February 26, 2021 – NEW YORK, NY – Into their 14th year, boutique public relations agency Big Picture Media Founder + CEO Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers has announced the promotion of Natalie Schaffer to Director of Publicity and Katy Cooper to Manager of Publicity and Business Development. Schaffer will continue to spearhead the NYC office while Cooper will be bringing BPM over to Los Angeles. In addition, BPM is expanding their Publicity roster to include representation of influencers while launching new advisor services led by BPM Publicist and Brand Strategist Kirsten Horner. They have begun to build enticing brands through cohesive, original, high quality content across social platforms for clients. The boutique agency boasts an all female staff of publicists that continue to be trailblazers in the entertainment PR industry.
Big Picture Media was founded in 2007 by New York native, Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers with her core vision being 100% dedication to the client in all capacities, and still holds true as the backbone of what fuels her staff everyday.
“I am thrilled to promote both Natalie and Katy,” shares CEO Ghiraldi-Travers. “They each demonstrate the dedication, skill and leadership for their new positions and the achievements are well deserved. Schaffer has been with BPM for over seven years and prior to that we worked so well together in her previous role. She is tenacious, creative and a natural born leader who has been an invaluable member of my team. Cooper has demonstrated her commitment and innovative skills over the course of the last four years and eagerly and effortlessly will enter her new management and business development role. It is an honor to have both of them as part of the BPM family.”
The NYC office will continue to be led by Schaffer, who has been with the company since 2013. A California native, Schaffer actually started out in the original BPM Los Angeles office and worked there until 2015 when Ghiraldi-Travers and team made the choice to move the entire staff back east bringing all together under one roof. Schaffer has an extensive background working for a diverse set of clients ranging from non-profit organizations to festivals to books and film. She began her career at Los Angeles based independent alternative label, Hopeless Records, where she specialized in marketing and promotion. Big Picture Media continues to work with Hopeless Records daily, as well as US based labels such as Pure Noise Records, SideOneDummy Records, Equal Vision Records, Tooth & Nail Records, No Sleep Records and international label, Rude Records. Schaffer is currently working with Cooper on Taylor Guitars’ “I Know What Love Is” project benefitting MusiCares and has handled multiple press campaigns for legendary prog rock band, KANSAS, and alternative rock bands like The Wonder Years, Waterparks, Can’t Swim, Say Anything, Fireworks, Boston Manor, and Doll Skin. Aside from music, she’s successfully spearheaded press campaigns for the clothing brand Glamour Kills, the 2019 San Francisco Coffee Festival, the re-release of John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ and ‘Wayne’s World’ into theaters to celebrate milestone anniversaries, and the hilarious, satire site The Hard Times. She was the publicist behind John Joseph’s book, ‘The PMA Effect’, and for a period of time was helping spread awareness on The Rec Room – space for thinkers, comedians, renegades, storytellers, innovators and creators in Houston, TX founded by Stephanie Wittels-Wachs.
“The passion and determination of my co-workers inspire me everyday to be a better person and a better publicist,” shares Schaffer. “It’s a real honor to be able to help Dayna expand and grow Big Picture Media into new territories. The past 7 years with the company have taught me so much and I look forward to what 2021 and beyond will bring for us and our clients.”
Schaffer is currently focused on career development regarding crisis communications and management, a new service Big Picture Media will be offering to clients in 2021.
Cooper dove into the music industry headfirst after meeting Ghiraldi-Travers in 2015 and has since worked on major releases, both alongside Dayna and independently, for a diverse roster of artists including MOD SUN, Smallpools, Sum 41, Neck Deep, Counterparts, The Wrecks, Lauren Sanderson, Tyler Posey, DE’WAYNE, Emo Nite LA, Fit For A King, The Story So Far, World’s First Cinema, lil aaron, Don Broco, Marlo the Barbarian, Holding Absence, YaSi, Goldfinger and more. She is also currently working with the team behind Full Picture, a short docu film currently premiering at Slamdance and shade’s launch into the CBD space. Cooper has worked with a variety of clients on events including the MTV VMAs, Charity Bomb’s Strange Concert Series, City Parks Foundation’s Annual Gala, the SWITCHFOOT BRO-AM, the Los Angeles Coffee Festival, Vans Warped Tour and more. After spearheading the transition for both City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage Series and 320 Festival into fully virtual festivals in 2020, Cooper has helped cement BPM’s place in the digital events space.
Cooper is currently developing new business strategies for BPM including digital marketing services launching this year. She is excited to be spearheading the re-expansion of BPM into a bicoastal operation with the opening of a Los Angeles office.
