Meet the Team

Mary Tan – Our Founder

The heart and soul behind Whisker Media

Call – (612) 209-3303 or Email – mary@whiskermedia.com

In 2013, Mary embarked on this adventure as a hobby, initially focused on video production for businesses and nonprofits. However, her passion for storytelling and a deep love for animals led to a pivot towards public relations in the pet space. As a former news reporter for local and national media outlets across the United States and PR Manager for one of the largest animal shelters in the country, Mary saw a connection between the complex world of animal welfare and the busy world of PR and marketing. 

When not working, Mary devotes much of her free time to animals. She lives in the Minneapolis area with her Mexican rescue dog Freddie, and her three cats Farley, Franklin, and Fleur. Mary also fosters neonatal kittens and volunteers at a low cost veterinary clinic, Her cat Franklin is an adventure feline, professional pet model as well as a therapy kitty, who visits children and seniors who need animal assisted therapy.

Mary Tan is not just the founder of Whisker Media, but the driving force behind a mission to create impactful stories that resonate and make a positive difference in the ever-evolving pet industry.

Alexane Ricard

Alexane Ricard brings a French touch to Whisker Media

Email – alexane@whiskermedia.com

Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications, Alex embarked on a series of enriching internships in Barcelona, Lisbon, and Bali, where her love for animals blossomed. It was during her transformative time with the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) in 2019 that she realized the potential to channel her knowledge and studies toward the improvement of animal welfare. Over six months, she immersed herself in various aspects of animal care and the challenges of nonprofit organizations.

Then, driven by her passion for animal welfare, Alex ventured to Greece to dedicate her time and skills to volunteering with cats. Inspired by the experiences she gained, she established her own nonprofit called Saaving Lives which focuses on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives and facilitating adoptions abroad.

In early 2022, she joined Whisker Media. Alex’s passion for animal welfare, combined with her global perspective and expertise in marketing and communications, has allowed her to make a meaningful impact in the lives of countless animals. She now works with Whisker Media’s European and Asian clients. Fluent in five languages, she has used her talents to amplify the voices of pet businesses and animal welfare nonprofits.

Maria Reitan

Maria Reitan brings 20 years of expertise to Whisker Media

Throughout her distinguished career, Maria has orchestrated impactful campaigns for renowned brands such as Pella, United Healthcare Group, The Mayo Clinic, Cargill, and Hasbro, showcasing her ability to drive results and improve brand visibility.

Before navigating the seas of strategic communications with her consultancy Topsail Strategies, Maria served as the President and Chief Strategy Officer at Lola Red, a Twin Cities lifestyle firm. She spent more than 10 years at nationally recognized public relations firm Carmichael Lynch Spong, now Relate. As Senior Partner, she founded the Lifestyle Marketing practice, focusing on marketing to women, boomers and youth. From crisis and issues management to media coaching, Maria is a multifaceted skilled woman!

For over 13 years, Maria hosted the weekly marketing-to-women podcast, PurseStrings. This podcast reached tens of thousands of business professionals, reflecting Maria’s dedication to providing valuable perspectives. In addition to these accomplishments, Maria also holds a rich background as a former Emmy Award-winning news director and producer, having left her mark in Minneapolis, Chicago, Miami, Louisville, and both Carolinas.

And as part of the Whisker Media team, Maria is, of course, a proud pet parent to Mable, a charming four-year-old Black British Lab. Mable not only adds joy to Maria’s life but also shows the genuine connection that Maria has in the pet industry.

“I started the agency in 2015 to appease my passion to help homeless animals. I also started Whisker Media to fill a gap. As an animal welfare professional with direct experience working with homeless animals, I noticed there was a huge lack of knowledge between animal behavior and pet entrepreneurs and businesses. As an experienced animal welfare professional who still volunteers at an animal shelter, I often get pitches from large national PR and marketing agencies representing Fortune 500 companies asking to use homeless animals in their campaigns.

People don’t realize shelter animals are often unpredictable, as there is no knowledge of their history. What appears as a sweet loving dog, can snap at an instant when it becomes shy and fearful. Put them in a photoshoot or in front of a camera, and there can be issues.

It’s no secret shelters are not the best places for animals, as they don’t know where they are and they’re anxious or scared. As an advocate for animals, these cats, dogs, and critters need to be protected from unnecessary emotional trauma. That doesn’t mean they can’t be used in campaigns, but having basic knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work when working with animals is critical. Combine my public relations experience with my animal experience, and that is what differentiates me from other PR agencies.”