2017-2018 PRSSA Kent Executive Board
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President: Latisha EllisonLatisha Ellison is a senior public relations major who has been actively involved with PRSSA Kent since her freshman year. Previously, she served on the executive board as the Editor and YouToo Social Media Chairperson. Currently, she is a content and PR intern at True Digital Communications and is a co-assistant coordinator at Flash Communications. Latisha studied abroad in Florence, Italy where her love for traveling and meeting new people flourished. As President, Latisha hopes to create more opportunities for PRSSA Kent members to get involved and gain hands-on experience in our Chapter.
Connect with Latisha through or email. |
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VP of Professional Relations: Charleah TrombitasCharleah Trombitas is a senior public relations major with a minor in marketing. She has been heavily involved in PRSSA since the day she walked on campus freshman year. Previously, she served as the YouToo Social Media Student Chair and worked on many committees. Charleah has interned at Flash Communications, The Houck Agency and TalentLaunch. Currently, Charleah works as a Marketing Assistant for CCI. Charleah has a passion for writing, chocolate and all things outdoors. She hopes to help grow the Kent PRSSA chapter by creating a welcoming environment and helping to bring empowering speakers to the members.
Follow Charleah on twitter, or connect with her through email. |
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VP of PR: Meghan McDonald |
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VP of Membership: Sarah HeberSarah Heber is a junior majoring in public relations and minoring in criminology and justice studies. Every year, Sarah has become more involved with PRSSA and is excited to be the VP of membership this year. Sarah looks forward to relaunching the PR Pals program and making sure that every member feels welcomed, wanted and valued in this chapter. Sarah is leaning her career plans toward a public information officer for a department of criminal justice, but is still open to other opportunities. Outside of public relations, she has a passion for traveling and good coffee. However, Sarah's favorite thing in the world is her beloved puppy, Meka.
Connect with Sarah through email. |
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VP of Fundraising and Community Outreach Co-Chair: Holly Disch |
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VP of Fundraising and Community Outreach Co-Chair: Sam Ross
Samantha Ross is a junior public relations major with a minor in sports administration. Ross has been a part of PRSSA since she was a freshman. After her first PRSSA meeting she knew she had to switch her major and become involved with this organization. Ross has learned so many things by being a member of PRSSA such as figuring out which branch of PR she wants to pursue, which is sports PR. She is excited to work with the other officers on the executive board and can’t wait to see how the chapter grows this year.
Connect with Sam through email. |
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Intercampus Liaison: Ian GillanIan is a senior public relations major with a minor in health communication from Butler, Pennsylvania. After becoming involved in PRSSA his sophomore year he has been looking for more ways to involve himself in the chapter through different committees. Ian spent the summer interning with Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and previously worked as an assistant to the director of the CCI Commons living, learning community at Kent. With interest in healthcare, nonprofit work and entertainment, Ian hopes to help the chapter grow by encouraging collaboration with other student organizations and creating an environment that is open to all Kent students.
Connect with Ian through email. |
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Web and Social Media Manager: Alexandra SeibtAlexandra, known by her friends and family as Alex, is a senior Public Relations major from Mentor, Ohio. Seibt started at Kent State as a Broadcast Journalism major, but after talking with her peers she quickly realize public relations was her calling. Seibt has been a member of PRSSA since her sophomore year and was a part of the YouToo Social Media Conference committee two years in a row. After taking Kent's digital analytics class and spending a summer doing social media for a local restaurant, Seibt hopes to bring the skills and techniques she learned to PRSSA.
Connect with Alex through email. |
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Secretary: Lauren GarczynskiLauren Garczynski is a junior public relations major with a minor in political science. She has been a member of PRSSA since her freshman year and has enjoyed every minute of it, making valuable connections and great friendships. After being involved in PRSSA during her freshman and sophomore year, she was excited at the opportunity of being able to be more immersed in the chapter, and can't wait to serve as secretary this year. She is currently interning at the Women's Institute of the Freedom of the Press in Washington D.C. and hopes to go into policy or advocacy PR. Outside of public relations, she is extremely passionate about film and loves anything to do with Saturday Night Live. She is thrilled about becoming more involved in the chapter and learning and experiencing more in the field.
Connect with Lauren through email. |
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Treasurer: Frankie BarretFrankie is an incoming sophomore public relations major with a marketing minor. She has enjoyed becoming a member of PRSSA Kent as a freshman and found helpful connections and friendships through the organization. After attending PRSSA National Conference in the fall, Frankie was eager to become more involved with the organization. Serving as the Treasurer for the 2017-18 year, Frankie is excited to be a part of the Darrow Board and serve along with the other officers. She is eager to pursue further with her major and discover what branch of PR fits her the best. For now, she is excited about the opportunity to be involved with PRSSA Kent and to continue growing with the club.
