2023 QuickStart Speakers
BJ Fischer, President, Strategy by Fischer
B. J. Fischer has over two decades of experience in public relations. He has been part of a Silver Anvil award-winning team, along with winning a Diamond Award from the East Central District of PRSA and an Addy.
He founded Strategy by Fischer to provide high-level counsel to clients. He is a past President of the Press Club of Toledo.
Twitter: @fischerbj
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjfischer/
Mark Pompilio, Solvita Public Relations & Marketing Manager
Mark is the public relations and marketing manager for Solvita, the regional blood center and global tissue center headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, formerly known as Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services.
Mark is currently secretary of the PRSA East Central District executive board of directors.
He is a past president of PRSA Dayton. He joined CBC/CTS in 2011 after a 30-year career in print and broadcast journalism, including 10 years as primary anchor at WKEF/WRGT-TV in Dayton.
CBC/CTS social media:
Facebook.com/CommunityBldCenter
X: @blooddonor
Instagram: community_blood
WordPress: communitybloodcenter.WordPress.com
Linda Thomas Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, PRSA
Linda Thomas Brooks, PRSA’s Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for all program, financial, and operational aspects of the organization. Reporting to and collaborating closely with PRSA’s Board of Directors, she guides the development and implementation of PRSA’s strategic vision and plan, as well as the programs and policy positions necessary to support the membership.
Since joining PRSA in 2021, Thomas Brooks has had the opportunity to meet members from across PRSA’s 110 Chapters, 14 professional Sections, and interact with members of PRSSA, PRSA’s student organization. She has been able to bring her experiences intersecting communications, marketing, media and technology to the role, helping communicators navigate through current challenges in the profession.
Through her previous role as President and CEO of the Association of Magazine Media, Thomas Brooks gained experience in driving systemic change and structural realignment. While there she led an organization which provided business, research, marketing and government affairs support to hundreds of media client brands. She has been at the forefront of industry change in her role as Executive Vice President, Managing Director of General Motors Mediaworks, a media strategy and investment unit representing all the divisions and brands within General Motors. She and her team were responsible for approximately $750 million in annual media spending.
Other pivotal career experiences included serving as President, Ingenuity Media at The Martin Agency and working with innovative technology companies such as Trilogy and Gear Digital, an omni-channel, full-service agency which she co-founded and served as President.
Thomas Brooks has been recognized with many industry awards, including being named an Ad Age Women to Watch, as well as one of Folio’s Top 100 Execs and one of the Leading Woman in Automotive Marketing. She has also been presented with an AWNY Impact Award for Mentoring and was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement. She is one of the founding executives of the nonprofit Institute for Advertising Ethics.
Thomas Brooks graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in journalism. She resides in Westchester County, N.Y.
Ben Brugler, CEO, AKHIA Communications
Dillan Kanya, Digital Analyst, AKHIA Communications
Kristy Freeman – Client Success Representative
Kristy Freeman is a seasoned professional with two decades of customer-service experience and over 12 years in leadership and instruction roles. Pioneering the Client Success role at Epic Web Studios, Kristy’s background includes a major in Communications from West Liberty – then State College but now University. Her recent role as a Patient Access Team Lead at Forefront Dermatology involved coaching and growing a team of over 25 representatives, optimizing productivity, and boosting employee morale. She also excelled as a Clinic Manager at Milan Laser Hair Removal, showcasing remarkable sales skills, client management, and team leadership. Kristy’s diverse background includes instructional roles at the American Red Cross and Paul Mitchell the School. Recognized for her dedication to volunteer work and community engagement, Kristy is adept in customer service, public speaking, sales, and leadership.
Jessica Cozzens – Executive Coordinator
Jessica Cozzens currently holds the position of Executive Coordinator at Epic Web Studios, leveraging her detail-oriented approach to excel in problem-solving, communication, and client service. In her role, she serves as one of the pivotal links between the executive team, clients, and the entire company. With a prior role in administration at the Alzheimer’s Association, Jessica honed her skills by offering comprehensive support to various departments, processing donations, organizing meetings, and dispatching ALZ Walk materials. Her versatile skills were extended to other roles including, but not limited to, office management, facilitating interviews, and meticulously handling paperwork administration. In her academic journey, she graduated from high school with honors then to earning a place on the Dean’s List while studying Graphic Design at South University.
Sean Williams – Associate Teaching Professor
Sean Williams is an Associate Teaching Professor at Bowling Green State University. He is also Executive Director and CEO of the International PR Research Conference, a member of the Institute for Public Relations Measurement Commission, the PRSA Employee Communication section, NCA and AEMJC. Prior to joining BGSU in 2019, he held senior communication positions with KeyCorp, National City Corporation, Goodyear, True Digital Communications, and his own company, Communication AMMO.