PR Horror Stories
Updated: Oct 20, 2022
Boo! It's officially spooky season and we’re ready to celebrate. 🎃👻 Join us & five @PRSASierra pros sharing career horror stories Tuesday, October 25th at 5:30 PM in RSJ 105. Costumes are highly encouraged!
Julie Ardito joined KPS3 as Vice President of Public Relations in 2022.
She is a communications and marketing strategist who brings more than three decades of broad-based brand experience in healthcare, technology, corporate, agency, non-profit, and government. A trusted advisor and phenomenal storyteller, Julie knows how to create unique narratives for organizations, build brand awareness, and truly engage with audiences.
Julie earned a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. Following her internships at CNN and MTV Networks in New York City, she did a stint as a news director at KRZQ Radio in Reno before pivoting into a career in public relations. She’s held leadership roles at IGT, the Rose/Glenn Group, EDAWN, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and operated her own firm, Julie Ardito Public Relations.
Julie serves on the Reynolds School of Journalism Dean’s Advisory Council. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from PRSA and is the recipient of a Gold Spike Award for Advancing the Public Relations Profession and for Community Involvement among other honors.
April Conway has a long history of public affairs in federal, state, and local government. She spent much of her career in military public affairs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and Nevada National Guard. She also performed similar roles at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport before making the leap to the Reno Housing Authority.
April has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and an MBA. She is also holds Accreditation in Public Relations and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
She’s also likely the only professional here today who has had to dodge mortars in her PR duties.
Since 2018, Adam has served as the Communications Officer for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. In 2020, he was the lead Public Information Officer for the Incident Management Team responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in Washoe County and has extensive experience in crisis communications. Formerly, he served as the chief spokesman for the City of Sparks and government affairs liaison (2005-2017). A native Nevadan originally from Las Vegas, he has 30 years experience as a public relations and marketing professional in the public sector.
Prior to his tenure with Sparks, Adam was the Communications Director for U.S. Representative Jon Porter in Washington, DC from 2003-2005. From 1998-2003, he was the Public Affairs Manager for the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority where he performed public, community, and governmental relations for the airport. Adam also served in various administrative and management positions at the Clark County Department of Aviation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Masters of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Adam has been active in his community and has served as an adjunct instructor for Political Science at Truckee Meadows Community College. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (and Chairman of the Board, 2013-14) from 2011-2017. Today, Adam serves on the Washoe County School Board.
He is a proud dad to twin daughters.
Mary Ann McCauley, ABC, IABC Fellow, joined the Washoe County Medical Society in 2017 as executive director. She brings more than 40 years’ experience in management, communication expertise and nonprofit board experience.
Prior to joining WCMS, Mary Ann provided strategic communication consultation to a broad range of organizations with an emphasis on healthcare and technology. Prior to founding Catalyst Communications in 1987, she was vice president of Brum&Anderson Public Relations.
She also has served in communication management roles with United Technologies
Communications Company, Centerre Bancorporation, the American Nurses Association and
Hallmark Cards. Prior to her corporate and consulting work, Mary Ann was a journalist for an Iowa daily newspaper and owned and operated a community newspaper in Southeastern Kansas.
In 2013 she was named an IABC Fellow, the highest honor bestowed on International Association of Business Communicators members. She holds a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Julie is dedicated to the public good, serving as a Public Information Officer for the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services since 2017, and spends her free time with family, gardening, and serving on the Carson City Library Board of Trustees.