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2004 graduate
Erin Cunningham has moved from her news beat at the Frederick
(Md.) News-Post to a similar reporting position at the nearby Hagerstown
(Md.) Herald-Mail. Her e-mail address is erin_cunningham20@yahoo.com.
2002 graduate
Jessica Rivelli is making another move in broadcast, switching
from the Tampa-St. Pete ABC affiliate, WFTS-TV, where she was the
weekend producer, to the CBS affiliate, WTSP-TV (www.wtsp.com).
"I'm the morning planning producer at WTSP," she explained. She
will plan the content for "This Morning Around the Bay," working
with a reporting crew, writing and teasing multiple segments, preparing
rundowns and setting up stories, and she'll also write the copy
for the daily webcasts on www.tampabays10.com.
2005 graduate
Dan Hanson is working at the Johns Hopkins School of International
Studies (SAIS) off of Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. "I will be
working in their public affairs division doing event management,
media relations, and media outreach," he said. He will also work
toward earning a master's degree at Johns Hopkins. His personal
e-mail address is hansondan@hotmail.com.
2005 graduate
Michelle LeDonne just completed an internship working in
the online marketing department of Starwood Hotels in Manhattan.
Her e-mail address is michelle.ledonne@gmail.com.
Sean LeDonne,
a 2004 graduate, just completed an internship as a speech writer
assistant at the United Nations offices in Vienna. His e-mail address
is seanledonne@hotmail.com.
2005 graduate
Adam Smith is an assistant account executive with DDB Issues
and Advocacy in Washington, D.C., an arm of DDB Worldwide, the nation's
second-largest advertising agency. "They are an amazing organization,
and it really gives me a way to combine my passions for activism
and communications," he said. "It's really rewarding work." DDB
mixes public policy, PR and lobbying to plan and implement public
relations campaigns, program development and coalition building
for progressive non-profit organizations and corporations. His e-mail
address is Adam.Smith@ddbissues.com.
2005 graduate
Kim Hayes is working as a production assistant at Big Pictures
Studios in Las Vegas. In the fall, she'll be working on a feature
film about small-town America's methamphetamine problem. "Jeff Lester,
who founded Big Picture Studios with his wife, Susan Anton, will
direct the film," Hayes explained. "He also directed the short 'The
Last Real Cowboys' starring Billy Bob Thornton, which won some awards."
One of Hayes' tasks will be to research the financial success of
comparable films such as "Man on Fire" and "Erin Brockovich" to
help prepare a business plan for investors in the film. Hayes's
e-mail address is kimbos424@hotmail.com.
2005 graduate
Brittiny Dunlap is a reporter for Suburban News Publications
in the Columbus, Ohio, area. She covers the city of Worthington
and the New Albany schools. The web address is http://www.snponline.com.
"It is a great stepping stone for me, and a well-respected organization,"
she said. "I am thoroughly looking forward to starting my career
there." The SBP publications have a combined circulation of 200,000.
Brittany's e-mail address is brittiny.dunlap@gmail.com.
 2005
graduate Annette Randall is working at Performance PR Plus.
The Charlotte-based firm handles media relations, at-track hospitality,
event management, brand management and other PR-related work for
top motorsports performers and their sponsors. It's known for its
work with the stars of NASCAR. Randall will be working with driver
Brent Sherman; he recently signed to drive in the NASCAR Busch Series
with ppc Racing. "He'll be in the No. 15 Serta Mattress-Hickory
Farms-Consort for Men Ford Taurus for 10 races this season, and
for the full season next year," she explained. "I'll be traveling
quite a bit." This summer, Randall is traveling with Sherman's team
to races at Chicagoland Speedway, Watkins Glen, Michigan International
Speedway, California Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Kansas
Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International
Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Randall is making her home
in Huntersville, N.C., near Charlotte. Her e-mail address is arandall05@yahoo.com.
Travis Gordon,
a 2004 graduate, is the assistant lot manager at EUE/ ScreenGems
Studios in Wilmington, N.C. "I am the middle man between the productions
that shoot here and the studio itself," Gordon explained. "At this
time, we have two television shows - NBC's "Fathom" and the WB's
"One Tree Hill" - shooting on our lot, with more projects to come."
It pays to get your foot in the door and then work hard - Gordon
started at the studios last summer as a tour guide and worked his
way up to his current position. His e-mail address is tgordon@screengemsstudios.com.
2003 Journalism
alum Jennifer Guarino completed her master's degree in journalism
at the University of Memphis, where she was copy editor for the
Newspaper Research Journal as part of her graduate assistantship,
and she is now a communications specialist for Lifeblood, Memphis'
independent blood bank. "It's an exciting time to be joining
the organization," she said. Her e-mail address is jguarino@gmail.com.
