SPRA is not-for-profit “A California Mutual Benefit Corporation”
managed by the executive members of the Board of Directors —past
president, president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer — and
supported by its officers.
SPRA is proud to represent the region’s broad communication field for
its officers consists of a blend of seasoned and young professionals
from public relations, marketing, and advertising firms; private
industry; commercial business; government; media, and non-profit
organizations. Diverse experiences and knowledge is one of the
cornerstones that maintains SPRA’s strength, vitality, and innovation.
Jana Sanders Perry has been a member of SPRA since 2003 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2004. She has held the positions of Networking & Career Day Chair (2004-2007), CAPPIE Awards Co-Chair (2007/2008) and Vice President (2008/2009). Perry is currently the President of SPRA and is committed to member services and the advancement knowledge with the public relations community in the Sacramento area.
Perry joined Merlot Marketing, a full-service marketing agency, in early 2004 and has since worked her way up the ranks, tackling national and local accounts and events. Today, she holds the very long title of Public Relations Account Executive and Events & Promotions Specialist. Her responsibilities include developing strategic public relations plans for key accounts, as well as creating and executing events and promotions for the agency’s roster of clients. Perry holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of California, Davis. Follow her on Twitter: @JSandersPerry.
Jairo Moncada has been an active SPRA member for five years. Jairo has previously served four terms on the SPRA Board of Directors, serving as president (208-2009), vice-president (2007-2008), secretary (2006-2007) and treasurer (2005-2006). As past president, Moncada will serve on the Executive Committee and help the board president implement the strategic direction of the association and help the president achieve the association’s goals. Moncada has been an active member in the PR landscape in Sacramento for the last five years and was recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as Communications Manager at California Volunteers. In this position, Moncada is responsible for helping oversee various communication activities related to California’s service and non-profit sectors. Prior to his appointment, Moncada provided strategic oversight on various national and statewide public relations campaigns at some of Sacramento's highly regarded local agencies, including Merlot Marketing, Astone/Crocker/Flanagan and BPcubed. When not in the PR trenches, Jairo is constantly competing in various extracurricular activities, including softball, dodgeball and fantasy football. Jairo earned his degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.
Kristen Larson has been an active SPRA member since 2006. She served on the CAPPIE committee in 2007 & 2008 and was awarded the SPRA Volunteer of the Year award in 2007. Kristen began working for the California Chamber of Commerce in April 2008 as a Web Editor for HRCalifornia.com and CalBizCentral.com, which support businesses in California by providing employment law compliance information and products. Previously, Kristen was the Communications Director for the California Newspaper Publishers Association providing communications, marketing and public relations support for all CNPA departments and events including CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Day. Before moving to Sacramento in 2006, Kristen was the Public Relations Associate and Playbill Editor for the Pasadena Playhouse in Southern California working on plays such as Doubt and Sister Act: The Musical and with actors such as Michael Richards, Linda Hunt, Kate Mulgrew and Loretta Devine. After graduating in 2003 from Pepperdine University with a B.A. in Journalism, Kristen worked for two years as the Production Assistant and Web Editor for The Malibu Times newspaper and magazine.
Erica Taylor
Secretary
Erica Taylor has been a member of SPRA since moving to Sacramento in 2003. This is her first year serving as a board member. Erica works as the Communications Manager for Five Star Bank, a local “boutique” bank serving the Great Central Valley. There, she handles marketing, advertising, employee communication, and the bank’s heavy events calendar. Prior to joining Five Star Bank, she served as the Marketing Manager at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. Before that she worked as the Communications Manager at the Sacramento Children’s Home. Erica started her career in broadcast media and worked as an anchor and reporter at KVIQ-TV in Eureka, CA and as a radio reporter at KQMS - Newstalk 1400 in Redding, CA. She switched to the PR side when she was hired by the local ABC affiliate in Redding, KRCR-TV, as the Promotions and Public Service Director. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Broadcast News. She is currently working on a master’s degree in Communications Studies at Sacramento State University.
