TEAM
The Chen Communications team and our key partners share the same goals: make life easier for you and deliver quality work.
Combined, our core team serves up several decades of experience creating and executing communications strategies to land targeted, successful stories in millions of homes and businesses.
Christine Chen, Principal
Christine is passionate about new ideas, consistent execution and problem solving. She drives strategy, planning and content creation for the group, excelling at generating and creating great business stories, then using multiple media tools to share the information with the right audiences. She works directly with clients ranging from tech, such as Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, to legal leaders, such as Stafford Frey Cooper, and publishing mainstays like Tiger Oak (Seattle magazine, Seattle Business).
She's delivered results for brands such as Expedia, World Vision and Tribune. Christine hosts a business technology solutions web talk show for Microsoft called The Evolving Enterprise. She is the original host of About The Money (KCTS-PBS) and the original anchor of Q13 Fox News This Morning (KCPQ-FOX). An alumna of the University of California at Berkeley, Christine has always been focused on how people create, deliver and receive information.
Giving back is a priority. She is currently the Board President for the Asian Counseling Referral Service (ACRS) and serves on the communications committee for the Urban Enterprise Center (UEC, Seattle Chamber of Commerce). Previously, she served on the boards of NW Next (40 Under 40 Network) and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA).
Awards:
- 2010 U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Champion
- 2010 WA Bar Association Excellence in Diversity (project win)
- National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, Two-Time Emmy Winner, Ten-time Nominee
Featured Speaking Examples:
- Asian American Journalists National Convention
- CLE Faculty
- ITASA East Coast Ivy League Conference Keynote (Princeton University)
- Microsoft/NSHMBA Diversity Networking, Recruiting and Professional Development Conference, The Social Media Job Hunt, Moderator and Panelist
- Obama Campaign Kickoff, Seattle Emcee/Host
- Puget Sound Business Journal, Top 100 Women in Tech, Moderator
Kaitlin Sandblom, Public Relations Coordinator
Kaitlin thrives on being thorough, focused and service-oriented in her drive to get results for our clients. She specializes in conducting detailed research to develop the best possible strategy and messaging behind our communications efforts. With active experience navigating both new and traditional media, Kaitlin has managed our media projects for an international health leader, Bumrungrad International, and a consumer retail brand known around the world, Miki House. Kaitlin grew up in Bellevue. She earned a BS in Business Administration with a focus on marketing from the University of Denver. Kaitlin’s philanthropic experience includes volunteering for Camp Fire USA and mentoring elementary school girls on teamwork.
Nicole Francois, Marketing Specialist
Nicole develops insightful strategies and manages campaigns with great success for businesses in the health and wellness space. She has nearly a decade of experience developing insightful marketing strategies and managing campaign implementation. Nicole began her career as a journalist working for the CBS Evening News, eventually contributing to media leaders ABC, CNN and PBS. Nicole has worked with clients such as Gene Juarez Salons and Spas and the CRAVE Company. She grew up in Bellevue and is an alumna of Seattle University, where she majored in Communications Journalism. Nicole volunteers her time as publicity director for Candlelighters of Western Washington.
Helen Wing, Events
Helen can juggle and hit the mark. Small or large, she creates the best event showcase for your people, projects and messages. Her ability to plan and execute events for Microsoft, Yelp, and more, has her clients thanking her over and over. Ever so patient and resourceful, Helen manages change and budget constraints with ease. She is an alumna of Western Washington University and grew up in Bellevue.
Tim Griffis, Videojournalist
Tim's high def camera is an extension of him. His long history of Emmy award winning storytelling is well-known to industry peers as well as real people who have been moved by the thoughtful way he sees things and records them for the rest of us to share. Tim gets raves from organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Seattle Children's Hospital. Tim is also unbelievable humble.
Michael O'Neill, Photographer
Michael loves what he sees through the camera's eye. He works across multiple media platforms in audio and visual, from major broadcast organizations to Microsoft. For us, he lets loose and captures intriguing and distinctive moments in business and life to tell your story.