Meet the team.
San Diego/Imperial Counties is led by a volunteer board of directors. Members of the Board serve three-year terms, beginning January 1, and are elected at the chapter’s annual meeting in the fall. The officer positions are elected each year, for one-year terms. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, and meetings are open to any chapter member who would like to attend.
Board members lead committees of volunteers to accomplish important work to achieve chapter goals. Click on any of the board members’ name below to learn more. For chapter inquiries, please email our chapter administrator, Blake Nelson.
Executive Committee
Jeanna Vazquez, President
For nearly 15 years, Jeanna Vazquez has passionately dedicated her career to the public relations industry and community in San Diego. Her work has ranged from representing consumer and nonprofit clients in an agency setting, to managing health care communications for two of the region’s leading health care providers. As senior communications and media relations manager at UC San Diego Health, Jeanna helps lead efforts in public relations, digital communications and crisis response for the region’s only academic medical center.
Jeanna received her bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from San Diego State University, where she graduated cum laude. She was named the 2018 PRSA SD/IC New Professional of the Year and was honored with the PRSA SD/IC Eva Irving Community Service Award in 2021. In 2025, Jeanna was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Outstanding Young Leader by San Diego Metro Magazine.
Elena Gomez, Past President 2026
Elena Gomez is an Associate Director of Media Relations at the University of San Diego. In this role, Gomez pitches story ideas to the media, shoots/edits/writes stories happening on campus and serves as a liaison between the university and the press. She is also a freelance journalist for ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, San Diego Magazine and CampestreMAG. In addition to these roles, Gomez recently founded a blog called HomeTold with Elena where she produces, shoots video, edits and writes stories focused on the people and places that make North County San Diego unique.
Prior to working in media relations, Gomez was a news reporter for NBC7 San Diego for several years, mostly on the morning show. As an Emmy-nominated reporter, Gomez covered breaking news, California wildfires, political scandals, high-profile court cases and even the Oscars while reporting in Los Angeles. Before landing her current positions, Gomez and her husband took an extended honeymoon to live out their lifelong dreams. His: backpack the Pacific Crest Trail. Hers: live in Paris, France. During this time, they started a blog about traveling as newlyweds. Gomez’ passion for storytelling also led her to continue reporting abroad for their blog — covering high-profile news events like the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, the Strasbourg Christmas market attack and the yellow vest protests in Paris.
Gomez graduated from San Diego State University with a MA in Mass Communication and Media Studies and a BFA in Television and Broadcast Journalism from Chapman University.
Gabriela Gugiu, Secretary
Anne Flanagan, Treasurer
As VP of Brand & communications for Getty Images Anne Flanagan is responsible for leading a cohesive and encompassing marketing communications strategy for the international media company. Anne oversees Getty Images’ brands, reputation and external communications globally.
Anne joined Getty Images in 2014 and prior to being appointed Head of PR in 2017, Anne headed up PR for the company in APAC and LATAM.
Prior to joining Getty Images, Anne held key leadership roles in agencies in Sydney, London and Dubai working exclusively with technology and media clients including Microsoft, Samsung, and HP. In these roles she was accountable for developing and implementing regional communications strategies and tactics in support of business and image goals.
A veteran of the industry, Anne is a communications professional who has championed Getty Images’ reinvention of stock content to better reflect society today. Her work supports the company in providing alternative visuals for media and business, enabling authentic visual representation and breaking down stereotypes that have persisted for decades.
Her work includes increasing the diversity behind and in front of the lens, specifically for communities who have been historically marginalized. She was part of the team that pioneered a global partnership with Dove to launch Project #ShowUs – the world’s largest photo library created by women and non-binary individuals to shatter beauty stereotypes.
Anne is a graduate of the University of Newcastle and in 2021 was awarded the Newton-John Alumni Medal. She lives in California with her wife and daughter.
Blake Nelson, APR
Blake Nelson, APR, is an award-winning public affairs and public relations practitioner with 20 years’ experience. After nearly a decade of running at a sprinter’s pace at a premier agency she took a step back to realign her personal and professional goals. The result: A young, active family and My Sage PR, a successful sole proprietorship in Carlsbad, California.
Nelson specializes in community outreach and education programs. She has extensive experience working with municipalities, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. She is constantly expanding her public outreach expertise in industries such as energy, government relations, water and transportation.
This is her second time elected chapter president. Through PRSA, she’s been a panelist at international conferences and professional development seminars. Personal commitments include serving as PTA president at the local elementary school, soccer club booster, family social organizer and reluctant taxi driver. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She received her Accreditation in Public Relations in 2007.
