Chapter News

Viveca Woods(L), owner of VMW Public Relations in Greenwich accepts her 2009 Gold Mercury Award from New Channel 8's Desiree Fontaine, at the June 11 ceremony. VMW won in the Media Relations:For-Profit category for its secondary ticket market credibility campaign. See the full list of winners.

Dr. Bob Petrausch (L), Professor of Mass Communications at Iona College, moderated our June 23, 2009 professional development workshop, “Public Relations: A Primer for Business Executives.” Joining him were panelists (left to right) Joanne Stevens, President, Stevens Media Consulting; Harvey Greisman, Senior Vice President of Communications, MasterCard International; and Professor Donald Grunewald, Professor of Management, Hagan School of Business, Iona College. The program was co-sponsored by the Business Council of Westchester and the Business Council of Fairfield County, and was inspired by the “Primer” book authored by Petrausch, Grunewald, and Dr. Giri Dua.

Rob Gedarovich (L) and Saxon Schelfhaudt (far RT) of Creative Partners in Stamford accept their Gold Mercury in Community Relations:For Profit, from emcee Gil Simmons of News Channel 8. Creative Partners won for the "Health Net Cup" Wii senior bowling tournament campaign.
 

Danielle Cyr (L) and Kate Ottavio accept one of several 2009 Mercury Awards Co-Communications won at the June 11 Mercury dinner. The agency has offices in Simsbury CT and Mt. Kisco NY.

The Mercury event gave members of the three area chapters a chance to get together. The So. CT chapter contingent included (L-R) Marcia Simon, Marcia Simon Enterprises; Barb Arusiewicz, United Illuminating; John Morgan, Quinnipiac University; Trish Caldwell, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven; Michelle Wade, New Haven Public Schools; Carol Pompano, Anthem; Mary Ingarra, the Connecticut Water Company; and Evie Gard, Gateway Community College.

Alison Karam, APR (L) was named 2009 Practitioner of the Year, presented by Diane Dawson-Brown (R) of All The Best People, which specializes in placing professionals in communications, advertising and the graphic arts. Karam is a member of the CT Valley chapter and the Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Research at First Experience Communications in Glastonbury CT.

The 2009 Mercury Best in Show: Tactics was won by The Kotchen (West Hartford, CT) for non-profit media relations for theHartford Marathon Foundation’s ING Hartford Marathon. Brie Barash from Kotchen accepted the award.

The 2009 Mercury Best in Show: Campaign was won by Mason Onofrio Public Relations (Bethany CT) for Street Smarts Campaign, a non-profit community relations campaign to increase pedestrian safety in New Haven. (L-R): Fran Onofrio, APR; Pina Violano, Yale-New Haven Hospital; Gil Simmons and Desiree Fontaine, News Channel 8; Jim Travers, City of New Haven.

Mary Jane Guffey (left), public relations and marketing communications consultant, compares notes on Social Networking with Richard M. Frostig, Principal, Pinnacle Media Relations LLC, at the November program.

Guest Speaker and Social Networking guru Nancy Fox (left) and Wendy Marx, President, Marx Communications, exchange business cards at our November 2008 meeting. Fox, President of Fox Coaching Associates, discussed Growing Your Business Through Social Networking. Photos by Polly Geller.

Alexander Soule, (left), reporter, Fairfield County Business Journal, chats with Sheila Carmine, Executive Director, Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership at our October 2008 Meet the Media Luncheon. Soule was joined by Joe Berger, columnist for the New York Times, and Mark Lungariello, associate editor of HomeTown Media.

(L to R): Deborah A. Weingrad, Editorial Director/Project Manager of Creative Services Group, Asante Green, Executive Assistant, Placement and Communications with New Canaan Country School, and Sara Appleyard, Assistant Vice President, Widmeye Communications, listen to guest speakers from the Fairfield County Business Journal, The New York Times, and Home Town Media Group at the Meet the Media Luncheon, in White Plains. Photo by Polly Geller.

Julie Jarrett, (left) Vice President of Heyman Associates, talks with Kathy Failla, President, PRSA-WF at the September 10, 2008 chapter program. Jarrett discussed the public relations job market in the current economic climate. Heyman Associates is a leading executive search firm focusing on positions in media and public relations, branding, internal communications and corporate communications.

