Joy Schoffler

Joy Schoffler has a passion to help grow the U.S. economy through the promotion of entrepreneurialism. As, the founder of Austin and Seattle based Leverage PR, she sets the strategy and direction of the firm providing account management guidance to the growing team.

Joy launched Leverage PR after recognizing a need for public relations and market development services for growth-phase businesses. Leverage PR combines entrepreneurial thinking, creative communication and guerrilla tactics to develop unique public relations and marketing campaigns to help clients meet their goals. Leverage PR works with a number of clients including the leaders of the crowdfunding industry, investment firms and high potential startups. The firm additionally helps marketing professionals looking to cross train into PR, startups, crowdfunding companies and others looking for strategy, direction and advice.

Joy's background is a bit unique in the PR world as she spent her career launching high performing startups—helping them raise capital and achieve growth through creative publicity strategies. Results include helping early-stage companies raise more than $20 million, make the INC500 list, secure Fortune 500 accounts, and experience tremendous growth.

With a passion for helping others she teaches at a number of organizations including Startup America, Young Female Entrepreneurs, Execsense and many other crowdfunding specific industry sites.

An avid writer, Joy is currently writing two books: How to stand out from the crowd while crowdfunding(expected release date of Jan 2013) and From startup to star—10 weeks to publicity success (release date November 2012). She also regularly writes for several outlets including: Entrepreneur.com, MO, The Glass Heel, and have also been featured in INC, as well as, several other industry blogs.

Outside of the private sector, Joy served as a Finance Officer for six years in the US Army Reserves and three years as a Public Relations Officer for the Texas State Guard. Her service included a year on active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom where she led a 16-man team of finance soldiers and interned at the Pentagon.

Board Positions include: Athletes for Change-an organization of NFL players dedicated to helping foster kids and the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), PR committee.

Joy is married to Jerome Schoffler and has two children Isabella and Tyler. They live in Medina, Washington w