About

I’m Monica Surfaro Spigelman – a writer and crafter with more than 30 years of diverse marketing, public relations, strategic planning and media experience in both business and non-profit.

Journalism
I am a former journalist, with writing credits including The New York Times and NYC FM news radio. Read my NYT clips, my entertainment client website content, my national music & entertainment releases,  my magazine features or  Tucson business articles.

Corporate, Non-Profit and National Music-Entertainment Marketing

  • UPS and Corporate – For almost two decades I was corporate communications manager responsible for a variety of executive communications and global employee media for United Parcel Service.
  • Keep America Beautiful and NPO – I’m a former officer-Vice President of Communications for the national non-profit, Keep America Beautiful.
  • Tucson Non-Profit – Through Tucson Cowgirl Communications, I consult with a variety of local business and non-profit (including Tucson Festival of Books and Tucson Meet Yourself) in new media and marketing communications.
  • Classic Rock Band Foreigner – I’ve produced a number of optimized press releases for this iconic band.
  • Tohono Chul Park – I served as Marketing Director for Tucson’s center of nature, art and culture: Tohono Chul Park.
  • IABC – Since 2008, I am a board member of the International Association of Business Communicators, Tucson chapter.

Partnerships
Jeff Joseph Jeudy is as blazing in his graphic design as he is on guitar. I worked with Jeff via his Three Hooks Design group to create the website holding page for Kelly Hansen Rocks.

Julie Ray, the owner of Julie Ray Creative design and communications, is a valued friend and partner in a variety of businesses and non-profit assignments. Julie serves on the Tucson Pima Arts Council’s Grants Committee, City of Tucson ParkWise Commission, and last year was a recipient of the Arizona Daily Star’s 40 Under 40 award. Working with Julie always is a satisfying and successful adventure.

Dave Smith- I met Dave on Twitter, and learned after our Twitter conversations that Dave blogged about Tucson, real estate, photography and of course his favorite topic, WordPress. He and Julie Ray have a great computer geek club going – one that I aspire to be part of!

Crafter, Too
I enjoy an artsy side as a seamstress and crafter. I am a lover of fabrics, paper arts and vintage. I dabble in quilting and altered books. I value folk life and its expression in traditional fiber arts. You can read about some of my crafting here and here and here.