Colleen Gallagher

Colleen Lerro Gallagher is the president and CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd. Colleen uses her expertise in communications and advocacy, media relations and video and podcast production to help clients enhance their brand as an industry thought leader. At OnWrd & UpWrd, she works with association and nonprofit clients to secure national and local media coverage, develop strategic communications plans and implement video and digital strategies to set them apart from the competition. She also serves on the Washington Women in Public Relations Board of Directors and the ASAE Communications Professionals Advisory Council.

Prior to joining OnWrd & UpWrd, Colleen was a Vice President at Curley Company, a DC-based brand and advocacy PR firm. Before that she was the Vice President of Communications & Research for the Global Business Travel Association where she led and implemented award-winning PR campaigns, launched a broadcast studio and provided strategic input for the overall direction of the association. She also worked on the communications teams at the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Consumer Technology Association. Colleen has a master’s degree in public communication from American University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the State University of New York College at Brockport.