Susanne S. Perrone, MS, has led an exemplary, award-winning career spanning more than 35 years in marketing and communications. Since 2022, she has been the chief marketing officer for Smart Seawall Technologies, Inc., crafting communication strategies, improving sales awareness, and developing presentations for investors. Ms. Perrone has played a vital role in promoting the growth of the company, working through its transition from relying on external designers to building an in-house team.
Before joining Smart Seawall Technologies, Inc., Ms. Perrone worked with Gannett’s USA Today Network as director of consumer brand marketing. Also with Gannett, she was the brand and business development director and the regional director for the organization’s client solutions group. Ms. Perrone’s exceptional career in marketing dates back to Xerox, where she was the manager of worldwide brand marketing and advertising in 2000 and later became the vice president of marketing, e-business and teleweb operations from 2001 to 2006.
Before accepting her first marketing position, Ms. Perrone started as a research assistant at age 25 for Eastman Kodak, where she conducted a landmark study on animation. After realizing her passion for marketing, she transitioned to the marketing department of First Federal Savings and Loan. Ms. Perrone has also taken on teaching, sharing her expertise as an adjunct professor of strategic marketing at Roberts Wesleyan College from 2017 to 2019. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her commitment to mentoring and developing burgeoning marketing professionals, many of whom have gone on to become successful business owners. For her, being a mentor is her most important and enduring legacy.
Throughout her career, Ms. Perrone has been recognized with numerous accolades in honor of her exceptional work. These include Gold, Silver, and Bronze National Effie Awards, a Telly Award, Xerox Presidents Club honors, and the Legacy Leadership Award. As an active member of her professional and local communities, she maintains affiliation with the Rochester Advertising Council and contributes her time to multiple civic and nonprofit organizations, including Causewave Community Partners, Ronald McDonald House Charities, United Way, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Ms. Perrone is particularly passionate about supporting veterans through initiatives such as One Soldier at a Time, which provides critical care for soldiers dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Her goal for this year is to secure support for the Wounded Warrior Project Picnic.
Outside of her professional and civic activities, Ms. Perrone remains committed to personal growth and lifelong learning. She is a strong advocate for the importance of higher education, holding a Master of Science in strategic leadership from Roberts Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in business science with a focus on marketing from the University of Colorado. She ascribes much of her success to the unconditional support of her family, including her husband, parents, and son. She is the proud mother of her son, Michael, who works as a wealth management adviser, and cherishes her relationship with his wife, Erica, as well as her granddaughter. Moreover, Ms. Perrone loves her stepchildren and the special bonds she has built with her entire family. She prioritizes spending quality time with them and remains grateful for their support of her personal and professional endeavors.
Now in her 70s, Ms. Perrone looks forward to someday stepping back from her current role at Smart Seawall Technologies, Inc. She plans to transition to becoming an investor while still supporting the company in an advisory capacity as it selects a new marketing leader. She is particularly excited about the prospect of spending more time serving veterans and contributing to meaningful nonprofit causes. Recently, she connected with Barbara Hoffman, a woman leading a project to transform an historic site in Rochester into a center for women leaders. Inspired by Ms. Hoffman’s vision, Ms. Perrone looks forward to supporting the initiative.