Folks, it's official!

Carolyn Mandelker, President & CEO of Harrison Edwards PR & Marketing, a full-service, strategic public relations and digital marketing agency, announced today that the firm has hired Jerry McKinstry as its Director of Strategic Communications. McKinstry, a respected communications professional and seasoned journalist, joined the award-winning company on March 19, after serving as deputy communications director for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and journalist with The Journal News and Newsday, contributor to NPR and News 12/Fios, and managing director of a New York City public relations firm.

“Jerry not only understands the market and rapidly changing media landscape,” Mandelker says, “he also is a big picture thinker, which will serve our clients well and enhance our growth, particularly as we move into new sectors.”

Harrison Edwards, which has offices in New York City and Memphis, TN, has been recognized for its state-of-the-art expertise in digital marketing, predictive analytics, strategic campaigns, and groundbreaking events. Over the years, the company captured over 150 awards for its innovative integrated marketing and public relations campaigns for the region’s top organizations. The firm focuses on economic development, healthcare, B to B/B to C, broadband, the arts, and crisis communications, and practices on a regional and national level.

McKinstry has built a solid reputation as a team player and consummate professional. While at Westchester County government, he was responsible for media relations, press releases, speechwriting, social media and crisis communications along with developing messaging in key areas including economic development, Westchester’s biotech sector, and the county’s response to the opioid crisis. Prior to that, he was an award-winning reporter with The Journal News/LoHud for nearly 12 years, a columnist and editorial board member at Newsday, and a contributor to News12, FIOS1 News and National Public Radio. He also worked for a New York City firm that specialized in political PR, and taught media and journalism for nearly a decade on the graduate and undergraduate levels at Iona College.

McKinstry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Manhattan College and a Masters of Science degree in Journalism from Iona College. A Yonkers native, he now lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut with his wife and two children.

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