Board of Directors Bios
| Ashlie Hand, APR President |
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| Ashlie Hand is director of communications for the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), the regional marketing and business recruitment organization for the bi-state, 18-county Kansas City metropolitan area. |  |
| John Ratliff, APR President-Elect |
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| At Trozzolo, Jon heads a talented team that serves clients in nonprofit, higher education, information technology, health care and more. He is experienced at managing complex projects, including high-level account service on two national brand launches.
Jon has also developed grassroots programs that have engaged a variety of audiences, ranging from public awareness campaigns to influencing attitudes and changing perceptions, working with clients in education, entrepreneurship and banking, among others. He has served on the board of directors for the Kansas City chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. |
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| Barb Pruitt, APR Immediate-Past President |
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| Barbara Pruitt, APR, is senior fellow of communications at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. She develops and implements strategic communications plans that support the goals of the Foundation. Her responsibilities include planning and executing signature and brand initiatives, managing media relations and large-scale communications programs. |  |
| Elaina Boudreau SVP – Ideas |
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| Elaina Boudreau is a public relations professional with 19 years experience developing and managing corporate and consumer campaigns for a wide variety of companies, from Fortune 500 giants to nimble startups in the earliest lifecycle stages. As the founder of BELA Communications, she is focused on creating value for clients, as well as guiding the strategic direction and growth of her company and handling day-to-day client needs. |  |
| Andy DiOrio SVP – People |
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| Andy DiOrio serves as manager, Corporate Communications, for AMC Entertainment, where he has led the transformation of AMC’s award-winning newsletter, InterMission, and has helped record the top three highest media coverage results for theatre openings in the company’s history.
DiOrio previously worked at Sprint as an event manager, coordinating communications and activities for events such as the Super Bowl, Sundance Film Festival, and NCAA Final Four. He currently serves on the board of the K.C. chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and on the executive steering committee for genKC through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. |
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| Justin LaBerge SVP – Opportunities |
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| Justin leads the public involvement/professional services team at Sturges Word Communications where he helps clients with strategic planning, media relations, community engagement, crisis communications, branding, and M&A communications. His industry experience includes clients in the public utility, government, architecture/engineering, legal, education, and financial services fields.
Before joining Sturges Word, Justin interned in the corporate communications department of HNTB. Prior to HNTB, he taught courses in business communication and public address at the University of Kansas. A native Mainer and alumnus of the University of Southern Maine, Justin relocated to the Midwest to pursue his master’s in political communication at the University of Kansas. He lives in downtown Kansas City with his bichon frise puppy, Boomer. |
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| Summer Evans VP – Finance |
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| As a Client Service Account Executive for the Overland Park-based GlynnDevins Advertising and Marketing, Summer Evans plays an integral role in the development and implementation on all aspects of marketing and communications for her clients. Her attention to detail, and collected and creative approach is reflected in her successful ability to strategically position and enhance each client’s brand. As the in-house brand manager for her clients, Evans understands and champions the needs of clients by leading internal teams in the strategic planning and by being an active participant in the creative development process, resulting in solid business solutions for clients.Evans holds a Master of Public Affairs from the Park University Hauptmann School for Public Affairs in Parkville, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. |  |
| David Eaheart, APR VP – Professional Standards |
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| David Eaheart, APR, serves as the director of marketing for Seaboard Foods, an integrated food company, where he directs marketing strategy for PrairieFresh® Premium Pork and Daily’s® Premium Meats and leads the company’s corporate communications.
Eaheart holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Missouri and began his career as a livestock editor for Successful Farming magazine. He returned to Mizzou to complete a master’s degree in agribusiness management, and then held positions with Spectrum Communications and Farmland Industries before joining Seaboard Foods in 2001. In 1999, he was granted the designation Accredited in Public Relations. |
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| Brooke Ehlers VP – Member Relations |
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| As senior account executive, Brooke works on media relations, writing and special events for clients in the financial services and building and construction industries. This past year, Brooke served as VP of PRISMS on the GKC PRSA Board. Previously, she served as GKC PRSSA Day co-chair, as well as New Pros chair. |  |
| Rosita Elizalde-McCoy VP – Operations |
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| Rosita McCoy has more than 25 years of experience in public relations. Currently, she serves as senior vice president for Communications and Marketing for KU Endowment, the foundation for the University of Kansas. Previously, she was executive director of Public Relations at Rockhurst University. She has served in various communications positions at profit and nonprofit organizations. Rosita has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Ohio State University. She lives in Olathe, Kan. with her husband. She has one daughter who graduated from KU and another who is a sophomore at KU. Rosita was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and is fluent in English and Spanish. |  |
| Ciara O’Brien Murray VP – Business Opportunities |
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| Ciara O’Brien Murray currently serves as the Communications Director for the American Heart Association (AHA) in Kansas City & Eastern Iowa. In this position, she manages, plans, directs, controls and implements communications programs in local media markets. Murray also proactively pitches AHA programs on a local level, seeks out additional media opportunities in the area and coordinates local media sponsorships for AHA programs.
