Let's cut the fluff.
At Beyond Trending, we’re here for the long term.
client retention rate
We genuinely love what we do – finding the most compelling way to tell our clients’ stories. We're the opposite of a big-city agency as we’re not about glitz and glamor…we're raw and gritty and move fast to get stuff done. Most importantly, we don’t follow a copy + paste model and are far from ‘yes’ people – we are ludicrously honest and believe in open communication, as that’s the foundation for PR success.
COMPANY ETHOS
Why we sleep well at night.
Values above all.
We won’t compromise our values for the sake of profit or growth, as our reputation is everything to us. Simply, we want to feel good when we go to sleep every night, so if it’s not the right fit, we’ll be the first to speak up.
Listen first.
We’re not ones to barrel into a room boasting solutions to your problem. We won’t claim to know it all or offer an undeniable, end-all-be-all solution. We will listen, learn, and digest — then offer guidance and advice.
Challenge the status quo.
Growth and refinement of our craft is what drives us, and that won’t come if we don’t lead with questions and deep thinking. By challenging everyday processes and approaches, we can uphold the high standards we have for ourselves as publicists and professionals.
Be authentic.
We know who we are – and who we’re not. We’ll let you know if we don’t know the answer and we’ll be the first to speak up if we could have done better. You can expect to experience our real and authentic selves simply because life is too short to pretend to be someone you’re not.
We are here to amplify your story through authentic, meaningful exposure — all through a values-driven approach that elevates the standard for PR.
OUR TEAM
Our people make us unstoppable.
Liza Vilnits
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Liza has been immersed in the ins and outs of the PR industry for more than a decade. She has worked with a vegan pet food brand that took off after a Shark Tank investment, an edtech startup that’s been funded by Chelsea Clinton and Serena Williams, a publicly traded cybersecurity company, and many other powerhouse companies across a variety of sectors (tech, hospitality, health and wellness, automotive, retail and more). She launched Beyond Trending in 2019 to help value-aligned founders leverage PR to grow strategically and thoughtfully.
Liza has hosted workshops about the power of PR for accelerator programs like gener8tor and spoken at conferences like TechCrunch Early Stage. When she’s not working to get her client featured in the press, you can usually find her at the beach with her husband and daughter, enjoying live music or daydreaming about her next international adventure. She also sits on the board of IMPACT, a Charleston nonprofit that mentors youth through exposure and experiences.
Kayla Armstrong
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Kayla has been in the comms industry for more than a decade, working with cybersecurity giants and tech gurus. Before taking the early leap to agency life, she experienced the startup world and supported a company with marketing, sales and communications. As a PR Account Director, her expertise lies in account management, strengthening media relationships and thinking creatively for client and company strategy. Outside of the office, Kayla can be found at a Boston sports game with her son and husband, running a marathon, or traveling to Ireland and England to visit her family.
Beth Faso
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Beth comes to us from the marketing agency world, where she managed social media and PR campaigns for the firm and clients. She also had a quick stint in the HR industry, before realizing she missed flexing her creative muscles in the comms world! Beth is our go-to research and behind-the-scenes ninja – she’s fast, precise and tactical!
As a PR Associate she specializes in building media lists, drafting and pitching content, and researching and analyzing anything and everything! When she’s not working her creative juices, you can find her curled up on the couch with her son, husband and pug Max (who you may see in our Zoom calls), trying new cuisine in the Hudson Valley area, or binging her new fave TV series.
Alexandra Pony
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With more than 12 years of experience in Public Relations, Alexandra specializes in working with tech, environment, consumer, and architecture brands. Committed to transparency and honest communication, she goes above and beyond client expectations to deliver high-value strategies that yield impactful results. Alexandra’s PR and social media campaigns have been recognized with awards from Inc., PR Daily, dotCOMM and others.
Amanda French
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Amanda has over 20 years of experience as a global communications specialist. From corporate and crisis communications through to media and influencer relations, Amanda is a go-to for specialist PR advice. Often on speed-dial in times of crisis, she’s called upon when quick decisions and results are needed. She’s an expert in retail and fast-moving consumer goods as well as B2B sectors like fintech, cybersecurity, and market research. Amanda has an eye for a good story and prides herself on her strong media relations strategies, including her ability to implement those tactics internationally.
Our Partners
We don’t claim to know how to do it all.
We know what we’re really good at – and we leave the rest to our incredible network of partners! Whether it’s social media, branding, SEO, or something else, we likely have the connection to support your needs. Let us take the hours of research and agency vetting off your plate and instead support you in working alongside our values-aligned partners.
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A purpose-driven branding and communication agency, making life better for people, the planet, and animals. By building and growing bold brands for nonprofits and for profits, they can communicate more clearly to have greater impact.
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mindfulCONVERSION partners with startups to solve complex growth challenges through sophisticated data analysis, customer research, and proprietary tooling & 1st party technology.
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PONY Comms, a trailblazing women-led firm, that excels in catapulting clients into the media and consumer spotlight across diverse industries, earning accolades from Inc. a recognition from NASA for a viral campaign, and 10 other industry awards.
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From fundraising to exit, The Thrivery helps mission-driven organizations reach critical revenue and profitability milestones, enabling them to have greater impact on the communities they serve. They partner with founders to avoid costly finance mistakes along the company-building journey that could otherwise jeopardize the financial viability and sustainability of ventures.
Interested in becoming our partner?
Check out our company news.
Quarter 1 Client News Round-Up
We’re proud of our first-quarter wins for our clients! Here’s a summary of notable pieces of news coverage over the past few months.
Mission-minded Spotlight: PherDal
Many couples and individuals in the U.S. struggle to conceive naturally; in fact, 42% of adults have either used fertility treatments or know someone who has. But the financial investment – rarely covered by insurance – makes treatment inaccessible to many. PherDal, the only FDA-cleared 100% sterile at-home insemination kit, is on a mission to change that.
5 Foundational PR Tips for Startups in 2025
Calling all startups! If you’ve finally decided to make PR a priority in 2025 – whether you’re just dipping your toe in or going all in – there’s a lot to do to build a foundation for PR success, well before you actually start pitching press! Here are a few tips to ensure all the boxes are checked and you’re setting yourself up for success!
Our clients say it best.
“Great things happen when you find the right people to support your mission. Liza and her team served as Pivotal’s PR/marketing consultant for over three years. She was a fantastic thought partner in our overall strategic marketing planning and successfully integrated PR into our communication efforts, which helped secure several major donors who have given year after year.”
Priya Mistry
Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships
“Liza was the utmost professional - warm, proactive, and experienced. Even when our main product was delayed, she still found creative ways to secure press attention and help solidify our own narrative. I would highly recommend Liza to any mission-based organization that cares about quality and results.”
Megan Brewster
Former Director
“Beyond Trending helped me publicly launch Austin's first female, Black-owned Cannabis business, making both me and my brand stand out and build credibility. The team really understood the messages that were important to me and provided a stage for me to share them. The hard work really shined through—and paid off, as my sales have increased 135% since the re-launch! There is no other PR company I would recommend or want to work with!”
Dr. Kirsten K. Shepard, LMT, DC
Founder & CEO
