Skip to main content

Who We Are

A team born and steeped in developing and delivering stories that stand out.

What Sets Us Apart

Customized Services

No two companies are the same and neither are communications and marketing programs. From the outset, we listen intently to help identify your company’s needs and tailor programs accordingly.

01

Senior-Level Expertise

Every member of our team has 10 or more years of professional experience. We understand how businesses work at the strategic level.

02

Measurable Results

Whether it’s raising awareness or driving leads, it’s important to demonstrate how we move the needle. Together with you, we define meaningful KPIs and provide customized executive-ready reports for key stakeholders.

03

Lasting Partnerships

Our approach to client services, coupled with our proven track record of success in getting results, has led to long-term relationships that outpace the industry average.

04

Leadership

Our focus is, and has always been, about creating programs for our clients that are built on well-conceived strategies – not agency egos – by senior-level professionals.

Partner

Matthew Pugh

Matthew Pugh holds more than 20 years of public relations and communications experience, primarily in the technology space. Before co-founding Pugh & Tiller PR, he served as Vice President at Weiss PR, where he was instrumental in growing the firm and its technology practice, particularly among international and global companies. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Communications for two high-growth technology firms, where he devised and executed comprehensive public relations, analyst relations, and social media programs. He also worked as a Senior Public Relations Executive at a leading cybersecurity company, where he provided strategic PR support for corporate and marketing initiatives, industry trade shows, product launches, and employee communications. Before that, he spent several years at a national public relations firm, designing communications and media relations plans for clients in the technology, higher education, commercial real estate, and legal industries, and began his PR career working for a faith-based disaster relief and development organization.

Pugh has earned several industry awards including, a MDDC Press Association award for feature writing, several PR World Awards for his work in the technology sector,and was named part of the “Marketing Team of the Year” for a high-growth international technology company. Pugh earned his B.S. in mass communications from Towson University.

Partner

Jessica Tiller

Jessica Tiller has two-plus decades of public relations experience developing and managing strategic communications programs and initiatives. Prior to co-launching Pugh & Tiller PR, she was a co-founder and EVP at Weiss PR, where she managed client relationships as well as the strategic direction of the firm. Prior to that, Tiller served as Vice President at a national public relations firm, where she specialized in creating and implementing strategic communications initiatives for clients in the serious gaming, technology, wireless, and professional service fields.

Her career started at a utility company, where she served as a spokesperson. Clients Tiller has worked for include Sprint, Simon Properties, and Alera Group. She also has a considerable amount of crisis experience, working on short- and long-term projects ranging from workplace fatalities and discrimination lawsuits to significant safety issues related to commercial construction. Tiller is a two-time winner of the public relations profession’s most prestigious award, The Silver Anvil. In 2012, she was a recipient of The Daily Record’s 40 Under 40 Award and in 2013 she was named one of The Daily Record’s Leading Women. In 2016, Tiller earned SmartCEO’s Brava Award which celebrates the achievements of 40 of Baltimore’s top women business leaders. She was also named an Influential Marylander in 2021.

Senior Counsel

Ray Weiss

Ray Weiss brings more than 40 years of experience in public relations to his role as Senior Counsel and a member of the Pugh & Tiller PR leadership team. After co-founding Weiss PR in 2008 and guiding that firm’s growth into a widely respected and internationally recognized firm serving clients around the world, Weiss stepped back from his role as President in 2020 to work with his partners, Jessica Tiller and Matthew Pugh, in rebranding the firm as Pugh & Tiller PR.

Today, he continues to play an integral role with Pugh & Tiller, assisting with its strategic direction and leading public relations initiatives for several clients. Weiss previously held public relations positions in academia, economic development, and the legal community. He joined a national public relations firm as a Partner in 1992, establishing that firm’s Baltimore office and successfully managing it for 16 years. He has created and implemented communications initiatives for a wide range of major corporations, nonprofits, and special events, including two Papal Visits to the United States, the annual Preakness Stakes, and benefit concerts by Smokey Robinson, Johnny Cash, and others. A graduate of Leadership Maryland, Weiss won the prestigious 2019 CEO Today USA Award, which “celebrates American CEOs for changing the game in their respective industries.”

Creative Director

Mark O'Dell

Mark O’Dell has over 25 years of professional experience as a graphic designer, art-director, branding and marketing strategist, and web developer. Before working with Pugh & Tiller, O’Dell started O’Dell Graphic Solutions, a graphic design and web development firm where he helped international corporations, medium-sized business, and mom-and-pops alike solidify their visual brands and online experiences . He previously served for 12 years as the senior art and technical director for international publisher, Agora Financial. At Agora, O‘Dell led a team of 20+ designers and developers, supporting countless domestic and international marketing, branding, and web development initiatives.

At Pugh & Tiller, O’Dell is integral to supporting the firm’s strategy, branding, graphic, and web asset development for clients both domestically and internationally. Mark O’Dell holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Delaware.

Marketing Technology Director

TJ Tate

TJ Tate is a dynamic marketing technologist with nearly two decades of experience at the cutting edge of marketing and technology. Throughout his extensive career, he has transformed marketing infrastructures for a diverse clientele, ranging from large enterprises to specialized firms. TJ’s solutions span from personalized 1-to-1 marketing at scale to advanced websites, in-depth analytics, and business automation. Prior to his current role at Pugh & Tiller, he held senior positions at two major financial publishing companies and collaborated with leading figures in the customer data platform and email marketing sectors.

TJ’s expertise extends across various industries, including finance, education, technology, and real estate, seamlessly adapting to both B2C and B2B business models. A recognized figure in the MarTech industry, TJ has shared his insights on leveraging first-party data at numerous industry conferences. His innovative approach to marketing technology solutions has garnered multiple innovation awards across different sectors, underscoring his significant impact and leadership in the field.

Senior Content Manager

Anna Quinn, J.D.

Anna Quinn combines a corporate background with legal experience and a decade of creative digital marketing. Her career, which spans over three decades, represents a remarkable journey from a Vice President in the maritime insurance sector to a visionary in social media strategy and graphic design. Anna’s unique blend of legal acumen and hands-on experience in complex, high-value marine claims management provides a nuanced understanding of regulatory and compliance challenges across industries.

Before joining Pugh & Tiller PR, Quinn also led quality audits, training programs, and, latterly, digital marketing initiatives within the shipping sector. Her insightful vision, combined with her legal background and creative prowess, positions her uniquely to guide clients through the intricacies of communication in the digital age, ensuring their messages resonate and engage. Anna Quinn holds a Juris Doctors degree from Leeds University in the UK and is also fluent in Spanish.

What Our Clients Say About Us