 2003
graduate Mike Trainor is a news assistant at New York One
News, a 24-hour news station that covers the five boroughs of New
York City. "As a news assistant I work mainly in the field, lugging
a camera to press conferences, breaking news events and the occasional
Yankee game," he said. "Half the time I work with a reporter the
other half I am sent out by myself to these events. It's a lot of
long hours and hard work, but being part of the New York news beat
is definitely an amazing experience." Trainor has also begun a career
as a stand-up comedian, regularly playing major clubs around New
York. "Among other things this has led to me landing a part-time
job as assistant producer to a show on Sirius satellite radio's
comedy channel called 'Four Quotas,'" he said. "I handle booking
guests, writing some of the content and appearing regularly on the
air." To read about the Sirius comedy show, see www.4quotas.com
- the photo of Trainor at right is on the site. To read more about
comedy clubs in New York, see www.comedysoapbox.com.
Recent graduate
Rebecca Grice is working in an internship at InStyle magazine,
where she is assiged to handling research and credits. Her e-mail
address is rebecca_grice@instylemag.com.
2002 Corporate
Communications graduate Allyson Brunetti is working as the
production manager on the financial-makeover series "Singletary
Says," a new show set to launch this summer on TV One, a DirecTV
Cable Network. The program will have a "reality" format, and it
stars Michelle Singletary, a nationally syndicated financial columnist
for the Washington Post. It will be shot on location in and around
the Washington, D.C., metro area. Singletary will visit with one
family a week, exploring their goals and helping them outline a
good financial plan. The show will launch this summer on DirecTV
and Comcast. "I'm overseeing all facets of production including
operations, management and producing the creative elements for each
episode," she said. "Previously, I have worked on mutiple shows
for TLC, NBC, WE and Warner Brothers." Brunetti will continue to
live in New York City and work for the production company, Varsity
Entertainment, commuting to D.C. for shooting. Her email address
is brunetti@varsityent.com.
Rady Large,
a 2004 graduate, is free-lancing a series of travel stories for
the Smoky Mountain News (http://www.smokymountainnews.com/) as he
travels from Sylva, N.C., to Santa Cruz, Calif., on his 1984 Honda
CX500 motorcycle with side car. His e-mail address is radylarge@yahoo.com.
2004 graduate
Katrina Arnold is working as a relocation associate with
Prudential in Washington, D.C. She initiates the process for transferees
who work for government agencies such as the FBI, Social Security
Administration, Department of Defense and U.S. Secret Service. "My
next adventure is hopefully graduate school at American University,
right here in D.C.," she said. Her e-mail address is katrinaelaine.arnold@prudential.com.
Andi Petrini
left her job as community editor for the Concord/Kannapolis, N.C.,
Independent Tribune to move up to the Newport News, Va., paper -
a 100,000-circulation daily - where she designs pages and copy edits
on the sports desk. The Daily Press is a Tribune Media paper. "I'm
really excited about the opportunity," she said. "And
I'll be closer to my family for the first time in six years."
Her e-mail address is apetrini55@hotmail.com.
Danielle
Matthews is now working at the University of Maryland University
College and pursuing a master's degree in Science Management with
emphasis in Health Care Administration. Her e-mail address is danielleshanna@hotmail.com.
2004 graduate
Sally Lynch, formerly with InStyle, is the Credits Editor
Shopping Services Editor at Shop Etc. This new magazine was launched
by Hearst in the summer of 2003 to compete with Lucky magazine.
Lynch said she enjoys working in Manhattan. Shop Etc. specializes
in details about fashion, beauty and home. Her e-mail address is
slynch@hearst.com.
2003 graduate
Lauren Vilis Nelson recently left a position as Florida Colleges
Program Manager with Best Buddies International (a non-profit that
creates friendships between people with and without intellectual
disabilities), and she is now working as a community representative
for the Orlando Metro unit of the American Cancer Society. "In addition
to cancer education, I am responsible for the development of Relay
For Life events in each respective community," Nelson said. "Relay
For Life is an amazing event that is about local communities taking
up the fight against cancer, while celebrating and honoring those
who have survived or lost their battles with cancer." Last year
the American Cancer Society raised more than $300 million for cancer
research through relay events, and this year there are more than
4,200 relay events across the U.S. "There's a relay in your area
I'm sure," Nelson said, "get involved!" Nelson's e-mail address
is lauren.nelson@cancer.org.
2004 graduate
Brad Pinkerton is founding president of his own company,
College Signing Day. His CollegeSigningDay.com site is a web-based
athletic recruiting service designed to help high school athletes
gain exposure to college coaches across the nation. Athletes pay
a nominal fee to create their own athletic profile that is made
available for free to a registered list of thousands of college
coaches. "CollegeSigningDay.com is a great tool for high school
athletes who are waiting for their chance to be seen by the right
college," Pinkerton said. His e-mail address is pinke23@hotmail.com.
