Larry Meltzer is a Agency Principal and Creative Director of MM2 Public Relations. In this role, he directs the agency's creative product and serves as a knowledge resource for brand-building and media trends. Prior to launching MM2 Public Relations in 2009, he was Founding Partner and Chief Imagination Office of BlueCurrent Public Relations, an Omnicom Group public relations firm. He also served as a senior partner in the Dallas office of Fleishman-Hillard, working during a five-year period with agency clients that included SBC Communications, Dell Computer Corporation, Prodigy Internet, Blockbuster Entertainment, and Omni Hotels. Before joining Fleishman-Hillard, Larry was principal of Meltzer & Martin Public Relations, providing public relations counsel and services on a national level for many well-known companies. His previous experience includes positions with Tracy-Locke Public Relations, Burson-Marsteller, and Bozell & Jacobs. Larry has served as a judge for TPRA's Silver Spur/Best of Texas program, and most recently was Finance Chair for the 2005 annual conference.
A TPRA member since 1989, Keith R. Schmidt has previously served on the board of directors, chaired the University Relations Committee and worked on several TPRA conference planning committees including the upcoming Houston 2007 conference. He received the Alan Scott Rising Star Award at the 2006 TPRA annual conference for his leadership in public relations and contribution to the organization. A multiple Silver Spur and Best of Texas winner, he currently is senior communications coordinator at Newfield Exploration Company in Houston, Texas. In this position, he implemented a new employee communications program, works with the media and formalized crisis communications training at the company. He also developed a community outreach program for company expansion of operations in the Mid-Continent. He is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America. He has a B.A. in Political Science/Business Administration from Monmouth College, Illinois, and a M.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri.
Melanie Villalobos serves as the Vice President, Corporate and Employee Relations of the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA), serving as principle liaison between the President/CEO and SAHA's nearly 700 staff members, with the responsibility for administering and supervising the day-to-day operations of the agency. Prior to her present position, she served as Vice President of the agency's Corporate Relations department, where she served as spokesperson for one of the nation's largest public housing authorities, and was responsible for SAHA's strategic communications, public relations, community relations, governmental relations and public affairs activities. Prior to joining SAHA in 2003, Melanie was a principal of San Antonio-based Curnutt/Hovis Public Relations, in which she provided consulting services to clients in the fields of health care, technology, manufacturing, government, homebuilding, and others. She has been a member of TPRA for most of her public relations career, which has spanned more than two decades. A graduate of Trinity University, Melanie is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the Association of Women in Communications (AWC), and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, (NAHRO).
"Enthusiasm is contagious" is the motto that drives Michele Glaze. As a working mother, community volunteer and communications professional, her enthusiasm has been a valuable asset in every aspect of her life. Michele is currently the senior marketing and communications strategist for Dell's Corporate Responsibility team. In this role, she manages the communications and marketing strategy for Corporate Responsibility which includes diversity and inclusion, giving and volunteerism and environmental sustainability.
Michele has spent 11 years with Dell in various marketing and communications roles. Prior to Corporate Responsibility, she served as the global content marketing manager for Dell ProSupport, Dell's configurable service and support portfolio, and managed go-to-marketing planning for other global services offerings. She has also served as the communications and marketing manager for the Dell TechKnow program, worked in Public Affairs and handled the 15-city Dell Recycling Tour, managed the Dell Foundation and was instrumental in driving employee involvement through Direct Giving and One Dell: One Community and worked in employee communications. Additional work experience includes serving as the public relations manager for RenewData, managing employee communications at Motorola and coordinating marketing communications for Intermedics Orthopedics, St. David’s and Lutheran Hospital.
Michele is a graduate of the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. She is actively engaged in the community and has served in numerous leadership roles including president of the United Way of Williamson County, president of the Cedar Park Public Library and president of the Austin Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She currently serves on the TPRA board of directors, chaired or volunteered for every TPRA Austin Conference for the past ten years and has judged, won and helped to coordinate the Silver Spur and Best of Texas awards program. Last year, she was honored to receive TPRA's highest honor, the Golden Spur.
Michele has a rich family history in Central Texas. She grew up in Bastrop and has a family museum in Rockne. Michele's enthusiasm comes from her family, especially her husband Gordon and the joys of her life, Daniel and Patrick.
PAST PRESIDENT
Scott White | Founder and President,
BizCom Associates16301 Quorum Drive Suite 150A * Addison, TX 75001 | (972) 728-1450 * Fax: (972) 661-0261
Scott is a founder of Biz Com Associates, a 15-year-old Dallas agency that specialties in working with franchise companies, entrepreneurs and other creative business leaders. He has more than 25 years experience in public relations, advertising, and journalism. A graduate of North Texas State University, he has worked in the newspaper, magazine, book publishing and TV fields. He has won dozens of awards working as editor, producer and writer for a variety of newspapers, magazines and production companies. He has helped young, start-up companies develop communications programs to support their growth strategies and he has helped mature, multinationals develop strategies to reach new markets or expand their share of existing markets. He frequently speaks on corporate communications, local store marketing and crisis communications.
