PRSay Houston

Welcome Laura Pennino, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Laura shares about Authenticity and Integrity in the PR Profession.Graduate of LSU Manship School of Mass Communications; over 40 years of journalism and PR experience. Worked at Edelman in a variety of senior PR consulting roles from 1989 to 1998 and at Fleishman-Hillard from 1998 to 1999 as a senior consultant to FH teams and clients before starting Pennino and Partners in September 1998. Won a Housto...

Welcome Vannessa Wade, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Vannessa shares about Understanding Messaging and Your Role In It.Vannessa Wade is the founder and CEO of Connect The Dots PR. Often called an “idea oven” and “branding magnet,” she has been featured in magazines such as Black Enterprise and Fast Company. From working on legislative campaigns, to supporting UNICEF, Wade has been able to help brands position themselves in newsworthy and culturally r...

Welcome Bridgett Holden, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Bridgett shares about The Journey Through PR and Advice for Upcoming Members.Bridgett studied Broadcast Journalism at Texas Woman's University (TWU). Her clientele ranges from Fasion, Beauty, Sports, Entertainment, Politics, and Nonprofits. She is a military child and was raised overseas in Kaiserslautern, Germany- Bridgett used to speak German and French. She absolutely loves what she does.Connect wi...

Welcome Tala Kseibi, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Tala shares about Encouraging Young Adults To Purse Careers in PR.As a Public Relations Manager at Love Advertising, Tala is driven by a passion for effective communication and strategic brand management. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, focusing on Public Relations from The University of Texas at San Antonio, Tala refined her skills in media relations and successfully crafted and executed commun...

Welcome Hailey Bui and Melissa Kinsella, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Hailey & Melissa share about Marketing & Communications in Energy with CAMS.Hailey Bui is a Marketing & Communications Specialist currently serving as a key member of the CAMS Marketing & Communications team. With over 5+ years of a robust professional background, Hailey is the driving force behind orchestrating the development and design of sophisticated corporate comm...

Welcome Becky Best, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Becky shares about The Many Paths A Career in PR Can Take You.Becky Best, APR has nearly 30 years of professional experience in communications. She began her career working at boutique PR agencies before transitioning to destination marketing and then spending 20 years in leadership positions in corporate social responsibility at financial services companies.During this time, she served on nearly a dozen n...

Welcome Jordan Hunter Rice, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Jordan shares about Strategic Comms in the Political Sector.Jordan Hunter Rice, a policy analyst and strategic communications expert, leads teams in developing actionable strategies and guides clients through the ever-evolving political and economic environment. A former White House Press Secretary and congressional staffer, she is plugged into the policy world and 24-hour news cycle to ensure her ...

Welcome Kaan Camuz and Anh Gilmore, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Kaan and Anh share about Connecting and Informing The Community For The Betterment Of Our Youth.Kaan Camuz is an educator with nearly 25 years of experience... He studied Electrical Engineering and Education at University of Houston, Sam Houston State University and at University of Texas and proceeded to help establish and work at Harmony Public Schools, where he has found his true passion...

Welcome Zondra Victor-Johnson, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Zondra shares about The Communications Role for Non-Profits and Small Businesses.Zondra is a Communications Specialist residing in Houston, TX. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production from the University of Houston and a Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University. Zondra has ten years of experience writing about arts, culture, and several other topics. She also has e...

Welcome Joanne Miceli-Bogash, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Joanne shares about Development of Fundraising Techniques Utilizing Full- and Part-time Catholic Priests.Joanne has a 20+ year marketing background, Director of Client Services at Sky Marketing Ltd (sampling program through travel industry); PR for Broward Partnership for the Homeless in Ft. Lauderdale; PR for Broward Meals on Wheels, Pantry of Broward, several South Florida athlete-led n/p and o...

Welcome Tamara Washington, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Tamara shares about Branding - Getting Everything Together Before Presenting Yourself to The Public/MediaTamara Washington is the Founder and Executive Consultant of Boom Media and Image Consulting and Boom Effect Entertainment and Sports (BEES). The native Texan and University of Houston graduate spent nearly 10 years in the news business, with 7 years at KPRC-Local 2 (NBC Houston local affiliate) ...

Welcome Anne Hedrich, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Anne shares about Communicating in the Roaring 20's.Anne Hedrich is an award-winning communicator with more than 20 years of communications experience, spanning strategic communications, internal communications, employee engagement, key messaging, public disclosure, issues and reputation management, crisis communications, channel strategy and brand communications. Anne recently made the switch from the e...

