MEET NEW MEMBERS | AUGUST 2007

Kelley Ingebretson

Kelley writes: "I am an Account Manager at Dobies Healthcare Group, a Kansas City-based advertising and marketing communications firm specializing in health care. I have been with Dobies for almost seven years after moving to Kansas City in August of 2000. In my current position I handle a variety of clients with a variety of needs including print and Web materials. I believe my detailed (and often anal) nature helps me to be successful in my work. My greatest pleasure is to be involved with a project from the beginning to the end and to know that I helped in the development process."

Posted 8/15/07

Linda Spencer Strelluf

Linda writes: "I have been engaged in the study and practice of oral and written communication for as long as I can remember.  Following this interest, I received a BA in Speech from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned a Master's degree in both Film and Literature from Baker University.

"Before coming to Avila, I was employed as a company agent for Starlight Theatre, worked on promotions for national theatre chain, participated in Project Write, lectured on how to overcome the fear of public speaking and conducted seminars on how to access creativity.  In 1986 I founded a small company and in 1998, affiliated with Country Sampler Group.  In addition to AWC, I am a member of the Public Relation's Society of America (PRSA) .

"Currently, I am an assistant professor in the communication department at Avila University.  I teach a variety of classes including communication fundamentals, public relations, film studies, American pop culture, mass media and society, and promotional writing."

Posted 11/7/06

Robin Iori

Robin Iori came to town in late August 2006, just in time to attend the AWC conference in Kansas City in September.   She followed her husband, Ron, who also works in public relations.  For more than a decade, she has run her own firm, Iori & Associates, providing communications services of all kinds to companies and professional services firms.  Prior to that, she was marketing director for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, one of the world's largest law firms, and handled projects as a senior account exec for Hill & Knowlton and other public relations firms.  Robin has set up shop in Overland Park and is looking for part-time work or projects to do.  She has lived in a number of cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit.  Always an AWC member (since college), Robin got her very first job with a Blue Cross firm through AWC and is very loyal. (She also understands benefits plans and can write employee brochures about them.)

Posted 11/7/06

Janice Burkhead

Janice is the Corporate Editor at Lee's Summit-based GEHA, a national health plan for federal employees. Her responsibilities include both online and print communications for plan members and prospective members as well as for GEHA employees. Previously, Janice held both creative and account management positions in a number of advertising agencies and corporate advertising departments. She also worked as a freelance writer and editor in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Chicago area and Atlanta.

Christine Rupert

Christine enjoys communicating through art—designing, painting, drawing, creating illustrations and computer graphic art. 

A May 2004 graduate, she learned fine art and graphic art skills at the University of St. Mary, Leavenworth, where she took classes in many areas, including oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, drawing, ceramics, photography, PhotoShop, Illustrator, AdobeInDesign, and Web design. Christine received the Miller Award for her photography and was named to the Delta Epsilon Sigma honor society. As a student intern in the art department, she helped prepare the gallery for art shows, prepared materials for use in art classes and maintained the slide catalog. She designed and created bookmarks listing all of this year’s meetings, and helping with other design projects.

Pola Firestone

Since 1997, Pola Firestone has owned BookWorks, a book publishing, marketing and consulting business. BookWorks has been involved with the publication of more than 200 business and self-help books as well as commemorative books that celebrate the people and history of  the Kansas City area.

Pola teaches entrepreneurship classes at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, and serves as a business counselor for First Step Fund, a nonprofit agency that provides business training and support to low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs. She is also a business consultant for the Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College. Pola enjoys helping individuals share their knowledge and enhance their careers through writing and publishing.

Updated 11/7/06