2009 Board of Directors

Karen Kovalsky, President

Karen Kovalsky is a Marketing Coordinator for the UCF Alumni Association, where she is responsible for new member acquisition. In just one year, Karen has launched four major membership campaigns, in addition to developing two new incentive programs to help recruit new members. Previously, Karen worked as an Affiliate Marketing Consultant for the Orlando Sentinel, where she helped to build strong relationships with affiliate partners to identify and attain key marketing goals on both the local and national level. Partnerships included Cars.com, Apartments.com and CareerBuilder, to name a few. She was also instrumental in organizing and leading some of Orlando Sentinel’s major marketing campaigns to increase the use and frequency of its classified products.

Not only has Karen been linked to the success of many high-profile company endeavors for both UCF and Orlando Sentinel, she is also the President for the Central Florida Chapter of the American Marketing Association and board Secretary for Oviedo branch of the Central Florida YMCA.

Karen attended the University of Central Florida and holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising/Public Relations, with a minor in Marketing. In 2005, Karen was recognized for Best Supporting Performance of the Year, the 2007 Madison Avenue Marketing Award and the 2008 AMA Central Florida Board's Choice Award for outstanding contribution to the chapter.

Nancy Noriega, Vice President of Membership

Nancy Noriega is president and founder of Nn Marketing, Inc. - an Orlando, Florida firm offering marketing, branding and public relations consultancy services for small to mid-size businesses. The organization specializes in innovative marketing and communications solutions; all to accelerate business success in the marketplace. The firm concentrates on a systematic targeted approach to marketing, which minimizes cost and maximizes utilization of valuable corporate resources for its clients.

Nancy is a visionary marketing professional with a dynamic 10+ year management career spearheading marketing, promotion, publicity and special-events programs that have contributed to revenue growth, strengthened market performance, and enhanced company image throughout domestic and international markets. She is uniquely skilled with proficiency in revitalizing low performance brand/market positioning and delivering the highest standard of commitment in service, sales and revenues.

Nancy is an accomplished executive who has held numerous senior-level positions in marketing, public/community relations, business development, and project management. In these roles she has developed stategies to further enhance the organizations’s position in the maketplace so as to acquire, retain, regain customers and increase profitability.

Her innovative solutions have been implemented in high tech business environments, healthcare, telecommunications, engineering, manufacturing, and real estate, some of which include: Brijot Imaging Systems, Stewart Enterprises, Protel International, F.A. Engineering, Coldcrete Inc., and Keller Homes. She has also been a contributor to various highly-regarded professional and community organizations such as, American Marketing Association, Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, Greater Orlando Scavenger Hunt, and Central Florida Striders Club.

We invite you to visit: www.nnmarketinginc.com for more information.

Paul David Queen, Vice President of Programming

     Paul David Queen currently does independent consulting through OrlandoMarketer.com. Previously, Paul served as the Director of Convention Marketing at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. In that role he managed the Orlando CVB’s meeting planner participation in professional associations as well as direct mail, magazine inserts, selling materials, social media and online. As former head of the Strategic Alliance and Partnership Marketing agency at Carlson Marketing Group, his department provided the bulk of the customer value proposition for the loyalty, affinity, membership and promotional marketing programs operated behind-the-scenes by Carlson. Those programs were operated for Visa, Merrill Lynch, Northwest Airlines, British Airways, Amtrak, Citrix, Oracle and Amazon.com. Paul has also held responsible marketing, product development and communications positions for Jostens, Maritz Inc., Booker Associates, Monsanto and Ashland Inc. Queen has two advanced degrees including a Master of Science from the University of Louisville and an MBA in International Business from St. Louis University. He has taught graduate-level courses on marketing and management and his thesis on Corporate Social Responsibility has been used as part of the business school curriculum for three universities.

Nyda Bittmann-Neville, Vice President of Member Relations

Nyda Bittmann-Neville is president and founder of TNB Consulting Group, Inc. a global organization specializing in innovative marketing, communications, and impact solutions; all to enhance image, brand and culture.

The fourteen-year-old firm has created, designed and implemented customized marketing strategies for clients within the U. S., Canada and Australia. These programs have established cultures and protocol within organizations that have resulted in their communicating effectively, marketing persuasively, and projecting themselves professionally. The customized development programs have facilitated learning with more than 7,000 professionals and topics range from team building, diversity, effective communications, presentation skills, professional image, and harassment to sales and sales management. Additionally, Nyda has served in the capacity of integration manager to coordinate seven firms into one national organization; has managed business process improvement projects; and created new corporate images.  Nyda is an executive coach, consultant, professional speaker, certified corporate trainer, and an author of Becoming a Professional Woman and On Stage! Image, Etiquette, Branding and Style. She is the host of The Magnolia, an internet show that is dedicated to image, brand and the women’s market. Check out the websites at www.TNBGroup.com and www.NydaBittmann-Neville.com.

