Team

Marsha Palanci, Founder/CEO

In her 20 years at the helm of Cornerstone, Marsha has built the agency’s reputation on its proven ability to create awareness for lifestyle brands from around the world. Previously, Marsha was Vice President, Public Relations for Schieffelin & Company (now Moët Hennessy USA) where she managed media relations and special events campaigns for Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Hennessy Cognac, Marqués de Riscal, Simi and Domaine Chandon. Her career began as Assistant Director of Public Relations at Sopexa/Food & Wines from France, implementing US campaigns for French luxury foods, wines and spirits.

Marsha is a board member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, New York City Chapter, an international association of leading women in the hospitality field and serves as a trustee to CancerCare^©. She holds a Masters degree in Medieval French literature from Kent State University.

A woman of diverse interests, Marsha collects artwork by female artists, enjoys exotic travel – frequently on a bike – and delights in gardening on her Manhattan terrace. A seven-time marathon runner, she believes fitness is really only a means to enjoying a good meal. An avid cook, she studied at the Cordon Bleu in Paris as well as with Mario Batali at the Capezzana Cooking School in Tuscany. Follow her on Twitter @marshapalanci.

Beth Cotenoff, Senior Vice President

Beth joined Cornerstone in 2007 and has 20 years of international business experience. Previously, she was a Vice President at DeVries Public Relations where she created and managed initiatives for Gallo’s international wine brands including Ecco Domani and Red Bicyclette. Former Director of PR at Sopexa USA, Beth ran public relations programs for the Bordeaux Wine Bureau, Alsace Wines, the Cognac Bureau, Calvados, Richart Chocolat and others. Beth began her career in the hospitality industry with the Accor Hotel Group in New York and in Paris, France. She is a certified TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) instructor.

Beth graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. She holds Intermediate and Advanced Certificates in Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and is a Certified Spanish Wine Educator. Beth has also worked as a sales consultant for Astor Wine & Spirits in New York City. Fluent in French, Beth is pursuing Spanish studies. Follow @betherica for wine and culinary adventures in NYC and abroad.

Lisa Mendelson, Senior Account Executive

Lisa recently moved to New York City to follow her passion for all things food, wine and spirits. Her previous work with international wine regions including Champagne, France; Oporto, Portugal and Jerez, Spain make her a great fit to join the team.

Lisa’s career began by organizing and executing corporate events across the country for the Institute for Professional and Executive Development (IPED), a Washington, DC-based continuing education company for professionals working in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Lisa spent four years at Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, a DC-based strategic communications firm, where she managed a variety of accounts including Champagne, France; Oporto, Portugal and Jerez, Spain in addition to the Government of Kenya and Hilton Worldwide. Her campaigns have included media relations; event creation, organization and execution; social media strategy; international press trips; creative marketing strategies and more.

Lisa has a BA from the University of Maryland in communications and public relations. She also studied at the University of London in 2005. Follow her on Twitter @lisamendelson.

Elyse Genderson, Account Executive

Elyse Genderson is the newest member of the Cornerstone team. Elyse’s passion for wine began when she spent summers working in her family’s generations-old wine shop in Washington, DC. Expanding her exposure to the world of wine, she lived in Argentina and taught English courses as a certified TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) instructor, while also experiencing wine throughout Mendoza and Salta.

Elyse then worked at Gregory White PR, where she managed several luxury wine and spirits brands including Moët Hennessy Estates and Wines, Mount Gay Rum, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Yarden Wines from Israel, and Craggy Range Wines from New Zealand. Additionally, Elyse completed a public relations internship with Weber Shandwick in Chicago and served as Staff Assistant in the Office of Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Elyse graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in English Literature and a BA in Political Science. She plans to continue her wine education with courses at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in the near future.

Courtney Schiessl, Assistant Account Executive

Courtney joined Cornerstone in 2011, after graduating from Fordham University in the Bronx earlier that year. Prior to joining the agency, she completed internships in media and public relations at The TODAY Show and SELF Magazine, as well as an internship in non-profit event-planning at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

While earning her BA in Communication and Media Studies, Courtney was an active part of University life, working with the undergraduate admissions team and managing a main-stage theatre group. Working to become Cornerstone’s resident beer aficionado, Courtney is currently a Certified Beer Server through the Cicerone Certification Program. She is also studying to earn her Intermediate Certificate with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. Follow Courtney on Twitter @TakeItToCourt.

Mary Gorman, Consultant

Passionate about wine, Mary became a Master of Wine in September 2011. She was the recipient of the 2011Viña Errázuriz Award, for excellence in the Business of Wine paper in the Masters of Wine Examination, which is presented each year to a new Master of Wine at the Awards Ceremony in London. Mary is also the 2005 recipient of the Trinity Champagne Scholarship and the Constellation Brands Scholarship – international scholarships for first-year MW candidates.

Mary teaches Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) classes at the International Wine Center in New York City and is the wine columnist for the popular blog and website www.thekitchn.com. She has over 15 years experience in senior marketing positions internationally. An Irish national, Mary moved to the US in 2002. Follow Mary on Twitter @gormanmcadams.