Peer Mentor
Program

Alice M. Walton is a strategic communications specialist who is able to tap into her experience as a political journalist to define objectives, develop strategies and implement tactics for a diverse base of clients.

A journalist at heart, Andrea takes her journalism skills and builds complete publications, from writing and editing to layout and publication.

Anne Lasseigne Tiedt is an accredited public relations and strategic marketing communications executive who helps businesses solve their communications challenges and achieve measurable results within changing, complex environments.

Caitlyn is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications for FVF Law, an Austin personal injury firm committed to being a dignified alternative in the marketplace.

After contributing to the nonprofit, higher education, and technology sectors, Christine has transitioned full-time to communicating in real estate as a realtor and residential appraiser trainee.

Cindy has 20 years of branding, integrated marketing, design and advertising. She specializes in creative/design direction: integrated/strategically marketing focused; branding: From startups to rebranding, repositioning existing brands, and developing brand guidelines, design direction, iconography, photo/illustration art direction and brand voice direction.

Diane has decades of coaching experience, and certification by the International Coaching Federation, and is ready to discuss many topics and skills to help clients achieve success in their business or company.

Born a storyteller, Vivvi (pronounced Vee-Vee) is the Group Account Director at PRECISIONeffect, where she leads her team in building clients’ media portfolios.

Ilene Haddad, owner of Ilene Haddad Graphic Design, has been a freelance designer for more than 25 years. After graduating with a BFA from the University of Texas at Austin and a brief stint as a ski bum, Ilene eventually moved back to Austin to become a full-time graphic designer. In 1998 she opened her own studio and hasn’t blinked or stepped outside since.

Experienced in managing a small digital agency for over twenty years, and in the areas of web development and digital marketing.

Jane Baxter Lynn is an experienced strategic planner, facilitator and professional communicator. She has spent three decades in global, national and regional communications, marketing and non-profit management, and has a wealth of contacts and resources worldwide.

Jennifer brings a wealth of 25 years in strategic communications, predominantly within the tech sector. From Intel to Microsoft and running her own firm, JKJ Marketing, she’s become a trusted expert in narrative crafting, crisis management, and data-driven optimization.

“Morning Edition” Host, KUT 90.5 FM. Jennifer Stayton is a native Austinite with nearly 30 years of experience as a radio broadcaster. She has worked in both public and commercial radio as a host, newscast anchor, interviewer, news reporter, DJ, producer, writer, editor, news assignment coordinator, delivery and speech coach, intern supervisor, and (briefly) salesperson.

Julie Wickert is a longtime communications professional with a technical writing background and a knack for capturing the essential marketing messages and the stories that substantiate them. She has extensive experience in proposal management and writing RFP responses.

Karen Aroian began her career in the editorial offices of Houghton Mifflin, Boston, working with America’s finest editors and authors. She has led teams of editors and copy writers at major publishing and marketing firms. Today she is a developmental editor of historical novels, multigenerational memoirs and topical how-tos.

Following a 25-year in public relations, Laura created a significant career change by forming a Pilates and fitness business, Mat Pilates ATX, as an extension of her coaching/consulting practice for executives in transition. As both a teacher and a coach, Laura support clients to navigate challenges related to their personal and professional goals and well-being.

Lisa O’Neill, founder/principal of Breakaway Public Relations, has more than 30 years’ experience in public relations with a focus on small to mid-sized consumer businesses and organizations. Her diverse background, ranging relations for a weekly newspaper group to event marketing and PR strategies for start-ups, gives Lisa a broad perspective of how public relations can positively impact organizations of all sizes.

Lorelei is a nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience in the sector, ranging from Board service, fundraising, marketing and communications, to programming development and facilitation. Her focus is around equity-centered missions with a special emphasis on women’s empowerment.

LuAnn Glowacz is an Austin, Texas, executive ghostwriter and editor and serves as WordCove, LLC’s founder, president and CWN (Chief Word Nerd). She’s best known for helping entrepreneurs and business leaders sound as smart as they are.

After a decades-long career in print journalism, Mary Ann left daily newspapering in 2016 to create a communications consulting company, Roser Prose LLC. She mainly does writing, editing and communications coaching for her clients.

Mary Anne Connolly, a Community Engagement Manager at CD&P (cdandp.com) since August of 2023 has worked in PR for global technology firms and startups in HR tech, EdTech, HealthTech, cybersecurity, academia, film, music, arts, nonprofits, festivals, conferences and political think tanks, as well as CEOs, experts/academics and thought leaders at global PR and regional comms agencies including leading her own independent shop, MACMedia, for over a decade.

Maura Nevel Thomas is an award-winning international speaker and trainer on individual and corporate productivity and work-life balance, and the most widely-cited authority on attention management. Her proprietary Empowered Productivity™ System has been embraced by the likes of NASA, Dyson, and Google. She is a TEDx Speaker, founder of Regain Your Time, author of six books, and was named a Top Leadership Speaker in Inc. Magazine.

Monique is an experienced marketing communication/demand generation professional with 15 years of experience. She has worked on marketing teams from small startups to enterprise scale, from tight purse strings to even tighter purse strings. Her goal at each company is to expand their messaging reach while helping drive leads to sales.

Nicole collaborates with interdisciplinary teams of experience strategists, UX and UI designers, product managers, copywriters and developers as a Senior Content Strategist at Prophet to deliver digital experiences for enterprise clients that serve both user needs and business priorities. She has worked in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, as well as being self-employed as a freelancer.

Paige helps nonprofits, schools, and other purpose-driven clients define their brands, refine their messaging, and develop strategic marketing and communication plans to achieve their goals. Paige’s strengths are curiosity, pragmatism, and ideation.

Reesa is a TED Talk Trainer who prepares executives and ESL Speakers for leadership. She has worked with corporate leader executives and technology & sales departments in executive development and influential leadership for 25 years. Reesa studied in-person with the father of cognitive therapy Albert Ellis, Ph.D., in his 90’s and Ram Dass after he published Be Here How.

A creative strategist and demand generation specialist who thrives on challenges, Roberta Coffin has an extensive agency background and experience in both B2B and B2C marketing, primarily in housing, real estate, construction, investment and finance. She found her perfect fit in providing marketing communications services across a broad spectrum of platforms through her own agency, Scripta Communications. During the course of her career she has worked with clients, large and small, along with a variety of associations and non-profits.

Sandra is a veteran journalist who left the news business after 30 years to reshape a career that needed some fresh air. Now, she is a freelance editor and writer who enjoys crafting success stories, blogs, newsletters and other business correspondence for clients promoting their professional services.

Sarah is a Hispanic marketing thought leader, agency owner, and bilingual copywriting expert. Over the past 15 years, she has perfected the art of brand voice writing in two languages (English and Spanish) and has developed bilingual and bicultural content for leading advertising agencies, Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, startups, and non-profits.

Sharon Jayson is a versatile journalist who can tell stories across platforms, with experience online, in print and broadcast. Her work has appeared in publications, including The Washington Post, Time, U.S. News & World Report, KFF Health News, NBC News, AARP and UT’s McCombs magazine, among others.

Sheila Scarborough is a speaker, trainer, and writer specializing in tourism, travel, and social media. Along with Leslie McLellan, she’s part of the Tourism Currents team, offering online and in-person workshops and training in social media marketing for tourism, hospitality, and economic development.