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Who we are

Douglas L. Curry

Doug Curry has many years of communications experience, having crafted media strategy in the public, private and non-profit sectors. His efforts have assisted a number of high-profile individuals and organizations, including former United States Senator Bob Kerrey, the United Way of America President and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Doug most recently represented the U.S. recorded music industry, serving as Director of Communications for the RIAA. As an on-the-record spokesperson for the trade group representing the five largest record labels in the United States, he worked closely with major television, radio and print news outlets during events surrounding the digital music debate, including the internationally covered Napster case.

In that capacity, Doug worked with the RIAA president, industry executives and recording artists to develop media strategy and message. He regularly conducted print and radio interviews with national and international media organizations and was the primary writer for the department, producing speeches, op-eds, Congressional testimony and press releases.

Prior to joining the RIAA, Doug worked for the public relations firm of Burson-Marsteller in Washington, D.C. He provided public relations and public policy counsel to multinational, electronic publishing and other corporate clients.

Doug began his career serving as an aide to United States Senator Bob Kerrey from Nebraska. Spanning a period of nearly six years with the Senator, he worked in both his policy and political offices.

Doug received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992.

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Who we are

Amy Gergely

Amy Gergely comes to Venture Communications with more than 10 years of experience in public relations, print journalism and philanthropic leadership.

Before joining Venture she ran Wordsmithz Communications, a freelance writing, public relations and photography company, she founded in 1999. As a freelancer, Gergely created and implemented PR campaigns for hi-tech companies, non-profits and charities.

She also served as an associate editor and consumer writer and has photographed numerous events, including press conferences, weddings, charity events and celebrity appearances. In 2000, she participated in the White House News Photographers Association FOCUS on Photojournalism symposium.

Prior to that, Gergely served more than three years as a Director of Consumer Communications for the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA), where she became the organization's primary spokesperson and consumer advocate. She developed many successful consumer education initiatives, including an award-winning natural disaster preparation guide, a groundbreaking research and awareness campaign for home-based entrepreneurs and an exposé on identity theft.

Before joining IIAA, Gergely served as Press Secretary to U.S. Representative Paul McHale and Manager of Financial Relations at the financial public relations firm of Morrison/Carlisle, Inc.

She has placed stories in and been interviewed by some of the nation's top consumer publications and broadcast news organizations, including CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Money and USA Today. She has conducted media training workshops for more than six years.

For the past four years, Gergely has served on the Executive Board of Friends United for Need - a Washington, D.C.-based charity that provides support and funding to a variety of community initiatives - including a term as Executive Chair in 2000-2001. She is intensely involved in other community initiatives, including Horton's Kids, a tutoring and mentoring program benefiting children in public housing, and LionLink, a career-mentoring program for alumni of Penn State University.

Gergely received a BA in political science from the Pennsylvania State University and has done graduate level work in print journalism and photography.