Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight is a NEW feature to PRSA Palm Beach member communications. If you would like to be included, please send 200 words, hi-res headshot, social media links, and any other applicable information to Joseph Harrington, Vice President of Membership, at [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2023 

Mark Kattoura, Ph.D.

Mark achieved his Doctor of Philosophy from Florida Atlantic University, where he also achieved a Masters in Intercultural and Rhetorical Communications. 

After spending several years in a government position, I am currently freelancing and looking for a new full-time communications/PR role. 

I joined PRSA in 2001, in order to have access to the wide range of resources and the great network the organization offers. Some of the benefits I have found useful include the various webinars and lunch meetings, as well as the monthly Tactics newsletter. Always great and timely content in there!

The best benefit of PRSA is the certification and educational opportunities that come with membership.  

I originally was involved in PRSA as a board and committee member, and then local chapter president, from 2004-09, as the society and chapter moved to incorporate new technologies and strategies. It was an exciting opportunity to help PRSA, both locally and nationally, to be proactive in offering great programming and career development. 

After some time outside the field, I have recently decided to return and help the PRSA Palm Beach chapter navigate through additional new opportunities in a changing market and communications world.

Best regards,

Mark

October 2022

Hi, I’m Jennifer Sardone-Shiner and I am President and owner of JSS Marketing and Public Relations. We are a female based full-service boutique marketing and public relations consulting firm. It was started to help nonprofits be able to afford the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals. We focus on small businesses, special events and festivals, non-profit organizations, and arts & cultural organizations.

I have a degree in Advertising/Public Relations from UCF, and minors in Spanish and Hospitality Management with a focus on arena/stadiums/theater, and tourism. I have been a member of PRSA as a professional and as a college student.

I have worked with athletes, rock stars and Broadway stars. From Tim McGraw, Joe Namath to President Clinton, Elton John and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I work on several festivals in the area: Cajun Crawfish, Irish Fest, Feast and Taste of Little Italy, WPB Arts Fest, Tacos & Tequila and more!

I look forward to meeting more members.

Your friend,
Jennifer Sardone-Shiner

August 2022

Hi, I’m Joe Harrington and I am currently the Senior Manager of Public Relations and Public Information Officer for Palm Tran Public Transportation. I love working in mass communications and enjoy telling everyone about their many transportation options in Palm Beach County.

Did you know: if you add up all the Uber, Lyft and taxi rides in the County, all the rides taken on Tri-Rail in County and every passenger who travels through Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Tran’s ridership is still higher?  Roughly 11 million rides are taken on the bus system and other Palm Tran mass transit services every year.  This contributes to cleaner air, less traffic congestion and economic growth.

I started by career as a reporter covering government, making moving into the public and media relations sector for government a natural progression.  I have more than 20 years of mass communications experience today.

I am honored to serve as the PRSA Palm Beach Membership Chair and previously served on the board of another chapter.  I believe strongly in PRSA’s mission to further professional development and to recognize outstanding work.  I am humbled to be the recipient of PRSA Sunshine Radiance Awards and Palm Awards.

I love networking and making connections to form partnerships, so please feel free to get in touch or say “hello” at PRSA events.

Best,
Joe

Palm Tran

Palm Tran Public Transportation - YouTube

FEBRUARY 2022

DEBRA SWEETING
Public Relations/Digital Marketing Manager for The Law Firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, Gary, & Gillespie, P.L.L.C.

I am Debra Sweeting, Public Relations/Digital Marketing Manager for The Law Firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, Gary, & Gillespie, P.L.L.C. I have the pleasure of collaborating directly with Attorney Willie Gary to brand and build his national image as well as that of the Firm, organizing and attending press releases for litigation and speaking engagements. In addition, I will manage the digital marketing aspect of the Firm to include video, website, and social media platforms.

It probably sounds commonplace in the Public Relations world, however as a former local magazine Publisher and Pharmaceutical Sales Executive the art of storytelling has always been an intricate part of my careers in brand management.

I am also a member of the Treasure Coast (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and serve as Co-Chair on the Publicity / Communications and Technology Committees.

Lastly, I am a new member of PRSA and the PRSA Palm Beach Chapter. I am grateful to be a part of all these prestigious organizations. In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my daughter Alana and mentally escaping the stress of the pandemic by creating geode style art with resin.

Best regards,

Debra Sweeting

March 2021

Hi there! I’m Lauren Eissey and currently the Public Relations & Engagement Specialist at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC). It probably sounds cliché in the world of PR, but I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, most of which can be attributed to my grandmother and former Palm Beach Post editor, Fran Hathaway. I welcomed the art of effective storytelling early on in my education – from my first published piece in middle school discussing my family’s passage through Ellis Island to serving as FGCU’s Director of External Relations for Dance Marathon and driving donations to John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

It’s been challenging, but rewarding securing media amid all the noise of COVID-19. However, some of the most exciting media outlets that have covered LMC in the past year include Lonely Planet, Reader’s Digest and Thrillist to name a few. Also, our marketing team has added several awards to the mantle, including the Bernay’s Crisis Communications Award presented by the Gold Coast PR Council and the Bronze Flagler Award for Sustainable Tourism presented by VISIT Florida. 

In the near future, I hope to earn my Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and welcome any resources and advice from those who have gone through the process! In my free time, you can find me playing tennis as a new hobby, hanging out with my rescued miniature schnauzer and purchasing something that I certainly don’t need from Amazon.

