2014 ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE AND BALLOT ELECTION BALLOT Chapter elections will be held at the annual meeting, November 20 at the Foundry Suites in Buffalo. Registration is required. If you are unable to attend the meeting, complete this proxy form and email it by November 18 to the Nominating Committee at dellacon@buffalo.edu. Listed below is the slate for our 2015 chapter board: PRESIDENT-ELECT (1-year term, but a three-year commitment) Yes No Other Kevin Manne, APR, is assistant director of communications for the University at Buffalo School of Management. He has been a member of the PRSA Buffalo Niagara chapter for five years, has served on the board of directors for the past four years and is a past member of the chapter’s E-communications committee. His work has earned awards from a number of professional organizations, including PRSA Buffalo Niagara, SUNYCUAD and NCMPR. Prior to joining UB, Kevin worked as new media specialist for Genesee Community College and as communications and PR specialist for Catholic Charities of Buffalo. He is a magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Buffalo State and is currently enrolled in the UB School of Management’s Professional MBA program. TREASURER (1-year term) Yes No Other Liam O’Mahony, APR is the communications manager at Rich Products Corporation. Prior to joining Rich Products, he was the interactive marketing and communications strategist at Medaille College and, from 2008-2012, served as the information specialist for the City of Chandler (Arizona) Community Services Department. He has also worked for the Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, Seattle Storm and Off Madison Ave in Phoenix. Liam earned his APR in 2011 and ABC in 2012. He is a graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science in communication and earned his MBA with a marketing emphasis from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. SECRETARY (1-year term, with option to be re-elected for a second year) Yes No Other Joe Stabb is the investor relations manager for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and a doctoral student in Niagara University's leadership and policy program. He previously was the managing director/owner of JS Consulting & Productions in Oneida, N.Y., digital marketing communications coordinator for Welch Allyn and interactive producer for WIVB-TV. Joe has been a member of PRSA for over 12 years and has served on many chapter committees, including the Northeast District conference committee. Joe rejoined the Buffalo Niagara chapter in 2014. He is a graduate of Utica College with a bachelor's degree in public relations and Keuka College with a master's degree in business management. DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE (3-year term) Yes No Other Michelle Blackley is the communication and community relations manager at Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, focusing on communications that reach a global audience and application of internal and external strategic plans. She has been a member of the PRSA Buffalo Niagara chapter for two years and was currently named to the executive committee of PRSA’s travel and tourism/nonprofit section. Michelle has worked more than 10 years in communications, including a career in publicity representing the book publishing industry in New York City and in the press office for the Labour Party of Ireland. Prior to that, she was a newspaper journalist in Rochester and continues to write on a freelance basis. She has a Master of Arts in speech and interpersonal communication from New York University. LIAISON TO PRSSA CHAPTERS (1-year term, with option to be re-elected for up to 3 consecutive years ) Yes No Other Marcene Robinson is assistant news content manager at the University at Buffalo and has three years of experience in the public relations field. A chapter member since 2013, he serves as chair of the chapter’s diversity committee. Marcene has received several awards, including a 2014 gold Excalibur award in media relations and the Carl R. Allen Memorial Scholarship from the Buffalo News and the Buffalo Association of Black Journalists. He graduated cum laude from UB with a bachelor’s degree in English. Yes No Other Elizabeth Silverman is the communications manager for Buffalo State’s Alumni Association. She previously was a search engine optimization strategist at LocalEdge, public relations specialist at Gateway-Longview, online sales and marketing coordinator for WGRZ-TV and communications coordinator for the Town of Hamburg Recreation Department. Beth, who received the chapter’s Rising Star Award in 2013, is the current chapter secretary and chair of the E-communications committee. She served on the chapter’s Excalibur Awards committee in 2010 and 2011. Beth joined the chapter in 2009 and is a magna cum laude graduate of the University at Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in communication. She volunteers with community organizations including the Buffalo Marathon. ASSEMBLY DELEGATE (three-year term) The following individuals were previously selected to serve on the 2015 PRSA Buffalo Niagara board. PRESIDENT (1-year term) Jennifer Gallardo is an account coordinator, corporate communications, for Independent Health. Since joining the chapter in 2007, Jennifer has served on the PRSSA liaison and program committees. She served as program committee chair for several years and on the board as director-at-large. She was named the chapter’s Rising Star at the 2011 Excalibur Awards, where she also took home a gold award in the newsletter category. Prior to joining Independent Health, she was director of public relations and marketing at the Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter. She graduated cum laude from Duquesne University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications and English. PAST PRESIDENT (1-year term) Tony Astran, APR, is internal communications manager for Seneca Gaming Corporation and has more than 13 years of experience in the public relations industry. A PRSA member since 2005, Tony joined the board in 2009, serving as secretary for two years before becoming a director-at-large, president elect and president. He graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in marketing. In 2010, he earned an advanced certificate in public management from SUNY Buffalo State and is continuing his studies toward a master’s degree in public administration. DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE (2nd year of 3-year term) Diane Zwirecki, APR, is principal and owner of Plans for Success, specializing in communications plan development and the implementation of strategic communications tools to reach targeted internal and external audiences. Diane has more than 30 years in corporate and not-for-profit public relations, communications and marketing. She was communications manager for Goodyear Tire & Rubber for nine years, based at the company’s Dunlop Tire facility in Tonawanda. Prior to that, she was public relations manager at Kaleida Health and assistant director of public relations at Sisters Hospital, Buffalo. A 1980 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Diane earned her APR accreditation in 2000 and has been an active member of the chapter since 1997. ASSEMBLY DELEGATE (3rd year of 3-year term) Devon Slobodzian is a copywriter for local and global clients at Gelia. Slobodzian began her career at Gelia as public relations account coordinator and was a manager prior to her current position. She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Buffalo State in public communications and was a member of the All College Honors Program. While at Buffalo State, she was a finalist for the presidential and chancellor's award and made the Who's Who List for American Colleges and Universities. Slobodzian serves on various local committees, including the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo. Most recently, she won a platinum Excalibur award in programs for a global communications entry.