PRFT REPRESENTATIVE
Graham B. Painter, APR | Exec. VP Corp. Communications,
Sterling Bank
Graham Painter has been working in public relations for 35 years. A graduate of the University of Houston, he joined Houston Lighting & Power Company in 1973, where he held a wide range of public relations positions. He also worked on legislative advocacy initiatives in Austin and Washington, D.C., and on international public relations related to the company's interests in Europe and Latin America. In the 1990's, he was named vice president of public affairs at CenterPoint Energy, HL&P's successor. In 2002, he joined Sterling Bank and its parent, Sterling Bancshares, Inc., where he serves as executive vice president of corporate communications.
He was named Outstanding PR Practitioner by TPRA in 2006 and received the Legacy Award from PRSA's Houston Chapter that same year. A senior fellow in the American Leadership Forum and a graduate of the Center for Houston's Future, he served on the Advertising Review Committee of the State Bar of Texas from 2004 through 2007.
Graham has held a number of executive positions in professional and trade associations, including president of TPRA, president of the Houston Chapter of PRSA, and chairman of the communications committee of the Edison Electric Institute. He previously served as president of the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry, the Travelers' Aid Society of Texas, and as a member of the board of the Press Club Foundation of Houston, the Salvation Army, and the Gulf Coast March of Dimes.
DIRECTORS 2009-2010
Yvette Blair | Regional VP of Communications & Marketing, American Heart Association
8900 Brookriver Dr Ste N-100 * Dallas, TX 75247
(214) 712-1321 * Fax: (214) 748-1307 *
yvette.blair@heart.org
Yvette Blair is a Dallasite with more than 17 years of solid experience in communications. A graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton, with a BA in Journalism and English Literature, she currently serves as the Regional Vice President of Communications & Marketing for the South Central Affiliate of the American Heart Association, where she is charged with management of Communications & Marketing Directors in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, helping them to rise to success in all aspects of media relations, marketing, cause sponsorship activations, and consistent messaging of the organization’s mission and news and adherence to branding guidelines. She formerly held the position of Dallas Communications Director.
Raul Hinojosa, Jr. | Director, UTD - Office of Diversity & Community Engagement
800 W Campbell Rd MP26 * Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 883-4562 * Fax: (972) 883-4565 *
raul.hinojosa@unt.edu
Raul Hinojosa Jr. joined The University of Texas at Dallas Office of Diversity and Community Engagement as director of Community Engagement in July 2008. As the founding director of this newly created office, he aims to increase awareness of higher education opportunities at the University to the diverse businesses and residents of North Texas. Hinojosa is an alumnus of the University of North Texas. He holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in journalism/public relations and a master's of public administration from UNT. He is currently completing a doctoral program in public affairs at UT Dallas.
Terri Larson | Vice President, Enbridge Energy Company
1100 Louisiana #3300 * Houston, TX 77022
Terri has certainly made an impact on our organization. She has an outstanding record of professional accomplishments and service to fellow public relations practitioners. With more than nine years of public relations experience in the legal, non-profit and corporate public relations areas as well as an additional eight years as a working journalist, this individual is a consumate communications professional. Our honoree became a TPRA member in spring 2005, shortly after joining the Enbridge Energy Company public affairs staff. As a new association member, she actively participated in the fall 2005 professional development event in Houston and in the 2006 annual conference in Austin, where she volunteered to chair the 2007 annual conference in Houston. Her enthusiastic leadership of the conference committee helped us recruit new Houston members and produced a annual conference that featured an impressive array of relevant topics and top-notch speakers, including the legendary Harold Burson.
Christina J. Moore, APR | Principal, Certain Solution
6632 Ruxton Lane * Austin, TX 78749
(512) 626-6060 *
christinajmoore@certainsolutionusa.com
Christina J. Moore has an extensive background in strategic internal communication and leadership. Recently retired after a lengthy career with Freescale Semiconductor, Christina now serves as a leadership and communication consultant and adjunct professor in leadership and communication. At Freescale, she directed global employee communication for 22,000 employees in 30 countries. In 2004, she led Freescale's internal communication activities for one of the biggest technology IPOs the market saw that year. Christina has an international background, having spent several years abroad. She is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and attained a master's degree in organizational leadership and ethics at St. Edward's University. Her undergraduate degree also is from St. Edward's University: a BBA in marketing with a double major in theatre arts. She is the past chair of PRSA's Employee Communications section and served several years as ethics officer in Austin, Texas. As a former board member of TPRA, she often facilitated strategic planning and professional development opportunities. Christina has served on numerous TPRA conference committees, chaired professional development seminars and been awarded Best of Texas and Silver Spurs. In 2005, she received that organization's prestigious Golden Spur Award.
