Scott Carpenter, APR, is director of public relations for Metroparks of the Toledo Area, a regional government agency preserving nearly 11,000 acres of natural areas and historic sites in Lucas County, Ohio. He is responsible for media relations, marketing, internal communications and public affairs.
Scott was founding president of the Lake Erie Costal Ohio National Scenic Byway and has also served as president of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio and Hostelling International-Toledo Area Council. A former award-winning reporter and editor for community newspapers in northwest Ohio and a freelance writer specializing in outdoors and environmental topics, he has worked in public relations since 1997.
Past President/Newsletter Editor
LYNNETTE WERNING, APR
Lynnette Werning, APR, recently poured her 17 years of experience in public relations, marketing and media into opening Blue Water Communications. The client base reflects the firm's expertise in museum and destination marketing, authors and professional speakers, industrial public relations, non-profit agencies, and aviation communications.
Previously, Lynnette was the vice president of an integrated marketing communications agency, account supervisor for a nationally recognized public relations and marketing firm, the external communications manager at the Toledo Museum of Art, division director for the March of Dimes, and an assistant director at WTOL-TV. Lynnette is a graduate of the University of Toledo.
President–Elect/Assembly Chair
SARAH BEDNARSKI
Sarah Bednarski is Manager of Media Relations for Mercy Health Partners. In this role, Sarah leads the media relations efforts of the health system and the four Mercy hospitals and their services in Toledo: St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, St. Charles Mercy Hospital, St. Anne Mercy Hospital and St. Vincent Mercy Children’s Hospital. In addition, Sarah is responsible for the issues management and crisis communications plans for Mercy Health Partners and its facilities.
Prior to joining Mercy Health Partners in 2001, Sarah worked at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in public relations and marketing.
Sarah is involved in the community and has been active in various organizations. Currently, she serves as secretary for the board of Catholic Charities and chairs the Marketing subcommittee for the organization.
Sarah holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University.
Vice President/Membership Chair
SUZANNE WILCOX ENGLISH
Suzanne Wilcox English is director of public information at The University of Findlay, a position she has held since 2006. She is responsible for University marketing, public relations, advertising, print publications, graphic design and electronic communications. She also served two years as adviser of UF’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and taught the PR practicum course.
Suzanne began her career as a print journalist in Pennsylvania, winning awards including Best News Reporting from the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. She previously served as director of media relations and team leader in charge of public relations at St. Bonaventure University in Western New York, where she assisted the University in dealing with a national PR crisis as part of an award-winning team response.
A native of Duke Center, Pennsylvania, she is a proud graduate of St. Bonaventure with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.
She is a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church and its Archangel Choir and leader of its Catholic Singles Alive ministry. She also volunteers with the Long Term Recovery Committee of Hancock County and has held board positions in leadership development and crisis pregnancy support organizations.
Secretary
Kelly Fritz Garrow, APR
Kelly has been the director of communications at the Toledo Museum of Art since March of 2009. In that capacity she is responsible for public relations, marketing and visitor services. Prior to coming to the Museum, she worked as a development and public relations manager for Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio for eight years. She is a 1988 graduation of Bowling Green State University (Journalism) and has 20 years of experience in various non-profit and for-profit communications and management positions. Kelly received her APR accreditation in September of 2007 and completed her master's degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University in May of 2009.
Treasurer
JOYCE HUNTLEY
Joyce Huntley is the director of public relations at WSOS Community Action Commission Inc., where she has been for the past eight years. She also has worked with the Gannet Corporation as a reporter and editorial page editor at Gannett’s Fremont newspaper The News-Messenger.
Joyce graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in English (BA) and earned a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Tiffin University.
Director-at-Large/Accreditation
TIM LANGHORST, APR
PRSSA Liaison
Jeanette Drake
Jeanette Drake, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, is an associate professor and public relations consultant with 20+ years of experience in higher education, nonprofit public relations and corporate communication. She developed a master’s program in public relations at Kent State University and currently teaches at The University of Findlay, where she founded a chapter of PRSSA and chairs the Department of Communication.
Her research focuses on public relations ethics, social justice and environmental communication with a focus on food. She is particularly interested in the influence of framing on public dialogue about health, the environment and subsequently on public policy. Recent publications include "Is agriculture spinning out of control?" in Case Studies in Organizations (Sage, 1996); "Food fights: Reclaiming public relations and reframing a runaway food system" in Communication Activism, Vol. 3 (Hampton Press; in production); and “Subterfusion of innovations: PR methods used to diffuse and defuse controversial new processes in food production” in Ohio Communication Journal (Oct. 2009).
