Laurie Rubenstein
Owner, Candescent Communications

Laurie has been a communications specialist for more than fifteen years, with a focus on digital media companies. Throughout her career, she has successfully launched numerous new businesses and products into competitive environments, and has served as a fully integrated member of each company’s marketing team.

Prior to opening CANDESCENT COMMUNICATIONS in 2003, Laurie served as the Senior Vice President of Communications for Vivendi Universal’s Internet division, VUNet USA, an aggregation of websites and services including Rollingstone.com, GetMusic.com, MP3.com and education.com. Laurie joined VUNet USA from GetMusic.com, where she headed up the company’s PR department. During her tenure at the Universal Music Group-BMG joint venture, GetMusic was constantly ranked as a top-trafficked music site.

Laurie honed her PR skills in the agency environment, including spending five years at the New York-based public relations firm TSI Communications (which was merged with Interpublic Group’s GolinHarris), where she most recently held the title of Vice President, Digital Consumer Group. Her broad client roster included AOL MovieFone/Moviefone.com (777-FILM); video game publishers such as Acclaim Entertainment, Midway Home Entertainment and GT Interactive Software; and Lycos’ Tripod.

An L.A. native who received her Bachelors of Arts degree from U.C.L.A., Laurie began her career at a boutique entertainment firm in Los Angeles where she handled publicity for film/TV actors, comedians and movie releases.