BOSTON – Benchmark Strategies is expanding and adding Emmy-Award winning journalist Elysia Rodriguez to the team as Vice President of Media Strategy.

Elysia joins Benchmark Strategies after more than 15 years in television news. She worked across the country but most of her work has been in New England – with the CBS station in Providence, RI and the NBC station in Springfield, MA. She also spent the last 6 years in Boston at NECN/NBC10 Boston then Boston 25 News.

She has covered a wide variety of topics and provided continuing coverage of events that shaped local history – including the Boston Marathon bombings and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Elysia won two New England Chapter Emmy Awards related to coverage of the 2011 Springfield, MA tornado. She also won two Associated Press Awards, as a reporter in 2009 and as an anchor in 2011.

Born in Tampa, Florida, Elysia also spent several years as a child in the Philippines where she graduated high school. She is a 2005 graduate of Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI where she earned degrees in communications and political science.

Elysia is passionate about animals and dedicates a lot of her time to animal-based charities and organizations. She even spent time as a volunteer penguin aquarist at the New England Aquarium.

“Benchmark Strategies is proud to welcome Elysia Rodriguez as our Vice President of Media Strategy and lead storyteller. Elysia has brought an important voice to people and places for more than 15 years and we are very fortunate that she has decided to bring her insight and passion to our diverse clientele,” said Patrick Bench, President of Benchmark Strategies.

Benchmark Strategies provides expertise and execution for its clients. From public sector business development to state and municipal public affairs to economic development consulting, we have the relationships and acumen to help our clients achieve their objectives.