Directors at Large
Alejandra C. Perez
Alejandra C. Perez, MSW, is Director of External Affairs at San Ysidro Health (SYHealth), an $850 million nonprofit healthcare organization and one of the top 10 community health centers in the United States. Founded in 1969 by seven mothers seeking healthcare for their children, SYHealth has grown into a leading regional healthcare provider, delivering nearly 900,000 patient visits annually across medical, dental, and behavioral health services. With more than 3,200 employees, 77% of whom are women of color, SYHealth is a major regional employer and a cornerstone of community health.
Alejandra leads government relations, strategic communications, and regional partnerships, advancing strategies that support organizational sustainability, protect healthcare funding, strengthen public trust, and expand access to care. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that solutions to community challenges are found through conversation and collaboration with community partners, and that those conversations must happen in community. She prioritizes building relationships, listening to local voices, and bringing together partners across government, healthcare, philanthropy, business, and community organizations to develop solutions informed by the people most affected.
Since joining SYHealth in 2020, Alejandra has helped navigate an increasingly complex healthcare landscape, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing financial and policy challenges facing the healthcare safety net. Working within resource-constrained environments, she has championed strategic, hands-on approaches to advocacy and community engagement. Her leadership includes executing SYHealth’s My Vote. My Health. civic engagement campaign, a scalable, metrics-driven initiative designed to strengthen civic participation among employees and patients. The campaign increased low-propensity voter turnout by 13% during the 2020 election cycle in San Diego and subsequent elections, with the long-term goal of helping first-time voters become consistent participants in the democratic process.
Beyond her organizational leadership, Alejandra is deeply committed to civic engagement, community partnerships, and developing the next generation of leaders. She serves on the national Vot-ER Fellowship Advisory Board and the National Association of Community Health Centers Legislative and Health Policy Committee, contributing to national conversations on civic participation and policies affecting community health centers. Regionally, she serves on the boards of Circulate Planning & Policy and the Public Relations Society of America San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Chula Vista Community Collaborative, working alongside cross-sector partners to advance community-driven solutions to local health and social challenges.
Recognized for her collaborative leadership, strategic judgment, and ability to translate complex challenges into actionable results, Alejandra believes meaningful change begins with showing up, listening, and building trust. She approaches community leadership not as an effort to bring solutions to a community, but as a commitment to work alongside community members and partners to identify priorities, strengthen relationships, and turn shared ideas into action. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to ensuring that patients and communities have a voice in the decisions that shape their health, their communities, and their future.
Cheryl P. Robinson, APR
One of Cheryl’s strengths is her willingness and ability to immerse herself into her clients’ specialties/industries to understand their business, analyze trends, identify opportunities and provide strategic, integrated communications counsel designed to increase stakeholder awareness of important issues, educate stakeholders to make informed choices and influence changes in behaviors and opinions. She brings extensive experience, enthusiasm for a challenge and spot-on counsel in stakeholder engagement, media strategy, crisis and issues management, change management and employee engagement.
Cheryl has 20+ years of agency experience in corporate communications, supporting clients from small, family-owned businesses, to highly-matrixed, global organizations. She formerly served as Vice President at Edelman, and spent the bulk of her formative career years at Padilla, formerly known as CRT/tanaka.
Cheryl received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Virginia Wesleyan College, and has earned her accreditation in public relations (APR) credential from the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) administered by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She is a member of the board of directors of the San Diego/Imperial County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA SD/IC).
Edna Gutierrez
With over a decade of experience in public relations and communications, Edna Gutierrez is a dedicated professional with a proven track record in the entertainment and hospitality industry. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling narratives and executing strategic communication plans on both national and international scales. Currently holding the position of Senior Manager of Public Relations at the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), she oversees the leisure programs in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Edna is a bilingual professional fluent in English and Spanish, serving as a spokesperson and translator and effectively navigating binational relations. She proudly serves on SDTA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion board.
Before joining SDTA, she served as a Public Relations Specialist at HMC Advertising, a Hispanic-focused PR agency, where she successfully raised awareness for top entertainment clients such as Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros., and Monster Jam through positive press coverage and creative campaigns in key Hispanic markets including San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, and Phoenix. Her journey in the field began at Entravision Communications, where she held roles such as Marketing and Promotions Manager, overseeing promotions and event strategies for Univision and Telemundo.
Edna earned her BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences Communication with an Emphasis in Advertising and a Minor in Psychology from San Diego State University.
Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson is a communications leader with more than 25 years of experience in public relations, public health advocacy, and community partnerships. He began as a reporter and photographer at South Dakota’s Madison Daily Leader, served as KYOT-TV news director during graduate school, taught English and served as a cultural liaison in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.
His public health work includes advancing smoke-free workplace policies and tobacco tax increases, helping launch San Diego’s Go Red for Women movement, and communicating advances in Alzheimer’s research and FDA-approved treatments. His newsroom and nonprofit leadership experience shapes his approach to campaign strategy, media relations, and spokesperson preparation.
Through PRSA, Eric aims to encourage emerging professionals, champion honest communication, and demonstrate the value of meaningful relationships. He recently launched MissionBridge Strategies, bringing together his experience in communications, advocacy, and partnerships while exploring his next professional opportunity.
Giovanna Castro
Giovanna Castro is a strategic communications professional and Director of Communications for California’s largest transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade school district. She is experienced in leading internal and external communications campaigns, navigating crisis communications, managing media relations, planning events, and strengthening community engagement.
Grace Harner
Grace Harner earned her bachelor’s degree from Canisius University in Buffalo, New York, where she competed as a Division I women’s lacrosse player. She went on to develop a background in marketing, brand experience, event strategy, client engagement, and podcast management, using strategic execution to elevate brands and experiences.
In 2026, Grace served as Programming Director for PRSA Buffalo/Niagara and joined the advisory council of Leveling the Playing Field, supporting initiatives that strengthen communities. As she relocates from Buffalo to San Diego, Grace brings energy, creativity, and a collaborative spirit to PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties, along with a passion for creating memorable experiences and bringing organizations’ missions to life.
Jess Boegel Brown, MPS, APR
Jess Boegel Brown is Senior Director of Executive Communications at UC San Diego, where she leads strategic communications for the university’s Chancellor and also serves on the University Communications leadership team. She has a background in politics, media and public service with experience in government relations, as a news radio producer, and a staff member for multiple members of Congress. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations from the George Washington University.
Leeann Silver
Leeann Silver is the founder of LASilver Communications, a San Diego PR firm that builds the public record people and AI search rely on.
Her career spans consumer, beauty, CPG and gifting brands, including Bliss (LVMH), Essie Cosmetics and Kao Brands, where she was PR Director for the Americas region. She then spent 13 years at Sugarwish, joining as its first employee and building its public relations and communications function. She led its national Make-A-Wish partnership, which contributed more than $5 million and engaged 98% of Make-A-Wish chapters. She continues to serve as a partner at Sugarwish.
Leeann developed and is now testing the RECORD Framework, a methodology for measuring the public evidence behind an organization’s reputation, informed by AMEC’s evaluation framework and the Barcelona Principles 3.0. Her first test subject was her own firm, audited across five AI platforms, with the results published, zeros included.
A member of PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties, Leeann played Division I tennis at UCLA and Indiana University, including two Big Ten championship seasons.
Nickie Peña
With more than 15 years of experience, Nickie Peña has a deep understanding of the ever-evolving media landscape. She is an expert at developing PR strategies, executing on media relations efforts, leading multi-faceted marketing campaigns, and building internal teams for organizations in the nonprofit, entertainment, food/beverage, and sports sectors.
Born and raised in San Diego County, her passion for telling the important stories of America’s Finest City runs deep. She is skilled at cultivating unique connections with top national media and key stakeholders from Southern California and beyond, previously serving regional and international brands like Stone Brewing, San Diego Brewers Guild, Girl Scouts San Diego, and Major League Rugby.
Outside of her career, Nickie is active in her community. She has spoken on multiple panels and summits for San Diego Brewers Guild, Pink Boots Society, and California Craft Brewers Association. She is a member of MANA de San Diego, the nonprofit organization empowering Latinas through education, leadership development, community service, and advocacy. Nickie also serves on the board of directors for Voice of San Diego.
If she’s not pitching local media or developing strategic marketing communications campaigns for her clients, you can likely find Nickie cheering on the San Diego Padres or traveling with her husband in search of the coolest world-class, fine dining chefs.
Associate New Pros Board Members (Non-Voting)
HaiJay White, Associate Board Member
HaiJay White is an account coordinator at Intesa Communications Group, where she supports a diverse portfolio of clients through strategic communications, media relations, digital content development and storytelling.
Known for her boundless creativity and thoughtful approach to client service, HaiJay helps organizations craft compelling narratives that build visibility, strengthen reputation and connect with key audiences. She brings a deep passion for authentic storytelling and an instinct for connecting people with the ideas and causes that matter to them.
HaiJay earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from San Diego State University, where she served as vice president of finance for the University’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She remains active in the communications community as a member of both the San Diego chapter of PRSA, serving on the Bernays Award committee, and the International Association of Business Communicators.
Her background in communications leadership, research and public engagement continues to inform her work — grounded in the belief that every organization has a distinctive narrative that deserves to be told in a way that resonates with its audience.
Originally from Orange County, HaiJay is passionate about building strong relationships and making sure every client’s story reaches across San Diego’s diverse communities.
Meeting Minutes
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