Brooke Swilley
Position: President
Bio: I am honored and privileged to be running for president of the Florida Public Relations Association at Florida State University. As the largest chapter in the state, I realize the amount of drive and dedication I will have to put forth in this position, but I also realize that what the current executive board is doing works. So my desire is simple: to develop upon what has already been built here at Florida State. I look forward to sharing my ideas more in depth on Election Day and proving to each and every one of you why you should vote for me as the 2012-2013 President of the FPRA Student Capital Chapter.
Pamela Rothenberg
Position: Vice President
Bio: Being voted as the Vice President of FPRA would be an absolute honor because it was this organization that confirmed my desire to be a public relations professional. The trips we take have tremendous potential to make an impact on your path as a college student, and I believe I have the necessary skills to plan worthwhile and memorable trips. Along with being organized and having the persistence to schedule visits with top brands and agencies, I will make it my top priority to seek out the opinions of all members before making definite arrangements. My ultimate wish is to plan what you wish to see.
Morgan McCord
Positions: Vice President, Professional Liaison
Bio: I am currently a junior majoring in Public Relations at Florida State. I have been involved with the FPRA Student Capital Chapter for a year, and already the organization has done so much for me.
I plan to run for the position of Vice President and Professional Liason. I believe in FPRA and the valuable connections it has the ability to make for its members. It was through FPRA that I received an offer to become an intern at Ron Sachs Communications, and then received a job offer from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities from the president of the state chapter.
As the Professional Liason for FPRA I will work with the Capital Chapter to create more networking opportunities for our members, including reinstating the mentor/mentee program that the Student Chapter used to have in conjunction with the Capital Chapter. I currently have a fantastic relationship with the incoming Capital Chapter president who is excited about working on my suggested programming. Being from Tallahassee, I have had the opportunity to make connections throughout the communications industry. I plan to use these connections to secure a wider variety of speakers, including lobbyists, state communication department heads, agencies, financial communication professionals and more.
As the Vice President of FPRA I want to work to improve the group experience while travelling to other cities. I plan to make events outside of visits more structured in order to better manage risk. When a student signs up to go on one of these professional development trips they expect all accompanying students to act accordingly. While travelling with FPRA, all students are on the trip are a reflection of not only our school and student chapter, but also the FPRA capital and state chapter. This means that our trips should be centered on the industry, not outside activities.
As Vice President I plan to work with our capital chapter to follow up on connections in other cities, so we can make the most of our trips. I want to add more agency visits and more corporate communications visits, as well as financial communication firms, healthcare practices, branding firms and other public relations practitioners. I would also like us to visit at least one research and advertising firm on each trip so that students can get exposed to a wide variety of prospective employment places. In this position I will bring my valuable relationships with international agencies to FPRA. I am currently well connected to many companies in both the Atlanta and Orlando areas. I have contacts from places like Porter Novelli, BBDO and Ketchum.
Ashley Gartner
Positions: Professional Liaison, Digital Coordinator
Bio: By joining FPRA this year, it opened my eyes not only to opportunities but life lessons that I will be able to carry with me until I reach my career goals and beyond. I really want to get hands on experience, such as planning events for FPRA and communicating and keeping in close contact with local business throughout the community, in order for me to learn as much as possible about this service that many PR professionals offer in their businesses. With great communication skills and an amazing eye for detail, I know I will be able to create the wonderful experience that I’ve been exposed to and share it with our current and new members.
As for running for Digital Coordinator, I am extremely active on almost all media social networks and would absolutely love to maintain and update the activity of FPRA throughout these websites so that anyone will be able to stay connected and informed no matter where they are.
Kati Griffith
Position: Secretary
Bio: I am an ever-learning, dedicated student. I am ultimately excited about the opportunity to be FPRA’s 2012-2013 Secretary. I’ve gained so much from this year that I feel I can use to make next year even better! I have creative ideas in my noggin and I’m always excited to hear about the opinions of my peers as well! J I am a fun, energetic person and I plan on reflecting that into next year’s FPRA events and meetings.
Julia Bonfim
Positions: Secretary, Digital Coordinator
Bio: Hello! My name is Julia Bomfim, and I’m a sophomore Media/Communication Studies major– but most importantly, a second year member of FPRA. Since the first semester of my freshman year, and through all the uncertainty of figuring out “what I wanted to do,” I’ve been able to rely upon FPRA and its exceptional members for professional development, and the advice that would push me further. I owe many of my successes, in large part, to FPRA. That’s why I’d like to give my time back to this association– so that another group of young professionals has the same great quality of membership that I’ve enjoyed thus far.
Ali Darrow
Positions: Secretary, Treasurer
Bio: I truly believe that FPRA helps its members to learn, network, and ultimately evolve into true PR professionals by the time they graduate. My name is Ali Darrow I am a soon-to-be Junior, Public Relations major and Chinese minor. I am very organized and have had experience as secretary of other organizations that I was previously involved in, so I am confident that I can get the job done. I am really excited about working with the Executive Board to make next year FPRA’s best yet. It would be an honor to serve as your FPRA secretary, and I look forward to working hard to ensure that everyone has as great of an experience as I have had in FPRA!
Amy Salinas
Positions: Secretary, Treasurer
Bio: FPRA has given me so much that I want to give back to the organization that has taught me so much in the past two years. Being part of the exec. boards means that you need to have the dedication to put all the work that needs to be put into the organization. To be secretary you need to be organize and have great timing since you are relaying all the information to the member from the professionals. You are the one that connects everyone together, being the middle man. This past year I have had the opportunity to become more involved with the organization; helping out in the marketing side of the chapter. I am responsible, determined, organized, motivated and I am willing to go lengths to a organization that has gone beyond my expectations to show me what this field really is. The treasure position takes the same characteristics as the secretary and I have them. Especially when it comes to handling money. Being organized is the key characteristics.
Brianna Barnebee
Position: Digital Coordinator
Bio: I am a sophomore public relations and international affairs major and have been an active member of FPRA since fall of my freshman year. I would like to be the digital coordinator because I have experience with social media that would be beneficial to keeping members informed in a timely manner. I also think being the digital coordinator would help me enhance my social media skills. I have grown a passion for social media through my internship with Victoria’s Secret PINK and my position as the Student United Way marketing chair during which I have managed several Facebook pages Twitter accounts. Go to facebook.com/vspinkfsu for an example of a page I admin. Follow me: @briannabarnebee. Thank you for your consideration!
