2008 Board Members
PRSSA Chair: Celine Thomasson, APR
Celine Thomasson, APR is a Communications and Public Affairs Management Consultant for NeighborWorks® America based out of San Antonio but working throughout the Western United States. Prior to working for this community development non-profit organization she worked with the American Heart Association, and the City of San Antonio. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received her Master of Science in Urban Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. A member of PRSA for over 20 years she received a Silver Anvil Award in 1996 for work on the grand opening of the “enchilada red” San Antonio Public Library, and has previously served the local chapter as Treasurer and Accreditation Chair.
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Job Bank Coordinator: Russell Guerrero
Russell Guerrero is the public information officer for Trinity University's Office of University Communications. He has been with the University since 1996. Prior to that, Russell worked at KMOL-TV (now WOAI-TV), the NBC affiliate in San Antonio, where for 10 years he was a writer/producer in the Creative Services department. Before becoming a writer/producer, he worked as a production assistant and then as a technical director for the television station for four years. Russell received a bachelor's degree in journalism, broadcast and film from Trinity University.
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Awards Program Chair: Paige Ramsey-Palmer
Paige Ramsey-Palmer, APR, is corporate communications officer for San Antonio Federal Credit Union (SACU), a major credit union headquartered in San Antonio. She has served as president, president elect and secretary of the San Antonio Chapter of PRSA, has been a PRSA member since 1998 and is accredited through PRSA with the APR designation.
Ramsey-Palmer received a degree in history and English from Baylor University, and did post-graduate work in Madrid, Spain; Oslo, Norway; and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is author of a juvenile non-fiction book, Young Troopers: Stories of Army Children on the Frontier, published by The Western National Parks Assn. in Tucson, Ariz. She is past president of Women Writing the West, a national writers’ organization, and has served on the Historical Landmark Commission in Boerne, Texas. Her interests include research and writing, nutrition, tennis, archaeology, travel, and all kinds of music, particularly opera.
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Awards Program Tri-Chair: Abbey Forney
Abbey Forney is the communications director for Urology San Antonio, one of South Texas’ largest physician practices. She oversees internal and external marketing and communications efforts for 25 urologists at multiple city-wide locations. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a degree in journalism/public relations. Prior to joining Urology San Antonio in 2004, Abbey worked in healthcare marketing in a hospital setting. She is a member of PRSA and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD).
Awards Program Tri-Chair: Nancy Arispe
A native of San Antonio, Nancy Irene Arispe has worked in the areas of fundraising and communications for more than 30 years. A graduate of Providence High School, Arispe’s first employer was her alma mater, St. Mary’s University. There, she served as grants director, writing proposals for funding from public and private agencies and foundations. Later, as university relations director, she headed the public relations and advertising programs and was editor of the university and alumni magazine, The Gold & Blue.
Following her 11-year tenure at St. Mary’s, Arispe was employed as community relations manager for the regional planning commission, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), handling communications with its member governments and the news media.
From 1995 to 2006, Arispe worked as creative and communications director for United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. As creative director, she wrote and helped design the products that our local United Way uses to sustain its annual campaigns, including its campaign video, TV spots, outdoor billboard and print material. As communications director, Arispe handled all news and information duties for United Way.
Since Sept. 1, 2006, Arispe has enjoyed the privilege of serving The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as its executive director for communications. In this post, she helps lead a remarkably talented and genuinely committed external affairs team in the promotion of the programs, discoveries and achievements of the Health Science Center via media relations, publications (both print and online), a branding initiative and video programs produced at the request of the office of the president.
Arispe is extremely grateful that her work products have been recognized by professional organizations including, over the past 10 years, seven video production awards from the San Antonio chapter of the Association for Women in Communications and three PRSA El Bronce awards, also for video production. However, without a doubt, she will always consider PRSA’s Pubic Relations Professional of the Year award to be the recognition for which she is most proud -- and an honor that she shares with all of her PR friends, colleagues and teammates who daily teach her important lessons in communications and life.
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Awards Program Tri-Chair: Josie Villela
(Pending.)
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Hospitality Chair: Christine Kleha
As the president and working partner of San Antonio-based esd&associates, Christine specializes in focusing the creative energies of the agency team. She received her BSW from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where she honed her financial, writing and administrative skills. Beginning her writing career early as a Program Coordinator and Grant Writer for the Children’s Shelter of San Antonio, she continued to attend college fulltime. Christine then applied her abilities to the challenges available with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services before partnering with the esd&associates team.
