Experience

Benchmark Strategies

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sr. Vice President

  • Feb 2022 - Present

  Boston, Massachusetts, United States As a senior vice president, Susan leads the company’s real estate development public relations practice. Elsbree comes to the firm after more than six years working for a full-service public relations agency, and after 16 years as the Director of Communications for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city's planning and economic development agency (d.b.a Boston Planning and Development Agency) where she oversaw all aspects of communications for every development and planning initiative in… Show more As a senior vice president, Susan leads the company’s real estate development public relations practice. Elsbree comes to the firm after more than six years working for a full-service public relations agency, and after 16 years as the Director of Communications for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city's planning and economic development agency (d.b.a Boston Planning and Development Agency) where she oversaw all aspects of communications for every development and planning initiative in the city of Boston from 1998-2014. In both the public and private sector’s Susan brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications and message development, media relations, and issues and crisis management. At Benchmark, Elsbree will work with our team of experts on all aspects of the business. While she has particular expertise in real estate development, navigating billions of dollars in commercial development projects through the public process, she will apply her skills to our growing clientele. Her knowledge of and passion for urban revitalization and smart development will help take clients from permitting and community relations through the sale and leasing life cycle of a project, with integrated, digital, and earned media strategies. Susan holds with pride, a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband and twin daughters. Show less



InkHouse Media + Marketing

• Sr. Vice President

  • Nov 2017 - Present

  Waltham Susan lead InkHouse’s real estate and development practice.



Ink House Media + Marketing

• Vice President

  • Sep 2015 - Present



Elsbree Strategies / Consultant

• Elsbree Strategies / Consultant

  • 2015 - 2015



Boston Redevelopment Authority

• Director of Communications

  • Apr 1998 - May 2014

  City Hall, Boston MA  Developed and executed a broad range of communications and public affairs strategies to promote economic development and planning initiatives of the City of Boston.  Served as primary spokesperson for Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino on BRA related issues.  Promoted the mission of the BRA through public appearances, speeches, events, forums and other high profile external events.  Collaborated with internal partners and external stakeholders to leverage opportunities that… Show more  Developed and executed a broad range of communications and public affairs strategies to promote economic development and planning initiatives of the City of Boston.  Served as primary spokesperson for Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino on BRA related issues.  Promoted the mission of the BRA through public appearances, speeches, events, forums and other high profile external events.  Collaborated with internal partners and external stakeholders to leverage opportunities that ensured the organization is was well positioned in the public policy arena by building and executing robust internal and external communication plans.  Produced materials for presentation to a variety of audiences, including government, business, and media organizations and the general public  Ensured strategic alignment of public relations operations with the BRA’s objectives and priorities  Extensive convention planning experience: Democratic National Convention 2004, BIO 2012, NLC 2012 and PCMA 2013-14. Show less



Project Bread / Walk for Hunger

• Assistant Director of Public Policy

  • 1994 - 1998

  Boston, MA  Developed and implemented 1998 public policy priorities for state and federal budgets  Registered Lobbyist  Managed Public Policy Associate  Developed and implemented a legislative strategy to respond to cuts in the Federal Welfare Reform package to critical nutrition programs and services.  Lobbied state lawmakers and developed statewide, community-based constituency groups  Managed two internal budgets and one state-funded contract  One of 4… Show more  Developed and implemented 1998 public policy priorities for state and federal budgets  Registered Lobbyist  Managed Public Policy Associate  Developed and implemented a legislative strategy to respond to cuts in the Federal Welfare Reform package to critical nutrition programs and services.  Lobbied state lawmakers and developed statewide, community-based constituency groups  Managed two internal budgets and one state-funded contract  One of 4 coordinators, responsible for a 6 mile section of the Walk for Hunger. Show less



Mark Roosevelt for Governor

• Deputy Finance Director

  • Jan 1994 - Dec 1994

  Boston Helped to generate $1.2 million operating and media budget for gubernatorial campaign. Specifically responsible for managing candidate's fundraising activities including phone calls, scheduling, briefings and prospecting of major donor solicitations. Also served as the liason between the Finance Committee and the campaign to develop and implement event strategy.