Connect with Frankie through email. |
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Editor: Natalie MeekNatalie is a junior Public Relations Major with a marketing minor. She has enjoyed being a part of PRSSA, and has found great friendships and helpful connections through the organization. Serving as PRSSA Editor and attending PRSSA National Conference has allowed Natalie to become more involved with the organization. Natalie has been a marketing intern at Consolidus, and a communications and public relations intern at Diebold Nixdorf. She plans to work in corporate communications in the future.
Connect with Natalie through email. |
YouToo Social Media ChairpersonThe 2017-2018 YouToo Social Media Conference Chairperson will be elected during the Fall 2017 semester.
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Photo credit: Special thanks to Brenna Parker
Faculty Adviser: Michele E. Ewing, APR
Michele Ewing, APR has more than 15 years experience in agency and corporate public relations. Before joining the Kent State faculty, Michele was a vice president at Marcus Thomas LLC, an advertising and public relations agency in Cleveland and Youngstown. During her 12-year tenure at Marcus Thomas, Michele played an active role in the management and growth of the public relations division with emphasis on the division's healthcare, internal and marketing public relations communications practices. Prior to Marcus Thomas, Michele worked for two Ohio hospitals.
Under her direction, PRSSA Kent has won six national PRSSA Teahan awards and numerous Kent State Student Involvement honors.
Michele teaches PR Campaigns, Public Relations Tactics and Principles of Public Relations courses. During the spring semester 2012, Michele co-taught the new Global Advertising and Public Relations course, which included a two-week study abroad experience in London.
Michele's research interests include internal communications, social media, student engagement and career preparation.
Follow Michele on Twitter @meewing, connect with her on Linkedin or email her.
Under her direction, PRSSA Kent has won six national PRSSA Teahan awards and numerous Kent State Student Involvement honors.
Michele teaches PR Campaigns, Public Relations Tactics and Principles of Public Relations courses. During the spring semester 2012, Michele co-taught the new Global Advertising and Public Relations course, which included a two-week study abroad experience in London.
Michele's research interests include internal communications, social media, student engagement and career preparation.
Follow Michele on Twitter @meewing, connect with her on Linkedin or email her.
Professional Adviser: Carrie Ann Kandes
Carrie Kandes is a public relations (PR) and marketing communications leader with nearly 20 years of in-house and agency experience. Adept in team building and relationship cultivation, she has expertise across public relations sub-disciplines and has led integrated marketing communications campaigns and teams. During her career, Carrie has worked with both consumer and business-to-business brands in the financial, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, security and transportation segments.
An independent communications and brand consultant, Carrie was most recently vice president and associate director of PR for Cleveland’s Marcus Thomas. During nearly a decade with the agency, she built effective programs, delivered strategic counsel, advised leaders and positioned brands for clients including Akron Children’s Hospital; Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems; Diebold, Incorporated; FirstLight® Home Care; Lifebanc; Mack® Trucks; Nestlé Waters North America; Shearer’s Foods; Sherwin-Williams; Technology Management, Inc.; Westfield Group; and WKSU. She also worked to inspire, influence and drive development of the agency’s Public Relations Community of Practice. Prior to her tenure at Marcus Thomas, Carrie served in various public relations and marcom roles with organizations including Diebold and Summa Health System.
Carrie is a Kent State University alumnus and has served as an adjunct professor in the university’s PR sequence. She is a frequent guest lecturer and currently serves a professional adviser for the Kent chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Carrie served as the president of the organization’s Akron-Area Chapter and a director for the Greater Cleveland Chapter. In 2012, she was recognized for her work mentoring students and young professionals with the Greater Cleveland PRSA Davis Young Award. A graduate of Leadership Akron (Class XXVI), Carrie was named one of Akron’s “30 for the Future” by the Greater Akron Chamber. She currently serves on the Marketing and Brand Task Force for Leadership Akron, as a sustaining member of The Junior League of Akron and as a member of the Emerging Leaders Board of Akron Children’s Hospital.
