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Sherri McLendon – President Rachel Miller – Vice President Coming Soon Gary James, Secretary Brian Jennings – Treasurer Coming Soon Amy Fowler, Chief of Staff Jaime McKee, Communications Chair Kasey Gruen - Communications assistant chair Alicia Knighten - Member at large Elisabeth Bocklet - Member at large Judy Davidson - Member at large Kathy Thielke - Member at large Sandra Adams - Member at large 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.
Gary James has over 25 years experience in integrated marketing and business communications. His slogan - “it’s all public relations” -attests to experience that includes business launches, strategic communication and marketing planning, creative advertising, copywriting/design and professional public relations services. Jamesgang is “virtual,” offering direct client services or support to agencies and marketing directors, utilizing the internet to its maximum potential by offering flexibility, technology and demands for communications, top graphic and web design without costly overhead.
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.
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 nine years. She has held the position of online programmer since 2009.
Kasey Gruen is the owner of Gruen Photo & Design, a Graphic Design, Photography, and Wedding Photography establishment which has serviced the Southeast for over 7 years. Kasey graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Graphic Design. She also has extensive photographic and design training with the latest techniques and software. In addition to Gruen Photo, since 2004, she has worked as a Graphic Designer, Photographer, and freelancer with both large international and small local companies. Prior to giving birth to her son, Kasey worked full time with Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville as a Graphic Designer. Currently, she contracts services with local companies in the medical care field, retail establishments, non-profit organizations, and many other local independent companies. Kasey lives in Arden, NC with her husband & son, and enjoys outdoor activities, exercising, reading, and cooking.
Alicia Knighten is a WNC native with over 20 years in sales/marketing & public relations. She has served on many boards both locally & nationally such as ECO, Bele Chere, & the International Travel Consortium,. Alicia co-owns Action Digital--a company specializing in web development, eCommerce, SEO, & client events. Alicia can often be found teaching web & marketing-related courses at Blue Ridge Community College.
Alicia can be reached at: webmaster@prawnc.org
Elisabeth Bocklet holds a BSW from Warren Wilson College and attended an intensive training program for community organizers through the Southern Empowerment Project. Her education and career has centered on helping individuals and groups identify strategies for change as well as promoting those opportunities and accomplishments. Currently she is employed as the Marketing and Communications Associate for United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Her main responsibilities include event coordination, web maintenance, serious amounts of schlepping, as well as material design and general promotion for United Way's two in-house programs: Hands On Asheville-Buncombe and 2-1-1 of WNC. Prior to taking this position in the summer of 2008, Elisabeth worked for 15 years within area non-profits. She recently left the board of the Empowerment Resource Center which houses the low powered radio station WRES and currently sits on the board of Francine Delany New School for Children. She was raised in NY and has lived in Asheville for 18 years. She lives with her partner and their puppy in west Asheville where she tries to earn extra income from her knitting obsession.
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.
Kathy Thielke has been with Four Seasons, a non-profit end-of-life care provider serving WNC, for four years. She currently works as their Community Relations Coordinator, and has also served as Event Coordinator for the organization. Working in the Development Office, she promotes Four Seasons in the community to ensure that all individuals and families who need end-of-life care services receive them.
A former preschool teacher, Kathy also writes preschool church curriculum for LifeWay Christian Resources. She previously worked in marketing and communications at both United Way of Greensboro and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. She graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, with a BA in Mass Communications and a minor in Professional Writing. Kathy is a native of North Carolina and has lived in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, and Hendersonville.
Coming soon.
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.
