert at least 20 times - in fact, I'm a 5-time sailor on their bi-annual "Sail Across the Sun" music cruise! (Yes, that's a thing.)
Katie Malloy
Director
Former journalist turned content creator for internal & external comms, Tar Heel, mom
What’s a project you’re proud of—and what made it work?
When I worked for a fair trade textiles women’s co-op in Laos, I had the opportunity to take a two-week trip through the small Southeast Asian country to gather video and written stories from small weaver villages. We met so many different ethnic groups, each with its own distinct style of textiles and way of living. While we planned ahead as much as possible, we inevitably had to remain flexible and open to the stories we heard and where they took us. At the end of the trip, we returned to our base — Luang Prabang — via boat down the Mekong River, which took two full days, complete with elephants playing on the water banks.
What’s one lesson from outside of work that makes you better at your job?
Get curious and ask questions. I try to give grace as much as possible and know that what we see and hear on the outside is rarely the whole story. Whether it’s in parenting or adulting, or communicating, asking questions can help you get the context needed to make a more informed decision.
Where can we find you when you’re not at home?
At the horse barn. Several years ago, I asked myself: “What is something you enjoyed growing up that might make you happy as an adult?” The answer: horses. Fast forward to now, where spending time with our horse is one of my ‘happy places.’
Raeya Swope
Director
I create the fajitas of social media strategy...hot, sizzling, and has heads turning to see who ordered them 🔥
What’s a misconception people often have about our field—and how do you like to prove them wrong?
People assume social strategy is just posting pretty graphics and hopping on trends. In reality, it’s more like running a science experiment 24/7 with the internet as the lab. Test, analyze, pivot, repeat. My favorite part is walking new clients through their first analytics review and watching their jaws drop when they see how intentional strategy and strong content can completely shift their engagement and reach. I prove them wrong with the ol’ surprise-and-delight of what a strong, intentional strategy and content can do on social.
What’s your “superpower” when it comes to communication?
I’ve been online since I was nine, fascinated not just by how the internet works but by how people use it. From building Sims cities on my family computer to pitching local businesses at 16 so I could run their instagram, to now traveling the country creating content for clients, my through-line has always been connecting stories to screens. Outside of work, I host trivia night, do stand-up comedy, and am chronically online, which gives me a front-row seat to what people really find entertaining (and how attention translates into action). Seeing someone light up because they feel understood, whether it’s from a punchline or a post, reminds me why I do this. My mission is to make content and strategies that creates impact. The kind of content with the fajita effect: it shows up hot, gets noticed, and makes everyone second-guess thier order.
What keeps you inspired to do this work?
In high school I discovered Steve Hartman’s Everybody Has a Story series on CBS, where he’d throw a dart at a map, fly there, pick a random name in a phone book from that city, and tell the story of whomever answered that phone call. I was FASCINATED. It inspired the perspective that everyone has something worth sharing, it just depends on how you tell it. As the internet evolved, and social media came to be, I started experimenting with how those stories could live online, which became the foundation of what I do now. To me, good content makes someone feel seen. The engagement and impact follow naturally when the strategy is authentic. That curiosity still fuels me: finding ways to tell brand stories that stop the scroll and make people feel something real.
Stefanie Kosakoski
Director
Chief brand officer, creative director, marketer
What’s something you believe about communication that not everyone agrees with?
The purpose of communication isn't to be understood by everyone, it's to resonate deeply with those who matter.
What makes a communication partner great—not just good?
The ability to see alternative perspectives, respond versus react, and make strategic choices.
What’s one lesson from outside of work that makes you better at your job?
Becoming a mother; everyone (I mean everyone) will have an opinion on how to do your job as a parent the "right" way. You have to effectively tune out unnecessary information, know your values, and trust your gut. In work, this is a reminder to deeply understand the who and the why, and to lead from your (company's) core values when solving a problem. The rest is just noise.
Christine Stieglitz
Content Manager & Strategist
Engineering-to-English translator, foodie, oenophile, adventurer, auntie, & neurodivergent nerd
What’s something you believe about communication that not everyone agrees with?
That people still consume lengthy content — provided that it's well-organized, engaging, delivers real value to the target audience, and shared in the right media outlet. I like to break up longer content with subheads or timestamps for the skimmers and, when appropriate, share shorter versions as press releases, blogs, and/or social posts to best serve the spectrum of people who stand to benefit from the information.
What’s your “superpower” when it comes to communication?
Turns out, it's autism! Communication — and especially writing and editing — has been a lifelong special interest of mine. I revel in researching, synthesizing ideas, making a case, telling a story, the sound of each sentence, and ensuring accuracy and efficacy, and I love getting the opportunity to zhuzh up others' content and amplify its impact as well.
What are some of your creative outlets outside of work?
Lately, LEGO! My niece and nephew recently became obsessed and reignited my long-lost love, which I'm thoroughly enjoying again both with and without them. I also have an ongoing installation piece — a moveable, self-reflective, pop art collage — that I've been intermittently expanding and remixing for 20 years. It currently consists of five large stainless steel panels covered in magnets I've made from magazines, packaging, photos I've taken, figures I've made from clay, childhood toys, and other tchotchkes.
Max Morelli
Consultant
Helping clients turn complex concepts into clear communications
What’s a misconception people often have about our field—and how do you like to prove them wrong?
One common misconception is that communicators operate on the margins of business strategy as a tactical function, when in reality, business-savvy communicators can be some of the most value-driving partners a P&L leader can rely on. Connecting communications strategy directly to revenue growth, stakeholder alignment or operational clarity is something people don’t always expect from someone with a comms title. But when we show up with that lens, it consistently earns trust with our clients and delivers results.
If you could fix one thing about how companies communicate, what would it be?
The problem: Many organizations unwittingly overwhelm their people with vague, high-volume or conflicting messages. It creates confusion, disengagement and elevates risk exposure, especially when the stakes are high.
The solution: Prioritize clarity over volume. Strong communications can help leaders cast vision, reinforce purpose and highlight what’s most important, especially during periods of change or uncertainty. When messaging is focused and has the audience squarely in focus, teams can achieve pretty awesome results.
When you aren’t busy crafting messaging frameworks, employee communications or social media campaigns, what are you up to?
You’ll probably find me outside, either with a fishing rod, a guitar, or getting lost on purpose while hiking one of North Carolina’s many trails with friends.