Amendola Expands, Adds Three Seasoned Healthcare & Tech PR & Marketing Pros To Its A-Team

Blend of corporate and agency expertise in pharma, healthcare, healthcare IT and tech uniquely positions agency for ongoing growth

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 12, 2020 Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and healthcare IT public relations and digital marketing agency announced today that it has added three new account directors: Sofia Kosmetatos, Nicole Rodriguez and Matt Pera. They will be responsible for creating and managing client programs, providing strategic counsel and positioning, and pitching media and other digital influencers for the agency’s healthcare and healthcare IT clients.

“It’s a very exciting time for Amendola as we continue to grow and expand,” said Jodi Amendola, CEO, Amendola. “The deep experience, diverse skills and relationships that Sofia, Nicole and Matt bring are essential to our continued growth. By hiring top talent, we can continue to deliver innovative, flexible and creative approaches so that our clients rise above the noise.”

Sofia Kosmetatos, senior account director

Based in Washington, D.C., Kosmetatos will create and manage healthcare and health IT client programs, provide strategic counsel and messaging, and reach media and other digital influencers for the agency’s clients.

Kosmetatos brings nearly 20 years of public relations and journalism experience, including a dozen in healthcare and health IT. Most recently, she served as director of public affairs for West Health, a family of nonprofit organizations dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable successful aging. She worked closely with senior executives and researchers on multifaceted, data-driven initiatives to raise awareness of West Health’s policy research and overall brand among healthcare media and other key stakeholders such as legislators, regulators, advocacy organizations and policy experts.

Before joining West Health, Kosmetatos was director of media relations and online communications for the National Quality Forum, a healthcare quality organization engaged in measurement and innovation. Previously, she led communications for the American Health Quality Association, the trade organization representing Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organizations.

Earlier in her career, Kosmetatos was an award-winning reporter who covered the business of healthcare for The Detroit News.

Kosmetatos earned a Master of Journalism degree from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nicole Risdall Rodriguez, senior account director

Rodriguez brings more than 15 years of marketing communications, public relations and business development experience in the pharmaceutical sciences, finance and health technology industries. Before joining the Amendola team, Rodriguez worked for Experian Health, where she delivered impactful creative services through the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns and thought leadership initiatives.

Rodriguez has served as the catalyst for award-winning marketing and public relations campaigns that successfully integrate branding, product positioning, advertising, digital marketing, video, public relations, and event marketing to positively and seamlessly promote corporate identity and brand-specific campaigns on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of healthcare and science/technology at agencies including Syneos Health, H+K Strategies, MSL Group, and Burson Cohn & Wolfe.

Rodriguez is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations, with a minor in Sociology.

Matt Pera, account director

Pera has more than a decade of experience leading PR strategy for clients with a range of products and offerings including telehealth platforms, data management and protection, cybersecurity, Software as a Service, network connectivity, AI and more. Previously an award-winning reporter and news editor, he also works with businesses to create various types of content, including thought leadership articles, press releases, web content, blog posts, case studies, and white papers.

Before joining Amendola, Pera was responsible for raising awareness and achieving industry and top-tier media placements for healthcare tech and pharma companies within the University of Chicago’s startup incubator and tech transfer arm, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Prior to that, he served as an account lead for the Chicago-based PR firm Tech Image, where he managed strategy for global clients across a variety of industries.

Pera received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and English from Indiana University.

About Amendola
Amendola is an award-winning national public relations, marketing communications, digital and content marketing firm. Named one of the best information technology (IT) PR firms in the nation four times by PRSourceCode, Amendola represents some of the best-known brands and groundbreaking startups in the healthcare and HIT industries. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros delivers strategic guidance and effective solutions to help organizations boost their reputation and drive market share. For more information about the PR industry’s “A Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow Amendola on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: 
Marcia Rhodes, Amendola Communications, 480.664.8412 ext. 15 / mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com