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Gina De Franco started her public relations work in the
late eighties while she owned the commercial directing company,
BEST DIRECTORS. This was an innovative creation by Ms. De
Franco, as it was the first-ever directors representation
company on the West Coast. It acted as a talent agency, which
obtained television commercial jobs for film directors and
cinematographers. This combined several houses, enabling a
further talent reach to advertising agencies in a one stop
shop. Thus, the company grew to where De Franco’s work
combined talent placement and public relations work, as well
as event planning for several television shows and Los Angeles
based charities. As Best Directors grew, Ms. De Franco moved
her company to New York. This came at a time when several
entertainment and national restaurant chains needed to broaden
their access to the entire United States through press outlets
and branding their restaurants. One such example is the Maui
Taco chain, which Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas and Alice
Cooper backed.
With the objective of building a business focused on personal
attention devoted to each client, Ms. De Franco has created
De Franco Media—an exclusive public relations agency.
DFM shares a belief that for public relations to be truly
effective, the results must show in the press, as well as
in the marketplace.
De Franco Media was listed in an October 2000 issue of the
Daily Variety as the number one high-end hospitality event
planner on the east coast. DFM was noted for the “prestigious
goody bag” and its ability to attract unique social
individuals such as Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, Patricia
Duff and Georgette Mosbacher to celebrities like Jay-Z, Gerard
Depardieu and Antonio Banderas.
In 2008, De Franco Media was acquired by International Luxury Media.
De Franco Media’s President and CEO, Gina De Franco,
was born and raised in Southern California, attending the
University of California at Santa Barbara and University of
Southern California, obtaining a Master’s Degree in
journalism. In 1987, Ms. De Franco became an actress working
as a SAG and AFTRA member, accrediting over fifty on-air credits
for television, radio and film. She then joined her father’s
corporation, Sunrise Dates, Nuts and Diamond brand, serving
as Vice President for marketing and sales. She took her ability
to pitch and negotiate pricing and created a talent agency,
focusing on commercial directors’ talents called Best
Directors. Gina has also worked with many top 100 advertising
agencies. Clients included McDonald’s, Levi’s
jeans, Wells Fargo Bank, Great Western Bank, Colgate, Burger
King, Burger Chef, as well as Ultrabrite. Later, through her
work with studios like Paramount, MGM and Warner Brothers,
Gina found that she had created a strong database, which would
be of great value for event planning. Ms. De Franco subsequently
created her public relations and event planning company, De
Franco Media, which is based in New York and serves both the
East and West Coasts.
Gina De Franco is a published journalist and an on-air radio
and television personality known as GINA D the PARTY DIVA.
From 2003 to present, Gina the Party Diva, has been featured
on KISS FM in Los Angeles, with Rick Dees, as well as on BLINK
Radio in New York, with Linda Lopez and Chris Booker. She
has been a featured reporter on E! Entertainment Television’s
“The Gossip Show,” as well the Eyada Internet
entertainment reporter for Richard Johnson of the New York
Post and George Rush of the Daily News. Gina was also a reporter
on the travel televison show,“Passions,” a pilot
produced for the Travel Channel.
Ms. De Franco is a freelance journalist, writing articles
in the travel/culinary and lifestyle areas. Between 2005-2006,
Gina De Franco was published in Trump World magazine, Shelter
magazine and Quest Magazine. From 1995-1997, she worked as
the editor-at-large for Air France’s first class publication
and the contributing travel editor for Animal Fair.
Gina De Franco brings a diverse creative background to her
work at De Franco Media. . Gina has a natural ability in networking
with the best of high society, film and hip-hop worlds. This
rare fusion between the best of the internationally known
bold faces and the biggest stars of the entertainment industry
brings a diverse mix to all DFM events, which makes them memorable
ones.
Gina De Franco resides in New York City and Los Angeles,
California.
Vice President
Diane Jean Miles joined DFM in 2003 after Gina and Diane
worked together at the President Clinton Library Fundraiser
at the Supper Club in New York CIty. Ms. De Franco was on
the event side, generating ticket sales, as well as food and
beverage sponsors, while Ms. Miles was on the entertainment
side coordinating talent. They later collaborated on events
like the Bicentennial Haitian Week celebration. They have
also worked on Grammy Award niche parties in Los Angeles,
as well as the production of a Sesame Street concert for children.
Her recent association with DFM in 2004 included coordinating
artists at a Radio City Music Hall fundraiser for Presidential
candidate, Senator John Kerry.
Ms. Miles started her professional life as a certified New
York State teacher in Science and English. Prior to joining
the DFM team, she acted as executive assistant to the CEO
of the Refugee Camp events & charity division, and acted
as Vice President in charge of event planning for the Wyclef
Jean Foundation. Other credits include working as Vice President
of Communications for Grammy Award winning singer, Wyclef
Jean and his former group, the Fugees, and acting as a liaison
for J Records founder, Clive Davis.
Some of Diane’s work for the Clef’s Kids Foundation
includes bringing musical instruments to under-privileged
children and helping to build schools in underdeveloped countries.
Her most recent venture with DFM will be the creation of a
fundraiser for Clef’s Kids, set to take place in December
2005.
Diane Jean Miles brings a vibrant global network that gives
DFM access to a wealth of talent and information. Together,
Ms. De Franco and Ms. Miles bring a universal knowledge and
broad global scope to the DFM marketing team.
Vice President
British born Virginia Fiona Clarke started her work with
DFM in 2000. Post college, in the mid-nineties, she began
her professional career working as a liaison with Princess
Diana in London. Ms. Goodall has strong access to sporting
events in London, Paris and European society fundraisers.
She works between London and New York, primarily heading DFM
European events.
Virginia Fiona Clarke has worked with Gina De Franco on
events coordinated by Potel and Chabot Catering throughout
Paris. De Franco Media acted as the official culinary liaison
for Potel and Chabot, while creating the Tsar’s Ball
in St. Petersburg for the New Year’s 2000 Gala.
Account Executive
Kelly Lowe, from Melbourne Australia, holds a Master's Degree in Journalims
and is in charge of Press. She works 8 months in the South of France and 4 months
overseas in Australia, for niche-events, such as the Melbourne Cup.
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