Sue Dieck, APR: The PRSA-WF Chapter is proud to announce that chapter member Sue Dieck has earned an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation. Dieck is the Public Information Officer/District Clerk of Carmel Central School District in Patterson, New York. She achieved APR through the PRSA accreditation study course, with coaching sessions from the chapter’s Accreditation Chair, followed by a Readiness Review Panel portfolio review and assessment, and a computer-based written exam. Congratulations, Sue!

Family Centers communications director and PRSA-WF member Bill Brucker (left) accepts a Gold 2008 Mercury Award in the Not-for-Profit Annual Report category, from emcee Matt Scott, of WTNH-Channel 8. The Greenwich-based agency also won a Silver Mercury in Media Relations/Not-for-Profit for its “Save the Dancing Dolphins” campaign. The 2008 PRSA Mercury Awards event was held June 12 in New Haven. Winners were named from across the region, and Jenny Smith of Pita Communications was named Outstanding Practitioner of the Year.

David Dowling of PR Newswire discusses shades of green in PR with Larry Gottlieb, Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller. Mr. Gottlieb discussed “How Going Green Can Impact Your PR Programs & Strategies” at our May 2008 program. He drew an audience from Fairfield, Westchester Putnam Counties.

Rebecca Surran, Anchor, News 12 Connecticut , was one of four area top journalists at our Meet the Media luncheon on April 9, 2008. A podcast of the program is available to PRSA-WF members. 

Jim Zebora (L), Managing Editor, Greenwich Time, with Tom Mariam, Chair of the PRSA-WF Program Committee, during our Meet the Media luncheon.

George Pawlush, (L) Director of Public Relation for Greenwich Hospital, chats with Noreen McNicholas, Director of Marketing and Communications for St. Vincent’s Medical Center, during the April Meet the Media luncheon.

Social media marketing pro Andrew Di Fiore, president of Answer Yes Interactive, discusses with PRSA member Wendy Van Parys how marketing can be improved by taking advantage of new technology, at our March 12, 2008 program.
Photo: Polly Geller, Geller, Grace & Associates

Westchester/Fairfield Chapter member (and 2007 Mercury Practitioner of the Year honoree) Jim Lukaszewski, APR, Fellow PRSA, of The Lukaszewski Group, has authored Why Should the Boss Listen to You? The 7 Disciplines of the Trusted Strategic Advisor (Jossey-Bass), which TIME in its March 24 issue calls the “book for the aspiring second banana.” More information is on the TLG website at www.e911.com.

Greg Miller, President of Marketcom PR, outlined how search engine technology is changing public relations and media, during our November 7 program “Are You Ready for Google Relations? How Google Changed Media Relations”. A podcast of the program is available to members.   Photo by P. Geller.

(L-R): Carol Latter, editor of CT Business Magazine; Mary Lynn Mitcham, editor-in-chief of InTown Westchester; Catherine Censor, editor-in-chief of The WAG; and Dale Salm, managing editor of Connecticut Magazine discussed how PR professionals can gain visibility for organizations in their magazines at our October 2007 “Meet the Media” luncheon meeting. A podcast of the program will soon be available to PRSA-WF members.

Jessica Rao (left) of ARC Communications and chair of PRSA-WF’s Revenue Development committee,  with David Silbergleit of PIMS, which sponsored our October 2007 “Meet the Media” meeting.

Karen Roberts (left), Media Relations Director, Harquin Creative Group, discusses ways to gain visibility in Fairfield and Westchester County media with Monique Haygood, Strategic Sales Development Manager, InTown Magazine, at the October Meet the Media luncheon. (All photos by Polly Geller, Geller Grace & Associates.

David Meerman Scott, online-thought leadership expert and author of best-seller The New Rules of Marketing and PR, provides experience-based tips with some 60 professionals at our September 2007 luncheon meeting. Scott, who has developed innovative, cost-effective programs that have helped sell more than $1 billion worth of products and services, recommended using such channels as blogs, video, e-books and white papers, along with news releases, to reach buyers directly. “Think like a publisher,” he advised. “You are what you publish and what others publish about you.” A podcast of the program is available to PRSA-WF members.

