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.