Lou Thomas – Managing Director

A PR professional for over 20 years, both in-house and agency based, Lou founded LTA Communications twelve years ago.

She specialises in public sector PR, strategic planning and reputation management and is an experienced lecturer in consumer affairs and communications.

A special flare for strategic planning has meant Lou’s role increasingly focuses on management consultancy, particularly during ever-changing times in the NHS. She is a member of the Association of Healthcare Communicators.

Prior to setting up LTA, Lou worked for 13 years running West Midlands and Birmingham councils’ consumer/environmental services information and press office.

Her more recent experience includes running the national press office for the Trading Standards Institute, filling various interim roles for NHS organisations and assisting with recruitment, strategic planning and reputation management.

Lou is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Louise Jew – Account Director

Louise has worked for LTA for ten years and now heads up our team of writers – all of whom are trained journalists, giving us a leading edge over many PR consultancies to produce high quality copy.

‘Poacher turned gamekeeper’, Louise brings a wealth of experience – as a journalist of over 26 years and, since joining LTA, her wider knowledge of public relations.

Before coming into PR she worked mainly for the Express & Star, one of the biggest regional newspapers in the country, and she was chief reporter for their flagship Wolverhampton edition.

A specialist in crisis management and handling the media, she knows exactly what stories will interest journalists – and the tricky questions they will ask. She is a member of the National Union of Journalists.

Louise has increasingly specialised in NHS clients – particularly those needing help to handle sensitive and controversial issues. She knows how journalists think and can use that, together with her media contacts, to the best benefit for clients.

Besides media liaison work, she plays a key role in LTA’s training sessions in how to handle interviews with journalists.

Janet Ferguson – Senior Account Executive

Janet is an experienced PR professional and a member of the CIPR. She has extensive PR experience in primary and secondary care in the NHS. As a former Communications Manager in Worcestershire for 12 years, she has experience in event organising, media relations, publications and managing and improving internal communications. Previously based in Edinburgh, she was head of a medical research charity. As a Non-Executive Director at Lothian Health Board, Janet’s many tasks included working proactively with clinical staff to improve internal communications.

Emma Baronenas – Account Executive

Emma Baronenas has worked in newspaper journalism since leaving university. She gained a place on the Express & Star’s prestigious in-house training scheme where she spent five months learning the basics before moving on to hone her skills on the group’s Chronicle series of newspapers. During her two years on the Chronicle, Emma worked on a number of the newspaper’s Black Country editions where she produced news stories, features and sports reports.

Her experience of working as a journalist in print media means she has acquired a range of skills including sourcing and spotting newsworthy stories, working to tight deadlines and producing well-written copy.

Emma joined LTA to pursue her ambition of developing a career in PR. Since joining the company, Emma has handled press relations for a range of NHS clients as well as writing newsletters and annual reports, managing public consultations and getting involved in crisis PR.

Emma is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has gained a CIPR Advanced Certificate after studying at Birmingham City University.

Kay Robbins – Account Executive

Kay Robbins is an experienced member of the LTA team, having worked for the company for ten years.

Event management is where Kay’s passion lies, having organised a number of official opening ceremonies and national events during her career. She is experienced in obtaining sponsorship for events and ensures that every last detail is catered for.

For the past eight years, Kay has coordinated the Young Consumers of the Year competition. This national consumer education quiz attracts around 25,000 entries each year from schoolchildren across the country. Kay supports the competition’s regional network to coordinate events around the country and she organises the grand final which is held at the Trading Standards Institute’s annual conference.

Kay also handles media enquiries for the Trading Standards Institute, dealing with around 90 queries every month. She liaises with lead officers and the national media on a daily basis to arrange interviews, answer journalists’ questions, issue press releases and develop an annual PR plan.

Her creative flair has seen her project manage the production of award-winning exhibition stands used at national conferences and events.

Kay is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Sarah Hughes – Account Executive

Sarah is an experienced newspaper reporter who has an eye for a good story.

She gained a Media and Communications degree before being offered a place on the Express & Star’s highly regarded in-house training scheme. She spent five months learning the basic skills she needed before joining The Chronicle team of reporters.

Sarah worked on numerous editions across the Black Country and Staffordshire, where she gained experience spotting, researching and writing news stories, sports reports and features. More recently she worked for a newspaper title in Shropshire.