Doug Campbell, The Success Coach, and Wendy Van Parys of WVP Marketing Communications network at the Scott program.

Valerie Newton of Imagemakers International and David Meerman Scott, with copies of his book.

(Above and below): Members of the Westchester/Fairfield, Southern Connecticut and Connecticut Valley chapters mixed and mingled on the waterfront in New Haven at the 2007 Mercury Awards Dinner on June 7. The annual competition and event is sponsored by the three chapters and is open to practitioners in the Westchester, Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts area. Visit our Mercury page to see photos of the W/F winners and a complete list of winners throughout the region. 

Hector Bauza (l) president of of Bauza & Associates chats with Carlos Gonzales of La Guia Hispana during our June "How to Reach the Hispanic Market", featuring Bauza and his associate Wilson Camelo.

Wilson Camelo (right) vice president of Bauza & Associates, and a luncheon guest. Camelo is also president of the Southern Connecticut Chapter of PRSA.

Randall Wolf, Director of Photography for The Journal News/LoHud.com, gave advice for placements during our May 2007 “Meet the Media” program.

Wolf was joined by Bob Marrone, the host of “Good Morning, Westchester” on WVOX/WVIP.

Panelists (l-r) Don Levin, president of Levin Public Relations & Marketing; Tom Mariam, president of Mariam Communications LLC; Meryl Moss, founder of Meryl L. Moss Media Relations; and Peter Schelfhaudt, CEO of Creative Partners, shared expertise at our March 2007 professional development workshop on how to “Start and Build Your Own PR/Marketing Communications Practice.” The program at Manhattanville College provided more than 60 tips on topics including whether to be a specialist or a generalist, how to use technology to advantage, how to garner new business, and how to obtain client referrals. A podcast is available for members.

Tom Mariam (left), program chair of the Westchester/Fairfield PRSA chapter, thanks Andy Cooper (right), principal and co-founder of CooperKatz & Company, for speaking at our March luncheon meeting. Cooper, former president of Burson-Marsteller New York, discussed why public relations is overtaking advertising as marketers' favorite communications discipline and how the current communications environment plays to PR's unique strengths. A podcast is available for PRSA members.

Lenny Laskowski, president of Stratford-based LJL Seminars and an author and expert on Internet marketing, told about 75 people at our February 2007 luncheon how to generate business online. Some attendees said they planned to revise websites to incorporate his advice, which included pointers on search engine optimization and converting visitors to customers. A podcast will be posted shortly for PRSA members.

Eryn Taylor, Ketchum senior research associate, reported at our January 2007 luncheon on results of a “Media Myths & Realities” media-usage survey conducted by her firm and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center. She also offered related tips. A podcast is available for PRSA members, as is a news story by The Advocate.

In December 2006, the Westchester/Fairfield PRSA chapter membership elected 2007 officers and directors who began serving in January 2007. From left to right are Kate Petrov, secretary; Colleen Brathwaite, president; Stephanie Harwood, APR, treasurer; Kathy Failla, vice president; and Robin Russo, director. Jeff Christensen, also elected a director, is not pictured.  

2007 Officers and Directors

President: Colleen Brathwaite, director of marketing, MetroPool, Inc., Stamford, Conn. A chapter board member since 1998, the Edgemont, N.Y., resident is a former president and chaired the membership and nominating committees in 2006. She has more than 25 years’ communications and marketing experience in consumer products, high technology and transportation, as director of corporate communications at Dannon and Mott’s, management positions at IBM, and as vice president of Shandwick. She holds a B.A. in English from Brandeis University and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

Vice President: Kathy Failla, director of public relations and communications for the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Conn. The Weston, Conn., resident is returning to the board. With more than 25 years’ experience in communications, marketing and the media, she has served such organizations as UBS Warburg, Purdue Pharma, Champion International, American Airlines and the International Executive Service Corps, and co-founded a Weston-based communications firm. As a journalist, she has written for The Advocate, The Hartford Courant, The New York Times, Business Week and Woman magazine. She is a cum laude graduate of Central Connecticut State University.