Murray studied public relations and marketing at the University of Northern Iowa and has several years of experience within the public relations and marketing industry. Murray currently serves as a co-chair for the 2009 PRSSA Day for the Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). |
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| Erin Pursel VP – PR/Marketing |
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| Erin is currently a full-time graduate student at the University of Kansas pursuing a master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in integrated marketing communications. She is presently working part-time in the marketing communications department at Smith & Loveless while completing her studies.
Erin has previously held full-time positions as a marketing coordinator at Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City, Mo., and as an account coordinator at Morningstar Communications in Overland Park, Kan. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. |
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| Lacey Graverson VP – Job Opportunities |
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| Lacey Graverson is an analyst in communications for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she provides support through writing, editing, media relations, and conference coordination. Prior to joining the Foundation, Graverson was the manager of employer relations for Saint Luke’s Health System, in Kansas City, Mo. Earlier, she was the communications coordinator for St. John’s Mercy Health Care, in Washington, Mo., where she handled writing, editing, photography, event planning, media relations, and media buying. Graverson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications/public relations from Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield, Mo. and is a board member of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. |  |
| Marc Vasquez VP – Recruitment |
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| Marc Vasquez is a senior account executive at Geoff Howe Marketing Communications. He works chiefly on public relations efforts for the Hill’s Pet Nutrition account including media relations, communications to the veterinary business channel, media event planning and sponsorship opportunities, as well as on external communications for Geoff Howe.
Prior to joining Geoff Howe, Marc was on the directional marketing team at TMP Worldwide, the parent company of Monster.com, the partnership development team at PlattForm Advertising and the ministry team at Northside Christian Church. Marc received a Bachelor of Science from Northwest Missouri State University. |
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| Sarah Wurth VP – Professional Development |
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| Sarah Wurth is a managing supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard. Her experience spans a breadth of industries from animal and human health to agribusiness and foodservice. During her time at Fleishman-Hillard, she has managed thought-leader and national advocate and patient programs, integrated communications campaigns, special event and convention planning, and trade and consumer media relations for a wide portfolio of clients.Ms. Wurth serves on the board of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She also was 2009 marketing co-chair for Truman Medical Center’s annual Fashion for a Cause event. A Kansas native, Ms. Wurth graduated from the University of Kansas in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in strategic communications and a minor in French. |
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| Alan Carr VP – PRISM |
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| Alan Carr is director of communications for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA). During his five years with the KCCVA, he has managed public relations strategy, media relations, special events and community relations. Earlier this year, he chaired the PRSA Travel & Tourism Conference in Kansas City. Alan previously worked for MMG Worldwide, where he handled media relations for the Missouri Division of Tourism. Prior to that, he worked in communications for Vanguard Airlines, where he experienced crisis communications firsthand during 9/11. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree from the School of Journalism. |  |
| Kathleen Hefner VP-PRISM |
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| Kathleen Hefner brings nearly fifteen years of diverse marketing experience to the role of PRISM Co-Chair from such settings as not-for-profit, agency, media and the government. In her current position as the senior marketing specialist at the Kansas City Aviation Department, Hefner manages multiple roles as writer, strategic planner, public relations associate and creative conglomerate for Kansas City International Airport and Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. In addition, Hefner manages all aviation-related events including a successful run on a recent, $300,000 project. Throughout her endeavors, Hefner has shown an unwavering capability to manage complex projects all while demonstrating dynamic interpersonal communication skills. |  |
| Esther Grenz, APR VP – Communications |
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| With more than a decade of experience, Esther Grenz is a seasoned professional with a wide range of skills in public relations, corporate communications and integrated marketing. During her career, Grenz served integral roles at an international PR agency, a leading national retailer, a national pet food manufacturer and an Overland Park-based marketing firm. Since launching her solo-practitioner business, Grenz has provided strategic communications leadership for a range of clients including PREP-KC, a non-profit focused on preparing Kansas City’s urban high school students for success in college and beyond. She sits on the board for WTCS, a domestic violence shelter in Lawrence, Kan. |  |
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