About Us – Forge PR

With more than 30 years of combined experience in media relations and marketing, we have joined forces to create a new kind of communications company. We set ourselves apart by understanding that meaningful, collaborative relationships are at the root of every success story, and go a step further by creating strategies that are socially responsible and give back to the community. We want to help our clients do good for others while we are doing good for our clients.

Our experience, tenacity, dedication and perseverance has helped us find one another and build a company that empowers and propels strong independent thinkers while celebrating the power of public relations and the many effects it can have on a brand as well as the community.

Having different backgrounds spanning art, entertainment, lifestyle, design, hospitality and corporate social responsibility, we each bring incredible passion, deep knowledge and a lot of excitement to what we do. We thrive on the opportunity to work with great people doing great things.

Who We Are

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Carly Leviton Eilian

Carly has nearly 15 years of experience in Public Relations and communications having worked with arts & entertainment, lifestyle and hospitality clients. Having started her career at Chicago’s Goodman Theater and later working in an agency setting, Carly has vast knowledge and expertise in all forms of PR and has led campaigns for local, national and internationally recognized clients including International Art Exposition EXPO CHICAGO, The Chicago International Film Festival, HBO, The Auditorium Theater, Chicago Magic Lounge, Mary Wilson and the Four Tops, Second City, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago Gourmet., The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America and more.

She is passionate about telling her clients’ stories in a thoughtful and meaningful way, while also utilizing her keen sense of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to make the biggest impact. Carly thrives on the deep relationships she has built with both her clients as well as the media and will always go the extra mile to ensure the best results.

Carly received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at Indiana University with a minor in theater. She currently serves as the co-chair for the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Associate Producers Board.

Carly lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she is not shouting her client’s news from the rooftops she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, binging a good show and exploring all that Chicago and the rest of the world has to offer!

carly@forgepr.com
Leslie Friebert

Leslie Friebert brings over 18 years of PR and communications experience having worked both in-house and at agencies in Chicago and New York. She has vast knowledge and an extensive range of managing accounts for a wide array of clients including Bacardi, Blue Chair Bay Rum, TJ Maxx / Marshalls, Gaiam, ZED451, Charter Oak Wine, ALDI, vitaminwater, Tribune Events Group, The Gettys Group and more.

She has assisted and led the development of integrated public relations programs that include traditional and digital media relations, social media, celebrity and corporate partnerships, events and trade show management. Leslie has a deep understanding of how and why sharing meaningful messages is key to successful communications programs and strives to strategically analyze every opportunity, partnership and tactic in an effort to engage with press and consumers in an authentic and impactful way.

Leslie is a committee member for the Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award. She previously sat on the board of Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), Chicago’s first domestic violence services organization, and also served as co-chair for CAWC’s 2020 annual fundraiser gala, Sounds of Silence.

Leslie received her BA from The George Washington University with concentrations in Women’s Studies and Journalism.

She loves to travel, try new foods and cocktails, take in as much live music as possible and most importantly spend time with her family, friends and pups.

leslie@forgepr.com
Jaime Grodsky

Jaime has over two decades of experience in entertainment, brand marketing and media relations, where she has provided strategic counsel and managed integrated marketing campaigns, partnerships, events, sponsorships and celebrity engagements on a global scale.

Jaime’s career spans from LA to Chicago, where she has entrenched herself in the entertainment industry having worked at Warner Bros. on the set of “FRIENDS,” BWR Public Relations representing shows such as “American Idol,” as well as with Academy Award-winning Director David Fincher. Jaime found innovative and meaningful ways to incorporate her expertise and relationships into building impactful campaigns for large organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feeding America, JDRF and Rotary International. She developed and implemented successful partnerships with celebrities, Fortune 500 companies and media outlets that have been integral in raising over $2 billion dollars for various charitable causes.

Jaime approaches every situation as an opportunity to create a unique narrative and capture new audiences. She takes great pride in the relationships she has built throughout her career, as they are key to all of her professional accomplishments. Best known as a creative and strategic problem solver, she is an extremely dedicated partner to both her clients and colleagues.