Sara Hanson has been a member of the SPRA for four years and is excited to serve her third year on the SPRA board as the Events and Vendor Co-Chair. She began working in public relations in 1999, when she proudly joined the public relations team for Tower Records corporate headquarters in West Sacramento. During her time with Tower Records, she gained an enormous amount of education and appreciation for developing strong relationships with both the media and the community at large, including working with the Sacramento Heritage Festival and a national collaboration with Kenneth Cole to collect clothing for the nation’s homeless, which resulted in collection of over 7,000 bags of clothing. In 2005, Sara became the public relations specialist for Sierra Forever Families (formerly Sierra Adoption Services), a private non-profit adoption agency focused on finding permanent families for children in foster care. Sara expresses that she is thrilled to have learned so much during her time with Tower and that now she is able to apply that knowledge to a very meaningful cause: families for children. Sara is also heavily involved with the Sacramento theatre community as she has performed in over 60 shows in the area. She has also had the honor of directing and producing numerous shows along with her husband and their production company, ChinaCat Productions.
Christina Vanskike joined SPRA as a member in 2004, while still a student at California State University Sacramento. Christina recently joined the SPRA Board of Directors as a Membership Co-Chair, after volunteering on various SPRA committees this past year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from Sacramento State. In 2006, Christina joined Randle Communications, one of Sacramento’s top five public relations and public affairs firms, and currently serves as an Account Executive. At Randle, Christina manages a number of accounts including University of Phoenix, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and California Family Fitness. Christina has a true passion for media relations and messaging work, and she provides support on a number of the firm’s high-profile public awareness campaigns.
Margeaux Esler
Membership Co-Chair
Margeaux joined the Randle Communications team in May 2008, after serving as an intern with the company while completing her bachelor’s degree in Communications at the University of California, Davis. As an Assistant Account Executive, Margeaux provides account support for several Randle clients including the University of Phoenix, California Family Fitness, California Association of Realtors, Riverside Building Industry Association, Placer County Transportation Planning Agency and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers.
While attending college, Margeaux had several internships with the UC Davis Communications Research Department, where she conducted case studies and analyzed data on communicative behavior and persuasion. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Davis in June of 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Margeaux’s interests in mass media influence and persuasion have developed into a passion and talent for public relations and strategic message development.
Born and raised in Salinas, California, Margeaux has always enjoyed a very active life which includes swimming, camping and boating. Margeaux recently completed her first triathlon and half marathon; continuing her love of physical activity and commitment to her community.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier
Zsavonne Heathcock is entering her second year as a member of SPRA and is eager to serve the organization as Program Chair. With more than four years of PR experience, Zsavonne is currently an Associate Public Relations Account Executive and Social Media Strategist with Merlot Marketing. In this position she handles media relations, social media program strategy development and implementation and day-to-day management of national clients. Prior to joining Merlot Marketing, Zsavonne was the Public Relations Coordinator at Waterhouse Public Relations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She holds a honors degree in Communication from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Nicole Ratcliff has managed several major clients in the communications division of KP Public Affairs since 2004. Since joining the firm, Ms. Ratcliff has delivered client results through media relations, third-party ally development, grass-roots advocacy and crisis management. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, media relations, coalition building, special event planning and coordination.
Mrs. Ratcliff currently handles the day-to-day operations of several major clients, leading the strategic oversight and program implementation for the California Mortgage Bankers Association. Ms. Ratcliff is working to educate reporters about the impacts on the industry if legislation is passed that would further impact the housing crisis. She also serves as client leader for a renewable energy company siting projects throughout California, Invenergy LLC. The company is working on two projects in Susanville and San Diego. Also, Mrs. Ratcliff provides media relations support and business and brand communications strategies for clients such as Westlands Water District, California Small Business Association and PETCO.