Nelda Skevington | Owner, Carrizales Skevington Public Relations, Inc.
440 Hidden Springs Drive* Spring Branch, TX 78070-5119
(210) 497-5200 * Fax: (830) 885-7182 *
neldacs@neldapr.com
Nelda Carrizales Skevington is president and owner of Carrizales Skevington Public Relations, Inc., a marketing communications and public relations consultant company. With more than 10 years in public relations and marketing, Nelda's experience includes implementing programs on a local, regional, statewide and national basis for medium and small businesses to major Fortune 500 companies. Nelda is the recipient of multiple Silver Spur Awards TPRA, several honorable mentions from PRWeek, Certificate of Excellence from CIPRA, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Award and a Silver Anvil Award PRSA. Nelda also served as TPRA 50th Anniversary Conference Awards Chair and has been a member of TPRA since 1996. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Nelda is an active member of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hill Country Chamber of Commerce, Bulverde/Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, Texas Public Relations Association, Accessibility Fest Task Force, The National Society of Hispanic Professionals and The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. Nelda holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Communications from Webster University, St. Louis, MO.
Anamaria Suescun-Fast | Director of Public Relations, Guerra-DeBerry-Coody
122 E. Houston St * San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 223-2772 * Fax: (210) 223-4090 *
asuescun@gdc-co.com Anamaria is the Director of Public Relations for Guerra-DeBerry-Coody in San Antonio, TX. She co-chaired the 2008 TPRA Annual Conference that took place in San Antonio. She is one of the most flexible people you will ever meet. She has a unique ability to adapt to any situation that may arise in the lightening-quick world of public relations and take on different roles at a second's notice. It is the flexibility and wide-range of expertise that has led to a 12-year career that is as diverse as it is impressive.
Directors 2010-2011
Beth Ann Black | Sr. Media Relations Specialist, B.A. Black Public Relations, LLC
147 Kingston Cr. * Coppell, TX 75019
Owns B.A.Black Public Relations, LLC, a boutique public relations firm that provides public relations services, including media relations, crisis preparedness/response, external/internal corporate collateral/ communications and community relations that deals with issue/risk management. Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the firm develops and implements plans for clients to achieve visibility and awareness that support long-term growth, profitability and positioning. Black publishes the FINDERBINDER® DFW Media Directory, a comprehensive guide to print and broadcast media in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. This publication offers listings that include contact information for media, statistics, ad rates and production data. As a senior public relations consultant, Black maintains extensive media relationships. Her background includes working with PR agencies (Victory Marketing & Communications and Edelman Worldwide), in corporate America (Mobil), with nonprofit agencies (Easter Seals and United Way) and for various media including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, El Paso Herald-Post and Young Presidents' Organization's Worldwide magazine. Black earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin, is married and has three grown, graduated-from-college and gainfully-employed daughters. She is "retiring" from four years as treasurer for PRSA Dallas Chapter and is an elder at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, leading the Stewardship campaign.
Steven Eames | Vice President Corporate Communications, CVR Energy
2277 Plaza Drive Suite 500 * Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 207-3550 * Fax: (281) 207-3551 *
smeames@cvrenergy.comAs vice president of corporate communications for CVR Energy, Inc., in Sugar Land, Eames contributes to virtually every aspect of the company's communications, investor relations and marketing programs. Prior to Eames joining CVR Energy when it went public in 2007, the company had been a cornerstone client of The Alliant Group, a broadly focused public relations company which Eames founded in 2001 to serve high-tech, energy, finance, hospitality and general corporate clients across the nation. During his more than 30 years in public relations, Eames has touched on virtually every aspect of corporate communications, public affairs and advertising practice at companies like IBM, The Coastal Corporation, USAA and EDS. He has twice served as a director of the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA). Among other honors, he is most proud of receiving TPRA's Lone Star Award for supporting exemplary practice of public relations while at USAA and a commendation from NASA for his crisis management work after the Space Shuttle Challenger accident while at IBM.
Retha Feilding | Texas Council on Family Violence
324 Pedigree Drive * Austin, TX 78748
Retha Lindsey Fielding, APR has recently returned to Texas after practicing public relations for 15 years in New Hampshire for the University System of New Hampshire schools, most recently serving as vice president for advancement at Plymouth State University. She is currently Chief Communications Officer for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Texas Council on Family Violence and loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline in Austin. While in New Hampshire, Retha was active in the Yankee Chapter of PRSA, serving as board president and a national delegate. Prior to moving to New Hampshire, Retha was director of news and information at Odessa College for nine years and worked for agencies in Dallas.