Secretary: Kate Petrov, communications director for the Greenwich Family YMCA. She joined the board as secretary in 2006. Previously membership and special events director for the YMCA, the Greenwich resident received a Leadership Award from the Association of YMCA Professionals. Earlier, she was an editor and client performance analyst for hospitality consulting firm Richey International. She has a B.A. in public communication from American University.

Treasurer: Stephanie Harwood, APR, principal of New Canaan-based S.M. Harwood Consulting. Elected to a third term as treasurer, she is a former chapter president and a gold Mercury Award winner. Her 25-plus years in public relations and corporate communications have included vice president, communications and media relations for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, vice president of corporate communications for Porter Novelli, and agencies in New York and California. She holds a B.A. in English literature from United States International University and is completing an M.S. in communications management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. 

Director, 2007-2009: Jeff Christensen, CPA, managing partner of Capital Markets Board, an investor relations firm, and of VideoIntros Plus, a video and photography firm. Re-elected as a chapter director, Jeff has been on the board since 1999 and has served as secretary. The Wilton, Conn., resident has more than 20 years’ experience in investor relations and recently branched into online video. He is an honor graduate in accountancy from Western Michigan University and a member of Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society of Accountancy.  

Director, 2007-2009: Robin Russo, president of Robin Leedy & Associates, in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. A returning chapter board member, Robin has more than 25 years’ experience in national brand consumer and health-care public relations, with her own firm since 1986 and previously with Carl Byoir & Associates, where she was vice president in the consumer marketing group. Her agency’s campaigns have received Clarion Awards from the Association for Women in Communications and Big W Awards from the Advertising Club of Westchester. She has a master’s degree in communications and is a member of the PRSA Counselors Academy and PRSA Health Academy.
The newly elected officers and directors will serve with the following directors whose terms are continuing: Laura Abbott, principal of Laura M. Abbott Communications, in Greenwich; Polly Geller, president of Geller, Grace & Associates, in Stamford; Don Levin, APR, Fellow PRSA, and president of Larchmont, N.Y.-based Levin Public Relations & Marketing; and Tom Mariam, president of Mariam Communications, in Rye Brook, N.Y. Ian Kerr, a Greenwich-based public relations consultant, was reappointed chapter president emeritus.

Alan Towers, reputation management expert and chair of TowersGroup, part of Middleberg Communications, offered "5 Rules for Managing Your Company's Reputation" at our November 2006 luncheon. He discussed proactive management, its bottom-line importance, and how PR professionals can boost their reputation management role. PRSA members may access a podcast on our website.

Rosemarie Anner, (L-R) executive editor of Greenwich Magazine and editor of In Good Taste; Frank Brill, business editor of The Journal News; Ed Baig, "Personal Tech" columnist for USA Today; and Robyn Walensky, reporter and anchor for Fox News Radio shared what they like, don’t like, and how to work with them during our October 2006 “Meet the Media” luncheon. A podcast of the programis accessible to members.  

Bob Petrausch, Ed.D., leads a discussion on how we process information and its influence on web site development, at our September 13, 2006 program. Petrausch is president of the Westchester/Fairfield PRSA Chapter and faculty advisor of the PRSSA Iona College chapter, where he is Assistant Professor of Mass Communication. The basis of the program was a Vocus research study, “What Journalists Want to See On Your Web Site,” a copy of which is available to PRSA members on our Articles and Information page.   





Nina Streitfeld, APR, Fellow PRSA (center) joins Julie Lutz of Nestle Waters North America (L) and Mary Ellen McLean, vice president of the Westchester/Fairfield Chapter, at the September program.

Ken Lempit (L), president of Austin Lawrence Group, and Adam Yates, director of corporate communications for Fujifilm, discussed examples, benefits and challenges of integrated marketing communications at our June 22 professional development workshop. Mark Misercola (not pictured), communications strategist at Deutsche Bank, joined them on the panel at Manhattanville College, where Yates and Misercola teach integrated marketing communications in a master’s degree program. 

Panelist Adam Yates (R),director of corporate communications for Fujifilm,joins workshop organizer Don Levin of Levin Public Relations & Marketing, and Andrea Covell, Ph.D., assistant dean of Manhattanville’s School of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Jeff Christensen (L) talks with a guest during our June 7 program, where he demonstrated how practitioners can make online video part of their public relations and marketing programs. Chapter members may download a podcast of the program. 