Most recently, Mrs. Ratcliff managed a siting project for Nestle Waters North America in Northern California to develop an industrial manufacturing project in a community where jobs and economic diversification are needed. She also oversaw the siting of an industrial project that will meet the EPA’s call for the development of new technologies for handling waste streams. Mrs. Ratcliff was also involved in two successfully completed projects, one with the Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District and the other with PETCO, Inc. to raise awareness about pieces of legislation that would have negatively impacted each of these client’s business operations. In her coalition building on behalf of PETCO, Mrs. Ratcliff was able to generate over 2,000 letters of opposition that helped lead to the defeat of the legislation.
Prior to joining KP, she worked for almost five years at Burson-Marsteller starting as an intern, where she served as a key client contact for global clients developing regional communications programs through community outreach.
Erin Dunlay, an associate in APCO Worldwide’s Sacramento office, provides clients with expertise in media relations, issues management and grassroots advocacy.
Ms. Dunlay has worked on a variety of public affairs projects and ballot initiatives on issues such as regulatory processes, civil justice reform, workers’ compensation and community health programs. Recently, she provided media relations support for a successful campaign to obtain regulatory approval for construction of a $1.9 billion, 120-mile transmission line in southern California.
Prior to joining APCO, Ms. Dunlay worked in a Sacramento-based public relations firm where she provided services in media relations, copywriting and coalition building to a range of clients, including Indian tribes, medical trade associations and developers. She also planned press conferences, luncheons and award ceremonies and created newsletters, fact sheets, press kits and brochures. Previously, she worked as a copy editor for the Omaha World Herald.
Ms. Dunlay graduated with honors from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is an active member of the Sacramento Public Relations Association.
Hans Greenawalt joined SPRA as a member in 2006 and is serving his second year as a SPRA board member. He has served on the CAPPIE committee over the last three years. Hans is the Local Marketing Specialist at IKEA West Sacramento where he is responsible for local marketing efforts, event planning and community outreach. He has worked to create a number of programs to benefit local non-profits such as an annual book drive for the Sacramento Children’s Home in addition to marketing IKEA in the local community. Hans holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Evergreen State College in Washington.
Robert Cook is a Sacramento native and after bouncing around the country he landed back in the river city in 2002. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, and immediately began working as a designer with his primary focus being design for the web, user interface and user experience. After a few years working in the field Robert was invited to teach at Sac state and spent a year as an adjunct faculty member of the Sac State design program. At the end of 2007 Robert accepted a design position at Merlot Marketing, a full-service marketing agency, and since has worked with national and international clients on all manner of design. Recently, he has begun writing design articles as a contributing writer on the marketing blog “Get To The Grapes”. In his spare time he devours books on politics and economics, listens to NPR, works in his garden and takes trips to the coast and Reno.
Jana Sanders Perry has been a member of SPRA since 2003 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2004. She has held the positions of Networking & Career Day Chair (2004-2007), CAPPIE Awards Co-Chair (2007/2008) and Vice President (2008/2009). Perry is currently the President of SPRA and is committed to member services and the advancement knowledge with the public relations community in the Sacramento area.
Kristen Larson has been an active SPRA member since 2006. She served on the CAPPIE committee in 2007 & 2008 and was awarded the SPRA Volunteer of the Year award in 2007. Kristen began working for the California Chamber of Commerce in April 2008 as a Web Editor for HRCalifornia.com and CalBizCentral.com, which support businesses in California by providing employment law compliance information and products. Previously, Kristen was the Communications Director for the California Newspaper Publishers Association providing communications, marketing and public relations support for all CNPA departments and events including CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Day. Before moving to Sacramento in 2006, Kristen was the Public Relations Associate and Playbill Editor for the Pasadena Playhouse in Southern California working on plays such as Doubt and Sister Act: The Musical and with actors such as Michael Richards, Linda Hunt, Kate Mulgrew and Loretta Devine. After graduating in 2003 from Pepperdine University with a B.A. in Journalism, Kristen worked for two years as the Production Assistant and Web Editor for The Malibu Times newspaper and magazine. 
