Senior Team
Tom Faust • Vice President
Tom joined the Stanton team in 2000 and today manages comprehensive programs—including, media and thought leadership, executive visibility and financial communications—for clients in sectors such as financial services, media and marketing, professional services and enterprise technology.
In addition, as Director of Brand Communications, Tom plays an agency-wide role in client messaging strategy, corporate brand positioning, and creation of marketing materials. Clients he has worked with include American Montessori Society, America One Television Network, Chrysalis Ventures, Huntsman Gay Global Capital, Revenue Science, and Wall Street Access.
Tom has nearly 20 years of expertise in targeted content development and strategic positioning from his work with boutique marketing, design, and advertising firms in New York. Tom also has a strong editorial background, having worked as a trade magazine editor, freelance journalist and public relations writer for companies in the home furnishings, Internet services, electronic data imaging, business technology and publishing industries.
He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History from Butler University.
Charlyn Lusk • Vice President
Charlyn joined Stanton bringing 10 years of financial analysis and in-house corporate and financial communications experience to the firm. She leads the day-to-day activities for financial services clients in the areas of strategic planning, media outreach and corporate and financial communications. She also advises clients on acquisition and divestiture media strategies and investor relations issues.
After starting her career at The Chase Manhattan Bank where she was promoted to Assistant Treasurer, Charlyn moved on to Credit Suisse First Boston where she was a financial analyst following investment grade and leveraged public
debt offerings.
Building upon these experiences, Charlyn worked in investor relations for both Tommy Hilfiger and E*Trade where she spearheaded corporate and financial communications efforts. Her experience working in-house also includes extensive crisis and issues management in situations such as earnings revisions, board and management changes, mergers and acquisitions, licensing agreements
and alliances.
Charlyn received her Masters in Business Administration with a marketing concentration from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Government from Smith College. Charlyn is a member of the Junior League of the City of New York.
Nicky McHugh • Vice President
Nicky McHugh leads our professional services practice, advising firms and institutions on communication strategies to positively influence their reputation.
As such she is experienced in executive communications and issues management where she counsels clients on communication strategies during litigation or on transactions such as a significant deal, merger, restructuring or executive leadership change.
Nicky and her team manage day-to-day communications activities for clients including media relations, media events, speaking programs, product and service launches, and research and measurement.
Nicky joined the firm from Hill & Knowlton where she led the Deloitte Touche corporate team. Her client representations include: The Qatar Financial Authority, Phoenix Life Insurance Companies, CIT Group, Odyssey Reinsurance, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, Strativa Pharmaceuticals and General Atomics.
Active in leadership and mentoring roles: Nicky is a recipient of several awards for excellence in the profession, she is a past-president of a local PRSA chapter, and a former adjunct professor of Public Relations at Quinnipiac University.
George T. Sopko • Vice President
George Sopko is a veteran group leader at Stanton with a strong track record for serving B-to-B, professional services and institutional clients. Known for his development and hands-on management of strategic campaigns – as well as deep experience working with the national business press – he has managed communications programs for a wide variety of organizations over his almost 14-year career with the firm.
Largely responsible for building the agency's higher education and media and marketing practices, his successful work has supported the communications objectives of a variety of major brands including the University of Michigan Business School and CNBC, to name a few. George has also led the agency's work in the manufacturing and consulting sectors, and was responsible for developing and managing a program to generate brand awareness in the U.S. for STMicroelectronics, one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers, and its involvement with Nintendo's popular Wii gaming system.
In addition to being one of Stanton's lead media trainers, he also has significant experience in crisis communications. Most recently he developed and implemented an intense two-day seminar focused on preparing and training the executive management team of one the country's leading beverage manufacturers for a series of crises that the company felt it could potentially face.
His innovative use of PR tactics and media strategies have earned him high marks from his clients, and resulted in multiple PRSA Bronze Anvil and Big Apple Awards. George holds a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Bowling Green University. He is a regular volunteer with the New York Public School System.