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Ben Boyce Ben Boyce
Ben Boyce is Vice President of Laer Pearce & Associates, one of Southern California's premier public affairs firms.
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07/16 · PRSA Publication Earns Awards for Editorial Excellence
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06/09 · PRSA Submits Wall Street Journal Letter to the Editor
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Movers & Shakers

OC PR Professionals on the Move!


JULY
  • Matt Prince has been named Manager of Executive Communications for the Disneyland Resort. Matt will handle strategic communications for executives covering Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure, the three hotels and Downtown Disney. Matt was previously the Director of Communications for the Orange County Business Council and currently chairs the YoPro group for OC/PRSA.  To contact Matt, please call (714) 781-1543 or email him at matt.r.prince@disney.com.
  • Corin Ramos, APR, has been hired as Director of Communications and Marketing for the National Fibromyalgia Association. Current roles include proactively developing and implementing the public relations, marketing and communications strategies for the NFA, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia through education, research and patient advocacy. Corin may be reached at cramos@fmaware.org or 714-921-0150 ext. 213.
MAY
  • Rebecca Rose Markarian, APR, founder of the Social Method, announces the opening of Orange County’s first Social Media Training Center.  Located in Costa Mesa, the Center will offer courses covering all areas of social media and also offers a team of social enthusiasts partners available to assist companies and agencies with any social needs.  Courses are being announced regularly so sign up for updates at www.ocSMTC.com or email info@ocSMTC.com for more information.
APRIL 2010
  • OC/PRSA Members Ted Nguyen, OCTA and Danielle Alvarez, Boost Mobile, served as professional advisors to Chapman University students competing in the prestigious national PRSSA Bateman Case Competition. On April 12, both Chapman teams received honorable mention. Only 16 teams received honorable mention, and three teams named finalists, out of 68 entries by universities nationwide. Joan Gladstone, Assistant Professor of Public Relations and Advertising at Chapman served as faculty advisor.
DECEMBER 2009
  • Kate Mossbarger has recently been promoted to Senior Account Executive at Global Results Communications. She can be reached via email at kmossbarger@globalresultspr.com or (949) 681-8083.

OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
  • Kate Mossbarger recently joined the team at Global Results Communications, a full-service public relations firm specializing in the high tech, wireless and biotech industries.  Kate will work with the firm's consumer, business-to-business and industry organization clients to enhance their public profiles through media relations and other PR efforts. She can be reached at (949) 681-8083 or kmossbarger@globalresultspr.com.
  • Joan Gladstone, APR, Fellow PRSA will conduct a workshop based on her best-selling book, Starting and Growing Your Own PR Firm, at the PRSA International Conference in San Diego on November 8. She will also co-present a panel moderated by OC/PRSA member Jennifer Heinly, "Let's Talk Business: Independent Practitioners Share Advice for New and Established PR Practices."

AUGUST
  • Walson Communications has been named Agency of Record for the first season of "Colorful OC," the new cultural and lifestyle TV program to air on KOCE-TV. Corin Ramos, APR, can be reached at corin@walsonpr.com or 714-970-2268.
  • Longtime member Holly L. Barnett, APR will be moving on to a new position with IBM in the External Communications/Media Relations department.  Holly will be located in the  North Carolina office. We wish Holly all the best.  If you would like to reach Holly, please email her at hbarnett@us.ibm.com.  She can also be reached via mobile phone at 949-202-7218.
  • Jennifer Heinly, president of J&J Consulting (www.jandjconsulting.net), has been selected to teach the online Fall class "Designing & Executing A Successful PR Campaign" for the Public Relations 2.0 Certificate Program for UCIrvine Extension. For more information, go to www.extension.uci.edu.
JULY
  • Kristin Bush recently joined the team at ripeorange, a marketing, communications and design firm in Newport Beach. As Communications Director, Kristin will work the firm’s various clients to build and create lasting, meaningful relationships through effective marketing and communications. Kristin was previously the Communications Manager at Orange County United Way and has been a long-time, active member of OC/PRSA.
JUNE
  • Bill Prichard, APR has been named Public Relations Manager at CO-OP Financial Services.  To contact Bill, please call 909-786-3450 or email him at bill.prichard@co-opfs.org. 
  • MERIT, a leading provider of professional community association and rental management services, has named Amy Sarti as the Corporate Public Relations and Marketing Specialist. She will be assisting with all public relations and media relations for the company.  To contact Amy, please call 949-644-6168 or email her at asarti@meritpm.com.
  • Ashton Maxfield has been promoted to Senior Public Relations Manager at Sole Technology focusing on the etnies and ThirtyTwo brands.  Ashton is responsible for all media and public relations for the etnies and ThirtyTwo brands.  To contact Ashton, please call 949-900-2884 or email him at ashton.maxfield@soletechnology.com.
MAY
  • Joan Gladstone, APR, Fellow PRSA was named Assistant Professor of Public Relations and Advertising at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. She will continue to operate Gladstone International and provide crisis communications services. If you would like to contact Joan, she can be reached at jgladstone@gladstonepr.com.
     