“I am so excited to continue to grow both personally and professionally in my new role with BPM,” shares Cooper. “Dayna has always encouraged us to go after what makes us happy and I am looking forward to helping make that happen with the growth of our business. Our team is truly the best there is and that is because of the passion and excitement that each of us bring to our clients. I can’t wait to share that electricity with the West Coast.”
Schaffer will be guiding the New York-based BPM team of highly sought-after PR professionals including passionate and seasoned Senior Publicist + Internship Director Becky Kovach. Kovach is an accomplished Senior Publicist who spearheads and oversees individual publicity campaigns for a variety of clients including Lilith Czar, This Wild Life, American Authors, Magic Giant, Simple Plan, Switchfoot, Bayside, Motion City Soundtrack, The New York City Coffee Festival, To Write Love on Her Arms, NY Times Best-Selling Author Jamie Tworkowski and more. Kovach also tackles BPM’s Friday Spotify playlisting spotlight and BPM’s philanthropic initiative of highlighting a non-profit organization weekly across our social media accounts and organizing staff donations. Additionally, Kovach oversees all responsibility for BPM’s highly competitive internship staffing + training program.
Publicist + Website Coordinator Hayley Brinkman represents a diverse roster of music clients, film festivals, literary books, non-profit organizations and more. With a passion for elevating up-and-coming and independent musicians, she has had the pleasure of working with artists like Sure Sure, Crimson Apple, Bay Ledges, The Cuckoos, Fiona Grey, KAYZO and Mike Mains & The Branches while also working on The Bushwick Film Festival, non-profit organization To The Moon And Back, One Voice Children’s Choir and Miami-based Nu Deco Ensemble. One of her longest-running clients is the noteworthy rock band Everclear and their frontman Art Alexakis. She is currently working with licensing company Soundtripe, first-round Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Ashley Jordan and Nashville-based sibling trio Band of Silver. Additionally, she runs the daily functions of the company website and monthly newsletter.
Publicist + Brand Advisor Kirsten Horner joined BPM with a background in Beauty PR. She is currently working with a wide range of artists including New Jersey-born indie pop rock band The Vaughns and iconic alt-rockers The Spill Canvas. Horner recently worked on punk rock band Seahaven’s first album in six years and wrapped up a wildly successful campaign with Yvie Oddly, the American drag queen, performer, fashion designer, rapper, and recording artist who came to international attention in 2019 when she won the eleventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Additionally, Kirsten also manages, creates and publishes cohesive, original, high quality content across BPM social platforms and also offers Brand Advisor services to BPM clients.
The newest addition to BPM team is Junior Publicist Gabriella Natali, who is currently working with Horace Bray, a guitarist and producer that bridges between Tame Impala and John Mayer, Atlanta based new wave punk band Lesibu Grand, pop-rock band Paper Jackets and more.She joins BPM from Charleston, South Carolina where she worked at indie label Hearts & Plugs and helped release music for artists like SUSTO, Brave Baby and She Returns From War.
Over the course of 13 years, the award-winning firm has represented a rotating roster of diverse clients like Lissie, The Band CAMINO, All Time Low, Travis Mills, The Suffers, New Found Glory, Larkin Poe, Thrice, The Village Voice, Kansas, Smokeasac, Matisyahu, Peter Gabriel, Naughty by Nature, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, The Eagles, BOHNES, Spanish Love Songs, Keltie Knight, Jac Vanek, State Champs, Veil of Maya, Aaron Gillespie, Maria Taylor, Four Year Strong, City and Colour, Sheppard, as well as household name clients like Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Big Picture Media has expanded their footprint in the business and event world with clients like Kevin Lyman Group, CMJ, Sail Away Coffee, The NYC Independent Film Festival, Consequence of Sound, Throne Watches and more.
CEO and Founder Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers has spoken on panels and participated in the mentorship program at SXSW, Sundance Film Festival and the New York Independent Film Festival. She has also held speaking engagements at NYU, Belmont University, Long Island University, Drexel University and more to inspire the next generation of entertainment industry hopefuls. Next month Ghiraldi-Travers will be a guest speaker at the WaterBear College of Music in England.
Dayna has also produced an award winning horror film, several music videos and is in pre-production on two feature film projects, “Venice” and “Haulin’ Oats.” Most recently Dayna joined the Board of Advisors for Immersia Labs, venturing into the Cannabis/Tech world and is working alongside SHADE CBD on their launch. Her energy is contagious, her ideas are boundless and she never stops pushing herself while supporting and encouraging all of those around her.
With the launch of the new LA office and the offering of branding and crisis PR services, Big Picture Media is slated to expand their client roster this year with branching out into new territories while never losing sight of what truly matters, the client in all capacities.
