Marlene Saritzky

Vice President of Communications

Marlene Saritzky has more than 20 years experience in
strategic communications, public and government affairs and
high-profile event and conference production.  In organizations ranging
from Time Inc. to Lucasfilm Ltd. and Sony, she has  played key roles in
launching major business initiatives and revitalizing legendary brands.
Her skills as a strategic planners of internal and external
communications programs has helped increase the visibility,
performance, and profitability of clients and represented companies.  

Before joining Common Sense Media full time, Marlene served as a
consultant to Common Sense Media, as well as to  clients such as  Ameya
Preserve, Ode Magazine, Family Violence Prevention Fund, and Mother
Jones. Previously, she served as  Director of Corporate Public
Relations at Lucasfilm Ltd., overseeing all public affairs efforts and
media strategy/relations related to the opening of the Letterman
Digital Arts Center and Lucasfilm Animation Singapore. Prior, she
served as Director of Communications at Business 2.0 magazine, part of
the Time Inc. family of publications, Director of Communications and
Marketing at ICM Breakpoint and Director of Communications and External
Affairs at Metreon, Sony's urban entertainment center in San
Francisco.  She was appointed Texas Film Commissioner by Governor Ann
Richards in 1991 and served in the position until 1995. During her
tenure, film and television production increased by more than 50% and
filming procedures in the state were greatly streamlined. She has also
held positions as Vice President for Corporate Communications at UBU
Productions and Executive Director of the Hollywood Women's Political
Committee.  She also served as a contributing editor at GEORGE magazine
and over the years, has worked on special projects with Warner Bros.,
Center for Investigative Reporting, Competitor Group, the Motion
Picture Association of America, playwright Anna Deavere Smith, Global
Green USA and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Rachel Maddow,
and Sony Pictures Entertainment.  She serves on the boards of Artists
for a New South Africa and The Kitchen Sisters, and is Vice-President
of the San Francisco Film Commission.