Nyda has a diverse financial background spanning more than 25 years. She has held numerous senior level positions including marketing, public and community relations, training, sales, and telemarketing. Formerly Senior Marketing Manager for Barnett Banks, Inc. Nyda developed marketing strategies to further enhance Barnett's position in the marketplace: to attract, build and enhance relationships, and increase profitability.

Her innovative solutions have been implemented in the industries of financial, insurance, travel, high-tech, law, education, manufacturing, and government. A sampling of her clients include Lockheed Martin, Macquarie Investments (Australia) Delta ComAir, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Georgia Pacific, Barnett-Nations-Bank of America, TAL Private (Canada), Osceola County Government and School District, University of Central Florida, SunTrust and Russell Corporation.

A Florida Southern graduate, Bittmann-Neville received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration. She is involved in many organizations and is sought out as a speaker around the globe.

Shelley Gibbins, Vice President of Research

Shelley Gibbins is currently a Senior Analytical Consultant in database marketing for AAA. In this capacity, Shelley assists AAA clubs in developing effective targeted marketing campaigns utilizing direct mail and email. These campaigns primarily revolving around acquisition and, most importantly, retention of AAA members.

With over 20 years of experience in the Market Research & Database Marketing industry, Shelley has held management positions with AAA, the Orlando Sentinel and Universal Orlando. Her strengths lie in customer satisfaction research, data mining, data analysis and programming.

Shelley is a proud graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She is a skilled focus group moderator having completed Advanced Focus Group Training through the Burke Institute.

Molly Neznanski Gil, Vice President of Marketing

Molly Neznanski Gil is Marketing Manager for Compass Knowledge Group, a firm that partners with select academic institutions to develop academically superior and economically successful online programs.

Previously, Molly served as the Marketing Manager for M2 Global where she managed the international marketing and branding efforts for five financial service and enterprise software brands.  As Communications Development Officer/Brand Print Manager/Web Editor for Rollins College, Molly revolutionized and revitalized the direct mail, new media, and communications strategies for her department and was instrumental in increasing the school’s alumni participation and philanthropic giving.  As Manager of Product Sales and Marketing for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York in Manhattan, Molly managed the product sale and associated marketing efforts, consistently exceeded annual revenue goals, and trained, motivated, and mobilized her staff and 90 volunteer administrators.  While at the Girl Scouts, Molly developed and executed Operation Cookie, an effort that sent over 50,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to our military troops stationed overseas.

Molly holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and mass communication from Towson University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rollins College, with concentrated studies in marketing and management.

Charlotte Howell, Project Manager

Charlotte Howell is the Director of Marketing and Sales for A Stat Transcription Service Inc, a leading provider of medical transcription solutions to hospitals and multi-specialty clinics throughout the United States. At A Stat, Charlotte developed a website for the company, created marketing collateral for A Stat and its associated school - Review of Systems expanded, and secured the company’s first new contract in two years.

Prior to joining A Stat, Charlotte directed fundraising activities, organized awareness campaigns, and served as public information officer for various nonprofit organizations. At the Lake Mary based, Dynamic Healthcare Technologies, Inc., Charlotte wrote winning sales proposals and was co-precipitant of the Just Do It! Award for outstanding teamwork. For the Recoton Corporation, Charlotte analyzed product inventory against future projected sales, which brought together the concepts of just-in-time production and zero-sum inventory. She also prepared marketing presentations, special programs and customer incentives.

Coursework Charlotte has completed includes, Applying Marketing Techniques in Fundraising from the Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center, Basic Public Health Risk Communication for Public Information Officers from the Florida Department of Health and Leadership Risk Communications Training from Nova Southeastern Center for Bioterrorism Preparedness. She possesses certifications from FEMA in several areas of disaster communications and management. Charlotte graduated from Rollins College with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities degree.

Kevin Fritz, Public Relations Chair

Kevin Fritz is President of Fritz Communications, a boutique marketing, publishing and public relations firm, specializing in journalism, consulting, media relations and business development. He is editor/owner of The Hestia Report, a home and hearth real estate newsletter, and editor/partner of We Care, a caregiver magazine publishing in Orlando and Los Angeles.

Kevin received a BS in Journalism from Ohio University and lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Christi and their yellow lab Kali.

He has been writing professionally for more than 25 years and began his career as a newspaper reporter in New Jersey, before moving to Orlando and writing for a number of local trade and business magazines. Kevin’s background includes 15 years of employment with the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association as its Vice President of Communications and Marketing and executive editor of publications. He is also the proud author of the fiction novel Crossover.

Mike Lowe, Vice President of Collegiate Relations

John Dussling, Vice President of Business Development

Terry Brock, Vice President of Professional Development

Al Lootens, Vice President of Volunteer Recruitment

Andres Goyanes, Interim Past President/Vice President of Strategic Alliances

Pat Saxton, Co-Vice President of Programming

Ashley Edwards, Social Media Chair

Heather Austin, Communications Manager

Rob Grahm, Event Manager

Rosaura Lora, Awards Program Manager

Kimberley Roman, Graphic Artist

Karin Bowman, Event Chair