An independent communications and brand consultant, Carrie was most recently vice president and associate director of PR for Cleveland’s Marcus Thomas. During nearly a decade with the agency, she built effective programs, delivered strategic counsel, advised leaders and positioned brands for clients including Akron Children’s Hospital; Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems; Diebold, Incorporated; FirstLight® Home Care; Lifebanc; Mack® Trucks; Nestlé Waters North America; Shearer’s Foods; Sherwin-Williams; Technology Management, Inc.; Westfield Group; and WKSU. She also worked to inspire, influence and drive development of the agency’s Public Relations Community of Practice. Prior to her tenure at Marcus Thomas, Carrie served in various public relations and marcom roles with organizations including Diebold and Summa Health System.
Carrie is a Kent State University alumnus and has served as an adjunct professor in the university’s PR sequence. She is a frequent guest lecturer and currently serves a professional adviser for the Kent chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Carrie served as the president of the organization’s Akron-Area Chapter and a director for the Greater Cleveland Chapter. In 2012, she was recognized for her work mentoring students and young professionals with the Greater Cleveland PRSA Davis Young Award. A graduate of Leadership Akron (Class XXVI), Carrie was named one of Akron’s “30 for the Future” by the Greater Akron Chamber. She currently serves on the Marketing and Brand Task Force for Leadership Akron, as a sustaining member of The Junior League of Akron and as a member of the Emerging Leaders Board of Akron Children’s Hospital.
Professional Adviser: Shantae Rollins
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Shantae Rollins is a Communications Specialist at thunder::tech. Shantae was an active PRSSA member at Kent, serving as VP of Professional Relations, competing in the 2009 PRSSA Bateman Competition and attending two national conferences.
Previously, she was a Public Relations Specialist at Point to Point, Inc. and served as the Coordinator for Outreach and Marketing for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University. She led marketing and alumni outreach efforts for the School and serves as the managing editor of the JMC alumni magazine, JARGON. Before coming back to Kent State, Shantae worked as a public relations executive for Brunner, a full-service advertising agency located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she provided strategic public relations counsel to a variety of consumer packaged goods clients. Prior to joining Brunner, she was a public relations specialist for InfoCision Management Corporation in Akron In her spare time, she travels, reads chick-lit and completes DIY projects and spends time with her bunny, Mr. Bugs. You can connect with Shantae on LinkedIn. |
Professional Adviser: Allison Ewing
From intern to associate and current digital communications specialist, Allison has spent the last five years at True Digital Communications learning the ins and outs of all things digital. Although she may not be a numbers gal, words come easily to her, which is why content creation, social media strategy and project management are in her wheelhouse. She is a proud Kent State grad and enjoys coming back to campus to help advise PRSSA.
Outside of work, Allison teaches yoga several times a week at local studios and runs her own wedding and lifestyle photography business. She can also be found spending time with her husband and their chocolate lab, Bogart.
Follow Allison on Instagram @allisonewingphotography and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Outside of work, Allison teaches yoga several times a week at local studios and runs her own wedding and lifestyle photography business. She can also be found spending time with her husband and their chocolate lab, Bogart.
Follow Allison on Instagram @allisonewingphotography and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Professional Adviser: Stephanie Duffy
Stephanie Duffy handles public relations, content marketing and more for her clients at True Digital Communications. Her background lies in the agency world with experience in writing, media relations, strategic public relations, social media planning, event planning and project management. She has worked with clients in the building industry, non-profit industry and even in the entertainment industry.
Stephanie is the Director of Student Chapters for Akron’s PRSA chapter and a co-chair of the AAF-Akron communications committee. She holds a BA in public relations from Kent State University, where she served as President of the Kent State PRSSA Chapter. Stephanie serves on the event committee for the Akron Zoo's Summer Safari and board of the Akron Chapter of the American Outlaws, a U.S. soccer supporters group.
Stephanie lives in Cleveland with her husband and her pet rabbits, Penelope and Einstein. As an overly-obsessed soccer fan, she is also a novice soccer blogger for one local and one national website, and can be found at a soccer game with her husband on any given weekend. Stephanie can be found on Twitter at @stephaniemduffy and LinkedIn.
Stephanie is the Director of Student Chapters for Akron’s PRSA chapter and a co-chair of the AAF-Akron communications committee. She holds a BA in public relations from Kent State University, where she served as President of the Kent State PRSSA Chapter. Stephanie serves on the event committee for the Akron Zoo's Summer Safari and board of the Akron Chapter of the American Outlaws, a U.S. soccer supporters group.
Stephanie lives in Cleveland with her husband and her pet rabbits, Penelope and Einstein. As an overly-obsessed soccer fan, she is also a novice soccer blogger for one local and one national website, and can be found at a soccer game with her husband on any given weekend. Stephanie can be found on Twitter at @stephaniemduffy and LinkedIn.
