President
Kathryn Watson is the 2009-2010 President, after serving as the Vice President of Chapter Development in 2008-2009. With four years experience in PRSSA, she hopes to bring the organization’s focus back to member benefits and social fun, the two characteristics of PRSSA that inspired her to join. Kathryn is dedicated to refocusing the Chapter and its resources to give its members the best experience possible.Kathryn, former Regional Activity Coordinator and Fundraising Committee member for PRSSA, is also the current Director of Communications for the Gator Sports Management Club.
She spent her summer in San Francisco, where she served as a public relations coordinator for EA SPORTS, working across the brand’s 11 franchises, including Madden NFL 10 and EA SPORTS Active. She also drafted executive communication for EA SPORTS President Peter Moore. Kathryn is a senior from Jacksonville, Fla.
Favorite Quote: “If you get the right words in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” – Tom Stoppard
Vice President of Member Services
Jen Gezzar is the 2009-2010 Vice President of Member Services. Her interest in the position rose from wanting to ensure all members were aware of the amazing opportunities PRSSA has to offer, like National Conference. Jen wanted a position where she could work directly with members to make sure that all their needs were addressed. Her main goals this year are to increase member involvement within committees, Alpha PRoductions and networking opportunities. Jen also hopes that this year's executive board will help to bring the Chapter together so that every member will walk away with more knowledge, enthusiasm and friendships. Jen is from Fort Myers, Fla., and along with her a public relations degree, she is also pursuing minors in Spanish and Latin American studies. Her internship experience focuses on not-for-profit and government with internships at the Florida YMCA, Florida Senator Steve Oelrich and The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health.
Favorite Quote: "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” – Ernest Hemingway
Vice President of Chapter devlopment
Pazia Dwyer is the Vice President of Chapter Development for the 2009-2010 school year. She decided to run for this position because she thinks there is always room for improvement and would love to be part of the change. One thing she hopes to achieve is helping members find support in their search for experience. She wants students to get connected with opportunities in and around Gainesville as well as give back to the community.Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., Pazia has enjoyed her decision to venture South and become a Gator. She is entering her senior year as a public relations major.
She is also pursuing a minor in Spanish and studied in Seville this past summer. Her greatest experience in public relations was working with Pepsi. Her hopes for public relations range from sports to event management.
Favorite Quote: “It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second.” – Audrey Hepburn
Vice President of Public Relations
Daryl Sowers is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Vice President of Public Relations. She was most interested in this position because she desires to open lines of communication and promote the Chapter’s advantages. Her ultimate goal for the year is to enhance the Chapter’s publications. From Alpha Bits, the new e-newsletter, to Alpha Bits – A Bit More Information, the new monthly newsletter, Daryl is anxious to engage and inform members by scanning industry trends and developments and pulling from multiple sources to create one resource, Alpha Bits. Overall, Daryl is dedicated to promoting the Chapter, its brand and Alpha Bits. Daryl is from Altamonte Springs, Fla., and is in her last year at UF majoring in public relations with a minor in communication studies. Her most valuable public relations experience gained while interning with Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta, Ga. Her experience is in entertainment public relations, but she also hopes to gain experience with community relations upon graduation.
Daryl is from Altamonte Springs, Fla., and is in her last year at UF majoring in public relations with a minor in communication studies. Her most valuable public relations experience...
Favorite Quote: “Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life.” – Panda Express
Secretary
Michael DelSontro is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Secretary. Michael was most interested in this position because it requires an organized person and gives him the opportunity to work on three of his passions: event planning, photography and graphic design. His ultimate goals for the year are to keep PRSSA as organized as possible, and to assist the Socials and Yearbook Committees in having a highly beneficial and successful year. Michael is looking forward to communicating and interacting with all members.Michael is from Palm City, Fla., and is a public relations senior at UF with an outside concentration in law and criminology. After graduation, he plans to attend law school and work in the entertainment industry.
Favorite Quote: “Sometimes the heart should do things without the brain’s permission.”
