TEAM SHARPT
Kara Ring
Kara Ring is a marketing and public relations specialist based in Austin, Texas. She currently works as a marketing intern at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas. Kara started her work in public relations in 2006 as a literary publicity intern at Phoenix and Phoenix Literary Publicists. As an intern there she wrote press releases, author bios, book summaries, and performed other various office tasks. From there Kara Ring went on to become a marketing and public relations representative for Personal Wine, Inc. There she wrote the company blog and worked on expanding the company name. For the past year Kara Ring has worked in the marketing department at the Frank Erwin Center, promoting shows, working in group sales, and doing various public relations tasks. Also, she contributes to the monthly entertainment magazine at the Frank Erwin Center called Applause.
Kara Ring is currently a senior at the University of Texas at Austin. There she is involved in Texas Lassos, Public Relations Student Society of America, and Texas Exes Student Chapter. In her tenure at Texas Lassos she was social chair, in which she was in charge of planning social events such as formal.
Kara hopes to take all her experience from working at the Frank Erwin Center and from being a social planner to one day go into corporate event planning. She will graduate from the University of Texas in May 2010 with a degree in Public Relations.
Tanya Fernandez
Tanya Fernandez is a third year public relations major at the University of Texas at Austin. She will also have completed the business foundation program upon graduation.
She is extremely passionate about her community. Since 2004, She has been an active member of the National Hispanic Institute. For the past two summers, she has lead and worked with over 3,000 Latino youth from all over the world, helping develop their leadership skills.
This past semester she and her fellow classmates, LFV Communications, worked with the Austin Affilate of Susan G. Komen for the cure. They developed an entire campaign to boost Susan G. Komen’s image and also share knowledge of breast cancer to college students.
Samantha Breeland
Samantha Breeland is a principle and co-founder of a public relations company, which satisfies the requirements of her PR352 class, as well as lending her valuable PR experience. A senior at the University of Texas, Samantha’s personal insight to the wants and needs of generation-Y, as well as her creative and fresh methods of targeting all other generations have lead to her success in the fields of public relations and event planning.
This past summer, Samantha interned at Vintage Villas, a wedding and events center overlooking Lake Travis in Austin, Texas. As an intern at Vintage Villas, Samantha gained experience working with clients, suppliers, and the Vintage Villas staff in order to successfully and smoothly execute events alongside the wedding coordinators.
Prior to finding her niche in the field of wedding planning, Samantha interned with Company 6 Productions, a locally based event-planning company that focuses mostly on nonprofit events benefiting causes in the Austin area. Along with Company 6’s founder Ellis Winstanley and only a few other staff members, Samantha organized and implemented Company 6 Production’s signature annual event, Kicking Hunger. Kicking Hunger is an all-day kickball tournament, which raises food and money for the Capital Area Food Bank. Learning how to communicate and involve University of Texas students, Austin companies, and young individuals throughout Austin was a fun and incredibly valuable experience.
Currently, Samantha is finishing her degree in Public Relations at the University of Texas and plans to graduate in May 2010. As an active member of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, Samantha has served as the Purchase Fund Chair and held a position on the New Member Committee. Through these experiences, as well as a part-time nannying job throughout her college career, Samantha has learned skills in communication, gained responsibility, and prepared herself for pursuits in the field of event planning after college.
Working with fellow principles and her classmates in Jeff Hunt and Paul Walker’s PR352 class should prove to be a very valuable learning experience to further Samantha’s knowledge of the public relations field. Their newest client, The University of Texas has entrusted Samantha and her fellow principles with the job of involving and educating the university’s alumni network.
Hannah Meadows
Hannah is a 21-year-old, Fort Worth native, currently attending the University of Texas at Austin. She is a senior Public Relations major and a part of the Senior Fellows College of Communication Honors Program. Additionally, she has a concentration in Art History.
At UT, Hannah has served as a the College of Communication Student Government Representative, the Senate of College Councils Communications Director, a member of the Communications Council and the Public Relations Student Society of America, as well as a tutor and mentor for several organizations that work with UT Freshman and High School students. Additionally, Hannah co-chaired a series of 2008 Election Season events, including the registration of over 5,000 students and culminating in a election results watching party that was featured on ABC National News.
Hannah has interned with Paige Hendricks Public Relations in Fort Worth, where she assisted with the creation of an extensive communications strategies plan for a new company. She has also interned with Connor Strategies, also in Fort Worth, where she assisted with communication plans for several major oil and gas companies. Most recently, Hannah interned with Texans for Kay, Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s Gubernatorial campaign, where she gained valuable insight into grassroots campaigning.
Upon graduation in May 2010, Hannah plans to attend law school and hopes to become an attorney specializing in media and communications intellectual property law.
America C. Gonzalez
America is a third year public relations student at the College of Communications at The University of Texas at Austin. Her freshman and sophomore years at the university, she was able to experience life at the Texas Capitol, working with state Rep. Pete P. Gallego, District 74, Texas House of Representatives.
During her first year of college she interned at the office and by her third semester, she was hired as a legislative assistant for the representative andexperienced working during the legislative session.
Her duties included, writing and setting up resolutions for constituents in the representative’s district, attending socials to represent the representative, traveling to the district to political events and keeping constituents content.
She is starting her junior year and has decided to focus on school and in finding public relations internship in the Austin area.
Alison Pruett
Alison is currently a senior at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, as well as Business Foundations Certification. Through class projects Alison has had the opportunity to work with local companies and organizations such as Scion and Austin Pets Alive and is currently beginning an assignment with the University of Texas Alumni Association.
Prior to returning to Austin to finish her final year of study, Alison completed an internship with international PR agency GolinHarris. As the technical accounts intern for the Dallas office, she worked for high-profile clients including: WalMart, WiMax, Texas Instruments, PULSE, NEC, Blockbuster, and ZixCorp. Through her internship she gained experience in social media, video recording and editing, media pitching, and client research.
At the University of Texas, Alison is active in several extracurricular organizations. As Assistant Recruitment for Zeta Tau Alpha she planned events for potential new members, and as current Historian, manages the chapter’s website and publicity efforts. For her membership in Texas Tees, the Men’s Golf spirit organization, Alison helps prepare hospitality areas and organize golf tournaments. While a member of the Texas German Club, Alison participated in weekly meetings to further her knowledge of the German language and culture.
After graduation, Alison hopes to pursue a career in either the sports/entertainment or technical areas of Public Relations.
Phil Novoa
Phil is in his final year of the Pubic Relations program at the University of Texas and is also seeking a foundation in business with a global emphasis. Although only 21-years of age, Phil has already co-owned and operated two small businesses while balancing his education and leading multiple organizations. He is currently working at Sanders\Wingo advertising as an account services intern. He possesses many diverse talents such managerial skills, writing, creativity, speaking, interpersonal communication, brand development, photography, and is proficient with social media. His open mind and willingness to learn has developed him into a multi-faceted individual who is always looking for new challenges.
Phil currently serves as vice-president of the Tejas Club, an 85-year old male organization at The University of Texas that emphasizes scholarship, leadership, and friendship amongst its members. Phil’s other university involvement includes the service organization Texas Blazers and the Communication Council. Phil has formerly served as the Freshman Leadership Organization agency director for the Student Government at the University of Texas, and was a Camp Texas Counselor.
Prior to coming to Austin for college, Phil lived in him hometown of El Paso, Texas. He attended Coronado High School where he was the class president for four years and also was a member of the varsity wrestling team.
Phil enjoys listening to music, driving, and photography. After studying international business in Barcelona, Spain, he discovered that he has a passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. Phil is an active Christian and is very involved at his church, The Austin Stone.
