Staff

Mike Geylin, President
Mike Geylin’s journalism career began nearly 40 years ago when, as a high school student, he worked as a sports stringer for the Bergen Record. As a student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Mike worked at the Binghamton Sun-Bulletin. After graduation he continued reporting for local newspapers in Westchester and Rockland Counties before joining the public relations department of Mercedes-Benz of North America as the editor of the Mercedes-Benz dealer and employee newsletters.

Following nearly six years at MBNA, where he worked in a variety of public relations positions, including corporate information manager, Mike, in 1983, began working with Stanley Kermish at his public relations agency. Their campaigns focused mostly on consumer electronics and high tech. Kermish-Geylin Public Relations was formed in 1985 and added automotive business with the American Motor Corporation as its first client.

Since then, Mike worked on public relations programs for clients like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Chrysler, U.S. Army Racing, Subaru, Sterling Motor Cars, and Daimler Chrysler Financial. In the early 1990s, he was responsible for the public relations for the New York International Automobile Show. In addition to these clients, he developed public relations programs for Ketel One vodka and Culvers Racing.
Mike also serves as Treasurer for the International Motor Press Association and is a member of the New England Motor Press Association.

The father of two children, Mike lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife, Rosanne, and their yellow lab Casey.

Fred Hammond, Executive Vice President
Fred Hammond has worked on cars, sold cars on the lot, promoted automotive brands, ran racing programs and established an impeccable reputation in the automotive media. With more than 36 years experience, his expertise includes both corporate communications for Volvo Cars of North America and Toyota Motor Sales USA and hands-on management of client account services at Kermish-Geylin. Fred lives in Northern New Jersey.

Chris Dirato, General Manager, Motorsports
Chris Dirato is one of the single most experienced motorsports communications professionals in the United States. Clients like Exide Technologies used Chris to promote their car and brand on the NASCAR circuit while the U.S. Army relies on him for its dragster entry in NHRA.

Chris began his career more than 20 years ago as a sports editor at two Oklahoma newspapers and has since worked for clients as varied as the U.S. Equestrian Team, Peugeot Motors and the American Cancer Society.

At Kermish-Geylin, Chris works on U.S. Army racing. He lives in Rockland County, New York with his dog, Sammy.

Andrew Schupack, General Manager, New England
Andy Schupack is a published author of books and articles for major magazines and has an outstanding reputation as tireless promoter of Kermish-Geylin clients and programs.

With 24 years of experience as a corporate communications manager and as an account supervisor at one of the world’s largest agencies, Andy knows well the definition of client service. Those clients have included the University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Vivitar, Fram/Auotolite, Volkswagen of America, Compuserve and Hemmings Motor News.

He manages Kermish-Geylin’s New England office and works on the Porsche and US Army Racing accounts. The father of three sons, he and his wife live in Rhode Island, but visit New Jersey frequently.

David Ferroni, General Manager, Midwest
David Ferroni has more than 30 years of experience in public relations with clients like Valvoline, McDonald’s, Miller Brewing Company, USG, Waste Management, Interstate Batteries and MBNA. He was the public relations director for the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team, which captured the Olympic gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y. Since 1986 he has provided PR representation for teams in NASCAR and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). In 2006, he was named NASCAR’s Most Valuable PR Representative in the Sprint Cup Series.

David manages the Midwest office of Kermish-Geylin and oversees the U.S. Army’s public relations program in NASCAR. A University of Minnesota graduate, he resides in the Minneapolis suburb of Golden Valley with his wife, Suzanne, and daughter Gabriella.

Jimin Yoo, Manager, Social Media
Jimin Yoo grew up in Southern California and Korea. A graduate of Boston University, she started at Kermish-Geylin’s New England office. Since then, she has moved to New Jersey where she is responsible for Kermish-Geylin’s social media presence. In addition, she supports all accounts, but is especially instrumental on the Porsche and Daimler Financial Services accounts. Jimin is an avid car enthusiast and speaks fluent Korean. She and her lhasa apso, Coco, live in Northern New Jersey.

Rachel Geylin, Social Media Supervisor
Rachel Geylin started working at Kermish-Geylin Public Relations about the same time she learned how to talk. In those days, answering the phone and jamming the typewriter were her specialities. Her next task was leading journalists around the New York International Auto Show, after making them their name tags.

Now, Rachel handles Kermish-Geylin’s social media presence and works primarily on the International Motor Press Association account. She lives in Manhattan.