APRIL
  • Deborah Bell recently joined the media and marketing team at Taco Bell as the public relations and sponsorships coordinator. In her position, Deborah will support non-crisis public relations and integrated marketing campaigns, as well as the development and coordination of the company's various sponsorships and promotional events. She can be reached at Deb.Bell@TacoBell.com.
  • Donna Hahn, APR, president of Hahn Communications, has been named an adjunct professor at Chapman University.  Donna is teaching “Principles of Public Relations” this spring. Donna can be reached via email at donna@hahnmarketing.com. 
MARCH

  • Scott Starkey of Laer Pearce & Associates was named to the Orange County Building Industry Association’s Board of Directors.  The Chapter represents more than 1,045 companies.  Scott served on the OC/PRSA Board of Directors from 2002 - 2005.  Contact Scott at sstarkey@laer.com.

FEBRUARY

  • Jessica Good was recently promoted to Staff Specialist within the County of Orange Executive Office's Community/Media Relations division. Her duties include writing content for the County's web site, collateral materials, press releases and media alerts, responding to Public Records Act requests, event planning, supervising department/agency participation in the annual OC Fair, facilitating interviews between reporters and executive management, as well as expanding the AccessOC routing system to better meet the informational needs of community members. Jessica can be reached at (714) 834-3731 or Jessica.Jakary@ocgov.com.
  • Julie Smith is now Director of Public Relations at Discovery Science Center. Smith oversees media relations for the Southern California education organization. Discovery Science Center was recently named one of the best science centers in the nation by Parents Magazine and will open a permanent exhibition, The Science of Hockey, at the end of March. Smith can be reached via email at Jsmith@discoverycube.org.

JANUARY

  • Jennifer Heinly of J&J Consulting has joined Sage Public Relations Group, a virtual agency offering customized, strategic communications programs on a national scale. You may contact Jennifer at jjconsultin@cox.net.
  • Todd Cooley, APR, chairman of the PRSA Western District, is now director of corporate communications for RSM McGladrey, Inc. He previously was with McGladrey Capital Markets, the firm's investment banking unit. To reach Todd, please email him at todd.cooley@rsmi.com
  • Congratulations to Orange County's new APRs: Amy Friend, APR and Ashton Maxfield, APR. APR is a professional certification that signifies mastery of public relations skills. It is a designation of credibility and a mark of distinction within the profession.

DECEMBER

  • Heather Tien recently joined the Corporate Communications team at Boost Mobile as a regional public relations specialist. In her role, Heather will handle media and community relations efforts in Boost’s target geographic markets. She can be reached at 949-748-3416 or heather.tien@boostmobile.com.
  • Greg Young, APR is back at GYPR, available for consulting and contract work including media strategy and outreach, copywriting, crisis communications, public affairs outreach, interactive communications, print advertising, collateral, trade show support, and event marketing support. Contact him at gypr@cox.net or 949-842-8454. You can also reach him at http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregpr.

NOVEMBER

  • Nichole Cappitelli has recently joined the Corporate Communications Team at Boost Mobile as a Consumer Public Relations Specialist. At Boost, Nichole is responsible for supporting the consumer PR team through media and public relations. To contact Nichole, please call 949-748-3364 or you can also reach her via email at nichole.cappitelli@boostmobile.com.
  • Jenny Corsey has joined Westbound Communications as an Account Executive. She recently moved from Atlanta, where she was active in the Georgia PRSA chapter and the Atlanta Press Club. To contact Jenny, please call 714.663.8188 x308 or jcorsey@westboundcommunications.com.

OCTOBER

  • OC/PRSA President-elect, Leisa Brug Kline was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the California Women’s Leadership Association (CWLA), Orange County Chapter. CWLA believes in the basic principles of conservatism, which emphasizes smaller government, individual freedom, responsibility and accountability, and views the government as a facilitator, not a regulator, in the private sector. CWLA is committed to bringing together influential women to effect meaningful change in their communities and government through education and advocacy. CWLA has chapters in the Bay Area, Four Corners, Gold Coast, Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento and San Diego. For more information, visit www.cwla.us.
  • Global investment bank RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC, one of the nation's most successful merger and acquisition advisory firms, has changed its name to McGladrey Capital Markets LLC (www.mcgladreycm.com). For more information, please contact Todd Cooley, Director of Communications, McGladrey Capital Markets LLC at tcooley@mcgladreycm.com or 714.327.8865.
  • Marisa O'Neil has recently been named Public Affairs Manager for the OC Parks. Marisa is assuming many of the responsibilities formerly held by Special Services Manager and will focus on expanding her own duties including marketing and promoting OC Parks through the media and other channels. Marisa can be reached via email at Marisa.Oneil@rdmd.ocgov.com or via phone at (714) 973-6870.

SEPTEMBER

  • Faubel Public Affairs recently announced the hiring of Stephen Gregg as Account Manager. In his position, Stephen will be working on projects such as the Orange County Stormwater Program, community relations for the cities of Laguna Hills and Lake Forest, the 241 Toll Road completion project for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, and many other projects. To contact Stephen, please email him at sgregg@faubelpublicaffairs.com or via phone at (949) 768-1600.
  • Deborah Bell has recently been named an Associate at PainePR. She will be working from the Irvine offices as part of the health care team. To reach Deborah, please email her at dbell@painepr.com.
  • JP Clark has joined Grainger as Regional Communications Manager supporting corporate communications and media relations. Previously, JP was director of marketing communications for Scantron Corporation. JP Clark can be reached at jpclark@cox.net.
  • Orange County business leader and philanthropist Cristina Walters has been named chair of the John R. Wooden Classic Resource Committee. The committee's primary goal is to raise funds for two local charities through a three-day series of events. Walters is the Principal of C&M Communique, a full-service marketing firm, and co-founder of Women Who Win, Walters is a member of Special Olympics Southern California's Board of Directors. For details of the John R. Wooden Classic, visit WoodenClassic.com.

AUGUST

  • Susan Van Barneveld, APR, chief executive officer, Antarra Communications has been been selected by the PRSA National Nominating Committee to be an Assembly Delegate at Large for 2009. Previously, she served as the Orange County Assembly Delegate for several years and a Host Committee Co-Chair for the 1999 International PRSA Conference. Susan Can be reached at via email at svanbarn@antarra.com.
  • Judy Iannaccone has been elected president of the Board of Directors for the OC Human Relations Council, a private, non-profit 501(c) 3 organization founded in 1991 to develop and implement proactive human relations programs in partnership with schools, corporations, cities, foundations and individuals. To contact Judy, please email her at iannaccone_judy@rsccd.org.
  • OC/PRSA member and C&M Communique Principal Cristina Walters recently co-founded a women’s networking ground called Women Who Win. For more information please email Sarah at sep@cmcommunique.com.

JULY

  • Laarni Rosca Dacanay was recently promoted to Diversity Communications
    Specialist for NBC Universal Corporate. Previously, she served as the
    Diversity & Communications Coordinator for NBC Universal Corporate. Laarni
    can be reached at Laarni.Dacanay@nbcuni.com.
  • Keri Gee Semmelman has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Orange County. JFS is a nonprofit that provides critical social services to families, youth, couples, older adults, those at risk of poverty, individuals with disabilities, and women seeking financial independence. Keri Gee will primarily help with marketing and fundraising efforts. To contact Keri Gee, please email her at kerigeepridea@aol.com.
  • Corin Walson, APR, is the new Public Relations Manager for CO-OP Financial Services, the nation's largest credit union-owned EFT network and processor. She was also recently appointed to the Cultural and Heritage Commission for the City of Anaheim. Corin can be reached at cwalson@walsonpr.com.
  • Cynthia Ragland, APR, is now Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Orange County Community Foundation. She was formerly Director of Marketing for the organization. She can be reached at cragland@oc-cf.org.

