Winter 2011 Newsletter
I. A Message from the Chair
II. Meet the Executive Committee
III. Welcome to December's New Professionals
Welcome to 2011 New Pros! I’m excited to announce our new Executive Committee that will lead the Section. This year, we encourage and challenge you to take advantage of Section benefits, and connect with fellow new pros from across the country.
Have a question for your peers? Post to our eGroup, or follow us on Twitter
Want to expand your network? Join our LinkedIn or Facebook pages
Looking to get published? Apply to be a guest blogger
Want to learn something new? Participate in a brown bag or webinar
Seeking a mentor? Stay tuned for the launch our mentoring program.
As a team, we look forward to bringing you valuable professional development and networking opportunities. If you have any questions, ideas or feedback, please email me.
Best,
Sarah Siewert
PRSA New Pros Section Chair
Sarah Siewert, chair
Sarah Siewert is an account executive at KemperLesnik, a public relations, event management and sports marketing agency in Chicago. Siewert provides traditional and social media relations services to clients in the financial services, insurance, consulting and technology industries. She has extensive experience in traditional and social media, strategic communication planning and event coordination.
Siewert joined the New Professionals Section Executive Committee in 2009 as programming chair, recruiting industry leaders to share their expertise with Section members. She continued to provide professional development and networking opportunities for the Section in 2010 as director of professional development/chair-elect. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a specialization in public relations from Michigan State University.
Leah Moon, chair-elect and social media co-editor
Leah Moon is a 2008 graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism with specializations in public relations and French. She is currently the social media specialist at Universal 1 Credit Union. She advises the company on social media operations and manages all of their social media efforts as well as contributes to general marketing campaigns.
Prior to joining Universal 1, Moon worked at a health care PR firm in Washington, D.C., helping science, medical and health clients on their digital initiatives. Her background also includes travel and agriculture PR. She has lived in Dayton, Ohio, most of her life, but is rediscovering its hidden gems. She’s an active member of Generation Dayton, the PRSA Dayton Area Chapter, the American Advertising Federation – Dayton Chapter and CultureMASH. Outside of work, Moon loves Cleveland sports, watching movies, coffee and organization. For random thoughts that range from sports, music, social media/PR, TV and movies, follow her on Twitter @starmoon or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Noelle Pennyman, member co-chair
Noelle Pennyman is a public relations coordinator at thunder::tech, an integrated marketing agency in Cleveland. Pennyman works with clients to develop communication strategies and tactics including brand messaging, media relations and social media.
Prior to joining the team at thunder::tech, she served as the marketing assistant at Kent State University’s College of Communication and Information as well as an account executive intern at the university’s student public relations agency, Flash Communications. Pennyman received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Kent State in 2009. She is an active member of the PRSA Greater Cleveland Chapter’s Young Pros Group and serves as the membership co-chair of the New Professionals Executive Committee.
Joshua P. Romero, member co-chair
Joshua P. Romero is marketing and communications coordinator at California Western School of Law, overseeing the media relations, social media and alumni e-newsletter programs. In the fall of 2010, he designed and managed the implementation of a new online newsroom for the law school.
Among his accomplishments for the law school are: media coverage in the Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, CNN, Los Angeles Times and NPR; increasing YouTube video traffic six-fold; nearly doubling the school’s Facebook fans; and incorporating multimedia into alumni and development communications. Romero has been recognized by the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter for his service to the profession and by CASE District VII as a New Professionals Scholar. His media communication research has been presented at the International Communication Association.
Crystal Olig, membership liaison
Crystal Olig focuses on client service for Oxiem Marketing Technology, an interactive agency with offices in Columbus and Springfield, Ohio. Her role includes helping clients create online strategies to do real business from website development, content management and social media execution to search engine marketing and optimization. Olig’s expertise spans B2B media, the travel and tourism industry, event planning and social media strategy, and she has worked for multiple publications, agencies and nonprofits. Olig is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in advertising and member of the PRSA Central Ohio Chapter University Liaison Committee. She blogs at whY genY about Gen-Y workplace and career issues, tweets @sparklegem and is an active participant in more online networks than she cares to admit.
Alyssa Bronikowski, PRSSA liaison
Anna Cramer, programming co-chair
Anna Cramer is from Philadelphia. She is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware and currently the communications/public relations coordinator for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Prior to the USTA, Cramer worked with Comcast Spotlight, Vault Communications and the Philadelphia 76ers. She is looking forward to becoming involved with PRSA and bringing great programming to all new professionals in 2011.
Elizabeth Rhoads, programming co-chair
Elizabeth Rhoads is from Woolrich, Pa. She will be starting off the new year with a new career as the Web content coordinator for Lycoming College. Previously she served as the director of marketing for Expectations Women’s Center, a small nonprofit. Prior to that, she held a position with a local advertising agency. Rhoads graduated in 2009 from Susquehanna University, where she had the opportunity to study in Washington, D.C., and serve as a White House intern. She is looking forward to working with fellow co-chair Anna Cramer to bring new opportunities to the PRSA New Professionals Section.