Treasurer
Chris Brennan is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Treasurer. He was most interested in this position because he thought his organizational, budgeting and creative skills would fit the position well. Chris also served as the Vice President of Member Services spring of 2009 and as the co-director of the Bateman Case Study Competition Committee. This summer, he had the pleasure of interning in the marketing and communications department at DRS Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition, a U.S. Department of Defense contractor located in Palm Bay, Fla.Chris is a huge sports fan. He’s always out supporting Gator athletics — football, basketball and gymnastics in particular. He’s also a huge fan of the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox (Can you guess where he’s from?). Chris also enjoys eating challenges. His most notable accomplishments are successfully finishing a 29-inch pizza in 29 minutes, a 3-pound cheeseburger and a 5-pound burrito.
Favorite Quote: “If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” – Vince Lombardi
National Liaison
Chelsey Joiner is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA National Liaison. She is excited about this position and looks forward to bringing in dynamic speakers as well as hosting useful skill seminars for PRSSA members.Chelsey is from Melbourne, Fla., and is a junior majoring in public relations with a minor in communication studies. Upon graduation, Chelsey hopes to attend law school.
When Chelsey is not enjoying PRSSA, she is hanging out with her Delta Zeta sorority sisters. Chelsey spends her weekends surfing in St. Augustine or swimming with Shamu at Sea World.
Lastly, if you were wondering how many push-ups Chelsey can do, let’s just say its higher than 15 and lower than 17. That’s right, the real kind…
Favorite Quote: “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” – Laurel Thatcher
Webmaster
Shelby Powell is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Webmaster and is a self-taught computer geek. After years of tinkering with various computer and Web oriented systems, Shelby joined PRSSA to help build a more modern, efficient and relevant Web presence for the organization. He aims to increase the functionality and utility of the current PRSSA Web site, while also improving the aesthetics. Additionally, he plans to implement a more routine, but personal social media campaign to draw PRSSA members closer to each other, to the organization and to professionals.Shelby is from Palm Bay, Fla., and is in his senior year studying public relations at UF. After which, he plans to pursue a career in not-for-profit fundraising.
Favorite Quote: "Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.” – Boondock Saints
Firm Director of Alpha PRoductions
Victoria Israels is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Firm Director of Alpha PRoductions. She was most interested in this position because it is an opportunity to give her fellow students the ability to do real client work. Her ultimate goal is to build strong relationships between clients and students. She also wants to enhance the general perception of Alpha PRoductions into a well established, full-service public relations firm.Victoria is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is in her last year at UF majoring in public relations with a minor in theatre. Her most valuable public relations experience was gained while interning with...
....mPRm Public Relations in Los Angeles, Calif. The firm is focused on entertainment public relations, and this is Victoria’s leading interest. She plans to move to Los Angeles, when she graduates in August 2010.
Favorite Quote: “It isn’t what they say about you, it’s what they whisper.” – Errol Flynn
Assistant Director for Alpha PRoductions
Jessica Osorio is one of the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Assistant Directors for Alpha PRoductions, the student-run public relations firm at the UF. She was most interested in this position because of her experience as an account executive for Alpha last year. She learned the ins and outs of the organization. She feels that Alpha PRoductions is in a time of transitioning and in need of a major makeover, and she believes, with motivated and dedicated leadership, Alpha PRoductions can provide an amazing public relations experience for students, which she’s certain it has the potential to do. Jessica is dedicated to directing Alpha PRoductions on a new path of great success.Jessica is from Weston, Fla., and is in her senior year at UF majoring in public relations with a minor in leadership. She hopes to go to law school and specialize in media law.
Favorite Quote: "The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Assistant Director of Alpha PRoductions
Erika Zayas is the 2009-2010 UF PRSSA Assistant Director of Alpha PRoductions. Her experience working as an account associate sparked her interest in the position because she felt there was such incredible potential for the firm’s development. By opening the lines of communication between members of Alpha PRoductions and PRSSA, she hopes to enrich the experience for both. Providing quality over quantity is a concept that she, along with the rest of the Alpha leadership, is dedicated to.Erika is from Miami, Fla., and is beginning her junior year majoring in public relations with a minor in business administration. She spent her summer completing an internship at a Miami-based event production agency...
...which allowed her to gain experience with both social and corporate clients in a range of sectors.
Favorite Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi
