Member Spotlights

Sara Green
Intermediate Client Onboarding Specialist
Citigroup

Fun fact about yourself 

My first job was as a Character Attendant at Walt Disney World.

Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field? 

After finishing up my undergrad in International Politics, in addition to experiences gained through international travel, I realized that communications held immense potential in diplomacy and human rights. If I wanted to work for the UN someday, my strengths would lie in the communications field.  

Years in PRSA/current involvement 

I was introduced to PRSA last year as a suggestion from a mentor and professor. At their request I signed up for an event and then started membership shortly after.

What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?

The best experience I have gained in my communications career has been to gather the skills to listen more deeply and with empathy. Clients are better served, I am a better sister, daughter, employee and a better person for myself. The methods learned through communications truly have changed my life for the better.

Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why? 

Oh goodness. You know, it would be hard to narrow it down, but at this time in my life I think Maya Angelou, Angelina Jolie, and Lucille Ball would be amazing individuals to see enjoy themselves at a dinner party. I adore thoughtful conversation, have a passion for human rights, and love to laugh.

Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?

My parents. My parents are amazing people and I truly have the pleasure to know them in their later years as individuals, rather than the roles they played in my life as a child. I can appreciate them wholly, as full people, and it’s been a true joy to move forward in my daily life and in career with them in my life.

John Della Contrada
Vice President for Communications
University at Buffalo

Fun fact about yourself 

I’m a home winemaker. My homemade Merlot won double gold and best of show at the 2021 Erie County Fair.

Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field? 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be in communications. I started off on the lowest rung of journalism after graduating from college and then jumped at the chance to serve as assistant director of communications at a college in Troy, N.Y. Since then, I’ve learned the value of working very hard, and that you should always step up when given the opportunity to work on your organization’s most important initiatives and urgent issues.

Years in PRSA/current involvement 

I joined the Buffalo Niagara chapter soon after I moved to Buffalo in 1996. I figured it was a great way to meet colleagues in my new home city. I was right. It was such a welcoming group of friendly and dedicated people. Still is. I think I’ve held just about every position in the chapter since then. It’s been rewarding in so many ways.

What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?

My favorite moments have one thing in common: helping the university achieve a big goal and communicate publicly about it. For example, UB recently was designated as a “flagship” of the SUNY system by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Leading up to this designation, University Communications was very involved in positioning UB as one of the top public research universities in the nation. Going forward, we will focus on communicating and marketing the significance of our flagship status. I find that to be very motivating.

Other recent highlights centered on communicating the regional benefits of the UB medical school’s relocation to downtown Buffalo, and it’s been fun to partner with UB Athletics as our sports teams have succeeded on the national stage. I’ve also enjoyed the role my team has played in announcing transformational philanthropic gifts to UB and major federal research grants. Finally, though I don’t necessarily consider it a career highlight, I’m proud of University Communications’ role in helping to keep the UB community safe during the pandemic.

Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why? 

• Having recently watched the PBS documentary about Muhammed Ali, I was very impressed with Ali’s energy and athleticism as a young man. More so, how he publicly stood up for his beliefs. I imagine it would be fun to dine with a young Ali, and maybe even shadowbox with him afterwards to get a sense of his great skill.

• Since I was a kid, I’ve read histories about Native Americans, particularly those of the Great Plains tribes. Crazy Horse has been a hero of mine because of how bravely he defended his people’s way of life. I’d like to hear firsthand Crazy Horse’s accounts of those days and discuss his passion for the culture he was defending.

• My grandfather, Joseph Della Contrada, died before I was born. I’d like to hear his immigration story and how he made a life in America with his family. He was a skilled pyro technician—hired for fireworks shows throughout Central New York. It’d be fun to discuss the family business with him over a glass of homemade vino.
  
  

Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?

As the member of the UB community for the past 25 years, I’m continually inspired by the amazing research of our faculty and its positive impact on people worldwide. I’m also inspired by the intellectual curiosity of our students and how they passionately pursue the opportunities available at UB. I see this firsthand in my son, who is a sophomore double majoring in linguistics and theater, and who sings with UB’s a cappella group, The Buffalo Chips.

I’m very fortunate that my job centers on telling stories about UB’s great people and programs.

Meghan Pipe 
Communications Coordinator
Just Buffalo Literary Center

I’m writing a novel that has (so far) involved researching the party balloon industry, scallop fishing, and arborists, so I know a lot of weird, specific information about those things. For instance: scallops can swim by clapping their shells (technically called their valves), and they have rows of eyes (like, hundreds of eyes) along the fan of their shells.

Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field?

Before moving to Buffalo in 2020, I lived in Colorado, where I taught college composition as a graduate student and also worked part-time as a communications assistant for a foundation. Those two experiences—reframing the way I thought about writing for an audience as I taught those classes, and learning practical PR/comms skills like writing press releases at the foundation—helped to guide me into this field, along with supportive mentors and colleagues along the way.

Years in PRSA/current involvement 

I’m approaching a year of membership! I’m grateful to Rene Petties-Jones for introducing me to PRSA initially and inviting me to an event when I moved to Buffalo just before the pandemic began, and I look forward to participating on the Diversity Committee as I get more involved in PRSA this year.

What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?

I always love sharing stories from and about the amazing young people at Just Buffalo’s Writing Center, who do things like write Made-to-Order Poems on typewriters out in the community, mentor younger writers, and advocate for the arts. Last February, I posted one of their poems on our social media platforms, and it went viral on Twitter—I had to mute notifications on my phone! It was a small thing, maybe, but it felt exciting to see so many people around the world connecting with and appreciating one of the many, many beautiful pieces of writing that our JBWC teens create every day.

Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why? 

Louise Erdrich, my favorite novelist; Brandi Carlile, who I admire as a musician and an advocate; and Lucille Clifton, wonderful poet and once Buffalonian.

Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?

Writing—the act of writing; reading stories that others have written; connecting with other people through books. I am the most thoughtful and curious version of myself when I’m writing or reading, and I try to remember that feeling and carry it into the rest of my life and work.

My middle name is Carin because I was born in a car

Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field? 

My story is a bit unique because I’ve never actually worked full time in the communications sector, but I still consider myself a communications professional. I’ve always worked in supply chain and operations during the day and have been freelancing for different local publications for years at night. I absolutely love storytelling and journalism, and showcasing incredible people doing even more incredible things in the community. My goal was to go national with my writing and be able to learn and write even more – and as of two weeks ago I now freelance for a national entertainment news publication. I’m an extremely curious person and journalism gives me the avenue to learn about new things, careers, ideas, and people every day. I’m also on marketing committees for various nonprofits and thoroughly enjoy writing pieces and helping them spread the word about the selfless work they do daily.  

Years in PRSA/current involvement 

3 years – someone I know posted about an event back in 2018 and it sounded interesting, and it happened to be the PRSA annual meeting. I attended and really enjoyed it, and from then on, I was hooked. I kept attending events and networking, and really enjoyed those involved. In 2020 I joined the e-communications committee and helped produce newsletters, worked with Hootsuite for social media postings, and now help with event recaps and any necessary content. I also attend board meetings and enjoy learning from communications professionals from many different industries.

What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?

Starting in March 2020, I was put on furlough for my full-time job. Right then, the staff at Buffalo Rising looped me into the work they were doing, and really gave me a purpose for the year. Along with the team, I helped produce many pieces showing community members doing so much to help others during Covid. We created pieces with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, wrote about local high school kids making sucker bouquets for hospital nurses, and local churches that delivered food to those in need, among many others. One of my favorite pieces we produced was about a woman who started her own bakery and named it after her mental health illness. That story resonated with so many, and it was an honor to portray her resilience. A standout moment was when I had the opportunity to speak about some of these stories with Jay Moran on WBFO. I’m still so grateful I was a part of so many great projects, and got to work with some of the most talented people I could have ever hoped to meet.

Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why? 

Larry David – He’s a comic genius and I feel like we all have a little bit of Larry inside of us but are afraid to show it. We all have thoughts sometimes we wish we could share but keep inside us, and he goes right ahead and says them. He’s also a strong shaper of pop culture.

Tim Russert – As a journalism enthusiast, I would love the ability to talk to one of the greats. He exemplified so much Buffalo pride and brought so much integrity to his work.

Paul McCartney – I’m far and beyond a HUGE music fan. I’ve seen Paul live twice, and have learned so much about The Beatles through books, college classes, and many cover bands and “Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles” shows. I would love the opportunity to hear testimony directly from him, outside of reading books, about his life and music career.

Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?

People taking the time out to do acts of kindness. I have countless examples of people who go above and beyond to help me. There’s always one standout moment that I always carry with me. When I was earning my MBA, finance was not my forte. I was much better at the management and writing classes. One kind stranger in my class somehow noticed I needed help, and refused to let me give up. He helped me with extra credit and opened his home to me. I ended up getting a good grade because of him. It’s because of that experience that I try to help people as best as I can. These acts of kindness inspire me daily – and that’s how we’ll continue pushing each other to be and do the best we can in our work and in our lives.