JUNE

  • Todd Cooley, APR has joined the 2-1-1 Orange County board of directors and executive committee. He also serves as chairman of the organization's marketing committee. 2-1-1 Orange County is a nonprofit organization that offers a comprehensive information and referral system linking Orange County residents to community health and human services and support.
  • Lisa Gonchar is now an independent PR consultant managing her own marketing communications company, Modish Marketing. She can be reached at lisa@modishmarketing.net.
  • The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) won a PRSA Silver Anvil Award for its issues-management work during a bus strike last summer. The Silver Anvil Awards are PRSA's highest honor. The winners were announced at an awards presentation in New York City on Thursday, June 5. Congratulations to Orange County PRSA chapter members Ted Nguyen, Sarah Swensson and Andrea West for their award-winning work on OCTA's issues-management team.

MAY

  • Cathi Douglas, APR received a promotion to Senior Director, Editorial Services in the Strategic Communications Department at Cal State Fullerton. Douglas will continue her duties as Titan Magazine editor and will assume additional editorial responsibilities for the university's strategic communications.
  • Jill Workman has been named as the new Director of Public Affairs for the Building Industry Association of Southern California. Jill is responsible for all media and public relations for the association. Additionally, she will support the government affairs staff on legislative and regulatory issues. To contact Jill, please call (949) 553-9500 x120 or via email at jworkman@biaoc.com.
MARCH

  • Cathi Douglas, APR, is president of the Sigma Kappa Corporation Board for the Epsilon Tau house at Cal State Fullerton. Douglas recently was honored for her service and leadership to the chapter as the Outstanding Alum of the Year at the CSUF Greek Awards.
  • Lilia Aguirre has moved to the Law Firm of Miller, Brown & Dannis. She is their new Marketing Director. Ms. Aguirre is also a member of OCPRSA's Diversity Committee. You can reach Lilia at (562)366-8500 or via email at laguirre@mbdlaw.com.

FEBRUARY

  • The Building Industry Association of Orange County has named Scott Starkey Chair of its Public Affairs Committee. The organization has more than 100,000 members and works to promote and assist in all aspects of the building industry. Starkey, Vice President with Laer Pearce & Associates, served on OC/PRSA’s Board of Directors from 2003 to 2005.
  • Kate Mossbarger was recently promoted to an Account Executive for Porter Novelli. You can reach Kate at (949) 583-2619 or via email at Kate.Mossbarger@porternovelli.com.
  • Morgan Marketing & Public Relations LLC is proud to announce their newest member to the Morgan Marketing team: Kimberly Porrazzo, Vice President, Client Services. You can reach Morgan Marketing at at (949) 261-2216 or Kimberly via email at kimberly@mmpr.biz.
  • AsianPRwire has merged full-time with its parent company, Access Media Group, which focuses on fibromyalgia and other health-related industries. Contact information for Corin Ramos, APR has changed to Corin Walson, cwalson@walsonpr.com, (714) 921-8850.


JANUARY

  • Lee Goldston is now an Account Manager with Idea Hall. Lee can be reached at lee@ideahall.com or at (714) 436-0855, ext. 39.
  • Laer Pearce, APR, president of Laer Pearce & Associates, was featured in the Orange County Register on Monday, January 21, highlighting his 25 years of service to the PR industry and his recent selection as Vice President of Public Affairs for the 200,000-member non-profit Building Industry Association of Southern California.
  • Marie K. Connell, has recently moved to Ingram Micro in Santa Ana. She is the Senior Manager of Media & Community Relations. If you would like to contact Marie, please email her at marie.connell@ingrammicro.com
  • Joan Gladstone, APR, Fellow PRSA was invited to become an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University. Her class, PR Case Studies, begins January 28.
  • Starting January 2008, Keri Gee Semmelman is back with full-time consulting through her agency PRIDEA. Look for Keri Gee and her new projects in 2008!