Jaime received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Communication from The Ohio State University, with a minor in film production. She has served as a creative content contributor for TEDx Youth, and as a volunteer at Chicago Public Schools.

If there are ever extra hours in the day, she likes to catch up with friends or go on “adventures” with her two little boys and very exhausted husband.

grodsky@forgepr.com

Who We Are

Carly Leviton Eilian

Carly has nearly 15 years of experience in Public Relations and communications having worked with arts & entertainment, lifestyle and hospitality clients. Having started her career at Chicago’s Goodman Theater and later working in an agency setting, Carly has vast knowledge and expertise in all forms of PR and has led campaigns for local, national and internationally recognized clients including International Art Exposition EXPO CHICAGO, The Chicago International Film Festival, HBO, The Auditorium Theater, Chicago Magic Lounge, Mary Wilson and the Four Tops, Second City, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago Gourmet., The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America and more.

She is passionate about telling her clients’ stories in a thoughtful and meaningful way, while also utilizing her keen sense of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to make the biggest impact. Carly thrives on the deep relationships she has built with both her clients as well as the media and will always go the extra mile to ensure the best results.

Carly received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at Indiana University with a minor in theater. She currently serves as the co-chair for the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Associate Producers Board.

Carly lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she is not shouting her client’s news from the rooftops she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, binging a good show and exploring all that Chicago and the rest of the world has to offer!

carly@forgepr.com
Leslie Friebert

Leslie Friebert brings over 18 years of PR and communications experience having worked both in-house and at agencies in Chicago and New York. She has vast knowledge and an extensive range of managing accounts for a wide array of clients including Bacardi, Blue Chair Bay Rum, TJ Maxx / Marshalls, Gaiam, ZED451, Charter Oak Wine, ALDI, vitaminwater, Tribune Events Group, The Gettys Group and more.

She has assisted and led the development of integrated public relations programs that include traditional and digital media relations, social media, celebrity and corporate partnerships, events and trade show management. Leslie has a deep understanding of how and why sharing meaningful messages is key to successful communications programs and strives to strategically analyze every opportunity, partnership and tactic in an effort to engage with press and consumers in an authentic and impactful way.

Leslie is a committee member for the Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award. She previously sat on the board of Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), Chicago’s first domestic violence services organization, and also served as co-chair for CAWC’s 2020 annual fundraiser gala, Sounds of Silence.

Leslie received her BA from The George Washington University with concentrations in Women’s Studies and Journalism.

She loves to travel, try new foods and cocktails, take in as much live music as possible and most importantly spend time with her family, friends and pups.

leslie@forgepr.com
Jaime Grodsky

Jaime has over two decades of experience in entertainment, brand marketing and media relations, where she has provided strategic counsel and managed integrated marketing campaigns, partnerships, events, sponsorships and celebrity engagements on a global scale.

Jaime’s career spans from LA to Chicago, where she has entrenched herself in the entertainment industry having worked at Warner Bros. on the set of “FRIENDS,” BWR Public Relations representing shows such as “American Idol,” as well as with Academy Award-winning Director David Fincher. Jaime found innovative and meaningful ways to incorporate her expertise and relationships into building impactful campaigns for large organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feeding America, JDRF and Rotary International. She developed and implemented successful partnerships with celebrities, Fortune 500 companies and media outlets that have been integral in raising over $2 billion dollars for various charitable causes.

Jaime approaches every situation as an opportunity to create a unique narrative and capture new audiences. She takes great pride in the relationships she has built throughout her career, as they are key to all of her professional accomplishments. Best known as a creative and strategic problem solver, she is an extremely dedicated partner to both her clients and colleagues.

Jaime received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Communication from The Ohio State University, with a minor in film production. She has served as a creative content contributor for TEDx Youth, and as a volunteer at Chicago Public Schools.

If there are ever extra hours in the day, she likes to catch up with friends or go on “adventures” with her two little boys and very exhausted husband.

grodsky@forgepr.com

Who We Are

Carly Leviton Eilian

Leslie Friebert

Jaime Grodsky

Who We Are

Carly Leviton Eilian

Leslie Friebert

Jaime Grodsky