#PRSSAKC Summit

Rob Thompson
Executive Vice President of Communications
Sporting Kansas City

Rob Thomson, Executive Vice President of Communications and Digital for Sporting Kansas City, is a Kansas City native who brings over 19 years of sports communication, marketing, advertising, public relations and digital experience to his position. Thomson, who started with the organization in 1997, oversees all Public Relations, communications, publications, advancement of the brand, events and digital/social media for Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. His duties also span to promotion of Sporting Park and the concerts/events/other games held there as well as Sporting Kansas City’s  technology company, Sporting Innovations. Thomson graduated from Baker University and holds a master’s degree from the University of Kansas. Previously, he has also worked in the sports marketing and advertising field, as well as a professor at William Jewell College in Sports Marketing.

Kathryn Lorenzen
Recruiter and Career Coach

LandaJob Marketing & Creative Talent

Kathryn Lorenzen has recruited, screened, and placed hundreds of people in jobs, coached hundreds more in their job searches, and made dozens of presentations on career development. She’s spent the last 17 years at LandaJob Marketing & Creative Talent, and she also worked for almost twenty years in advertising agency account management, at Bernstein-Rein, Valentine Radford, and several other agencies in the Southeast and Midwest. Kathryn earned her coaching credential from the National Career Development Association, and she served as president of the Kansas City chapter of the Association of Career Professionals International and on the boards of directors of AAF-KC and BMA-KC.

Debra Peterson, APR
Director

External Communcations and Community Relations

CenturyLink

Debra Peterson leads external communications and community relations for CenturyLink, the third largest telecommunications company in the United States and a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprise customers. She also has assumed interim duties leading the company’s internal communications team. Debra previously worked for EMBARQ and Sprint. In addition to her current responsibilities, she also has experience in a variety of capacities, including events and sponsorships, governmental affairs and employee communications. She is an accredited member of PRSA, and has served in several leadership positions for the organization, including president of the Greater Kansas City chapter and chair of the national Corporate Communications Section. She also served as a member of PRSA’s Board of Ethics and Professional Standards and also served two consecutive years on the National Nominating Committee. In December 2013, she completed a three-year term on PRSA’s national Board of Directors. In 2014, she is continuing her national service with PRSA by serving on the Audit Committee as well as the Revenue Task Force.

Crossroads

As Account Director, Brooke manages day-to-day contact with clients and works to provide strategic counsel and reputation management for brands across a variety of communication channels. Brooke has experience in developing public relations programs for consumer and business-to-business audiences and has worked with national brands such as Lee Jeans, Vanity Fair Lingerie and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. Brooke has extensive experience in building influencer relations plans, specifically developing and expanding blogger and media relations programs. Other specialties include event planning, crisis management, cause marketing and social media.

Carolyn Sobczyk
Healthcare team

FleishmanHillard - Kansas City

Carolyn is with FleishmanHillard, the world’s most complete communications firm, contributing to the company’s largest healthcare client. She specializes in healthcare communication, reputation management and branding, and supported the FDA approvals of two new biologic medicines. In addition to healthcare, Carolyn has supported several consumer brands, including Hallmark and Major League Baseball. She serves as Director of Internal Communications with the Kansas City chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

Amy Jordan Wooden

Principal

AJW Consulting

Amy Jordan Wooden is a veteran communications professional who has served elected officials, political candidates, chief executives, private corporations, municipal governments, trade associations and not-for-profit institutions.
Having served as Communications Director during Mayor Sly James’ Transition as well as Communications Director and Press Secretary to Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson, Jordan Wooden also has counseled start-up businesses, public safety officials and law partners to ensure consistent and effective communications during challenging events.
Her communications expertise include crisis communications and developing comprehensive, integrated public affairs strategies through earned media, compelling video productions, public speaking and targeted outreach events.

Jessica Nelson

Board Member and Director of Media Relations

Art Bra KC

As a member of the Art Bra KC Board of Directors, Jessica Nelson acts as the nonprofit’s media relations director. In this volunteer role, she drives communication strategies and oversees all aspects of public relations for the organization. Jessica works to elevate Art Bra KC’s mission and efforts with regional and national media.

Art Bra KC is a nonprofit that uniquely celebrates breast cancer survivors and provides funding for Kansas City area organizations that offer life-empowering services to uninsured and underinsured individuals who have been touched by cancer. Full-time, Jessica leads the Kansas City Area Development Council’s Talent Recruitment Initiative where she attracts corporate investment, jobs and talented people to KC. She encourages the world to recognize Kansas City as a hub for creativity and innovation. Jessica has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Minor in Business from the University of Kansas. Jessica joined KCADC in 2011 and Art Bra KC in 2012 and is a native of Kansas City. She can be found on Twitter at @nelsonjessica

Krista Klaus

Media and Economic Development Consultant

KMBZ Business Channel

Krista Klaus has large-market experience in television, radio and print journalism, working as a reporter and anchor at KCTV, KMBC and KMBZ Newsradio 98.1 FM in Kansas City; at WFLA-TV and The Tampa Tribune in Tampa, Fla.; and as a reporter and associate editor for The Kansas City Business Journal. In 2014, Krista launched her own media and economic development consulting practice. Krista holds an undergraduate journalism degree from the University of Kansas and a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School. Krista is married and has four children.

Bobby Burch

Tech and Entrepreneurship Reporter

The Kansas City Business Journal

Bobby Burch is an award-winning multimedia journalist and is now the tech and entrepreneurship reporter at the Kansas City Business Journal. He previously served as the web editor and multimedia manager at the Ottawa Herald, and still works as a freelance photographer and videographer.