About the Authors
[Editor's Note 1/29/10: This list still needs to be updated with the bios and headshots of our newest authors. Check this post for their info.]
[Editor's Note: Because we like to have fun and get to know each other all (excluding 1) of the following author biographies were written not by the author themselves, but by other PR Breakfast Club authors following interviews with the subject and their friends (if necessary). The biography writers are noted.]
Authors
Danielle Cyr (by Heather Duiett)
Danielle is an Account Manager at Co-Communications and PR Breakfast Club’s resident Pastry Chef. While insuring the raccoon stays on the treadmill so Connecticut has power, Danielle bakes up award-winning PR campaigns. This sweetheart is a recipe for success proven by nearly a dozen PR and Advertising accolades. Danielle graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Hartford and a minor in retail therapy. Future blog posts may define the power of persuasion with chocolate and cupcakes.
TJ Dietderich (by Christina Khoury)
Monday through Friday we can find TJ at the humble abode called Planned Television Arts pounding away at her keyboard and tossing her think ball (a neon yellow softball), as she comes up with some amazing pitch. TJ is the Social Media Coordinator at PTA and maintains so many clients that any day now her head should start to spin like that little girl from The Exorcist. When TJ isn’t submitting the interactive world to her ninja pitching (yes ninja, at least that’s what we try to call it), you can find her on Tuesdays at the Village Pour House singing her heart out or jamming on a plastic guitar, sipping a G&T during their Rock Band Nights. This Emerson grad enjoys a nice glass of wine after a hard day at work and writing in her fairly new blog TJ Dietderich and Her Many Exploits. Don’t believe her sweet demeanor and cute façade; this woman will take everything you’ve got and leave you with just a shirt in a poker game. Oh and we’d think twice about picking her for a wiffleball team…just a warning. [Editor's Note: TJ also serves as PRBreakfastClub's unofficial copy editor 
]
Jess Greco (by Marie V-B and Kate Ottavio)
A lover of all things pink, this girly-girl will inspire you with her quick wit and insight to the Social Media/Public Relations world. A huge foodie and wine connoisseur, Jess can lend her creative thoughts to many different topics. After graduating from NYU, Jess has spent the last year demonstrating her social media prowess at a NJ public relations firm and is now starting her post-grad career as an account coordinator at a Manhattan PR agency. In her spare time you can find Jess running the unofficial Dunkin’ Donuts fan club, rockin’ out to Lady Gaga, struggling with Adam Lambert’s American Idol loss, and dressing her dog in Juicy Couture clothing.
Sherri Haymond (by CT Michaels)
After surviving Duke University, Penn Law School and way too long as a corporate finance lawyer [Editor's Note: we like her anyway], investment banker and hedge fund analyst, Sherri bid farewell to her past life and said hello (via Walkie-Talkie) to a new life as president and PR gal of @WY20. Mom to Mack and Wife to Jason (The Red Power Ranger), Sherri has a full dinner plate, but yet still finds the time to grace the #prbc with her presence and insightful thought. She loves fashion and has a great sense of style. Fantasy Football and reality TV are the guilty pleasures in her life, but when she gets a free day, she can be found hanging by the pool with her son Mack. Don’t be shy boys (and girls), if you see her at a bar, say Hi and order her Patron on the rocks with lime juice!
Christina Khoury (by Sherri Haymond)
Christina Khoury is a conference coordinator/associate publicist at Planned Television Arts (a division of Ruder Finn). Not your typical “Strong Island” girl, Christina’s childhood dream was to be a choreographer. Or a detective. (We all agree that she’s a better detective than choreographer now….) Since she realized she wasn’t going to be the next Paula Abdul (or Olivia Benson, for that matter), Christina majored in Public Relations at Quinnipiac University, where she was an active member (and an officer!) of PRSSA. A die hard Mets fan (even if they stink) of Dominican/Italian/Lebanese decent, Christina’s feisty personality and excellent PR and organizational skills make her an excellent client representative and uber-awesome producer of Morning Drive Radio Tours. Don’t be surprised when she randomly starts spurting Spanish – we may not understand what she’s saying, but rest assured it’s always intelligent and thought-provoking. (At least that’s what we’ve been told!) Oh, and Christina’s already had her 15 minutes – she kissed Ricky Martin on TRL – and has the video to prove it!
