talkTECH Founders

Rebekah K. Iliff, M.A. | Co-founder & CEO

Rebekah is an organizational management, development, and communications professional who has served clients across multiple industries and across the globe for over eight years.  She is a senior leader and trusted advisor to executive leadership who excels in solving challenging and complex problems.  Rebekah’s valuable depth of experience launching startups, reengineering infrastructures, and developing and implementing business and marketing plans that facilitate growth, build brand equity, and increase ROI have made her one of the most trusted small to medium size business (SMB) consultants in Southern California.  She is an effective communicator, team builder, and creative problem solver who has worked with over one hundred entrepreneurs, thought leaders, technology brands, healthcare companies, financial advisors, entertainment leaders, and small business owners over the past several years.

Rebekah holds a B.A. in Philosophy (Cum Laude) from Loyola University Chicago, and an M.A. in Organizational Management and Applied Community Psychology from Antioch University at Los Angeles (AULA). She has authored and co-authored articles that have appeared in VentureBeat, StartupAmerica, PR Daily, PR Sunrise, the Mega Startup Weekend blog, and the Office of Technology Management blog (University of Illinois). Notable achievements include: Los Angeles Business Journal 2011 “Women Making A Difference: Rising Star” Nomination; National Society of Collegiate Scholars for Outstanding Achievement; and the President’s Award for Community Service and Outreach.  Key memberships include: Organization Development Network; Economist Intelligence Unit, Opinion Leader’s Panel; Public Relations Society of America, Los Angeles Chapter; and AULA’s MAOM Community Network Career Programming Group.

Kristen Tischhauser | Co-founder & President

Kristen brings nearly nine years of public relations and marketing experience to talkTECH Communications, specializing in the lifestyle, fashion and technology arenas. Her multi-faceted approach in delivering strategic results oriented PR campaigns, expertise in media relations, and grassroots branding tactics has a proven track record.

To date, Kristen has facilitated top tier media coverage for Pocketweb Ltd. U.S. Market Launch, TEDxGoldstar Los Angeles, Elements Behavioral Health iPhone app launch, and Cal Net Technology Group’s “Competitive Advantage Event Series” hosted by Microsoft, ShoreTel and the DigiTrust Group.  Under Kristen’s direction, talkTECH clients have appeared in numerous print and digital publications including: Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, SiliconANGLE, Los Angeles Business Journal, Socaltech.com, Gadgetsteria, Channel Pro, Smart Business, L.A. Times, and L.A. Weekly; and broadcast outlets including Reuters TV, CNN, The Today Show, and HLN.

Prior to talkTECH, Kristen was the Director at a lifestyle boutique agency in Chicago, where she managed a variety of noteworthy clients such as Victoria’s Secret, Yogen Früz, Chef Radhika Desai (BRAVO TV’s Top Chef: New York “chef’testant”), AKIRA, and VenusZine. During her tenure there, she facilitated press coverage for the following high-profile events: StarChef’s Rising Stars Gala at Trump Hotel Chicago, Mandy Moore’s Gain Challenge Concert, Gen Art and Shorty Clothing’s E-Boutique Launch, Christian Siriano’s Love Games Fashion Show.

Kristen graduated with a B.A. in Public Corporate Communications from Butler University and is involved with networking and non-profit organizations, such as Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (PR committee) and the Public Relations Society of America (Los Angeles chapter). She is also a founding board member of the Stimulus Social Club, an organization that allocates charitable contributions to local non-profits through monthly events. Kristen was honored as one of “Chicago’s Top 40 Most Eligible Singles” by Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine in 2010.  She currently resides in Venice, California.