PRactically Speaking Houston

Welcome Savannah Becerril, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Savannah Becerril is the founder of Go Savvy, an experiential marketing firm built on heart, precision, and momentum. A Houston native with a background in live production, business strategy, and brand storytelling, she holds a dual degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from the University of Houston along with a certification in Audio Engineering. Grounded in her Christian faith, Savannah leads Go Savvy with a commitment to integrity and service, helping businesses and nonprofits create intentional, mission-aligned experiences where every detail supports the bigger picture.

Connect with Savannah Becerril at:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/4811042/admin/dashboard/
https://www.instagram.com/gosavvyusa/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/@gosavvyusa
https://www.tiktok.com/@gosavvyusa?is_from_webapp=1...

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Jourdan B. Scruggs, Ed.D., to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Jourdan B. Scruggs, Ed.D. is a seasoned communications professional with over a decade of successful experience in higher education, retail grocery and government. Utilizing her areas of expertise, including strategic communications, media relations and digital media, she advances the missions and tells the stories of organizations and the people who are a part of them. Her work has been featured nationally on ABCNews and CNN. 

A scholar, researcher and practitioner, she is passionate about social justice. Her research interests include social justice education curriculum, resources and initiatives available to campus communities, and food security efforts on HBCU campuses. 

Connect with Jourdan B. Scruggs, Ed.D. at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jourdan-b-scruggs/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations. 

Welcome Mona Lugay Tolbert, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Mona Lugay Tolbert is a strategic communications leader with 20 years of experience helping organizations and executives build trust, strengthen brands, and take action through storytelling. Her expertise includes executive communications, public relations, media relations, crisis communications, thought leadership, content strategy, and nonprofit marketing.

She partners with C-suite leaders to shape narratives, translate complex issues into clear, audience-focused messaging, and position organizations as leaders in their space. 

She is passionate about the evolving future of communications and storytelling.

Connect with Mona Lugay Tolbert at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/monalugaytolbert/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Felicia Perez, MA, APR, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Felicia Perez, MA, APR, is the founder of FAR Public Relations, a Houston-based, woman-owned communications firm specializing in media relations, brand storytelling and strategic communications. A former television news producer, she also serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Houston and has held several leadership roles with PRSA Houston, including chapter president and currently serves as Assembly Delegate and APR Chair. Her work has earned local and national recognition, including a PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence.

Connect with Felicia Perez, MA, APR at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciarussellperez/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/farpublicrelations/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Kami Watson Huyse, APR, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Kami Watson Huyse, APR, is a communications strategist, keynote speaker, and author. Through Zoetica Media, she advises corporate communications and marketing teams on strategy, visibility, and AI-supported workflows. An early adopter, practitioner, and educator through three waves of communication technology, she helps PR and marketing leaders turn AI experimentation into useful workflows. She has trained thousands of communicators through Smart Social Mastery and the Social Media Breakfast of Houston and she serves on the PRSA Houston Board as the University Chair.

Connect with Kami Watson Huyse, APR at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamihuyse/
https://www.instagram.com/kamichat/

Links mentioned on podcast:
https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/
https://smbhou.com

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Julie B. Fix, APR, Fellow PRSA, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Julie has a BA, Journalism from University of Houston. She is a former PRSA Houston board secretary, treasurer and Assembly Delegate. She was former leadership in the Texas Public Relations Association, including chair. She was a former board member and chair of the Public Relations Foundation of Texas. She was elected to the PRSA College of Fellows in 2010, served as 2017 Chair, Retired August 2021 after 20+ years teaching at UH. 

Connect with Julie B. Fix, APR, Fellow PRSA at:
https://www.linkedin.com/.../julie-b-fix-apr-fellow-prsa.../

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Mike O’Neill, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Mike O’Neill is a corporate communications and public relations leader who blends nearly a decade of strategic messaging experience with a 25-year foundation in broadcast journalism. He combines the instincts of a newsroom veteran with the discipline of a corporate communicator, crafting stories that inform, influence, and build trust.

Mike began his career in 1993 as a news photographer in Great Falls, Montana, before moving to Colorado Springs, Austin, and Houston. In Houston, he served as a producer at KTRK and later as Executive Producer at KHOU, leading newsroom teams and overseeing major market coverage.

He later transitioned into corporate communications at MetroNational, the real estate company that owns and operates all of Memorial City, before joining TDECU in 2022 to lead its external communications and media relations efforts. Mike is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication and Innovation at Texas Tech University and serves as Treasurer for PRSA Houston.

Connect with Mike O'Neill at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeoneill2348/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Laura Frnka-Davis, APR, to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Before founding LFD Communications, Laura honed her expertise at some of Houston’s well-known nonprofits and businesses, including Texas Children’s Hospital, Pierpont Communications, and LifeGift. Her comprehensive understanding of multiple communications disciplines, from media relations to PR writing to internal and external communications, including crisis communications, instills confidence in her clients and collaborators.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Laura was named the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Houston Chapter Solo Practitioner of the Year in 2020. Her continued success was marked by silver Excalibur awards in integrated communications for campaigns associated with the Houston Botanic Garden in 2021 and 2022 and a bronze PRSA Houston Excalibur award in 2023 for her work with Teach For America Houston. In 2024, LFD Communications further solidified its reputation, bringing home two awards from PRSA Houston and one from the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Houston. In 2025, she received a silver Excalibur Award in the integrated communications campaign category for her work on the Sugar Land Arts & Music Fest.

Laura is an instructor in the Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives in the Susan Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. 

Connect with Laura Frnka-Davis, APR at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurafrnka-davis/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Kristoffer Smith to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Kristoffer Smith is a communications and public relations professional with over 15 years of experience specializing in creative direction, content creation, and production. With expertise spanning school public relations, sports, short films, corporate projects, commercials, promotional videos, news, and photography, Smith has a proven track record of managing cross-platform campaigns, leading teams, and driving brand recognition through innovative multimedia solutions. An award-winning creative with mastery in Adobe Creative Cloud, video production, and digital communication, Smith strives to bring diverse social and cultural experiences to his audiences, aiming to inform, intrigue, and inspire.

Connect with Kristoffer Smith at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristoffer-smith-59728793 
Website: https://kristoffersmith.my.canva.site/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.

Welcome Leslee Hackett to PRactically Speaking Houston – the official podcast of the Houston PRSA Chapter.

Leslee is a digital marketing and public relations consultant with 12+ years of experience developing data-driven communication strategies that elevate brand visibility and audience engagement. She specializes in social media strategy, content management, integrated internal and external communications, and multimedia storytelling, with a strong focus on analytics and performance optimization. Her work bridges creativity and strategy, helping organizations translate complex messages into compelling digital narratives that deliver measurable results. Currently pursuing her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) to further strengthen ethical, strategic communications practice.

Connect with Leslee Hackett at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleeh/

Connect with Veronica V. Sopher at:
Website: https://www.veronicavsopher.com/
Social:@VeronicaVSopher

Learn more about the PRSA Houston Chapter, our events and opportunities at www.prsahouston.org.

PRactically Speaking Houston is brought to you by Veronica V. Sopher, Public Relations.