Welcome Samantha Humphrey, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Samantha shares about Building Communities.Samantha Humphrey is the 31-year-old Director of Economic Development and Grant Management for Chambers County, Texas. She is responsible for managing $40 million in state and federal grants for the County, promoting economic and community development and serving as the County's Public Information Officer. In her spare time, Samantha donates her skills to a...

Welcome Kristyn Hunt Cathey, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Kristyn shares about Taking the Leap: Transitioning from a Team of One to a Team of Many.Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR is the Director of Communications for Goose Creek CISD. Before coming to the district, she served for 12 years as the Media/Communications Specialist for Port Arthur Independent School District, where she served in a one-person role. She began her professional career in 2004 as a lectu...

Welcome Lee Vela, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Lee shares about Public Affairs.Lee Vela is VP of Public Affairs of Clear Channel Outdoor. He has had 50 years in the public relations/public affairs industry working in agencies, governmental agencies, and corporate.Connect with Lee at:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lee.vela.54Twitter: @LeeVela123Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.PRSay is brou...

Welcome Jonathan Diamond, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Jonathan shares about Media Relations.Jonathan Diamond is the business editor at the Houston Chronicle.Before returning to Houston in 2022, Jonathan worked as the West Coast Editor of CoStar News in Los Angeles. He was also previously editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal, leading it in 2016 to 16 national and regional journalism awards.Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University a...

Welcome Kacey Wilkins, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Kacey co-presents with consultant, Alexis Vargas, about the campaign: Powered For Good, Powered On For All Texans.Mrs. Kacey Wilkins serves as the Manager of Communications and Marketing for HARC. Throughout her career, Mrs. Wilkins has always had a passion for strategic thinking and creative communication. With over twenty years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has managed many projects, from...

Welcome Tiffany Marascio, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Tiffany shares about How To Start In PR, No Matter Your Age Or Where You Are In Your Career.Tiffany was born and raised in the Greater Houston area where she lives with her husband and three kids. She holds a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in studio art. She is an active part of her community and enjoys sharin...

Welcome Philip Immenschuh, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Philip shares about New, Emerging Things Happening in Public Relations.Philip is a recent Marketing graduate from The University of Oklahoma with experience in annual giving and a passion for entrepreneurship. As a member of the university foundation's annual giving team, Philip has developed strong communication and organizational skills. His background in marketing and drive to succeed have fueled...

Welcome Milka Horst, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Milka shares about Storytelling & Communications.Milka was born, raised, and educated in Puerto Rico. She left the island to continue her education in Spanish Language Broadcasting at Florida International University in Miami. Milka's journalism career started in 2001 in Washington DC as an intern covering the 9/11 attacks with Telemundo Network. Later on, she joined the Telemundo Network team again, ...

Welcome Ramona Crayton, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Ramona shares about The Importance of Transit Communication and Public Relations.Ramona is a Native Houstonian, with over 20 years of experience as a Communications professional. She holds a designation as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Change Management. Interesting Fact: She spent 3 years in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a civilian contractor. Ramona loves to travel and fitness.C...

Welcome Crystal Williams, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Crystal shares about Knowing How To Use Your Voice In The Organization.Crystal is a professional with over 23yrs of experience in Frontline and administrative communication. Her super power consists of being able to simplify complex information and effectively communicate. Crystal is a non-profit Leadership professional with experience in CRM.Connect with Crystal at: https://www.linkedin.com/.../crys...

Welcome Vivianna Wang, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Vivianna shares about How to Establish a PR Bridge Between USA and China.Vivianna, Ceo and founder of Joykom media LLC, has been working for local media several years in the Chinese community, hoping to establish a bridge between USA and China, and get a win-win result.Connect with Vivianna at: Joykommedia.comInstagram: vblackswanwLearn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities a...

Welcome Ashley Small, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.In this episode, Ashley shares about Lessons on Leadership.There is a unique place where PR, technology, and digital media overlap, and in that place, you’ll find Ashley Small, Founder, and CEO of Medley Inc. Ashley’s proven PR and digital marketing strategies have helped brands grow their visibility, amplify their voice and expand their reach across the world.In 2008, when social media was newly on the rise, Ashley set ...

Welcome Kristina Michel, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Kristina shares about her Journey From H-GAC To Auckland.Kristina Michel is a communications and public relations professional with 14 years of experience, primarily in the higher education, healthcare, and government sectors. Kristina's areas of expertise include: copywriting, editing, speechwriting, media relations and crisis communications management, strategic communications planning, executi...

