There’s more to Geben to give
We’re thrilled to announce that Geben has acquired Women Online, a content and influencer marketing agency specializing in national social impact and nonprofits.
That means more growth and impact for your brand through our expanded award-winning influencer relations, curated event experiences, PR and more. Learn more
Ready to move your brand forward? Let’s chat.
our services
creativity that gets results. quickly.
We partner with clients to accelerate their growth and impact. From defining strategy and disseminating messages … to delivering actionable insights and tangible business outcomes, our work is rooted in data, powered by curiosity, and infused with ingenuity.
After starting as a PR and social media agency in 2009, Geben’s services expanded as clients’ needs evolved. But, we only add new services when we’re confident that we can deliver them at the same exceptionally high quality that landed us on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s top agencies.
How can we help you? Let’s chat.
Public Relations a non-traditional approach to traditional PR
Media relations
Crisis communication
Internal communication
Digital Marketing creating connections that convert
Social media
Influencer relations
SEO audits + strategy
Online advertising (paid search, social, audio)
Content marketing
Strategy envisioning and architecting what’s next
Communication planning
Brand positioning
Analytics + Insights
Events sparking engagement through bespoke experiences
Concept creation
Experiential design
Event promotion
Production
Presentation development
Case Studies
Generalists by intent, Geben’s clients span industries – from healthcare and technology to B2b and consumer services. No two projects are the same. To learn more about how we can help you, check out some examples of our work.
our team
Curious technologists. Data-driven practitioners. Proactive storytellers. Detailed planners. Unmatched partners. Meet #TeamGeben's leadership.
Heather Whaling
President
After launching the company from her dining room in 2009, Heather’s fresh, data-driven approach to best practices has helped Geben evolve into a highly respected, sought-after, award-winning PR firm with operations in Columbus and Chicago.
Heather prides herself on using Geben as a platform for doing good. She is a vocal advocate for issues impacting women and girls, especially paid parental leave. After rolling out a 10-week leave policy for new moms and new dads at Geben, her perspective on this issue has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com and a variety of local and national media outlets.
Shawna Burger
Director, Digital
Shawna oversees digital marketing for Geben’s clients. With a history of working on national and local brands, she has an in-depth understanding of digital marketing strategy as it relates to digital advertising, SEO, social media, email, and analytics.
Shawna’s background covers nearly a decade of digital marketing experience working in corporate and agency environments for health care, higher education and retail brands at GSW, The Ohio State University, and Bath & Body Works.
Lexi Sharkov
Associate Director, Creative
Lexi oversees creative strategy at Geben, helping guide the creation of compelling campaigns and content across the agency. From messaging platforms and brand voice guidelines to social media and marketing campaigns, she loves finding ways to add a layer of creativity to data-driven strategies.
After over 7 years at Geben, Lexi has helped tell the stories of a wide range of clients, from local arts organizations and breweries to national venture capital companies and high-growth tech startups.
Devin Hughes
Vice President, Client Services
Devin Hughes oversees client relationships across the agency, providing consultation on evolving business challenges and communication opportunities. He spearheads Geben’s insights services including data collection, research and strategic planning and interpretation.
Devin has vast experience in the healthcare space, having served as a strategist, analyst, media relations representative and social media lead for a number of healthcare organizations. His career experience spans healthcare, state agencies, nonprofits, and national retail organizations.
James Anderson
Director, Social Media
James oversees social media marketing at Geben, infusing creativity with data to help our clients build strategies that achieve more than surface-level metrics. Although he possesses a deep understanding of how social media can affect any organization's bottom line, James’ personality and approach to client relations allows him to break down even the most complicated aspects of social media.
James draws on nearly ten years of experience in social media with national and local organizations, yet brings the enthusiasm necessary to always have a pulse on the ever-changing social media landscape.
Carey Cifranic
Associate Vice President, Client Services
Carey Cifranic leads several of Geben’s largest accounts and has a knack for integrating business strategy and PR. As a PRSA certified crisis communicator, Carey is also a part of the agency’s crisis counsel as situations evolve.
Carey got her start at Geben as an Account Manager and has been a part of some of our most successful campaigns. Her favorites include leading a client through a social media crisis during Hurricane Harvey, landing brands in outlets such as GQ, InStyle, Associated Press, CBS Morning News, and hitting the streets of Columbus with a barbershop quartet!
Meahar Khanduja
Director, Business Operations
Meahar leads business operations and oversees all daily business activities. From HR and culture benefits to vendor management and finance, she handles all the behind-the-scenes details that make Geben run smoothly. With a master's in economics, she never misses an opportunity to negotiate and has a keen eye for detail.
Meahar has experience in a variety of industries including wealth management, insurance, sales, real estate, nonprofit and medical office management. This experience gives her a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to oversee and improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
our rules
Plenty of agencies offer traditional and digital PR services. So, what truly differentiates Geben? It’s our House Rules – the guiding philosophies that shape how we approach our work, interact with clients, and support each other.
embrace the chaos.
It’s a fast-paced world. Even with the best plans in place, things will occasionally get chaotic. Instead of stressing about it, lean into it. Be nimble and embrace the challenge.
no jerks allowed.
We have the freedom and flexibility to choose who we work with. There are too many opportunities and too many amazing people in our industry to waste time working with people who don’t follow The Golden Rule.
celebrate success.
Whether it’s a big win or a small moral victory, take time to pause and celebrate. Then get back to chasing the next one.
do well by doing good.
By giving back — through volunteer time, providing pro bono services, or financial contributions — we are rewarded in many meaningful ways. We believe that by doing good, businesses become better.
design your day.
Work when and where you’re most productive. Focus on delivering high-quality results instead of billable hours.
plan smart. implement smarter.
Once we define what success looks like for a specific project or client, make sure the day-to-day activities sync up with the big-picture goals
own it. even if you don't own it.
Unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. Take pride, ownership, and responsibility in everything you touch — from large projects to small details. Together, we’re on a journey to build something amazing.
partnering and connecting is our competitive edge.
Immense value lies in our ability to build committed partnerships and connect dots, people and opportunities.
teamwork makes the dream work.
We deliver better results through collaboration.
innovate best practices.
“The way it’s always been done” doesn’t have to be the way we do it now. Always look for opportunities to innovate and improve. Stay ahead of the curve. Nail the basics, then add some sizzle.
your partner
your {communication/business/community} partner
Combining hustle and strategy, we are problem solvers. We’re creators and connectors. We start with yes. We thrive in the unknown. We have a bias toward action. We’re redefining the client-agency partnership.
At Geben, “unmatched partnership” is more than a catchy phrase. It’s what motivates us to immerse ourselves across client departments and teams. It’s the intangible spark we feel when we bond with clients over shared community interests. It’s the higher standard that emerges when you realize your PR partner is your business partner and your community partner.
As a boutique agency, we deliver high quality services to smaller organizations who typically can't afford big agency rates. We share a startup-likemindedness. Larger clients choose Geben for our high-caliber results and high-touch service.