One of the panelists, Mike Vela, is a former Texas State student who holds a B.A. in Mass Communications focusing in Public Relations.  He is now the Senior Community Relations Coordinator at the Children’s Shelter in San Antonio. Vela worked with this private, non-profit, nationally accredited organization since September of 2007.  As a Senior Coordinator, his duties include assisting in the development of communication strategies, serving as a community and media spokesperson, managing special events and serving as a webmaster for the organization. Vela also acts as the editor for the donor and employee newsletters, “Our House” and “Shelter Talk”. 

Other panelists will include Emily Shaw from I&O Communication, Patrick Quinn from Reagan National Advertising and Qmunications Management and Katie Mullins Cook from the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau.