Founded in 2008, Cecilia Russo Marketing celebrates 10 years in business, helping organizations increase their visibility locally, regionally and nationally through reputation management strategies in coastal Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry.

“Looking back, I often think about the risk I took of launching a business during the worst recession ever, but I dug my feet in, held my head up and kept going kept swimming,” Turner said. “And I went from being a one-woman-shop to now having two full-time employees and 12 contract employees.”

Cecilia Russo Marketing works hard to fulfill the public relations, community relations, marketing, reputation management and philanthropic goals for emerging and high visibility companies.

“Although public relations is one of our strongest services, and I love it – - I won’t offer a list of clients because we don’t normally disclose the companies who hire us," said Turner. "It’s our responsibility to help manage their reputations and social media platforms, share their good news with the public, encourage their civic involvement, provide executive counsel and assist with signature events. "

On the fundraising side of her business, Turner has raised millions of dollars in our community and spearheaded many projects and successful campaigns for other non-profit organizations such as the Savannah-Chatham public school system, Benedictine Military School, SAFE Shelter, Inc., American Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgia, Savannah Technical College and Leadership Southeast Georgia.

“Looking back over the past decade, I am proudest of the opportunities to help organizations achieve their goals,” said Turner. “Perhaps the most striking example, was when I was working with the Veterans Council of Chatham County and the citizens of Savannah, Chatham County and all around the world to erect Savannah’s World War II Monument on West River Street.”

Turner provided strategic direction and major gift solicitation for the most successful fundraising campaign ever held by the veterans council for the outdoor sculpture “A World Apart,” which honors Chatham County’s veterans of the Second World War. It was dedicated in 2010 after almost a decade of planning and development.

In 2013, the Junior Achievement Small Business Hall of Fame named Turner as its Volunteer of the Year, and in 2016 the Susan G. Komen Society of Coastal Georgia recognized her as the “Biggest BigWig of All Time” after she led a breast cancer fundraising campaign to record-setting levels.

Looking ahead to the next decade and beyond, Turner said she expects to continue to nurture what she calls the “strength of good relationships” to help businesses develop their potential and cultivate opportunities for growth by collaboration.

Turner is a graduate of Leadership Southeast Georgia, a five-month program designed to help community leaders promote positive growth and quality of life in southeast Georgia. Her volunteerism includes memberships and board positions on the Rotary Club of Savannah, Horizons Savannah and the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway Island.

She has previously served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire and Senior Citizens, Inc., and has volunteered on behalf of Junior Achievement of Georgia, St. Vincent’s Academy and the Catholic Diocese of Savannah.

Turner, a graduate of St. Vincent’s Academy and the University of Georgia, is married to Bob Turner.

“I want to make southeast and coastal Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry a better place to live and work,” she said. “By helping other businesses tell their story and build brand recognition with key publics, we can help attract the best talent and the best companies to our community."