1990s
1990s Alumni Profiles
John Bobey ('91, Broadcasting) is a writer/producer for Colin Quinn and is producing a reality game show for the Oxygen TV network. Based in New York City, he was formerly a writer for David Letterman and Bill Maher. John returned to campus in 2003 to guest lecture in several classes and to present a workshop on writing and producing for television.
Kelli Quinn Clark ('92, Journalism) is a news editor with America Online, working out of her home near Washington D.C. She previously was editorial page editor at the Potomac News. Her husband, Tom Clark (1992 Journalism) is golf and tennis editor with USA Today, where he also works on special events such as the Super Bowl. Both Kelli and Tom were editors at The Record when they were undergrads. Kelli can be reached at kqclark1@aol.com; Tom can be reached at Tompclark1@aol.com.
Martha L. Meegan ('92, Broadcasting) is evening assignment editor with WIVB TV-4 in Buffalo. She and husband Dan Meegan, a Buffalo police office, have two grown sons. Martha has covered several local and international stories, including the murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian and the arrest of his killer, and the arrests of the Lackawanna Six. She was honored by CBS News for her work on the Slepian murder coverage. Martha is a member of the Buffalo State Alumni Association and participates in its annual Bengal 5K Run. Martha can be reached at tvdeskmom@aol.com.
Heather Pennington ('92, Public Communication) is a full-time program development coordinator for Heritage Centers in Buffalo, N.Y. Her responsibilities include grant writing, fundraising, events, photography, planning and public relations. She has been working in non-profit development for more than eight years. She also does some freelance grant writing and program planning for non-profit agencies, both in Buffalo and nationwide. Currently, she is also doing some international work for a relief organization. She is married and has a young daughter. You can reach her at hapennington@msn.com.
Angela P. Berti ('94, Journalism) currently serves as the marketing and public affairs coordinator for the Western District of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Based at Niagara Falls State Park, Berti oversees the marketing and publicity efforts for nearly 30 state parks in Western New York. Before her work with the state parks, she worked in the Institutional Advancement and Development Office at Buffalo State College. Prior to that, she served as vice president of government affairs at the Niagara USA Chamber and as chief of staff for New York State Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte. She also spent six years in Albany as legislative director for New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger. Berti is a member of PRSA and currently employs a Buffalo State student to assist her in her work at State Parks. She can be reached at Angela.Berti@oprhp.state.ny.us.
Heather Hendricks ('94, Public Communication) is vice president of web media for Trupanion.com. Her areas of expertise encompass community building, web design and development, website architecture, online marketing, new media, natural (and paid) search optimization, online viral marketing and social media strategy. Before that, she was director of youth IT markets for Giant Campus, where she was resposible for business relationships with partners in the digital technology youth education space. Heather also worked at two successful .com startups -- Allrecipes.com, where she developed online consumer retention and acquisition strategies, and Payscale.com, where she focused on consumer product development as well as sthe design, content and marketing of the consumer-facing website. She can be reached at hhenricks@gmail.com. .
David J. McCarthy ('96, Public Communication) is Senior Numismatist at Kagin's Inc., one of the nation's leading firms specializing in the sale and appraisal of rare coins and currency. David is responsible for purchasing and cataloguing a wide variety of U.S. Federal and Colonial coins; he also writes and edits the firm's advertising and public relations materials. He is currently researching the coinage of the San Francisco Mint and hopes to publish a book on the subject. While attending Buffalo State, he planned and promoted concerts featuring the Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Dylan, and John Zorn, to name a few. He resides in Marin County, CA. He can be reached at dmccarthy@kagins.com.
Olivia S. Belter ('98, Public Communication) is regional director, community health programs, for Univera Healthcare, which she joined in 1998. During her tenure there, she has been responsible for the development, implementation, marketing and public relations efforts for multiple and award-winning community health initiatives. Olivia, who has been honored with multiple leadership awards, including an Award of Appreciation from the Western New York Tobacco-Free Programs and a Pathfinder Award from the Buffalo Alliance for Education and Business First, is a member of the Public Relations Society of America's Buffalo/Niagara Chapter, a board member of the Upstate New York Transplant Services Advisory Board and communication co-chair of the Erie-Niagara Tobacco- Free Coalition. Olivia recently received a Certificate of Leadership from Syracuse University. She can be reached at olivia.belter@univerahealthcare.com
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Shanna Edwards (’98, Public Communication) is Product Marketing Manager at Sprint Nextel, headquartered in Overland Park, Ka. Her responsibilities include managing online and on-handset marketing of wireless data content. She also owns her own graphic design company and is working toward her multi-media certificate at the Kansas City Art Institute. Visit her profile on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/shannaedwards.
Jennifer Pielmeier Hickok ('98, Public Communication) is special events planner with the WNY Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. She works in community relations and public relations. As an undergraduate, Jennifer was one of the leaders of the campus chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She currently serves as a professional adviser to the Buffalo State PRSSA chapter.
Paul Pfleuger Jr ('98, Public Communication) is teaching English and writing/publishing poetry in Taipei, Taiwan. He previously worked at a public relation agency in London. A selection of Paul's poetry is available at The Heron's Nest, Simply Haiku and Haiku World - Web journals of Haiku poetry.
Jennifer Whitson Adams ('99, Public Communication) is deputy Communication Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means (Democratic Staff). She arranges media interviews and assists with op-ed pieces for newspapers. Jennifer has returned to campus several times to serve as guest lecturer or to present workshops on communication and government. She can be reached at jennifer.adams@aspeninstitute.org.
Lori Vallon ('99, Public Communication) is community relations manager with Child and Family Services of Buffalo. She works on the organization's newsletter and special events and prepares marketing presentations. As an undergraduate, Lori did an internship at Child and Family Services. Lori also is a master's candidate in Buffalo State's M.S./Multidisciplinary program in Public Relations Management.