IABC/Houston Board Members
IABC/Houston Mission Statement
Provide lifelong learning opportunities that give IABC/Houston members the tools and information they need to be the best in their chosen discipline.
Share among our members the best global communication practices, ideas and experiences that will enable us to develop highly ethical and effective performance standards for our profession.
IABC/Houston Board of Directors
President
Theresa Parker
Torma Communications
713-526-6713
theresa@torma.com
Theresa Parker is a writer with the Torma Communications team. Torma is celebrating its 25th anniversary in business this year and Theresa has been with the firm for 10 years. Prior to that, she worked in corporate communication at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Houston Lighting & Power Company. After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Houston, the native Houstonian worked in U of H Sports Information and the Hartman Newspaper Group in Fort Bend County. She has filled several volunteer roles with IABC/Houston including hospitality, Bronze Quill, judging and professional development.
President-Elect
Dave McKinney, ABC, APR
Shell Chemicals, Deerpark
713-246-6151
david.mckinney@shell.com
Dave McKinney is manager of communications for the Shell chemical plant and refinery in Deer Park, a position he has held since 2000. During his 27 years with Shell, Dave has worked in the Midwest, Southwest and East Coast, including Shell’s headquarters in downtown Houston. A former newspaper reporter, Dave earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in mass communications. Since 1999, he has been an adjunct professor of public relations and mass communications – the past six years at the University of Houston. He also is a contributor to three communications textbooks that are in use at college campuses nationwide.
Dave is accredited by both Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators. He is the 2007 PRSA/Houston Professional of the Year and the 2008 IABC/Houston Communicator of the Year.
Past President
Susan Burnell, APR
Imagination Ink
832-912-7879
susan@inkspark.net
Founder and principal of Imagination Ink, Susan H. Burnell, APR, is an award-winning writer and public relations professional. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Tampa, she worked in the publishing, technology, banking and telecommunications industries before establishing her own business in 1994. Accredited in public relations (APR), she upholds the ethical standards of the profession. Susan was an active volunteer with IABC/First Coast (Jacksonville, Florida) and has served on the IABC/Houston board in the areas of professional development, Bronze Quill and judging.
Secretary
Joi Lecznar is a results-oriented consultant specializing in internal communication and human resources development, and is the founder of TopDog Communication and Development. Previously, Joi was the Regional Development Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she managed a human resources team who directed organizational development strategy and activities for 20,000 employees in Texas. Joi graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska, majoring in journalism and communication, completed a certificate in executive business education at the Smith College Consortium, and has received advanced facilitation and diversity training. This will be Joi’s first IABC/Houston board position.
VP, External Communications
Travis Harper is an Account Manager with PR Newswire, a global leader in news and multimedia distribution, monitoring and targeting. Active on the IABC/Houston board for three years, he has served in a couple of different capacities as sponsorship chair and then as a founding member of YP for IABC/Houston. He is a graduate of Austin College (Sherman, Texas) with a bachelor of arts in communication and French.
VP, Internal Communications
Merrisa TurnerTR Moore & Company
713-789-7081 x223
mturner@trmoore.com
Merrisa Turner is a marketing and communications director for TR Moore & Company, a Houston-based CPA and consulting firm. She has served as communications chair for the IABC/Houston board for the past year. Merrisa has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from
VP, Professional Development
Pam McConathy
Foresight Communications Group
713-416-4410
pam@thinkforesight.com
Pamela A. McConathy is Principal of Foresight Communications Group. Formerly with a leading Houston-based public relations firm for nearly 10 years, she recently started her own communications consultancy. She has more than 25 years of experience in public relations and marketing communications consulting. Pam earned a bachelor of arts in journalism from
VP, Member Services
Robin Leeder graduated from the University of Maryland in 1978 and moved to Houston Denver , Colorado
VP, Finance
Nancy Trowbridge
Menninger Clinic
713-275-5030
ntrowbridge@menninger.edu
Menninger Clinic
713-275-5030
ntrowbridge@menninger.edu
Nancy Trowbridge is the director of communications for The Menninger Clinic, an international psychiatric center. She has more than 15 consecutive years membership in IABC with board positions in professional development (Topeka, Kansas, chapter), communications contest judging and in 2007 vice president of finance.She has also helped plan a regional IABC conference. Nancy has a bachelor of science degree in journalism and before entering the employee communications-media relations-corporate communications field, she worked five years at two daily newspapers as a lifestyle and postsecondary education reporter/photographer.