Her persuasive writing skills, backed by her solid research techniques, have earned numerous grant award recognitions for many regional non-profit organizations and strong communication skills include more than 15 years of experience in persuasive copywriting, editing and research analysis. She is distinguished in the esd&associates office for her ability to motivate and delegate responsibilities among team members during campaign development. Under her direction, esd&associates has achieved Bronze Quill, Point of Purchase Advertising Industry, PRSA and ADDY awards for a variety of marketing campaigns. Christine’s leadership on accounts such as USAA, Community First Health Plans, KCI, Texas Diabetes Institute, SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas State University-San Marcos and others has helped propel the firm’s growing recognition in the South and Central Texas markets. Christine has lent her talents to the PRSA board since 2005.
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Hospitality Co Chair: Randy Escamilla
Randy Escamilla always knew he was going places. However, he could never foresee that a career change into public relations would have a profound change on his life which among other things involves saving African babies from AIDS. As a child Randy would pretend to be a TV news reporter. He later would fulfill his dream by graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism in 1987. His journey in the fast-paced world of TV news took him throughout the United States and Mexico covering national disasters, presidential visits and the visits of Pope John Paul II. Then in 2003, after great reflection, Randy decided to leave TV news and took a leap of faith. He didn’t know where he was going but he knew something great was about to occur. Less than a year later, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word were looking for someone to be their Director of Public Relations. The job posted in the newspaper read, “master’s degree required.” But that didn’t deter Randy. He applied anyway, beat out more than 70 applicants, and got the job. Since becoming a public relations practitioner in 2006, Randy has taken the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word from obscurity to local prominence. The great works of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word is regularly featured in broadcast and print media.
In 2007, Randy helped the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word raise close to $400,000 for the beautiful Chapel of the Incarnate Word and an additional $50,000 to help save African babies from AIDS. He also travelled to Africa to produce a documentary on Sisters’ mission in Zambia. Last year, Randy received the PRSA-San Antonio Del Oro Award for Creative Tactics. He’s the past recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists National Mark of Excellence for Best Television Documentary and the San Antonio Diez y Seis Commission Award for Involvement with the Hispanic Community.
Randy was born in Silver City, N.M. and in his senior year his family moved to Roswell where he attended Roswell High School. In addition to the leadership he provides to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Randy sits on the Board of the Public Relations Society of America-San Antonio Chapter, the Farmington Commons Homeowners Association Board, and is chairman of the Lambda Group at Madison Square Presbyterian Church.
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Professional Development Chair and Assistant Vice President of Membership: Rebecca Villarreal
(Pending.)
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Advocacy Chair and Marilyn Potts Endowment Chair: Kami Watson Huyse, APR
Kami Watson Huyse, APR, principal of My PR Pro, is a public relations consultant based in San Antonio. She is a top-ranked public relations blogger and has developed an expertise in utilizing social media tools to forge relationships with key stakeholders.
Additionally, she has an extensive background in crisis communication and reputation management, focus group research and significant experience working with the media. She has garnered coverage for her clients in media outlets such as the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the CBS Early Show and the San Antonio Express-News, among others.
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Sponsorship Chair: Esmeralda "Mela" Perez
Esmeralda “Mela” Perez is the Manager of Communications and Community Development for the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), one of only 58 non-profit 501(c)(3), independent, federally-designated Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the United States dedicated to educating and providing organ donation and recovery services to families wishing to donate and to those waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Founded in 1975, TOSA serves 56 counties with an estimated population of 6 million. She is responsible for community outreach and educational programs, as well as Donor Family and Volunteers Services.
Perez is a member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, American Marketing Association, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce, and Vital Alliance. Offices held include, Board Member for the San Antonio Chapter of the Public Relations Society and serving as the 2008 Sponsorship Chair; Board Member for Vital Alliance and serving as Corporate Sponsor Committee Chair for the Vital Alliance – 10th Annual Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Run/Walk; Designated Representative for Team Texas for Donate Life America Donor Designation Collaborative.
Perez has over 16 years of professional work experience in both the public and private sector of the business community. She has served as a Marketing Liaison for CHRISTUS Transplant Institute, Trainer for CHROMALLOY, Director of Career Service for the University of the Incarnate Word and Associate Director for the United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County. Perez obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration – Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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Communications (Web Site Manager) Chair: Patty Constantin
Patty Constantin is the sports and news information officer at Our Lady of the Lake University Communications and Marketing Department. She joined the Communications and Marketing staff of Our Lady of the Lake University in February 2006.