The 2006 Tavcar Dinner: moderator Jim Lukaszewski (left), chairman of The Lukaszewski Group, gathers with speakers Jack O'Dwyer, editor-in-chief of Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter; Sandra Dolbow O'Loughlin, business reporter with Brandweek; and Phil Hall, editor of PR News. The speaker panel debated “PR at the Precipice” at the May 17 event. PRSA members may access a podcast of the debate.

Caryn McBride, , Executive Editor, Fairfield County and Westchester County Business Journals, was one of three top journalists who shared tips on how to work with her publications, at our March 8 “Meet the Media” luncheon in Greenwich. PRSA members may download the podcast of the program.

Charles Monagan, Editor, Connecticut Magazine, outlined the story ideas he is looking for, as Kate Thompson, Greenwich Family YMCA, and Donna Moriarty, New York Medical College, listen.

Sean Herbert, News Director, Regional News Network (RNN-TV), was the third journalist at the media luncheon, and reminded the audience to think in terms of visuals when seeking TV coverage.

Joan Damico of Damico Communications told us how to use podcasts and RSS at our January 20th program. Damico’s firm provides business-to-business direct and interactive marketing for high tech and industrial companies, and she is also the author of the monthly newsletter Integrated Marcom Minute. PRSA members may hear her advice by podcast.

In December, the Westchester/Fairfield PRSA chapter membership elected the 2006 officers and board of directors. From left to right are: Polly Geller, Mary Ellen McLean, Bob Petrausch, Tom Mariam, Stephanie Harwood, APR, and Chris Curren.

2006 Officers and Board of Directors

President: Dr. Robert J. Petrausch, Ed. D. has been elected to a second term. He is an assistant professor of public relations and adviser to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at Iona College in New Rochelle. Also a consultant to Fortune 1000 companies, Dr. Petrausch has held senior communications positions with Uniroyal Chemical, General Electric and GTE. He holds a doctorate in education from Columbia University, a Master of Science degree in public relations from Boston University, and Master of Arts degrees from Fordham University and the New School for Social Research.

Vice President: Mary Ellen McLean, principal of Fairfield-based McLean & Company Communications. McLean, who joined the PRSA chapter’s board as a director in 2005, is chairman of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Fairfield Public Library Board of Trustees. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English from Fairfield University.

Secretary: Chris Curran, director of corporate communications for Esselte, based in Stamford. Experienced in consumer goods, financial services and nonprofit public relations, Curran is a former president of the WestFair and Connecticut chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). He received a communications degree from the University of Connecticut.

Treasurer: Stephanie Harwood, APR, a New Canaan-based public relations consultant, to a second term as treasurer. She is a former chapter president. She has headed communications for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and been vice president of corporate communications for public relations agency Porter Novelli. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from United States International University and is studying for a Master of Science degree in Communications Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University.

Director, 2006 -2008: Tom Mariam, president of Rye Brook-based Mariam Communications, which focuses on professional and financial services clients. Past vice president of the PRSA chapter, he will continue as program chairman. Mariam has headed public relations programs for Booz Allen Hamilton, the American Stock Exchange and two major law firms. He also was a senior vice president of Rubenstein Associates, a noted public relations firm, and began his career as a journalist with Dow Jones. Mariam received a B.A. degree from Columbia University and an M.S. degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.

Director 2006 – 2008: Polly Geller, president of Stamford-based Geller, Grace & Associates, a public relations and marketing communications firm serving the health-care and professional services sectors. Geller has received a Star Award in Public Relations from the Business Marketing Association and a Community Service Award from the Entrepreneurial Women’s Network. She is also a counselor with The Women’s Business Development Center. Geller holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Renaissance European history from Barnard College.

The newly elected officers and directors will serve with the following directors whose terms are continuing: Laura Abbott, principal of Greenwich-based Laura M. Abbott Communications; Colleen Brathwaite, director of marketing for MetroPool, based in Stamford; Jeff Christensen, managing partner of New York City-based Capital Markets Board; Don Levin, APR, Fellow PRSA, and president of Larchmont-based Levin Public Relations & Marketing; and Juliette Weiland, principal of Juliette Weiland & Co., in Wilton. Ian Kerr, a Greenwich-based public relations consultant, has also been re-appointed by the board as chapter president emeritus.