February 2021

Hello! I am Jennifer Melville Trefelner, APR, CPRC, and I am the Director of Communications, Marketing and Social Media for the Diocese of Palm Beach. I have the pleasure of serving as the designated spokesperson for the Diocese of Palm Beach in addition to managing media relations, public relations, developing data-driven communication plans, and implementing new marketing initiatives. In addition, our Office of Communications oversees the production of the weekly Televised Catholic Mass, the Florida Catholic (Palm Beach edition), diocesan digital and printed materials, the diocese website and social media sites.

I have earned an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and the designation of being a Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC) through the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), in addition to being a member of the Counselors Network. Most recently I obtained a Crisis Communication Certification through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and was asked to serve on the Stetson University Disruptive Leadership Advisory Board.

I am grateful to have earned awards for projects completed for the Diocese of Palm Beach, including several FPRA Golden Image and local Image Awards, plus Chapter Awards of Distinction and Judges’ Awards, the Public Relations Society of America Palm Award and numerous PRSA Sunshine District Radiance Awards.

At this time, I serve as the Director of Credentialing for the Treasure Coast chapter of FPRA and as a member of the Catholic Press Association, in addition to being a member of PRSA. I miss our PRSA meetings in person and traveling for events but continue to serve as a speaker via Zoom for conferences and webinars near and far. Outside of the office, I enjoy running, playing tennis, pickleball, pop tennis, plus spending time with my family and friends! I look forward to seeing fellow PRSA professionals in person again when we resume our meetings in person!

January 2021

Hello, I’m Liz Nunez, Public Information Officer for the Village of Wellington. I’ve been in my current role for 6 years. My responsibilities include managing the Village’s website and social media, as well as all aspects of public relations. The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing that the information we share, impacts the lives of all our residents. Every day is unique and offers the opportunity to grow as a professional. 

I’ve been a PRSA member since 2014. I love connecting with people and connecting them to each other. The flow of ideas and working with others benefits me and the community I serve.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that things don’t always go as planned. Since March, COVID-19 has monopolized our community’s conversation and hasn’t left room for much else. One of my greatest challenges this year, has been balancing the need to provide important safety information while keeping our community connected during a time of uncertainty.    

Focusing on the human-element and highlighting the good, in all our outreach efforts, has brought our community closer and helped us get through 2020.  

Outside the office, I enjoy spending time on the water, usually snorkeling and scuba diving.   

November 2020

Hi, I’m Joseph Abreu, and I’ve had a joyful year. Of course, I’m kidding. The truth is that my love for cruises, brunch with bottomless mimosas, and visits the Container Store, have all been ripped from my heart during the pandemic. And I’m not good at making my own cosmopolitans, so it’s been a little rough.

Being in charge of communications and emergency management at my office has been quite eventful and time consuming these months. Just like many of you, my life went from planning large campaigns and events to ordering branded face masks and scheduling countless Zoom webinars. Work and clients have been a challenge to keep up with, but what I love about our profession is how we are challenged to adapt to a new adventure every day. Fortunately, I did receive good news in the midst of the pandemic.

This July, I was slated by the PRSA Board of Directors to serve as national secretary in 2021. I previously served as the Sunshine District Director on the board from 2018-2019, and I have served in leadership roles on the chapter to national levels since 2006. I’ve proudly helped build awards, accreditation, and professional development programs for chapters and districts across the country. I was honored to receive the 2015 Trailblazer Award from the Sunshine District, and the 2018 Hall of Fame Award from the Palm Beach Chapter. It all started in college at UF as a PRSSA member in the early 2000s. Yes, I’m a lifer, and nothing can save me now.

When I’m not spending time in virtual PRSA meetings – or glued to my desk in my home office staring at my dusty Peloton – you can find me out and about, masked up. I live in Port St. Lucie with my husband and Beagle, so I’m less than two hours from the Orlando Premium Outlets and the theme parks. I also tend to take short weekend escapes to Naples where I got married or Tampa to visit my best friends – who I met through PRSA and on cruise ships, by the way.

In this gloomy world of uncertainty and division, I’ll leave you with my favorite motto that I always strive to live by: Do not stress about anything out of my control. It helps keep me grounded, patient, positive, and hopeful. Stay safe and healthy, friends.

October 2020

My name is Marlon LeWinter. I live in Delray Beach and am the Founder and CEO of NRGized Media. For nine years I handled the PR for Under Armour. Moved to Florida to work with Venus Williams and her clothing line EleVen until starting NRGized Media. 

As my LinkedIn profile will tell you, I take SUCH pride in my job and meeting new people. I think this entire world is built on surrounding yourself with the people who share the same passion and energy and drive.

Fun fact, I actually proposed to my wife LIVE on the TODAY Show. We were also featured in Buzzfeed and the Sunday New York Times.

I have a proven track record of securing great coverage for my clients. You may appreciate my work with the American Cornhole League, taking a backyard game known primarily for tailgating and turning it into a professional sport.

I also am proud that for the second consecutive year, I have been named a finalist for a Platinum PR award. Winners are announced late October.

I have been a PRSA member for 4 years serving on the Sports and Entertainment committee. This year has been a bit challenging (not just for COVID) as my wife Ashley and I welcomed our second child – my son Spencer – into the world 20 weeks ago. My daughter Jordyn is 2.5 years old.