PR Finishing School Faculty

Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and a member of its prestigious Counselors Academy, Betty is the founder of Newberry Public Relations and Marketing, Inc. Her philosophy of client service is based in part on the Society’s Code of Professional Standards and “do good work, clients will follow.” Prior to founding her boutique PR agency, she worked for several small and medium-sized agencies in the Providence and Boston area where she developed strong skills in all facets of public relations, copywriting, marketing, strategic planning, and account management. She holds a bachelor of arts degree (1986, cum laude) in communications and theatre from Rhode Island College (Providence). Her academic and subsequent professional achievements led to her listing in college, business and international Who’s Who directories. Betty is a twice-past president of PRSA’s Southeastern New England chapter and has served as assembly delegate, strategic planning and public relations committee chair for the chapter. Leadership in her field and community is important to her, serving as past chairman of the board of the East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce, past president of the board for Literacy Volunteers-R.I., twice president of East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Club, Board of Governors past president of the Hope Club, and a twice-past president of East Bay Toastmasters Club. She has earned the Advanced Toastmaster-Bronze (ATM-B) and Competent Leader (CL) designations from Toastmasters International. In addition to establishing The Public Relations Finishing School, Betty is a published author of business/humorous articles in national periodicals, a public speaker and seminar leader on various topics, and an award-winning copywriter. In her spare time, she is lead singer/keyboardist with the Full Circle rock band and plays in a women’s golf league.

Featured in:

Authority Magazine
(Devoted to sharing interesting feature interviews of people who are authorities in Business, Film, Sports and Tech.)
Read Article Here: The 5 Things You Need to Create a Highly Successful Career as a Public Relations Pro

Public Relations Review Podcast with Peter C. Woolfolk
(Award-Winning | Listeners around the world) Listen Here

Experience as a small business owner, in the nonprofit sector and in a public relations & marketing firm.

Specialties: Strategic planning & implementation; development of customized revenue-generating strategies to both nonprofit agencies and emerging businesses in order to sustain integral programs and services; assistance with accreditation preparation; board recruitment & development; grant writing; customized training, workshops & seminars; new company “start-up tools” for smaller businesses & nonprofit organizations.

Named Best Indie Writer of 2008 by the Project Fanboy Awards, Jason M. Burns made the leap into the comic book industry in 2004 after being approached to write a short story for Dead@17: Rough Cut, Volume 1.  Since that time he has written and created a number critically-acclaimed and commercially successful comic book series, many of which are in development for both film and television.

Most recently Burns has spent time writing for other people’s creations, crafting comics and graphic novels for such recognizable properties and brands as Sesame Street, Shrek, Megamind, Jericho, Pocket God, Kung Fu Panda, Richie Rich, and Fraggle Rock, while also focusing his creative attentions on Plymouth Rock Creative (PRC), an intellectual property house he founded in 2011 that produced the hit web series Adults Only. Burns was born and raised in Massachusetts where he began his career as an entertainment journalist and public relations professional.

Candace has an Associate of Arts in Human Service Management, Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a diploma in Advanced Graphic Design. She has over seventeen years of experience in customer service, IT and web design. Candace is proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Procreate, Constant Contact and is WordPress Certified. In her free time, Candace is a musician and serves as the front woman of the multi Grammy nominated “The Candace Brooks Band”. Other musical accomplishments include Motif Music Award nominations in the categories of Best Female Vocalist (3 years in a row), Band of the Year, and won Album of the Year in 2008. In 2009, the band had nominations in the categories of Best Live Act, Best Album by Group, and won Band of the Year and Best Female Vocalist at the Limelight Magazine Music Awards.

Stephenie handles enrollment applications, collects data, provides advice and determines candidates’ eligibility for the PRFS programs and courses. Upon graduation from Cranston East High School, she joined the staff of Newberry Public Relations and Marketing, Inc. as a research analyst and public relations assistant. Her interests and hobbies include K-pop and Hip Hop dancing.