Jim Thompson and Dima Joseph of WGCH Radio talk with Ian Kerr (right), President Emeritus of the PRSA Westchester/Fairfield chapter during the October 10 “Meet the Media” PRSA luncheon in Greenwich. The event featured Thompson, Joseph and Kendra Farn, WNBC-TV Westchester; Dan Greenfield, The Journal-News; and Jim Zebora, Greenwich Time and Stamford Advocate, who provided detailed information on how to “pitch and place” with their media and chatted with guests.

Bryan Mattimore	Gary Fraser

At our September 29 Creativity Workshop Bryan Mattimore and Gary Fraser of The Growth Engine Co. led an enthusiastic group through you-can-actually-use-these techniques for spurring new ideas, drawing on their experience in helping Fortune companies and others develop ideas for new product/ new service creation and innovative marketing solutions as part of long-term client relationships. TGE also handles shorter, three-to-six month client assignments that include consumer insight development, focused ideation, and consumer validation phases. Their “ideation” techniques derive from studies that show how minds work to create ideas, and includes brainwalking and whiteboarding, a graphic process that enables large and small groups to share ideas and see the results of their contributions.
Workshop topics of The Growth Engine include Brand Communications, Team Ideation Technique Training, Sales Meeting Creative Facilitation, War Gaming and more.

Rita Cosby of MSNBC’s nightly “Live & Direct” was the guest speaker for the 2005 Tavcar event, held on September 18. This annual program is co-sponsored by the Westchester/Fairfield Chapter of PRSA and FCPRA, to honor the late Larry Tavcar, who was active in both organizations and led forums to discuss and debate issues in the public relations profession. From left to right: Mary Ellen McLean, PRSA Director; Bob Petrausch, PRSA President; Tom Bednarek; Rita Cosby; and Marven Moss, FCPRA board member. Cosby returned from New Orleans the night before and shared her first-hand experiences, as well as discussing broadcast journalism and her plans to continue coverage of Katrina reconstruction efforts. PRSA members can read the O’Dwyer’s story on the event.

Emcee Brian Shactman (far left), NBC 30 News anchor, joins the three PRSA Connecticut chapter presidents at the 2005 Mercury Awards event, held June 2 at the Long Wharf Theatre. From left to right: Bob Petrausch, Westchester/Fairfield Chapter; Sandy St. Pierre Nessing, Southern Connecticut Chapter; and Howard Drescher, APR, Connecticut Valley Chapter. Winning chapter members included Don Levin, APR, Fellow PRSA, who was named 2005 Outstanding Practitioner of the Year, and Stephanie Harwood, APR, who won a Gold Mercury in the Newsletter category.

Bob Petrausch accepts the Outstanding Practitioner of the Year Award on behalf of Don Levin, APR, Fellow PRSA at the 2005 Mercury Awards event in New Haven.

Click here for the complete story and list of winners.

Please go to the Mercury Awards for photos of the Westchester/Fairfield winners.

Eva Wisnik, President. Wisnik Career Services (left) talks with Susan Carnes of Applied Psychological Techniques following Wisnik's program “Working with Challenging Personalities” on May 11.

(Left to right): Betsy McGrath of BGM Communication, consultant Mary Ellen McLean and Kathy van Duzer of KRV Enterprises were among those attending the Wisnik program. McLean has also joined the board of the PRSA Westchester/Fairfield PRSA chapter, as a Director.

Tom Appleby, news director and anchor of News 12 Connecticut shares placement tips at the February “Meet the Media” program. For a full summary of the program, PRSA members may log in and go to the Articles/Info section.

(From left to right): Tom Mariam, PRSA Chapter program chair, joins guest speakers Merri Rosenberg, a freelance writer for the The New York Times' “Westchester” section; Eileen Gunn, freelance writer for The Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com and others, and Laurie Yarnell, features editor of Westchester Magazine at the “Meet the Media” program. The three joined news anchor Tom Appleby.