Immediately
following her graduation in 2004, Marian Bruno backpacked
across Europe then drove from her home in New Orleans to Los Angeles,
where she spent a month job hunting before landing an assistant
role at Evolution, the management/production company that released
the film "Saw." "I have learned so much, working
with a talent manager and working in the same office as literary
managers and producers," she said. "I am currently putting
in my time to get to where I really want to go - film production.
I am also in the process of writing a book." Her e-mail address
is MBruno@evolution-ent.com.
2002 grad Cindy
Beidel is a communications coordinator at National Geographic
in Washington, D.C. She has been with National Geographic for more
than two years and is responsible for media relations regarding
exhibits and live events at headquarters; special projects (film
festivals); traveling exhibits; National Geographic Maps; and National
Geographic Expeditions. She is also the intern coordinator for the
communications department. Her e-mail address is cbeidel@ngs.org.
2002 alum Erica
Stanley is the field director at Lake Snell Perry and Associates
in Washington, D.C. (www.lspa.com).
"Celinda Lake is one of the top pollsters in the field,"
Stanley explained. "We work with Democratic candidates and
progressive-issue campaigns, doing public-opinion research nationwide.
As field director, I am in charge of ALL the logistics for every
survey and focus group we conduct, which includes everything from
finding facilities to helping with survey sampling. I got the job
through a contact, who is also an Elon alum, Tanya Brown.
She had worked here a few years ago. She is now at the Democratic
National Committee. It is a very exciting job, but also very intense,
multi-tasking at its best with very tight deadlines, but it is campaign
season after all, and that's what I love!" Her e-mail address
is estanley@lspa.com.
1997 graduate
Scott Warner, a director with Qorvis Communications
in McLean, Va., is listed on the 2004 "15 To Watch" list, published
by PR News, a weekly newsletter for the public relations and media
relations industry. The list recognizes public relations professionals
who take risks and use innovative approaches to get publicity for
their clients. Warner's work has helped Qorvis become one of the
largest independent PR firms in the Washington, D.C., area. He has
worked in crisis communications for former NBA player Jayson Williams
and the family of congressional intern Chandra Levy, as well as
publicizing product launches and corporate mergers.
2004 graduate
Tim Rosner is an administrative assistant for the Archeological
division of Wetland Studies and Solutions, also known as Thunderbird
Archeology. "The business is very well run and growing quickly,"
Rosner said. "I've been so consumed with finding a job and
place to live that my art has fallen by the wayside; but once I
move into my new apartment I'm planning on getting involved in one
of the local groups of artists and picking up my digital and photographic
work on a more serious level again." Wetland Studies and Solutions
performs development consulting related to wetlands, the Chesapeake
Bay Preservation Act and local government water-resource initiatives.
Rosner's e-mail is trosner@wetlandstudies.com.
2002 graduate
Suzanne George Duffy is a senior account executive
at M Booth & Associates in Manhattan. "I am the lead of
several accounts," she said. "They include American Express
Vacations, Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center and Rocky Mountain
Railtours - as well as continuing work on MGM Mirage, Borgata Hotel
Casino & Spa, and Yahoo! Travel among others." Her e-mail
address is suzanned@mbooth.com.
2003 graduate
Maile Gerken is working as an account executive for WCHS,
the ABC-TV affiliate in Charleston, W.V. "WCHS is a Sinclair
Broadcast Group station, and we're sister stations with WVAH-Fox,"
she said. "I am the number-two seller out of 18 in new-business
sales. I love my job." Gerken's e-mail address is mgerken@sbgnet.com
Brief
bits
Gabriel
Fowlkes, a
2003 graduate, is an assistant for a Hollywood literary manager/producer.
Fowlkes' e-mail address is gsfowlkes@yahoo.com
Debra Bard - deb_bard@hotmail.com- is an associate producer
at WGAL (an NBC station) in Lancaster, Pa.
Maggie Sullivan
- maggiesullivan2@hotmail.com - is an account executive with William
S. Bergman Associates, Washington, D.C.
Sean Carroll
- scarroll79@hotmail.com - is working at a PR firm called New Media
Strategies.
Pamela Gallerani
- nymouseketeer17@yahoo.com - is working with Disney resorts in
Florida.
A
recap of recent alumni updates:
Samiha
Khanna, a 2003 journalism graduate, covers the Raleigh News
& Observer's Durham police beat. Her e-mail address is skhanna@newsobserver.com.