Welcome Monica Pohl, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Monica shares about the Seasons of PR: DEI, WIT, and Remote WorkServing in the Manager role at Golin, Monica Pohl plays a major role in understanding the vision and objectives of clients and determining the appropriate actions to help said clients achieve that vision/goal. For Monica, securing media coverage and working with each client to take pride in providing the best plan for them is the most rewardi...

Welcome Danielle Clark, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode Danielle shares about her journey and customer service for K-12.Danielle Clark, APR is the Chief Communications Officer for the Harris County Department of Education. In this role she oversees communications, marketing, client engagement and technology for the educational service provider, its 15 Head Start campuses and 4 special schools. Danielle has almost 24 years of experience in school communicatio...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Emily Conklin, APR, CPC. Emily is the Director of Communications and Community Partnerships for Sheldon ISD. She has worked in school public relations for 18 years serving school districts in the Houston and Dallas Fort Worth regions. She holds a master of arts in communication from Tarleton...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America!Ty combines his love for creativity and knowledge of various industries to execute client needs in effective and unexpected ways. Some of these industries include: public health, non-profit funding, renewable resources, retail, event planning, powersports, government entities, and hospitality.As an Integrated Communications Supervisor, he strategizes with our team and clients on the best ways to ma...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Leslee Hackett. As an avid learner, Leslee is always committed to improving her craft within the Public Relations and Communications field. Leslee is an analytical thinker that has a proven track record of developing successful social media plans, content creation and management ideas, effective ...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Robyn Egbert, Outreach Coordinator. Robyn Egbert is a Strategic Communicator with a background in business development, relationship-building, public outreach, digital marketing, and social media campaign management. Beginning her career as a geophysicist, she made the transition to communication...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Cynthia Murga, Director of PR & Social Media. Cynthia Murga is a communications professional and Public Relations strategist with more than 10 years of experience in both the general and Hispanic markets. She specializes in strategy development and project management and is always identifying...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Ross Winkler, Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs for Winkler Public Relations. Ross shares his expertise in engaging stakeholders and the importance of communicating and meeting stakeholders where they are at. His work with lawmakers in the government sector brings great v...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Mike O’Neill, Director of Public Relations for TDECU, the largest credit union in Houston. Mike spent nearly 25 years in television news in markets both very small and very large. He transitioned into corporate communications a little over five years ago.In this episode, Mike and Veronica chat ab...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Laci Theriot, APR, is the Marketing Communications Advisor for Univar Solutions.Laci is an experienced 10-year veteran in marketing and communications with a demonstrated history of producing solid results and working in various industries. She is a strong leader skilled in external communications, digital market...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Susan Ann Schmaeling, APR, President/CEO of Susan Schmaeling Public Relations. Susan shares her expertise in working in the non-profit and the cultural arts space.In this episode, Susan shares her journey in public relations and how she got her start as a copywriter in an advertising agency, befo...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Today’s guest is Priscilla Tinsley, Americas Public Relations Lead for AVEA. Priscilla has had an amazing career in public relations and used all of her hands-on experiences to inspire and guide PR students at the university level. After eight and a half years teaching, she has transitioned back into the work for...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Valonia Walker, APR, is the Chief Communications Officer in Hempstead ISD. She is a one-person shop and is gearing up the start of school!Valonia is a high-energy school communications pro and attributes much of her success to mentors she has had and her passion for life-long learning.In this episode Valonia shar...

Dennis Nuss, APR, is the Director of Media Relations and Crisis Communications for ConocoPhillips.He has 25 years of experience implementing strategic communications plans for Fortune 500 companies, with a deep background in oil and gas and chemicals. An expert in media relations, crisis communication and stakeholder engagement, he has an expansive history of delivering high quality results to protect and enhance brand and reputation and drive value for the businesses he has supported.D...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.John Sweney is Co-founder, President, and CEO at Brookwoods Group.As CEO, John Sweney is primarily responsible for company direction, client services, professional recruiting, strategic consulting, and team development at Brookwoods Group. Before founding the firm with Mike Stargel, he gained experience in the ma...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Misha McClure is Co-founder, President, and CEO at Brookwoods Group.Misha is a Brand Strategist who believes building strong community collaborations is key for optimizing exposure to grow your personal and professional brands.Misha has spent over a decade in the community relations and PR arena and has built str...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.Priyanka Agarwal is a public relations and online reputation management expert with over two decades of experience in diverse industries and markets. She is the founder and president of Brainjog Communications, a company specializing in online reputation management. Priyanka serves as the public relations co...

