Aurli co-founded Illume Public Relations as a way to combine her passion for traditional entertainment with her fascination of the current new media revolution. An entrepreneur by nature, Aurli sought an opportunity where she could work hand-in-hand with clients at the forefront of the digital entertainment age as part of a team who create trends before they happen.
Immediately prior to founding Illume, Aurli supervised the global public relations launch for Championship Gaming Series (CGS), a joint venture between DIRECTV, STAR and BSkyB and the world’s only world-wide video game league.
Prior to CGS, Aurli directed public relations for Amp’d Mobile, where she lead all corporate communications, public relations and internal communications efforts for the mobile entertainment company, including campaigning and securing industry awards in Advertising Age’s ‘Entertainment Marketers of the Year 2006,’ Wireless Week’s ‘Mobile Entertainment Company of the Year 2007’ and On Hollywood’s ‘Top 100List.’
Aurli previously served as head of entertainment public relations for InfoSpace Inc, where she created and implemented a communications strategy to reposition the online search company into a mobile media leader. During this time she oversaw publicity campaigns for all direct-to-consumer mobile entertainment products, including the launch of Tony Hawk’s Mobile Dissent, the first-ever action sports mobile superstore.
Aurli began her public relations career in the television industry at the top-rated cable channel, USA Network. There she was fortunate enough to work with some of the top production companies in the industry including Lionsgate Television, Mark Burnett Productions, Reveille LLC and Mandeville Films among others. She supervised public relations, talent relations and awards campaigns for the network’s tent-pole programs, including the launch of USA’s original series Monk; and limited series such as Eco-Challenge; Traffic: The Mini-series; Spartacus; Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story and special events including the US Open, AFI Life Achievement Awards, and the annual USA Network concert event starring Willie Nelson.
Aurli holds a Masters of Science in Management from Boston University and a BA with Honors in International History & Politics from Leeds University in the UK.
Debra co-founded Illume to work one-on-one with clients at all stages of activity, from developing their initial strategy to seeing it through to its successful implementation, all the while providing a personal, hands-on approach.
Before establishing Illume, Debra was a director of the digital media practice at LA-based mPRm Public Relations, where she led campaigns for some of the agency’s largest accounts. Debra orchestrated media campaigns to support the launch of new digital entertainment companies and to build momentum and drive sales for others. A smattering of her clients included Amp’d mobile, Ceiva Digital Photo Frames, Intercasting Corporation, Magmic Games, National Geographic Walt Disney Internet Group and WorldTV.
Debra joined mPRm from GolinHarris International where she spearheaded national public relations campaigns for Nestle confections, drugstore.com and others. She gained extensive strategic communications expertise while at San Francisco-based public affairs firm Solem & Associates where she serviced clients including Pacific Gas and Electric Company, United Nations World Environment Day and Nielson Media Research.
Prior to relocating to California, Debra held the position of assistant press secretary for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. From Harkin’s Capital Hill office, Debra developed and implemented statewide communications efforts for the chairman of the LHHS Appropriations & Agriculture Committees.