CT Michaels (by Keith Trivitt)
CT Michaels – better known as the “guy with the white pants” at almost any PR meetup he attends – works at PR firm in Midtown Manhattan. That’s the “elevator pitch” side of him. The other side is a self-described hot guy who likes to have fun, knows what he’s doing and is a reality TV junkie. Simply put, he’s got style, class and enough moxie and smarts to get any one of his numerous clients into a top-tier publication or blog. CT graduated from SUNY Oswego, and makes a hellacious two-hour commute into Manhattan each day for work. Dedicated? You bet.
Kate Ottavio (by TJ Dietderich)
Kate Ottavio is an Account Coordinator at Co-Communications in the wilds of Connecticut. She is a pageant queen and can teach you how to walk in a swimsuit and wave like the Queen of England. When she is upset, she reverts to her alter ego, Baby Katie. Taking away her coffee is one of those things that makes her upset. Kate majored in Pretty Much Everything Useful and Amazing…or Public Relations with a minor in Sociology at Quinnipiac University in the wilds of Pennsylvania or maybe Vermont (ok, Connecticut). Unbeknownst to everyone else in the PR Breakfast Club, Kate can kill a man with her legs; this is because she is a ballerina or some other sort of dancer, I guess.
She’s good times.
PRCog
Chief Bottle Washer, Editor [Editor's Note: Yes, I'm the one writing these witty (yes, damnit, they are witty) comments], Admin and general troublemaker. Maintains another blog for things not quite high-end enough for PRBreakfastClub.com.
Keith Trivitt (by Jess Greco)
Now that Keith lives and works in the New York City area, you might never know that he grew up and attended school in Missouri. But as soon as you meet him (or talk to him on Twitter) you’ll know that he isn’t from around here. Keith is the undisputed gentleman of the group; he’s always ready to lend support and encouraging words to his fellow members. He spends his weekdays as an account executive at RLM Public Relations, but on the weekends you’ll find him running! In fact, Keith has ran in not one, not two, but seven marathons, including the 2008 Boston Marathon, which he describes as the “coolest experience of his life”. Although running is definitely his thing, he also enjoys channeling his hyperactiveness in other sports such as cycling, baseball, and lacrosse. Keith is incredibly social media savvy; he is always exploring the ways that it can be integrated with public relations to enhance his client’s efforts. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, he is definitely the person to follow. Keith also loves O.A.R, the St. Louis Cardinals, reading, and he never misses an episode of Entourage.
Marie V-B (by Jess Greco)
After being a slave (in other words, publicist) to the music industry for a number of years, Marie decided she didn’t love any band enough to stay out until 4:30 in the morning partying with them. Well except for The Smashing Pumpkins of course- infatuation doesn’t even begin to describe what she feels for them. Marie is now living the agency life at a PR boutique in New York City, where she works with a variety of parenting-oriented products and services. Besides public relations, Marie loves fantasy football, Austin, TX, obscure indie rock, horror movies, James Spader, and she’ll never say no to seeing one of her favorite bands live.
Contributing Blogger(s)
Heather Dueitt (by Danielle Cyr)
Don’t be fooled by this Wildcats’ southern charm. Heather Dueitt is a pr and social media powerhouse and has done everything from living on a plane for 30 days to running events at the Super Bowl. A University of Kentucky alumni, this super social city girl can be found surviving boot camp in Central Park or hiding-out at Sunday brunch when time allows.
Correspondents
Tracy Bagatelle Black (W. Coast Correspondent)
Tracy is principal at Bagatelle Black Public Relations. A seasoned PR executive based in Los Angeles, she has been working in Internet public relations for as long as the Internet has been commercially viable. As a freelance writer she has been published in The Net, Websight, America Online, California Computer News, and most recently, the Gannett News Service. Her lame attempt at a social media blog is just getting up and running. You can find her on twitter or LinkedIn.