David Hogan, APR | Abilene Christian University
ACU Box 27892 * Abilene, TX 79699
Retha Lindsey Fielding, APR has recently returned to Texas after practicing public relations for 15 years in New Hampshire for the University System of New Hampshire schools, most recently serving as vice president for advancement at Plymouth State University. She is currently Chief Communications Officer for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Texas Council on Family Violence and loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline in Austin. While in New Hampshire, Retha was active in the Yankee Chapter of PRSA, serving as board president and a national delegate. Prior to moving to New Hampshire, Retha was director of news and information at Odessa College for nine years and worked for agencies in Dallas.
Yana Ogletree | Memorial Health System of East Texas
PO Box 1447 * Lufkin, TX 75902
Yana Ogletree joined the Texas Public Relations Association in 2000. With more than 20 years experience in public relations and marketing, Yana currently is responsible for leading all external and internal marketing communications for East Texas’ largest health care system, Memorial Health System of East Texas. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, Yana began her career as a broadcast journalist reporting and anchoring news for WLBT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi and KTRE-TV in Lufkin, Texas. After leaving the news industry, Yana joined TXU Communications where she ultimately managed the company’s marketing communications efforts for eight years. Throughout the years her work has been recognized by TPRA in the annual awards competition with three Best of Texas and one Silver Spur awards. Currently, Yana is working with TPRA to organize an East Texas chapter for TPRA. Yana has been a member of PRSA and has/had served on numerous state and local boards including Regional Governor for Keep Texas Beautiful, Women’s Shelter of East Texas, Humane Society of Angelina County, Rotary, Media Trainer for Region 6 Schools, Lufkin Mainstreet, Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill, Angelina Beautiful/Clean, Lufkin Housing and Transit, Red Cross and past president of the United Way. She is married to Clark and together they have four children, Hunter, Cannon, Robert and Rebecca.
Henry Quintana, Jr. | El Paso Electric
PO Box 982 * El Paso, TX 79960
Henry Quintana Jr. earned a BA in Broadcasting from UTEP in 1975 and a MA in Communication in 1994. He worked as a news reporter for KTSM TV from 1976 to 1981. He also worked as the Public Information Officer for the City of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation Department. He is currently the Manager of Public Relations for El Paso Electric. His career with El Paso Electric began in 1985 when he was hired as the Media Relations Representative for the Company. He has more than 30 years experience in Public Relations and is a Teaching Fellow in the Communications Department at UTEP.
He is a national member of the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators. He is a member of UTEP Communication Department Advisory Board, The UTEP Centennial Commission, the Public Relations Society of the Southwest and has served at the president of The University of Texas at El Paso Alumni Association. In 2005, he was awarded the Hicks-Middagh Outstanding Alumni Award by the UTEP Communications Department.
Gavino Ramos | Time Warner Cable-San Antonio
1900 Bluecrest Ln * San Antonio, TX 78246
Gavino is currently the Vice President of Communications for Time Warner Cable - San Antonio. A graduate of the University of Texas, San Antonio, and Trinity University, he has served on the Board of Directors for The San Antonio Food Bank, as well as the National Conference for Community and Justice.
He was also recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as a “Rising Star, 40 Under 40”.
In 2008, he was co-chair of the TPRA Annual Conference in San Antonio.
Chris Talley | USAA
9800 Fredericksburg Rd * San Antonio, Texas 78288
(210) 498-1479 *
chris.talley@usaa.com
Planned, managed, and executed numerous multi-state, multi-office corporate issues and communications programs. Former senior partner and senior vice president in Fleishman-Hillard's San Antonio office, Chris has an extensive network throughout Texas that spans media, community, and business leaders. He currently supports ConocoPhillips, the Boy Scouts of America, and The Regus Group and serves as the administrative lead for the San Antonio office. Through the years Chris has served as an FH "on-site" team leader at USAA and SBC Communications (now AT&T) and he has managed FH offices in Austin and Houston. He joined FH in 1995 from Houston's Churchill Group Inc. Prior to that, he spent five years in the public affairs department of Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver. Chris holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Colorado campus of the University of Phoenix. He serves on the executive board of the Alamo Area Council for Boy Scouts (San Antonio), the board of KRLN-PBS TV (San Antonio). For more than 20 years, Chris and his wife, Laura, have served on the media relations team for the AT&T Cotton Bowl. They also have volunteered in media relations capacities for numerous sporting events, including the NCAA men's and women's basketball championships. Chris and Laura have three children, Michael (13), Megan (10), and Caroline (8).
ASSOCIATION MANAGER
Jennifer A. George | Account Executive, Executive Association Management, Inc.
823 Congress Avenue, Suite 230 * Austin, TX 78701
(512) 479-0425 x17 * Fax: (512) 495-9031 *
tpramail@tpra.com or
jgeorge@eami.com 