Welcome to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America! On PRSay we spotlight our talented members and get to know each other a little better.For more than 25 years, crisis communications expert Gerard Braud (Jared Bro) has helped leaders on five continents with crisis communications plans, crisis media training and crisis communications drills.In 2020, he also became the founder of a new crisis communications software platform, known as SituationHub.c...

On this episode of PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Meagan Coughlin, Director of Communications of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), who shares about the dynamics of working in leadership in government communications.The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is the region-wide voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning Region of Texas. The organization works with local government officials to ...

On this episode of PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Terri Larson, APR, Principal at Larson Communications & Consulting, shares her “meandering path” from journalism to public relations.As a passionate storyteller, Terri talked about her ability to capitalize on her ability to get information and how this quality gives her a voice and creates equity. This is one of her core principles that she is able to bring to the table.Terri also tal...

On this episode of PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Laura Frnka-Davis, APR, shares her successful journey into solopreneurship. In 2018, after a successful career with several organizations, Laura took a leap of faith and launched LFD Communications.Laura shares the many rewards and benefits of running a solo business and also shares some the challenges that naturally come up in this business model. She has learned to balance the two and ce...

Welcome Isidro Reyna APR, Senior Communications Specialist for NASA to PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.Isidro is one of the chapter's past presidents and shares his thoughts on the value of PRSA membership and how it has helped him in his career. He also encourages members to leverage their membership to develop synergistic working relationships with other members, and to give back to the PR profession by working with interns and young PR ...

Welcome LaRahia Smith, Communications Director, University of Houston, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, to PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.LaRahia is the chapter Vice President and shares the importance of membership in PRSA and the value it has brought her throughout her career, which started in the Austin area. When she moved to Houston, she knew that connecting with PRSA in her new market would benefit her moving forward. La...

Welcome Kami Huyse, APR, with Zoetica Media, and the founder of the Houston Social Media Breakfast, to PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.Kami shares her journey as a communications professional and has seen the evolution of social media and its impact on community engagement for brands. Kami offers insight into connecting with your community and knowing where they are and where they are moving to on social media. She shares that a good brand...

Welcome Mary Beth Bassett, Senior Public Relations Manager, Visit Galveston to PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.Mary Beth is an experienced public relations professional with a demonstrated history of working in crisis communications, editing, journalism, and media relations. She shares with us her wealth of knowledge and the unique opportunity for public relations in the travel and tourism industry.In addition to Mary Beth’s vast experienc...

Welcome Lis Harper, APR, with Medley, Inc., to PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.Lis has a passion for data and uses it to design communication strategies for clients. This becomes the blueprint for share those brands’ stories and creating compelling content that drives the brand’s mission. We can all use a little more strategy in data to feed our PR strategies! Lis shares her background and journey, and emphasis the importance of networking...

Welcome Julie B. Fix, our chapter’s only member of the College of Fellows to PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of American. Julie shares her journey as a communications professional and how she supports university students in getting hands-on experience. After several successful career moves, she moved into the academic space to help grow future PR leaders. Julie emphasis the need for young professionals to grow their professional network and to mi...

On this episode of PRSay, the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Juan Alanis shares how important creative content is to growing your brand and reach.Juan is the Founder and Chief Content Officer of Market Street Consultants. He is a former print journalist in both the Spanish and English language spaces, who later moved into the nonprofit space before opening his own specialty agency. As part of the pivot that many of us have had to do during the pande...

Welcome the PRSA Houston Chapter President, Felicia Perez, to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.On this episode, Felicia shares her journey that started in the newsroom and has led to FAR Public Relations, her own PR firm. She offers insight into the art of pitching stories and how to ensure your story will rise to the top of the pitch pile. Felicia works with the media on a daily basis and knows how they process through the many PR pitches they receive, and she shares her tips ...

Welcome Saki Indakwa to PRSay – the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.On this episode, Saki shares how leadership in PRSA can truly grow your network, help develop your leadership skills and create opportunities for your professional development. She has grown as a professional in the PR space and attributes a great part of that growth to her role in various leadership positions in the organization.She encourages everyone to attend in-person events, con...

Let’s connect with Catherine Burch Graham, MS, APR, on the first episode of PRSay - the podcast of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.On this episode, Catherine shares her journey starting out as a journalist and moving into public relations, her true calling. She is now a public relations professor and shares her years of experience with up-and-coming communications professionals. Catherine believes in the power of mentoring and networking! She is passionate about...