20 years later, comms pros remember Sept. 11

For communications pros David Paine and Jay Winuk, the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, were a call to service.

Paine and Winuk first met during their days managing client accounts at Burson-Marsteller’s New York City office in the 1980s. Paine went on to found Paine PR on the West Coast, a highly successful and innovative mid-size agency. Winuk helped build the then-new NYC office of GolinHarris and served as director of PR for Radio City Productions before opening his own firm, Winuk Communications, Inc.

But like many New Yorkers, they had a personal connection to the tragic events of that fall day in 2001. Winuk’s brother, Glenn, was an attorney and volunteer firefighter who died in the attack on the World Trade Center. Paine’s brother, Andrew, was also downtown when the towers fell, though he escaped unharmed. The two would go on to found the nonprofit “9/11 Day” in 2002.

“My late brother Glenn Winuk is always top of mind for me, but especially as each 9/11 anniversary approaches,” says Winuk. Glenn helped evacuate the offices of his law firm before heading out on foot to try and help evacuate the South Tower. “He had the training and courage to jump into action when terror struck,” Winuk says.