Philanthropology

Executive Bio

Testimonials

Echo Surina is an award-winning writer whose work appears in consumer and trade magazines nationwide. She has been employed as a writer and editor at statewide and nationally distributed magazines since 2003, including Arizona Business Magazine in Phoenix, where she served as managing editor for nearly three years.

Echo founded a writing and marketing studio in 2005 now named Philanthropology, which was ranked one of the top women-owned businesses in Arizona in Ranking Arizona 2008. As owner, she manages marketing campaigns that clients outsource and writes feature stories covering travel, lifestyle, business, interior design, commercial real estate, health care and bridal. Echo specializes in travel stories and profiles on people — from artists to entrepreneurs.

Since 2007, she has been a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as board member of the Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter from 2007 to 2008 and representing the local chapter at SPJ's national leadership conference in 2008. She has been a guest panelist and speaker at various journalism events in the Phoenix area.

As an account executive at a public relations firm in Scottsdale, Ariz. that represented luxury interior design companies, Echo gained valuable marketing experience that she offers Philanthropology clients today. The accounts she managed included members of the American Society of Interior Designers, an organization that honored her with its prestigious Presidential Citation Award for Excellence in PR and Media Relations in 2006.

Echo earned a BA in creative writing and English from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. graduating cum laude in 2002. Further education includes graduate studies in journalism and social work at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. and a teaching certificate from Oxford House College in Prague, Czech Republic, where she taught English. Echo lives in the New York City Tri-State Area.

"Simply, Echo was a joy to work with. I found her passionate about work and this, coupled with her professional integrity, made working with Echo a wonderful experience. Echo has a diverse background of knowledge, allowing her to easily discuss and digest complex matters with confidence. Echo's writing and management of various tasks and projects were also top-notch. She was also a team player willing to contribute to assignments no matter how daunting, complex or administrative in nature. Echo has a zest for living and embraced meeting new people and working with businesses across many different industry lines. She would be an asset to any organization. If there are any questions or you'd like to talk with me further, please feel free to call me at 480-998-2600."

— Greg Sexton, Senior Account Executive, The Lavidge Company, July 2008

"Echo remains one of the most supportive and insightful editors I've ever had the pleasure of working for as a freelance writer. She is excellent at suggesting sources, honing story angles and polishing my work to an even higher level. When I needed feedback on the direction of my stories, I found her input to be invaluable. She is an editor who truly remains engaged in her writers' work throughout the process — from assignment to publication — and her interesting and in-depth assignments always provided an enriching experience, as well as portfolio-worthy resulting stories. I feel privileged to have called her my editor, and, thanks to her, am extremely proud of the stories I produced under her direction. I cannot recommend her highly enough on a professional level -- not to mention the fact that Echo is a joyful, optimistic and caring person. You can't ask for more than that in an editor and/or colleague."

— Erinn Figg, Freelance writer and PR Consultant, Self-employed, May 2008

"I had the pleasure of meeting Echo Surina while conducting media calls in Arizona. As a result, Echo visited Victoria, BC on a press trip and published a travel article in Arizona Home & Design on her experience. Echo was not only a professional, diligent and conscientious journalist, but a warm and lovely person who I would not hesitate to recommend as a writer... or friend."

— Heather McGillivray, Senior Manager, Travel Media Relations, Tourism Victoria, July 2008

"Echo was a very smart, patient and creative editor. It was easy to talk to her and discuss ideas for my clients and how they would work as stories in the publication. When I had some challenges getting the right content to her from the client, she was patient and understanding. I believe she has a good eye for what makes an interesting story and how to get the right message out about it."

— Charlotte Risch, Owner, The Media Push, LLC, July 2008

"Echo possesses many qualities that would make her an ideal candidate for any team. She's energetic, friendly, detail-oriented, business-minded and immensely creative. Her work ethic and commitment to her team/clients is admirable. She is also proactive about meeting her individual and professional goals, further enhancing her value to any company. I look forward to working with her again."

— Laura Bentley, Owner, Freckle Design, May 2008

"It was a pleasure to work with Echo on several real estate features and editorial opportunities with AZ Home & Design magazine in 2007 and 2008. She was always receptive to relevant story pitches, project and development updates and other industry news. As an editor, she is very thorough in completing all the ancillary details that go into publishing a dynamic, full-length feature. Her follow-through on the details of all sizes was impressive and she always took the time to review any press materials or images I provided her."

— Liam O'Mahony, Public Relations, Off Madison Ave, July 2008

"Echo Surina is one of the most talented writers that I've had the pleasure of working with in my five years of magazine and PR agency environments. Echo is extremely passionate about her topics, words and readers. She has done a great job of thinking outside the box as far as the boundaries of her stories and the scope of the topics that are assigned. She's a forward thinker with an inspiring sense of reality. Echo is an individual with class, style and dedication. She's simply a great person and a hard worker."

— Tina Cope, Account Executive, Morris Visitor Publications, May 2008

"Echo is creative and incredibly easy-to-work with."

— Aubrey Cornelius, President, Sprocket Communications, July 2008

"I would jump at the chance to work with Echo again. She was a great mentor to me when I interned at Arizona Business Magazine. She was always helpful and welcoming. Aside from her kindness, her talent is impressive. She is capable of finding the interesting edge to any topic. Her writing is always thoughtful and vivid; I know she would be a great addition to any publication. I would like to thank Echo for all the time she spent with me, her advice has been invaluable."