KariHernandez
CSO + Co-founder
INK Communications Co. in Austin, Texas
INK is an integrated communications agency for B2B tech and energy companies, headquartered in Austin, with additional offices in Denver and NYC, and remote team members across the U.S. We help our clients reach sophisticated audiences across North America, as well as in regional and local markets. We bring together the right mix of services and expertise - including public relations, corporate communications, content marketing, digital marketing, AI visibility, brand strategy, creative, and web - to create flexible and scalable programs that elevate our clients' brands and drive business growth.
Austin PR agency for B2B tech + energy industries
INK grew up alongside Austin’s tech- and taco-fueled economy. Founders and Texas natives Starr Million Baker and Kari Hernandez met while working on PR programs for Austin-based tech companies taking root in the early 2000s. The entrepreneurial spirit and irreverent attitude prevalent in Austin influenced their decision to strike out on their own with INK.
Fast forward to present day, INK serves two major Texas industries – tech and energy – with clients and employees throughout the state and beyond. We’ve been recognized as one of Austin’s Best Places to Work by the Austin Business Journal many times over, as well as a Top Women-Owned Business in the city. We’re proud to still call Austin home after 20+ years.
Our Industries
Explore Industries
B2B Technology
B2B tech companies partner with INK to gain attention that supports growth in fast-moving and increasingly skeptical markets.
Explore our B2B Technology Practice
Energy
Our energy communications programs help brands earn trust and prove value in sectors shaped by policy, economics, infrastructure, and public scrutiny.
Explore our Energy Practice
Our Austin-Based Leadership
BlairPoloskey
Principal + Partner
CaitlinNew
SVP, Communications, B2B Tech Practice Lead
KimMackley
VP, Brand Strategy + Content
TraciMazurek
VP, Digital
Kari Hernandez
CSO + Co-founder
Kari Hernandez brings entrepreneurial thinking to her clients and teams, uncovering opportunities in unexpected places and quickly moving ideas to action. Building on twenty years of experience in marketing communications for B2B technology companies, Kari is constantly innovating new and more strategic ways to serve INK’s clients. Her commitment to growth and innovation landed her on PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR list and helped INK earn its place on the Inc. 5000 and as a Best Place to Work in Austin and Denver.
Blair Poloskey
Principal + Partner
Blair Poloskey solves problems. From storytelling to digital spend and back to general account management, she finds solutions for her clients and executes on them quickly and efficiently. Over the past 15+ years, Blair has developed a love for and deep understanding of B2B technology communications. In 2006, Blair took the reins of INK’s digital and social program. She has spoken at CES, SXSW, and several other digital focused conferences highlighting best practices and opportunities for B2B brands on social.
Caitlin New
SVP, Communications, B2B Tech Practice Lead
Caitlin New is on a mission to inspire creative solutions for clients that want to move beyond the routine and welcome bold, new paths in their marketing and communications programs. Through her skill for building strong client relationships and passion for understanding her clients’ businesses, Caitlin leads teams to create communications programs that are built on trust and have real impact. Caitlin has deep experience in technology communications and has promoted innovation in the payments, retail, cybersecurity, insurance, and real estate industries. Caitlin’s ability to motivate self and teams led to her earning an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, as well as her team securing a PR Daily Digital PR and Social Media Award.
Kim Mackley
VP, Brand Strategy + Content
Kim Mackley specializes in strategic content planning and marketing research, leveraging over 20 years of experience in communications and project management. Kim leads INK’s incredible team of writers who aren’t at all competitive and never give her a hard time. She applies a unique point of view and sense of humor to every problem, asking questions no one else asks to find a balanced pragmatic, creative solution. Kim specializes in audience discovery and messaging as well as research to uncover insights worth sharing. She is a proud Buckeye with a BA in journalism from The Ohio State University and an MA in liberal arts from the University of Pennsylvania.
Traci Mazurek
VP, Digital
Traci Koller Mazurek is passionate about building data-driven social and digital programs that connect businesses with the people they care about most. With experience leading B2B and B2C accounts and digital strategy across industries including agriculture, consumer goods, and real estate at INK, she previously led social strategy for clients at Spredfast and R/GA. Traci is a LinkedIn Certified Marketing Insider and Pinterest Certified Media Buyer. She is a native Dallasite who graduated from Baylor University, began her career in public relations with Edelman and FleishmanHillard in New York City, and now lives in Austin with her husband and child.
Austin Community Engagement
INK is a corporate sponsor for the Austin chapter of Friends of the Children, a nationwide organization that breaks the cycle of generational poverty by pairing children with a long-term professional mentor. We support other local organizations such as Austin Parks Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, Austin Diaper Bank, and Foundation Communities.