Erica Taylor has been a member of SPRA since moving to Sacramento in 2003. This is her first year serving as a board member. Erica works as the Communications Manager for Five Star Bank, a local “boutique” bank serving the Great Central Valley. There, she handles marketing, advertising, employee communication, and the bank’s heavy events calendar. Prior to joining Five Star Bank, she served as the Marketing Manager at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. Before that she worked as the Communications Manager at the Sacramento Children’s Home. Erica started her career in broadcast media and worked as an anchor and reporter at KVIQ-TV in Eureka, CA and as a radio reporter at KQMS - Newstalk 1400 in Redding, CA. She switched to the PR side when she was hired by the local ABC affiliate in Redding, KRCR-TV, as the Promotions and Public Service Director. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Broadcast News. She is currently working on a master’s degree in Communications Studies at Sacramento State University.
Sara Hanson has been a member of the SPRA for four years and is excited to serve her third year on the SPRA board as the Events and Vendor Co-Chair. She began working in public relations in 1999, when she proudly joined the public relations team for Tower Records corporate headquarters in West Sacramento. During her time with Tower Records, she gained an enormous amount of education and appreciation for developing strong relationships with both the media and the community at large, including working with the Sacramento Heritage Festival and a national collaboration with Kenneth Cole to collect clothing for the nation’s homeless, which resulted in collection of over 7,000 bags of clothing. In 2005, Sara became the public relations specialist for Sierra Forever Families (formerly Sierra Adoption Services), a private non-profit adoption agency focused on finding permanent families for children in foster care. Sara expresses that she is thrilled to have learned so much during her time with Tower and that now she is able to apply that knowledge to a very meaningful cause: families for children. Sara is also heavily involved with the Sacramento theatre community as she has performed in over 60 shows in the area. She has also had the honor of directing and producing numerous shows along with her husband and their production company, ChinaCat Productions.
Christina Vanskike joined SPRA as a member in 2004, while still a student at California State University Sacramento. Christina recently joined the SPRA Board of Directors as a Membership Co-Chair, after volunteering on various SPRA committees this past year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from Sacramento State. In 2006, Christina joined Randle Communications, one of Sacramento’s top five public relations and public affairs firms, and currently serves as an Account Executive. At Randle, Christina manages a number of accounts including University of Phoenix, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and California Family Fitness. Christina has a true passion for media relations and messaging work, and she provides support on a number of the firm’s high-profile public awareness campaigns.
Margeaux joined the Randle Communications team in May 2008, after serving as an intern with the company while completing her bachelor’s degree in Communications at the University of California, Davis. As an Assistant Account Executive, Margeaux provides account support for several Randle clients including the University of Phoenix, California Family Fitness, California Association of Realtors, Riverside Building Industry Association, Placer County Transportation Planning Agency and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers. 
Zsavonne Heathcock is entering her second year as a member of SPRA and is eager to serve the organization as Program Chair. With more than four years of PR experience, Zsavonne is currently an Associate Public Relations Account Executive and Social Media Strategist with Merlot Marketing. In this position she handles media relations, social media program strategy development and implementation and day-to-day management of national clients. Prior to joining Merlot Marketing, Zsavonne was the Public Relations Coordinator at Waterhouse Public Relations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She holds a honors degree in Communication from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Nicole Ratcliff has managed several major clients in the communications division of KP Public Affairs since 2004. Since joining the firm, Ms. Ratcliff has delivered client results through media relations, third-party ally development, grass-roots advocacy and crisis management. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, media relations, coalition building, special event planning and coordination.
Erin Dunlay, an associate in APCO Worldwide’s Sacramento office, provides clients with expertise in media relations, issues management and grassroots advocacy.
Robert Cook is a Sacramento native and after bouncing around the country he landed back in the river city in 2002. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, and immediately began working as a designer with his primary focus being design for the web, user interface and user experience. After a few years working in the field Robert was invited to teach at Sac state and spent a year as an adjunct faculty member of the Sac State design program. At the end of 2007 Robert accepted a design position at Merlot Marketing, a full-service marketing agency, and since has worked with national and international clients on all manner of design. Recently, he has begun writing design articles as a contributing writer on the marketing blog “Get To The Grapes”. In his spare time he devours books on politics and economics, listens to NPR, works in his garden and takes trips to the coast and Reno.