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Sherri McLendon – President Judy Davidson - Secretary/Treasurer Jaime McKee, Communications Chair K.C. Hart - Membership co-chair Brenda Murphree - Membership co-chair Jill Yarnall - Member-at-large Dr. Sonya DiPalma - Member-at-large Chris Power - Member-at-large Amy Fowler, board member emeritus Jennifer Perez, Past president Jennifer is a 2006 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a minor in Spanish. Though a recent graduate, Jennifer has honed her marketing and public relations skills working as a Marketing Coordinator with The Summit Marketing Group in Hendersonville and as a Public Relations Specialist with Pardee Hospital, also in Hendersonville. Jennifer can be reached at: Jennifer.perez@ahss.org
Communication strategist, writer, and teacher Sherri L. McLendon holds an MA in journalism and mass communication from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia (2004). As a public relations and marketing communications professional since 1999, she operates McLendon Bylines, an independent freelance copywriting and editing service for journalism, marketing and public relations projects, publications and events. A former newspaper editor and pilot magazine publisher, she proves experienced in all phases of news process; since 1989, her writings continue to appear in numerous daily and community newspapers, alternative news weeklies, blogs, public relations/news service releases, e-marketing and online publications, and regional and national magazines. Serving as 2010 president and a 2009 board member of the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, she remains a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, enjoys social media messaging, and teaching or coaching emerging writers. She lives in Weaverville, N.C., with her partner, Scott, their son, Riley, who was born on St. Patrick’s Day 2006, and Simone, their “mountain manx.” Read her media topics blog at sherrimclendon.blogspot.com, or email her directly at sherri@sherrimclendon.com.
Judy Rhew Davidson has been with Buncombe County Government 20 years. Judy started with Buncombe County as the Finance secretary then moving up to the County Manager’s Administrative Assistant. She has managed the government access channel –BCTV- which is the County’s Government Access Channel since its conception in 1999. Her duties include overseeing the daily operation and programming of the channel while supervising a staff of two full time video technicians. A North Carolina native, Judy was born and raised in Asheville. She is married and has a blended family of one daughter, three sons and one grandson. Judy enjoys spending time with family and occasionally playing a game of golf.
Jaime McKee graduated from Mars Hill College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Spanish. She has worked in the online department for the Asheville Citizen-Times for the past ten years. She has held the position of online programmer since 2009.
KC Hart is a WNC native who graduated with distinction from UNC-Asheville in Multimedia Arts & Sciences. She has worked in marketing/communications for 10 years beginning with a stretch as a graphics designer. She spent several years in the United States Marine Corps, working as Production Chief for the base television station in Quantico, Virginia. After working with several local non-profit organizations, KC became the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Asheville Home Builders Association in 2008. KC resides in Arden where she enjoys spending time with her husband and newborn baby.
Brenda Murphree is president of ClearPoint Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency providing a full range of strategic marketing communications for local, regional and national clients in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, tourism, technology, and nonprofit sectors. With over 30 years' experience in the field, she has also led courses and workshops on marketing and public relations topics for community education programs and business organizations. She is a current board member and founding president of AAF-Asheville, the WNC affiliate of the American Advertising Federation. She lives with her partner on a one-and-a-half-acre 'farm' east of Weaverville with dairy goats, chickens, and cats, and an English Shepherd who rules over all. This is her first year to serve on the PRAWNC board.
Jill Yarnall is the University Writer & Editor at UNC Asheville. Previously, she worked as a public information officer at the Medical University of South Carolina and at South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. She has more than 18 years experience in the field and is a four-time winner in the best public relations writing category of the Best of the Mountains. This is her second time serving on the PRAWNC board.
Dr. Sonya DiPalma, assistant professor of mass communication at the University of North Carolina Asheville, teaches courses in public relations and media ethics.
Her research interests include framing theory, particularly shifts in the framing of an issue, crisis communication, and the utilization and influence of social media within strategic communication. Sonya is an accredited member of PRSA with more than 15 years of professional public relations positions in state government, a Fortune 500 energy company, and the creative arts.
Beyond teaching and research, she is the faculty advisor for the department's PRSSA affiliate chapter.
Academic paper presentations include Image restoration strategies employed by press secretary Robert Gibbs as President Barack Obama's job approval ratings decline at 2011 International Public Relations Research Conference; Toward the greening of nuclear energy: A content analysis of energy frames from 1991-2008 at the 2010 PRSA International Conference; Engaging photojournalism students in undergraduate research (with Alan Hantz) at the 2010 Visual Communication Conference; From beginner to advanced reporter: Examining the process of becoming a multimedia journalist at the 2008 Convergence and Society: The participatory web conference, The Ethical Dilemma of Google in China at the 2007 Global Fusion conference, and Third-person effect: Celebrity politics and fandom at the 2006 AEJMC Midwinter Conference.
Chris Power graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in graphic design and advertising. After graduating Chris worked in the ad agency field for a few years in the Miami area. He then got more involved in marketing and PR and over the past 20 years has worked in a number of fields including travel & tourism, professional publishing and healthcare. He moved to the Hendersonville area in 1998 and worked the majority of this time in a marketing capacity at Pardee Hospital. Chris now heads up the marketing team for Healthcare Solutions Network, a community mental health and substance abuse programs provider. Chris is an avid runner and recently started with Ellen Seagle, the Four Seasons Running Club. He spends his free time hiking, and spending time outdoors with his three sons.
Amy Smialowicz Fowler graduated Summa Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Arts at Mars Hill College in 2001. She has worked in the marketing department of CarePartners Health Services for the past 5 years. She has been influential in the branding and advertising campaigns during her tenure. She also is responsible for all of the public relations for CarePartners. Amy has also been a board member of the Junior League of Asheville and been on the Executive Committee for the Healthy Buncombe Coalition.
Jennifer Perez is a Marketing Representative for Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher. Working in the Business Development office, she works to promote the hospital in the community through coordinated media efforts, event planning and development of advertising campaigns and promotional materials. She also works to facilitate employee communications throughout the health care organization.
