Member Spotlight
Tell us about you! Thoroughbred Chapter members are invited to fill out this Google Form to be featured in our Member Spotlight. If you have any questions, email info@kyprsa.org.
Member Spotlight: Jay Blanton
By Michele Hill | July 8, 2025
Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
Meet Jay Blanton! Jay is the chief communications officer at the University of Kentucky.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
Certainly, working with the institution and supporting it with communications and planning during COVID was a challenge none of us wants to repeat. But it was a time where we got to tell the story of how this university was stepping up — through the largest vaccination clinic in the state to mobile clinics in churches to reach underrepresented populations — to help and heal a state.
What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I think PR is fundamentally about telling stories — in our case as comms professionals telling the story of a candidate, an institution or a business in ways, we hope, that resonate with the larger publics that we serve and help make positive change and transformation occur.
What is the best piece of career advice you've ever received?
Treat people the way you want to be treated.
What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
The opportunity to interact and learn from other professionals.
What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
Frank and Dino's
Member Spotlight: Angela Davied
By Michele Hill | June 1, 2025
Connect with Angela on LinkedIn
Meet Angela Davied! Angela is the director of corporate communications for Valvoline Inc.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
When NIL was new in college sports, I was leading communications for H&R Block. At that time, male athletes were primarily the recipients of lucrative NIL deals. We wanted to ensure student athletes understood the tax consequences of NIL deals, and we advocated for female athletes to get their fair share of NIL deals. The campaign, "A Fair Shot," was born. Caitlyn Clark who was then a rising star at the University of Iowa and Zia Cooke who was then at the University of South Carolina were our spokespeople. Ayoka Lee of Kansas State University also provided some internal communication partnerships for the campaign. The campaign was a success with customers and our employees and was ultimately named PR Week's 2023 Campaign of the Year.
What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
To me PR/communications is about giving a brand purpose and ensuring the perspectives of all stakeholders are heard. The most rewarding work to me is bringing purpose and emotional connection to a brand in a low-interest category. All people require connections, and the best PR/communications work makes lasting emotional connections between brands and consumers with credibility and trust.
What is the best piece of career advice you've ever received?
The phrases that two CEOs shared with me have guided my career: First, "perception is reality." This is key in PR, especially in crisis situations. Our work involves understanding stakeholder perceptions and creating a narrative that solidifies or modifies those perceptions.
The second phrase is, "when facing resistance, teach." As a PR professional, it is common that co-workers, clients or leaders may not fully understand the value PR can provide. In any situation, when you face that resistance, stay calm, explain and overcome any lack of understanding.
What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
I have been a PRSA member since college as a PRSSA member. It's the best organization to connect with like-minded professionals, share expertise and learn where the industry is headed so you can remain relevant and lead your organization's communications effectively.
What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
I work remotely from Kansas City, so I'm still exploring all the great spots Central Kentucky has to offer. There are several great spots in Lexington. I enjoy Corto Lima, Carson's and OBC Kitchen.
Member Spotlight: Quincy Fuehne
By Michele Hill | May 1, 2025
Connect with Quincy on LinkedIn
Meet Quincy Fuehne! Quincy is the strategic communications and public relations manager for Frontier Nursing University.
What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I love being able to tell stories of impact! I also get to learn about new things each day, which makes it fun. I feel like, because I'm in PR, I know a little bit about a lot! I also find great joy in being able to raise awareness for various causes and initiatives.
What is the best piece of career advice you've ever received?
Stay curious, don't be afraid to ask questions, and listen.
What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
There are so many benefits, but I really appreciate getting to bounce ideas off other members and the various webinars that are offered. I've used PRSA for recommendations on tech platforms, videographers, photographers, etc., and received amazing, reputable suggestions.
What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
This is TOUGH! I can narrow it down to three: Archa Nine, Corto Lima, or Local Feed.
Member Spotlight: Jan Carrico, APR
By Michele Hill | April 7, 2025
Connect with Jan on LinkedIn
Meet Jan Carrico, APR! Jan is the digital workplace communications manager for UK HealthCare.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
As an alumnus of the University of Kentucky, it was a privilege to return to campus at UK HealthCare in dual roles to support the launch of a new electronic health record (EHR), Epic, and a new modern intranet platform.
As digital workplace communications manager, I led vendor selection, strategic development and a six-month concept-to-launch of the new intranet, The Loop, for 20,000+ users in support of the 19-month EHR project. UK HealthCare won the Interact Excellence Award 2021 for Best Intranet Launch, besting the National Basketball Association (NBA).
As change communications manager on the EHR Project Team, I provided strategic communications support to increase user Epic adoption and usage via multi-channel organizational readiness and activation communications. The June 2021 big bang launch simultaneously at three hospitals, 25 outpatient clinics and 300 departments was successful and uneventful.
What made these efforts so memorable and rewarding for me were the challenges both teams overcame to keep these digital initiatives on track during the pandemic, as well as the transformative benefits both provided to UK HealthCare and its patients.
What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
There are so many interesting and challenging communication problems to solve.
What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
How to build a network through targeted networking. It is an important skill, especially in public relations.
What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) with the support of accredited public relations professionals in the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter. Equally meaningful is the opportunity to connect with and learn from communications leaders on a local, regional and national level. There is so much to learn from the creative ways best practices are applied in different industries.
What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
I’m a new fan of Minton’s for breakfast. A lunch fav is Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. In the summer, we like to drive out to Wallace Station in Midway for a casual dinner outdoors.
Member Spotlight: Melissa Hammer
By Michele Hill | March 14, 2025
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn
Meet Melissa Hammer! Melissa is the associate director of communications for the Kappa Delta Foundation.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
When I first joined the Kappa Delta Foundation, the organization was in the feasibility study phase of planning for a scholarship-specific capital campaign. I was tasked from day one to create and execute ALL comms for the campaign, Imagine Her Future. Imagine Her Future publicly launched in June 2021, after having secured more than $1.5 million during the quiet phase that began Aug. 1, 2019. The original goal was $2.5 million.
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We exceeded our own goal one year after the launch, set a new aspirational goal and exceeded that! In fact, during the weeks leading up to Kappa Delta’s biennial National Convention, just shy of $1 million was added to the campaign through individual donations and those creating new scholarships. All told, we raised $4,624,649!
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I feel incredibly proud of the work I put in to make the campaign come alive and that the organization trusted me to tell the story of the importance of scholarships for our KD sisters. Announcing the total at KD’s National Convention will be a moment I will never forget!
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What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I love that there are so many facets so no two days are exactly the same. You can be creative or analytical, solve problems or build plans from scratch.
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What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
“Get out of your own way.” Fresh out of college, I cared A LOT about what others thought of me. I wanted to do everything perfectly. But that made it such that I was afraid to take calculated risks that would have big payoffs. I also took every edit and every piece of feedback so personally. Thanks to a wonderful friend and mentor who gave me this advice, I’ve been able to let go of a lot of it. It’s taken time, of course, but now I lean into the edits and feedback because I KNOW my work is made better because of them!
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What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
I appreciate all of the resources the national organization offers.
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What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
County Club – their poutine is to die for!
Member Spotlight: Whittney Allen
By Michele Hill | Feb. 4, 2025
Connect with Whittney on LinkedIn
Meet Whittney Allen! She is the director of ARH (Appalachian Regional Healthcare) Foundation Marketing and Communications.
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What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
One of the most rewarding experiences in my career has been leading the effort to build and elevate the ARH Foundation’s brand from the ground up. When I stepped into my role, the Foundation had a strong mission but needed a more defined presence and strategic direction to reach its full potential. Through thoughtful marketing, storytelling, and relationship-building, I developed initiatives that not only expanded our donor database but also positioned the Foundation on a national stage.
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What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I love the ability to craft stories that inspire action and connect people to causes that make a meaningful impact. In the PR/Communications industry, every project presents an opportunity to amplify voices, build trust, and drive positive change.
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What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received is that talent and intelligence can open doors, but hard work, initiative, and passion are what keep them open.
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What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
I appreciate the access to a supportive network of professionals who share innovative ideas and best practices. The resources and collaborative environment provided by PRSA help me stay informed about industry trends and refine my skills.
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What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
One of my favorite Central Kentucky food spots is Distilled on Jefferson in Lexington. Their creative dishes and inviting atmosphere make it a go-to destination for every occasion.
Member Spotlight: Julie Nelson Harris
By Mackenzie Davis | Nov. 1, 2024
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn
Meet Julie Nelson Harris! She is the Communications Director, City of Somerset, a Communications Consultant, Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority and the Founder + Communications Strategist, Triple Edge Creative.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
During the pandemic, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck was invited by The New York Times to offer his perspective on reopening the economy in rural communities. Having started my career as a journalist before moving into PR/communications, this was incredibly exciting and I was honored to assist him in producing this op-ed piece. The editing process was rigorous and educational, and I soaked up every second. The piece gave our community a seat at the table in a conversation on the national stage. I learned so much from this experience and will never forget it.
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What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
Telling stories of people and organizations doing good work in my community and across Kentucky.
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What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t take yourself too seriously (which I am terrible at, by the way 🙂 ).
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What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
Though it is difficult for me to attend in-person events because I am in Somerset, I have greatly appreciated virtual opportunities and hope to take advantage of networking in the near future.
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What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
Corto Lima!​
Member Spotlight: Michele Hill
By Mackenzie Davis | Sept. 4, 2024
Connect with Michele on LinkedIn
Meet Michele Hill! She is the Director of Communications and Marketing at the Kentucky League of Cities.
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What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
Creating a fun and engaging conference for our members.
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What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I love how you can get creative and challenge yourself to think outside the box to generate something new and exciting.
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What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
You are never too old to change course.
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What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
Networking and getting an opportunity to bounce ideas and issues off others in the industry.
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What is your favorite Central Kentucky food spot?
Han Woo Ri in Lexington.