2003 graduate Laura Flynn is working in the marketing department
of the Streets at Southpoint in Durham, N.C. The shopping center
is one of the largest in the region. It was one of those she had
studied for her Elon Senior Seminar research project: "Trends in
American Malls to Attract Generation Y Using Emotional Branding."
"Im handling more corporate publishing and advertising than
many of my peers," she said. Her e-mail address is laurae2003@yahoo.com.
Jen Shelton,
a 2003 graduate, is community sports coordinator for the Daily Record
in Hickory, N.C. She handles local recreational and school sports
coverage for the newspaper, which is part of the Media General chain.
Her e-mail address is jenshelton22@yahoo.com.
Gillian
Eagan, a 2003 graduate, is working as a page at NBC-TV in Rockefeller
Center in New York City. The NBC page program has produced some
of NBC's top professionals, including Elon graduate Loren Burlando,
who now works behind the scenes as an assistant producer at "Dateline
NBC." Eagan's e-mail address is GRED88@aol.com.
Kellie Brielmaier,
a 2003 graduate, is assistant to the executive vice president of
the Franklin Institute, a Philadelphia science museum dedicated
to outreach and education. In addition to her work with fund-raising
and internal public relations, she organizes the annual Franklin
Institute Awards. Past winners include Alexander Graham Bell, Pierre
and Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Brielmaier's e-mail address is kbrielmaier@fi.edu.
Shelby Brown
is a reporter/producer at WITN, the NBC affiliate in the Greenville-Washington-New
Bern, N.C., market. "I went to interview for a news producing
position, and they ended up offering me an on-air contract on the
spot," Brown said. "Needless to say, I'm thrilled!"
Her e-mail address is: shelbyvbrown@att.net.
Emily Matesic,
a 1999 graduate, works at WTAJ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Altoona,
Pa. She'd spent the previous two and a half years as a weekend anchor/weekday
reporter at WENY, the ABC affiliate in Elmira, N.Y. Matesic won
a first-place award in a New York Associated Press broadcast competition
for a 90-minute special she produced to commemorate the anniversary
of the September 11th attacks. Her e-mail address is emilymatesic@journalism.com.
Amy Medders Turner, a 1999 graduate, is living in Centreville,
Va., where she works as a direct-mail copy writer for Hecht's, a
division of the May Company - owner of many U.S. department stores.
She earned her master's degree in mass communication and journalism
from the University of Georgia, then began with Hecht's. Her e-mail
address is amturner77@cox.net.
Brendon
Hamlin, a 1992 graduate, is the senior writer/producer in the
on-air promotions department for the SPEED channel. The cable/satellite
television channel is one of the Fox networks, and its main offices
are located in Charlotte. His e-mail address is bhamlin@speedtv.com.
Jessica
Messier, a 2003 graduate, works in MTV's Music and Talent Development
division in New York. Her e-mail address is Jessica.Messier@mtvstaff.com.
Danielle
Matthews, a 2003 graduate, works at Advice Unlimited, a public
relations firm in Olney, Md. Her e-mail address is: danielle@adviceunlimited.net.
Brian
Hetherington is with Retail Sports Marketing Inc. in Charlotte,
working with accounts for Wal-Mart, NAPA, Camping World, Energizer,
Remington, Klaussner and NASCAR. Hetherington's e-mail address is
brianh@retailsportsmarketing.com.
Lauren Cooper, a 2002 grad, is assistant director of public
relations for the Big South athletic conference.
Michelle Cater Rash, a 1999 graduate, is Focus reporter for
the Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad. Prior to pursuing
this position, she had been at the Greensboro News & Record for
about four years. Her e-mail address is mrash@bizjournals.com.
Kate Botty, a 2002 journalism graduate, has completed a master's
degree in elementary education at the University of Bridgeport.
Her e-mail address is katebotty@yahoo.com.
Allison Deiboldt, a 2002 graduate, is working in New York
as a research analyst for ABC Kids, a division of Disney. Her portfolio
includes programming on ABC, the Family Channel, Disney Channel
and Toon Disney. Her e-mail address is Allison.Deiboldt@disney.com
1998 graduate Allison Storelli, is an associate producer
for ABC-TV's popular morning talk show "The View." The
program features Barbara Walters, Meredith Viera, Joy Behar and
Star Jones. Her
e-mail address is: Allison.Storelli@abc.com.
2003 graduate Kellen Taylor turned a 2002 summer internship
at MSNBC into a full-time job. She is a production assistant at
the cable news network on its weekend morning show. Taylor's e-mail
address is Kellen.Taylor@MSNBC.com.
Katherine Baggott, a 2003 graduate, is employed in Washington,
D.C., at Corporate Executive Board, a company doing research across
many industries, providing best-practices research, executive education
and decision-support tools. Baggott's address is kbaggott@excite.com.
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