Before returning to the academy, Jeanette managed strategic communication for various organizations in Columbus, including the YMCA of Central Ohio and The Ohio State University, where she served as a senior editor and member of the news bureau.
A past president of the Northwest Ohio and Akron Area chapters, she also serves on the boards of the East Central District and National Educators Academy.
Jeanette holds degrees in journalism and social and behavioral sciences from The Ohio State University and a Ph. D. in communication studies from Bowling Green State University.
Director-at-Large
Jamie Bibb
Jamie currently is employed with Communica Inc. and serves as one of the account leads for the agency’s largest client – a position she has held since May 2009. Before joining Communica, Jamie served as the manager, marketing communications for Dana Holding Corporation’s Automotive Systems Group, a role she had since 2006. She joined Dana in 1998 for an internship in global operations group and held various marketing positions since 2000.
During her tenure at Dana, she managed public relations efforts during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and emergence, employee layoffs, several union negotiations and worked with the automotive trade press.
Jamie earned a bachelor of business administration from the University of Toledo, majoring in international business and marketing as well as a minor in Japanese language and culture. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University.
Director-at-Large/Advocacy
JULIE POMPA, APR
Julie Pompa, APR, is an account manager at The Lauerer Markin Group, Inc.
Chapter Administrator
KARI L. BUCHER
Kari Bucher works part-time as the communications coordinator at Lutheran Homes Society. In recent years, she also has worked as a public relations coordinator on special projects at St. Luke’s Hospital. As administrator for the chapter, she arranges the monthly meetings, takes reservations, maintains contact with members and strives to answer questions (or will find the board member who can answer them). In short, she keeps the chapter running smoothly.
Kari’s full-time occupation is mom to four school-age children. Prior to staying home for several years to be with her children, she worked for 10 years as an account associate for Teresa M. Arnold & Associates, a local public relations firm. Kari graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University.
Ethics Officer
MARK LUETKE, APR
Mark Luetke, APR, is president of the Toledo-based public relations and advertising firm of FLS Marketing, Inc. In addition to serving as the firm's chief executive officer, Mr. Luetke provides senior-level communication counsel to the firm's clients. He also speaks regularly on topics related to strategic communications planning, media relations and marketing trends.
Mr. Luetke received a B.Ed. in journalism and social science from The University of Toledo, and did graduate work in American Studies at Bowling Green State University. He is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America and a member of its Counselors Academy.
He is currently an elected member of the Sylvania City Council and vice chairman of the Toledo-Lucas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He serves on the boards of the Toledo Community Foundation, COSI Toledo and Double ARC and was previously president and a member of the Sylvania Board of Education.
Kelly has been the director of communications at the Toledo Museum of Art since March of 2009. In that capacity she is responsible for public relations, marketing and visitor services. Prior to coming to the Museum, she worked as a development and public relations manager for Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio for eight years. She is a 1988 graduation of Bowling Green State University (Journalism) and has 20 years of experience in various non-profit and for-profit communications and management positions. Kelly received her APR accreditation in September of 2007 and completed her master's degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University in May of 2009.
Joyce Huntley is the director of public relations at WSOS Community Action Commission Inc., where she has been for the past eight years. She also has worked with the Gannet Corporation as a reporter and editorial page editor at Gannett’s Fremont newspaper The News-Messenger.
Jeanette Drake, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, is an associate professor and public relations consultant with 20+ years of experience in higher education, nonprofit public relations and corporate communication. She developed a master’s program in public relations at Kent State University and currently teaches at The University of Findlay, where she founded a chapter of PRSSA and chairs the Department of Communication.
Jamie currently is employed with Communica Inc. and serves as one of the account leads for the agency’s largest client – a position she has held since May 2009. Before joining Communica, Jamie served as the manager, marketing communications for Dana Holding Corporation’s Automotive Systems Group, a role she had since 2006. She joined Dana in 1998 for an internship in global operations group and held various marketing positions since 2000.
Kari Bucher works part-time as the communications coordinator at Lutheran Homes Society. In recent years, she also has worked as a public relations coordinator on special projects at St. Luke’s Hospital. As administrator for the chapter, she arranges the monthly meetings, takes reservations, maintains contact with members and strives to answer questions (or will find the board member who can answer them). In short, she keeps the chapter running smoothly.