Not content with having just one career, for two years Sarah also owned and ran a busy restaurant alongside her ‘day job’ with her chef husband.
Sarah joined LTA to fulfil her desire to carve out a successful career in PR.

A journalist at heart, Sarah knows what stories will grab the interest of reporters. She also knows the importance of having a wealth of good contacts.
 

Ros Jones – Finance / Business Support Manager

Ros has several years experience in the financial industry at a leading high street bank and ensures the smooth operation of LTA. She also has an interest in production work, with five years' experience of producing anything from banners and annual reports to exhibition stands and promotional materials.

Gail Williamson – Website Development Consultant

With almost 25 years experience in PR – including time as head of PR for McCann Erickson in the Midlands - Gail has worked with both household names and smaller organisations to raise their profiles and to help them reach very specific business goals.

She believes PR does not stop with press relations and encourages clients to become involved in a broader marketing mix to achieve their ambitions. As a direct result of this wider perspective on PR, Gail has gained particular expertise in website development and email marketing in recent years.

Alan Birch - Designer

With more than 20 years’ experience, Alan can turn his hand to anything from brochure design to TV advertising concepts – and even the occasional cartoon.

After art college, he started as a junior artist in a small Wolverhampton design studio before heading for the bright lights of the Birmingham advertising agency scene.

He takes pride in everything he does and gives the same attention to creativity and detail, no matter how small the project may be.

Alan is a black belt kick boxer, a scuba ‘dive master’, an active member of the professional theatre group 'The Flying Ducks', who perform at The Bridgnorth Theatre on The Steps, and even finds time to take part in the odd 'fun run'.

Sam Schofield - Journalist

With experience as both a reporter and press officer, Sam has been on both sides of the media fence, sourcing and writing news stories as well as conducting effective media strategies.

Whilst gaining a Journalism degree, Sam spent a year in Staffordshire University’s marketing department, where he produced regular press releases, dealt with media enquiries, and wrote copy for the internal news publication, website and for various other purposes.

He then joined Central Independent Newspapers as a reporter, working on the Cannock and Rugeley Mercury editions, producing front-page news stories and feature articles on a weekly basis, before stepping out on his own as a freelance journalist.
 

Jonathan Sharp - Communications Consultant

Jonathan has amassed more than 22 years experience in the media, starting out as a journalist before switching to public relations. His time in journalism included spells on the Worcester Evening News and The Birmingham Post, before he carved out a freelance career reporting for several national newspapers and writing features and case studies for weekly magazines.

Other career highlights include being a regional PR Manager for a leading national house builder and spells as an interim PR & Marketing Manager for a Government agency that promotes foundation degrees, and a media relations specialist at a regional development agency. He has also worked as an associate lecturer, teaching “Writing Skills For Journalism” to college students.

Jonathan has also built up an impressive track record as an interim Communications Manager in the NHS. He has recently taken on this role at both University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) and Primary Care Trust (PCT), NHS Warwickshire, during transition phases in the departments’ development. During his time at NHS Warwickshire, the PCT secured more positive media coverage than any other West Midland PCT.

Cordelia Noble – Photographer

Cordelia’s background is as a newspaper photographer and her shots for use with press releases always catch the picture desk’s eye!

But she has equal flair for taking pictures for in-house publications, studio and ‘arty’ shots.

She gained a degree in photography at Nottingham City University before working for local newspapers and then going freelance.

Cordelia has worked closely with LTA Communications for the last seven years – and it’s certainly not a snap judgment to say she’s the first choice for our clients when they need a photographer!

Colin Marshall – Website Developer

Colin joined LTA as an associate after we were impressed with the work he carried out for us to develop this website!

He has a degree in Computer Science and has, over the last five years, worked with major companies all over the UK to develop, market and maintain their websites.

He prides himself on developing websites ‘that work well’ – getting to the top of the list on search engines.

Graham Wallis - Associate Director

Graham specialises in providing consultancy and interim management services to the public sector - in particular the NHS.

A qualified accountant, he has wide-ranging experience at Board Level, including six years in Chief Executive roles.  His skills lie in strategic planning, resource management and operational delivery.

Graham has worked with the Welsh National Assembly as Turnaround Director for NHS Wales and has recently completed an assignment as interim Chief Executive for a LIFT ( Local Improvement Finance Trust ) company in Essex.

He is currently interim Chief Executive at Stockport Primary Care Trust.