Ashlee Tate, Section liaison
Ashlee Tate is new to the public relations field and purposefully joined the PRSA New Professionals Section in order to learn and understand the industry a little better. She is currently in the process of completing her master’s degree in communications and has, for the past year, worked as a freelance public relations and strategic communication consultant. Her interests lie in the areas of cause-related marketing, authentic relationship building, branding and corporate social responsibility communications.
A native of Sacramento, Tate has enjoyed all of the great state of California. She attended high school in San Diego and found herself in Sacramento once again for college. Currently she resides in Redding, Calif., which by most standards would be considered a rural area. She and her husband have two beautiful children, age 4 and 18 months, who tend to make life very busy and rewarding. As a stay-at-home mom, and new freelance PR and strategic communication consultant, Tate has delved into volunteerism in order to hone her skills and is diligently working on projects with various associations in her area. She is looking forward to working with a great team in the New Professionals Section this year and hopes to make an impact on PRSA’s future in her position as Section liasion.
Diahnn Henderson, blog co-chair
Diahnn Henderson is a human resources generalist with an emphasis on employee relations at ProQuest LLC, an electronic publisher in Ann Arbor, Mich. With 10 years of experience in the human resources profession, she needed a change of pace and began focusing her attention in a new direction. In 2010 she completed her studies in communications at Concordia University and recently launched a new business venture, Collaborative Communications. As a new professional, she looks forward to serving in her role as the blog co-chair.
Heather Sliwinski, blog co-chair
Heather Sliwinski is the marketing communications manager at United States Drug Testing Laboratories, a forensic laboratory providing alcohol- and drug-testing services to hospitals, government agencies, social services and drug-treatment programs. Before joining the USDTL team, Sliwinski graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications and a Certificate in business. She has held positions with a nonprofit, a Fortune 100 company and her university. Sliwinski is a member of PRSA and its Chicago Chapter, New Professionals Section and Health Academy. Feel free to email her, or find her on Twitter @hsliwinski and LinkedIn.
Eva Aivaliotis, newsletter editor
Eva Aivaliotis is the senior communications assistant at the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. The team works with national and international media (print, electronic, broadcast, online), marrying editorial opportunities with trends, destination assets and overall goals of the SACVB. She is a 2005 graduate of the Schieffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in international communication – advertising/PR, minor in French. A native San Antonian, she previously interned at the SACVB and feels very fortunate to be working with the communications team again to promote the city. She is also on the planning committee for the 2011 PRSA Travel & Tourism Section Conference in San Antonio, June 5-8. Outside of the office, you can catch her in the kitchen cooking on a whim or trying her hand at screenwriting.
Tamara Halliburton, social media co-editor
Kate Bergeman, member at large
Kate Bergeman currently serves as the communications coordinator at the Lancaster County Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advances the vitality and well-being of the people of Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. She is responsible for the Foundation’s communications activities and raising awareness about its important work to inspire generosity in the county. She creates and implements strategic public relations plans; serves as the media relations manager and fields press inquiries; manages the production of the annual report and quarterly newsletter, Giving Matters, and develops and edits Web content.
Her public relations background prior to the Community Foundation includes work for a full-service public relations agency and other nonprofit organizations. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and a professional emphasis in public relations with a minor in Spanish. Bergeman is an active member of PRSA and the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society. She serves on the Communications and Marketing Committee for the Nonprofit Resource Network at Millersville University, and volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Katie Bryant, member at large
Andrea Nourse, member at large
Originally from Kansas City, Mo., Andrea Nourse moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 2005 to pursue a career in songwriting. Then, in 2006, she enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University, where she studied public relations, marketing and political science. While in college, Nourse worked full-time as the assistant manager for Jos. A. Bank in Murfreesboro, Tenn. In the summer of 2009, she interned with U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon and, after graduating in May 2010, joined his staff as a field representative and communications assistant.
Nourse currently works as a content specialist for MMA Creative, a full-service marketing and advertising agency with offices in Cookeville and Nashville, Tenn. As a content specialist, she is responsible for drafting press releases, managing social media content for multiple clients as well as the agency, and writing copy for print, radio and television ads.
John Whitcomb, member at large
Welcome to December’s New Professionals
Rachell Buell; Parker, Colo.
Elizabeth Burzenski; Falls Church, Va.
Megan Campbell; Maitland, Fla.
Adrians S. Cleveland; Indianapolis, Ind.
Molly McClure Davis; Atlanta, Ga.
Brian Kristopher Dorne, MBA; Henderson, Nev.
Brandon Paul Gilbert; Shawnee, Okla.
Allyson Kring; West Chester, Ohio
Abbey Elisabeth Linville; North Canton, Ohio
Nick Lucido; Chicago, Ill.
Robin Elizabeth Miller; Santa Clara, Calif.
Dyeasha Moore; Atlanta, Ga.
Erin N. Phillips; Moorestown, N.J.
Tiffany C. Renwick; Los Angeles, Calif.
Krissy Schoenfelder; St. Paul, Minn.
Shaena Armida Silvestri; Wellington, Fla.
Alison J. Struve; Green Bay, Wis.
Jamila Vernon; Washington, D.C.
Alissa Winberry; Irving, Texas
