Why did you become a member of PRSA?

I felt it was important for me to join PRSA, and the Philadelphia chapter, to remain current in the public relations arena. When you’re employed in-house at a corporation, most of the continuing education opportunities are geared towards the industry that you serve or are very general in nature.

What PRSA Philly programming are you planning for this year?

Our committee is working hard to provide a blend of in-person and virtual programming. We want to help our members make informed decisions about their careers, and well as equipping them with the needed tools to provide cutting-edge counsel and communications services. What was needed 20 years ago is very different from what is required today.

What drives you daily in your day job at Penske and what do you take from that work and bring to PRSA Philly?

I really enjoy being able to work in public relations as a career. When I was younger, I considered advertising and sales as careers. Clearly PR is the best fit for me. I love the media relations and thought leadership aspects of my job the most. This is my first experience with doing b-to-b communications and I had no idea that I would enjoy it as much as I do.  

What are some of the biggest challenges our sector is facing and how does PRSA Philly help PR practitioners get through it?

When I speak to college students and young professionals, I tell them that they need to master three foundational areas to be successful in this thing of ours: Writing ability, affability and lifelong learning. The PR pro needs to write effective press releases, blog posts and social media copy; they need to be easy to work with, inside and outside of their organizations; and they need to consume and comprehend a lot of information on a regular basis. I am confident that our programming offerings will be impactful and insightful.  

Do you have a mentor or someone that deeply influenced you?

I have two mentors that have had a tremendously positive influence on my career. One is Matt Santos, who was my manager in the sports information office during my time as an undergraduate at Kutztown University. Today, Matt is a vice president there and is doing great things. The second is Randy Ryerson, who hired me at Penske in 2006 (and is still my manager today). Randy taught me how to be a corporate manager and what it looks like to do public relations the right way.     

What are your hobbies?

I really enjoy following sports. As a Queens, New York, native, I root for the Yankees, Knicks and Jets. I also enjoy watching Penn State football and following major college football in general. I appreciate a good meal, which does not have to be expensive. I consume a high volume of movies and television shows too.  

Any books you recommend?

I absorb a ton of information both personally and professionally, just not in book format. I accomplish that through an array of email newsletters, online articles, and via postings on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.  

What is something people would find interesting about you?

As a New York City kid in the 1980s, I was a vocalist in a heavy metal band. A vocalist with no singing talent. I moved to the Reading, Pennsylvania, suburbs the summer before my last year of high school, and we never got to perform live. I was working on getting our band a slot in a local Battle of the Bands event.  


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