Patty has 21 years of experience in communications. After graduating from college, Patty relocated to Washington, D.C., and worked for the U.S. Navy publication, Surface Warfare Magazine, where she served as assistant editor. She then transferred back to San Antonio as a management assistant at Kelly Air Force Base. Just a year before Kelly Air Force Base closed, Patty left civil service and joined the communications and marketing staff of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures. While there, Patty served as media spokesperson for the Institute as well as for the Texas Folklife Festival.
In 2000, Patty was hired as a public relations representative for SeaWorld San Antonio, and in 2004, she became SeaWorld’s education and special markets representative.
Patty has received numerous awards for her work in public relations. She is a member of PRSA, AWC, the alumni associations of St. Mary’s University and Incarnate Word High School, St. Brigid Catholic Church and the Texas Public Relations Association.
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Byline Editor: Carol Schliesinger
Carol Schliesinger is the director of public relations at Southwest Mental Health Center, the only nonprofit, psychiatric hospital for children in South Texas. She is responsible for community outreach, media relations and public relations efforts to raise awareness about children’s mental health issues in the San Antonio community.
Previously, Schliesinger worked at the former Montemayor y Asociados where she handled a broad range of clients with accounts in the Hispanic market, including: Continental Airlines, Copa Airlines, DaimlerChrysler, The Gambrinus Company (importers of Corona beer), Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jose Cuervo Tequila and the Internal Revenue Service.
Carol serves as a contributing writer for the San Antonio Conservation Society Journal. She also serves on several boards of directors, including the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the San Antonio Chapter of the PRSA. Additionally, Carol has worked closely with the Bexar County Mental Health Taskforce, the Greater San Antonio Mental Health Association and the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse.
Schliesinger received the 2006 PRSA San Antonio Del Oro Horizon Award. The San Antonio Business Journal recognized Schliesinger with the Health Care Hero Award for Community Outreach in 2005.
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Assistant Byline Editor: Melissa Vela-Williamson
Melissa Vela-Williamson is the Diversity Specialist for H-E-B at its San Antonio corporate headquarters. In this role, Vela-Williamson oversees and drives internal diversity knowledge and awareness initiatives, including training and communication efforts, which underline H-E-B's strong commitment to diversity. She is also responsible for strengthening relationships with community organizations that align with H-E-B's diversity commitment.
Vela-Williamson was previously the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas. In her position, she planned, directed and executed all public relations and marketing activities for the San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Kerrville, Laredo, McAllen and New Braunfels areas. Vela-Williamson led the nonprofit to be recognized by the San Antonio Public Relations Society in 2005 and 2006 and has been personally awarded the PRSA Horizon Award from the San Antonio chapter.
Vela-Williamson has a bachelor's degree in English/Communication Arts from St. Mary’s University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Communication at the University of Texas San Antonio.
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PRSA Ombudsman: Charles Kenworthy, APR, Fellow PRSA
Charles W. Kenworthy served in the Naval Reserve in WWII 1943-1946. He was a petty officer aboard a landing craft on D-Day, June 6, 1944 for the Normandy Invasion; he was honorably discharged. He graduated in 1949 from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in journalism and served as chapter president of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
His career began as a police reporter for the Galveston Texas Tribune. He was a wire rewrite and news reporter for WOAI-Radio and WOAI-TV in San Antonio, stringer correspondent for United Press and International News Services. He has served as public relations director for National Bank of Commerce, later St. Mary's University; vice-president of communications for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; executive director of public relations at USAA; manager of the San Antonio office of Hill & Knowlton, Inc.; president of BSM Consultants of San Antonio; owner of CK Public Relations and the executive director of the Texas Public Relations Association.
Charles' involvement in civic activities range from serving as president of the Parent's Council for Special Education, NEISD; president of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Bexar County; to president of the San Antonio chapter of PRSA.
He holds an Accredited Public Relations (APR) from PRSA and later was admitted to PRSA's College of Fellows. He holds awards from Golden Spur, Silver Spur and Best of Texas from TPRA; Outstanding Service to Public Relations, St. Mary's University; Del Oro Tex Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award, PRSA-SA; 2006 Walter McAllister Community Service Award, S.A. Kiwanis.
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