MEET THE TEAM

Barbara is a communications specialist who bases her work relationships on a simple philosophy — the most effective ones start with listening.

Her career history includes working with such noteworthy companies as Steiner Studios, M&T Bank, Douglas Elliman, Zillow, Charney Companies, Tavros Holdings, BFC Partners, Toll Brothers City Living, Equity Residential, the Tavistock Group, Jamestown, Fetner Properties, the Empire State Building, Cushman & Wakefield, Steiner NYC, BFC Partners and Macklowe Properties. Her knowledge and expertise in economic development has helped promote Brooklyn’s DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and Greenpoint Landing, along with Staten Island’s Empire Outlets.

In addition to her real estate background, Barbara has collaborated with artists Tom Otterness, Julian Opie, Charlie Hewitt and Jim Watt, among others. She has represented the Marlborough Gallery, Marlborough Chelsea, Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, the Museum of Arts & Design (MAD), the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Public Library, the High Line and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, along with art consultants Janis Gardiner Cecil and Emily Santangelo.

Before starting her own firm in 2021, Barbara was an Executive Vice President at Rubenstein. Earlier in her career as a journalist she wrote articles for New York Magazine, the Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, IBM and Success and was Assistant Managing Editor of Cosmopolitan.

A founding member of Barbara Wagner Communications, Joanna is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the firm and its business operations. With her clear analytical thinking, cross-functional experience, and problem-solving mentality, she has been instrumental in moving BWC forward. Her duties include finance and HR functions, graphic design, and upgrades to firmwide systems and policies. She had led projects for new software, website, and performance management.

At Rubenstein, where she worked for seven years, her calm demeanor and unparalleled organization was essential to firm clients, including the Tribeca Film Festival, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Netflix, among many others. Aside from supporting PR initiatives, Joanna assisted HR with onboarding new employees and serving as a mentor for many.

Promoting interest and knowledge of Greek wine in the US has been Joanna’s passion project, and she has worked on campaigns fostering relationships between winemakers with US press, trade influencers and dignitaries, planning tasting events and dinners.

Joanna has earned a certificate in project management from Cornell University.

Elana is a Senior Vice President at Barbara Wagner Communications specializing in the intersection of real estate, lifestyle, and the arts. Throughout her career, she has driven strategy and publicity campaigns for clients in a wide range of sectors, including residential and commercial development, arts and culture, and policy. Current and past clients include Fetner Properties, M&T Bank, BFC Partners, Tavros, Charney Companies, Brookfield Properties, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New York Properties, WS Development - Boston Seaport, Douglas Elliman, and Extell Development, among others.

In 2021, she was named to City & State's Inaugural 40 Under 40 list focusing on the real estate and construction industries up-and-coming leaders who are driving the industries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, carrying out innovative new development strategies, and finding ways to give back to the community. Prior to joining Barbara Wagner Communications, Elana worked in the esteemed real estate practices at both BerlinRosen and Rubenstein. 

Elana holds a B.A. in public relations, political science, and history from Syracuse University.

Sarah Duzyk is a Senior Vice President at Barbara Wagner Communications, specializing in public relations strategy, client relations  and event planning for arts, culture and lifestyle clients.

During her eleven-year tenure at Gagosian, the world’s largest art gallery, she oversaw press strategy with global press agencies across 17 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia, handling publicity for exhibition openings, digital initiatives, and artist announcements, as well as overarching press strategy and crisis communications for the gallery. Sarah also managed VIP relations and oversaw opening and collector events for New York locations, major art fairs, and additional domestic and international events ranging from intimate dinners to celebrations for several hundred.

Following her time at Gagosian, Sarah advised BCCM | Billy Clark Creative Management, a talent acquisition and strategic advisory firm, on their expansion into the fine arts arena.

Sarah earned a Master’s Degree in History of Art and the Art Market: Modern and Contemporary Art from Christie’s Education, and B.A. Degrees in English and Political Science from Wake Forest University.

Juliana is a Senior Account Executive at Barbara Wagner Communications, where she supports a variety of communications and PR initiatives within the firm. Juliana is a passionate communicator driven by her desire to share experiences and positively impact the people she works with. With previous experience working as a media relations intern at Sony Pictures Entertainment and The International Center for Journalists, Juliana brings in a range of skills and perspectives. Some of the client accounts Juliana has worked on include: M&T Bank, Zillow, Steiner Studios, NEXUS Luxury Collection, Tavros, artist Charlie Hewitt, BFC Partners, Village Preservation, Museo de Arte de Ponce, among others.

Juliana has a Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from New York University. Prior to NYU, Juliana earned a B.A. in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from George Washington University.

Katie is a Content Studio Director at Barbara Wagner Communications. As a photographer, cinematographer, and editor, she has worked with M&T Bank, Zillow, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New York Properties, Steiner Studios, artist Charlie Hewitt, Charney Companies, Tavros Holdings, BFC Partners, and Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. 

With a focus and passion for the arts and filmmaking, Katie has held a variety of positions in these industries. She was an assistant at the Ruth Orkin Photo Archive, concentrating on events at the Fotografiska in New York City and a gallery assistant at the Ubu Gallery in Paris. Katie was an intern at Gigantic Pictures and at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award Show. Outside of BWC, she has directed, written, and edited two award-winning short films.

Katie is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Film Studies.