Robert has helped new ideas build awareness, support sales, increase mindshare and reach out to diverse publics for more than 20 years.
He earned a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Tennessee in 1989 and 1991, respectively. During his graduate studies, he began his public relations career working for two startups before teaming with two other entrepreneurs to launch a third startup. At each company, media relations was the primary means of generating market visibility.
Robert then went on to a boutique national PR firm, where he spent 11 years helping build and lead the firm’s technology practice. Other work focused on healthcare, energy and real estate development.
Robert has worked with clients globally to create messaging and programs that communicate the power of disruptive, category-changing ideas. He has been centrally engaged with 14 startups, giving him a depth of insight into the unique culture of entrepreneurial settings and engineering-led cultures. Robert is married with three children, and he is engaged in a number of civic and philanthropic endeavors.
Cloudscaling builds the world's largest IaaS clouds on the OpenStack platform, serving telecommunications carriers, service providers and enterprises. Scope includes message development, strategy, media relations, analyst relations and speaking engagement management.
"Robert is a PR guy who 'gets' our engineering culture. He jumps in wherever he’s needed, and does not mind getting his hands dirty. His immersion in Cloudscaling has made him a valuable contributor in developing the marcom strategy, messaging and content to effectively tell our story."
- Randy Bias, Co-Founder and CTO
Everest Group's Next-Generation IT Practice provides a comprehensive suite of services to organizations engaged in transformative IT strategies such as cloud computing migration, advanced data centers and virtualization. Scope includes message development, trade and busienss media relations and speaking event management for the Practice group.
"Robert possesses deep expertise in communications strategy and supporting message development. His intelligence, drive and enthusiasm make him a pleasure to work with -- an expert advisor who quickly becomes a natural extension to your internal team."
- Andrea Riffle, Vice President of Marketing
When Siemens launched it's Gigaset prosumer cordless phone system in North America, Robert helped lead the team that provided message development, program development and management, and extensive media relations outreach throughout the United States and Canada. This work was performed while at another firm.
"I observed first-hand how talented Robert is as a public relations professional. He is experienced in creating and managing multi-dimensional campaigns including strategy and message development and his approach was always thorough, proactive, timely and resourceful. Robert has an outstanding ability to create practical programs that supported the launch of the Gigaset and put Siemens on the map in the US.
- Karen O'Brien, former Manager, Corporate Marketing & Communications for Siemens IT Solutions and Services
Robert helped East Tennessee Healthcare Partners discover a new brand and image that echoed with customers and reinforced their core service concept: a healthcare campus providing leading-edge diagnostics, therapies and wellness services, chiefly for cancer care, all without the inconvenience or potential psychological negatives of receiving treatment at a hospital campus. The work consisted of in-depth interviews with current and potential patients, followed by an exhaustive brand discovery and graphic design exercise. The result was a comprehensive rebranding to Provision Healthcare and Provision Health Partners that is now being carried into the market.
"We needed a fresh look and reliable market research to help us point us in the right direction. Robert was able to see through the clutter of a complicated branding launch, provide marcom insights through research, not by triangulating the opinions of insiders and push through to a successful conclusion, finishing strong through the inevitable ups and downs that accompany any large project."
- Michael Bozeman, Vice President Marketing and Business Development
The White Stone Group designs and markets management software to healthcare providers that dramatically reduces the number of denied claims from payors. Another product uses voice technology to improve information handoff during nursing shift changes. Robert led the team that designed numerous media relations programs and research projects to help the firm establish efficacy proof points and build credibility within its core markets. This work was performed while at another firm.
"Robert stretched our already outstanding marketing department by providing 'beyond the norm' ideas based on our market situation and needs. His ideas proved valuable in meeting our goals of improved brand recognition, increased awareness and trade media exposure."
- Scott Overholt, Chief Marketing Officer
TPI is a global leader in sourcing strategy advisory services for large multinational corporations. Robert led the team that provided message platforms, consulting, extensive trade, general and business media relations and media training. This work was performed while at another firm.
"Robert Cathey is a superb partner. Robert is adept at culling the significance out of a situation, focusing on the implications to a business, to society, to the world. He knows how to use channels of influence by appealing to the inquisitive nature of an audience, whatever that audience might be. He is strategic by nature, with a keen sense of the down-stream application of information."
- Peter Allen, former Partner and Managing Director