Our experienced, talented associates have either worked in the multifamily industry or as a journalist for several years. We’re creative, driven and smarter than your average PR pros.
DON CANFIELD
PRESIDENT & OWNER
Don Canfield is president and owner of LinnellTaylor Marketing, a leading public relations and marketing firm specializing in communications strategies for the multifamily industry. Canfield oversees strategy, plan development, day-to-day operations, client relations and business development for the firm.
Since joining the multifamily industry in 2005, Canfield has developed and implemented a variety of strategic communications programs for vendors and multifamily owners. Prior to joining LinnellTaylor Marketing, Canfield worked at two New York City PR agencies, representing various clients in the consumer, business-to-business and healthcare industries including FTD Flowers, Fairmont Hotels, IBM, Proctor & Gamble, Glaxo SmithKline and Pfizer.
Canfield holds a BA in Communications with an emphasis on Journalism and a minor in Public Relations from the University of Hartford. He is a member of the National Apartment Association and the National Association of Real Estate Editors. He resides in Denver with wife and son, enjoys snowboarding and skiing, mountain biking, hiking and camping and restoring vintage sports cars.
PETER JAKEL
VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY
Peter is passionate about helping apartment and hotel owner/operators and vendors position themselves as thought leaders. He’s a strategist and a glutton for results. As vice president of strategy, Peter’s involved in pretty much every account in the agency, offering guidance on all things marketing and public relations.
Prior to joining LTM, Peter was the director of communications for Archstone until it was sold in 2013. At Archstone, he was responsible for internal and external communications, which included media relations, crisis communications, social media, blogs, corporate communications and a lot more.
Peter’s public relations career started during his sophomore year in college in 1997, as a sports clerk at the Rocky Mountain News. He later joined the Boulder Daily Camera as a high school sports editor and played associate editor for a couple of trade publications. Peter moved into communications at Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, where he supported the Einstein Bros. Bagels and Noah’s Bagels brands.
Peter holds a master in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor of science in journalism from the University of Colorado. He’s called Denver home since birth and still lives there with his wife and four kids, while fly fishing and playing basketball when he has some spare time.
MARLENA DEFALCO
VICE PRESIDENT OF ACCOUNTS
As Vice President of Accounts, Marlena believes success comes from building lasting and trusting client relationships. She is known to remember the slightest detail about each and every client and will always want to know how your day is going.
While her day-to-day activities vary, she leverages more than 13 years in multifamily coupled with experience in commercial real estate and non-profit development to uncover new ways to promote her clients and tell their stories. She has secured numerous client articles and speaking opportunities, ensuring the message is always on point and delivers the greatest return.
She holds a B.S. in Technical Journalism with a Concentration in Public Relations from Colorado State University. Marlena enjoys cheering on the Denver Broncos with her husband and their two children. When she isn’t taking her kids to their various activities, Marlena also enjoys staying active and cooking up a storm.
PAUL WILLIS
CONTENT DIRECTOR
A content director at LTM, the Western State graduate is a veteran of the newspaper world. After lengthy stints as a sportswriter at the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post and Boulder Daily Camera, he flipped to what some reporters call the dark side: PR. He has been with the company since 2015 and has earned the unwarranted designation as the team’s class clown.
The Colorado native published a suspense novel, Displaced, in 2011. A former college athlete, he played baseball in the summer with the Colorado Redhawks until 2023. He is an unabashed dog lover with an affinity for Italian Greyhounds.
STEPHEN URSERY
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
As one of LTM’s senior account managers, Stephen produces a wide range of written materials for the firm’s clients, including e-books, articles for industry trade publications, case studies, blogs and press releases.
His writing is informed by nearly 20 years of experience in journalism and public relations. Prior to moving to Denver and joining LTM in 2015, he was an account supervisor for The Wilbert Group, an Atlanta-based PR firm, where he managed numerous commercial real estate accounts.
Before entering PR, he worked in various editorial roles for several trade magazines, and newspapers, including Waste Age, National Real Estate Investor, the Marietta Daily Journal and the Fulton County Daily Report.
He has been accused of being too interested in the Beatles and listening to too many podcasts.
DOUG PIKE
CONTENT MANAGER
Doug joined the LTM content team in 2019, following a 20-year journalism career that spanned the Rocky Mountain Region and included stints as a writer and managing editor at the Longmont Times-Call and Boulder Daily Camera. He strives to bring that straightforward journalistic approach to content at LTM.
Leveraging more than five years of experience on the reputation management side of the multifamily industry, he produces a variety of written content for trade publications, case studies and blogs. A native of Alaska who moved to Colorado 30 years ago, he stays busy recreating in the mountains and on the water. The Regis University graduate also spends much of his time on the sidelines, watching or coaching his his two sons.
ANDREW RUHLAND
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/CONTENT WRITER
Andrew joined LinnellTaylor Marketing in 2020 as he earned his B.A. in Communications from Metro State University. With a passion for helping others realize their full potential, he was drawn to the colorful field of public relations. With nearly four years of multifamily experience under his belt, Andrew assists with managing client accounts and developing a variety of written content for multiple industry publications, as well as press releases, blogs and case studies.
As a proud resident of the Denver area for over 20 years, he considers himself an honorary Colorado native. Embracing all things outdoors – except skiing – Andrew spends his leisure time being active outside, working out, eating good food and enjoying time with his wife and two kids.
KEVIN JUHASZ
CONTENT MANAGER
Joining LTM in 2021, Kevin crafts a wide spectrum of content, including articles, blogs, press releases, case studies and social media posts. He brings more than 25 years of experience in content management, writing and editing to the team. Kevin also produces LTM’s weekly Industry Trends Report, assists with the organization’s website and The Multifamily Journal and manages LTM’s social media accounts.
Prior to joining our team, he worked full-time running his own content company, The Write Content. He was also editor of Newspapers & Technology trade magazine and a prep sports writer for the Rocky Mountain News. When he’s not developing top-notch content, Kevin likes to golf, travel and watch hockey with his spouse, Pamela, as well as spoil his three grandchildren. Originally from Albuquerque, he’s been a resident of Colorado for 37 years, which he believes qualifies him for “Native” status in the state.
DARCEY LEACH
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Darcey is passionate about meaningful communication and continued education. As an account manager at LinnellTaylor Marketing, Darcey pursues knowledge and learning on behalf of the multifamily industry and for her clients. Darcey has a background in journalism, advertising and entrepreneurship.
She loves reading, writing, and came to LTM in 2021 from the beauty industry. She lives in Golden with her family and can’t get enough of the Colorado sunshine, mountains and her dog.