Communications Content Manager
The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York

Why did you decide to go into the PR/communications field? 

I don’t really know if I’ve ever really made that decision. I was bred to be a pharmacist and aligned my academics accordingly. It was actually my AP Biology teacher at Hutch-Tech (Lillian Murty) who pointed out to me how good my writing was, and she encouraged me to look into careers in communications. I still majored in a science when I got to Morehouse College, but I minored in communications, and that was the beginning of the marriage of the thing I was good at that I also enjoyed. I ended up with master’s in PR Management from Buffalo State, had my first PR client (who’s pretty famous now) and the rest is future. I didn’t choose this life; it chose me, and I like it.

Years in PRSA/current involvement. 

I initially became affiliated with PRSA through PRSSA as a grad student at Buff State in 2009, and recently reactivated my membership after joining the Health Foundation.

What has been your favorite moment of your public relations/communications career thus far?

It was pretty exciting winning a 2021 Silver Excalibur Award in my first year at the Health Foundation for our first annual report, but overall, my favorite moment has to be when I was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine as a Modern Man of Distinction. Working in PR, we tend to not look for personal accolades; our focus is on the attention the client receives. It’s just always a bonus when your behind-the-scenes work is noticed and acknowledged. (I just never thought it would happen on a national platform!)

Fun fact about yourself. 

My fourth great grandfather was Harriet Tubman’s older brother (and he was portrayed in the movie starring Cynthina Erivo).

Which three people (dead or alive) would you like to have a dinner party with and why? 

Harold Robinson – He was my great grandfather and, as I understand it, one of the first (if not the first) Black pharmacists in western New York in the 1930s. I’d like to know how that was for him given that pharmacy was my original career choice way back when.

Kamala Harris – She’s a fellow HBCU grad (of the school my daughters want to attend) who became the second most powerful person in the country. She also seems like she’d make a really good spades partner.

MacKenzie Scott – I just think she’s amazing, and her support of HBCUs (especially mine) is a definite plus. I’d also like some discount codes for Amazon (I know she has some).

Who/what inspires you in your daily life and/or career?

There’s a Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays quote that’s drilled into us at Morehouse: “In all that you do, do it so well that man living, no man dead and no man yet to be born will be able to do it better.” A lot of people hear that and tend to think “be better than everyone else,” but for me, it’s a little different. I take it as, “I’m not trying to be better than you; I’m trying to better than what I was yesterday.” That is what I use as a guide in both my life and career. The only person I need to outdo is whoever I was yesterday. That way, I’m always making myself a better person and a better PR practitioner each and every day.

Alexander (Alex) Dean
Communications Specialist
Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP (Lippes Mathias)

Degree:

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism & Broadcasting and International Studies from SUNY Brockport.

Years in PRSA and current involvement?

I joined Rochester PRSA’s Young Professionals Committee and PRISMs Committee in October 2019. I now serve as PRSSA Liaison on PRSA Buffalo-Niagara’s Board of Directors after moving to Buffalo in October 2020.

What attracted you to PR and communications?

The short answer is that I’m a good writer and writing is a fundamental component of being a good PR person. Now that I’m in the industry, I’m very attracted to the feeling of confidence you get when a journalist follows up about one of your pitches. I always tell my coworkers that I feel like I’m in Mad Men whenever I win a pitch.

How has PRSA assisted you in your career? and/or What are the advantages of being in PRSA?

After losing a prior job in the early days of the pandemic, I didn’t have to wait long before my inbox was filled job with leads and recommendations from people I’d met through Rochester PRSA. To me, that’s the biggest advantage of being a member of PRSA – even in the worst of circumstances, I knew I had a tangible network of proven PR professionals backing me when I needed it the most.

What is your favorite thing to do in or around Buffalo Niagara?

This is a tough question for me because I moved here in the midst of a pandemic and I don’t have many friends in Buffalo. I love to walk around and look at the architecture – especially that of the Guaranty Building, which I stop and take a picture of almost every time I pass it. I am very much looking forward to living the life of a 24-year-old in Buffalo once things are safe to do so.

Dinner with a living person? Who and what questions would you like to ask?

As of recently, Bruce Springsteen. I would ask him questions about finding true joy and satisfaction in things that aren’t assigned a number or a price tag. I may have had a different answer a few weeks ago, but I recently started “American Renegades,” a podcast hosted by Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama.