Zilker Media, a high-growth, Austin-based PR and digital marketing agency dedicated to building people-driven brands, has named Shelby Janner to Chief Publicity Officer and Nichole Williamson to Chief Brand Officer. Shelby and Nichole have been integral to Zilker Media’s growth and success, and in their new roles will continue to contribute to the firm’s culture and progress. 

Shelby and Nichole have been involved with Zilker Media since the company’s founding,  Nichole as Digital Marketing Strategist, and then to Brand Strategy Director; and Shelby as Publicity Director.

With passion behind Zilker Media’s core values such as “Good Vibes” and “Leading the Way,” Shelby and Nichole have been essential to growing the company, tripling their team size and garnering a spot on Austin Business Journal’s list of Austin’s fastest-growing companies in 2021. 

In their new roles, Shelby and Nichole will co-lead operations for the agency, including the growth of their respective departments. 

“I’m so honored to be stepping into this new role at Zilker Media,” said Shelby. “Having been here since day one, it has been wonderful to witness the booming growth we have seen in the last five years as an agency. I am excited to see what we will do together in the years to come!”

“I feel grateful to be a part of a team that wholeheartedly embodies our core values, striving to be the best in class in service to our incredible clients,” said Nichole. “I’m thrilled to be moving into this executive position, and I look forward to continued growth and opportunity.” 

“Shelby and Nichole have been invaluable to the growth of Zilker Media. They are masters of their craft and will continue to successfully lead and develop our teams towards our vision as a company. It is well deserved and exciting for our team to have them step into these new roles,” added Paige Valesquez Budde, Partner and CEO at Zilker Media.

Since joining Zilker Media, Nichole has created and overseen the development of brand and digital marketing strategies for top executives, bestselling authors, global corporate brands and local brands seeking to grow their online presence. She has been featured as a guest speaker at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Writers Conference, and Small Business Festival located in Austin, Texas. Nichole’s branding efforts have supported the growth and footprint of the fastest-growing community bank in Texas. She has also led digital marketing campaigns for authors that have resulted in New York Times best sellers, most recently for author Dr. Mona Delahooke in March 2022. 

Prior to joining the Zilker Media team, Nichole developed social media content and marketing plans for statewide office holders and various brands in the Austin area. Nichole launched her interest and career in social media by developing a social media campaign to raise money for an international nonprofit. Since then, she has assisted in various nonprofit social engagement and growth projects. Originally from Odessa, Texas, she graduated from The University of Texas at Austin.

A native Austinite, Shelby has a decade of experience in consistently garnering top-tier media placements. She is a Winner of Michael Smart best pitch of the year award in 2019 and 2020; Honorable Mention in 2021. Alongside Zilker Media’s earned media department, she maintains a substantial network of journalist connections in the consumer and B2B space, built from extensive experience working with entrepreneurs and business leaders, nonfiction book authors and healthcare professionals. 

She has overseen dozens of publicity campaigns including three New York Times bestselling books. For the last 10 years, she has managed local and regional publicity for the national bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul. Previously, Shelby was Publicity Manager at Advantage Media Group | Forbes Books. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and received a concentration in Business Foundations from the McCombs School of Business.

Zilker Media also announced several recent hires, including Christina Pennell as Publicist and Macey Pieterse as Brand Specialist. The company works with a number of Austin-based and regional brands, including Keystone Bank, one of the fastest-growing banks in central Texas, Incline P&C Group, Qualtik, Encapture and Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas.