Leadership

Abe Kasbo

CEO

In 2005, Abe Kasbo founded Verasoni Worldwide to deliver meaningful, integrated marketing communications for clients across industries.  Today Verasoni Worldwide is a firm that first and foremost, behaves in the best interest of the client while delivering market-leading marketing, public relations, advertising, and web strategies.  Verasoni Worldwide helps clients in healthcare, financial services, hospitality, government, and professional and business services better position their brands in the marketplace.  Abe and the team at Verasoni Worldwide have developed strategies for market leaders such as AECOM, Cutera, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Bank of America Practice Solutions, Lucent Technologies,  Pricecare.com, DentalEZ, PriorityOne Group, Parkway Dental, and Hurley Medical Center.

Recognizing that integration and management of communications assets is both vital and outdated, Abe has reinvented the agency-client relationship model.  Verasoni Worldwide’s philosophy is built on a model  of proactive management of each client engagement, working hand in hand with our clients’ leadership team.  The firm has developed a reputation as a fierce competitor for its clients while delivering on its promise of world-class ideas and exceptional service.

Abe also recognizes that today’s marketplace is different and subscribes to Bill Gross’ 2009 breakthrough idea of a “New Normal,” in business.  Abe’s vision and Verasoni Worldwide’s leadership in the marketplace is built on understanding and interpreting overall market forces that may affect each and every client. Therefore, Verasoni Worldwide’s value is in the firm’s consistent ability to build creative and memorable marketing communications strategies based on sound market principals, in concert with each client’s business objectives.

Abe is a sought after speaker nationally and internationally.  He has been a feature speaker at the #140Conf in Montreal, Canada in 2012 and at the Swedish-American Life Sciences Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2011.  A passionate reader and life long learner, Abe has been quoted in a variety of media outlets including Institutional Investor and the Star Ledger.  His articles have appeared in NJEntrepreneur.com, InBiz Magazine, NJBiz, Healthcare Strategies, and The Journal of Healthcare Management.

He was honored by NJBiz Magazine in 2006 by being named to its Forty Under 40 Executive Class. He has served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University’s Center for Public Service where he taught marketing and public relations.  He is the author of the upcoming book, “Hey Marketing Genius!“  Abe earned a Master’s of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seton Hall University.  He is the host of the weekly talk radio show HealthNavigator, on WOR710, New York City’s Number One AM radio station.

Michele Van Lieu

Executive Vice President, Business Development & Client Experience

Michele Van Lieu manages all aspects of external business performance of the firm, including business development. Michele is also be responsible for clients across various industry sectors including financial services, not for profit, government, and healthcare.

Before heading back to the agency world, Michele spent five years in financial services marketing working with Wealth Management, Mutual Funds, Hedge Funds, and Insurance firms.  Michele was Chief Operating Officer of Moody Communications, a Marketing and PR firm that specialized in entertainment, fashion, beauty and e-commerce; she oversaw the company’s growth and client account management.  Michele has also worked with national brands like PBS’s Word World, FAO Schwartz, Jones New York, Verizon and US Banker, as well as for licensees of Disney, Warner Brothers, Lucas Films, Barbie, and South Park.

After growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Michele began her career with Starbucks and Barnes and Noble, where she made considerable and notable contributions in both.  She was responsible for all aspects of opening 25 Starbucks stores (profitable mind you!), and the launch of the B&N “superstore” concepts, both in the Northeast.

A New Yorker at heart and a self-described health nut, Michele enjoys organic cooking and spending time with her family.

Jillian Stratton

Executive Vice President

Jillian works closely with our healthcare, non-profit and corporate clients on integrated marketing strategies including account planning, physician service, public relations, advertising and media buying. Her expertise lies in client discovery and research process that builds the critical foundations for marketing communication program development.

Prior to Verasoni, Jillian was an integral part of a team responsible for strategic planning, business and product line development, as well as development of numerous business ventures for the hospitals of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System in West Orange, NJ.

Jillian earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Trinity University in Washington, DC.

Gabriella Ribeiro Truman

Managing Partner, Verasoni-TruMarketing

A child of parents both heavily involved in the travel industry, it’s an understatement to say that Gabriella Ribeiro Truman has travel & tourism in her DNA. Gabriella is managing partner in Verasoni-TruMarketing, focused on sales, marketing and PR servicing tourism-related clients from around the world. A seasoned professional with over 13 years of progressive experience in the industry, she began her career as Advertising/Marketing Manager at GOGO Worldwide Vacations for over 6 years, the leading travel wholesaler in the US. There, she designed and executed creative marketing programs and plans for a wide variety of hotels and tourist boards, while managing relationships with air partners as well. Gabriella has extensive knowledge of the Caribbean, Europe, and Mexico, and has visited hundreds of hotels globally so chances are she is quite familiar with your product as well. A graduate of Boston University, Gabriella also holds an MBA in marketing.

Gabriella utilizes her expertise and contacts in both travel and the media to her clients’ advantage. Gabriella works proactively with tourist boards and hotel partners around the world, and is dedicated to bringing each client partner creative solutions and increased distribution channels, while integrating their needs into an overall campaign including promotional opportunities and tactical sales efforts. Her passion for travel is unrivaled, and her enthusiasm about thisindustry is refreshing and exciting. Also a frequent blogger, she produces TheExplorateur and The Explorateur Portfolio, online guides and e-newsletter series for the globally curious, delivering insider travel tips, honest hotel reviews and exclusive deals for subscribers only. Her travels for both work and leisure take her around the world year after year, and despite the schedule, Gabriella actively works with an orphanage in South Africa, striving to raise funds and assist with securing volunteer doctors to provide medical care for children in need.

The Verasoni-Trumarketing team, under the leadership of Gabriella, consists of 7 seasoned travel industry professionals, based in key critical markets around the world, delivering maximum coverage for our clients, their properties and products.

Christine Falco

Director, Client Services

Christine brings 15 years of client-centric excellence to every engagement and ensures that each client receives the highest quality service possible. Christine tirelessly works closely with all members of the creative team, from account management to marketing to production, to help ensure the creative vision is delivered.

Sasha Idriss

DigitEyes

Sasha leads Verasoni’s Digital Unit which develops and executes global marketing & public relations digital strategies for clients as well as integration with offline campaigns. APPsoluteV accelerates Verasoni Worldwide’s leadership in the digital space by providing clients with an integrated approach to digital strategies, including web development, social media, mobile apps, web reputation management, and performance data and metrics. Prior to joining Verasoni Worldwide, Sasha specialized in experiential marketing working for some of the biggest brands in tech, lifestyle, entertainment, beauty and food and beverage. Sasha helped brands come alive by delivering interactive market and stakeholder engagement to build positive brand experiences.