Hispanic Public Relations Association Announces 2005 Officers.

The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) announces that Sandra Bernardo, an account supervisor at Euro RSCG Magnet, is returning for a second year to lead the organization, while Romina Bongiovanni, a senior account executive at RL Public Relations & Marketing, Inc. takes on the Vice President role.

New members of the Executive Board include Michael Delgado, senior account executive with Valencia, Pérez & Echeveste Public Relations, as Treasurer, and Letisia Marquez, senior media relations officer, at the Office of Media Relations of UCLA, as Secretary.

“I am looking forward to leading this organization once again and working closely with the both the Board and our members,” said Bernardo. “Last year was a phenomenal year for HPRA and I am confident this year will be even more successful.”

Some of this year’s plans according to Bernardo include strengthening its member base outside of Southern California and possibly launching a chapter. More professional development opportunities are also in the works including partnering with the Public Relations Society of America Orange County, CA chapter to hold a conference on diversity on February 17 and a half-day seminar in Los Angeles with various workshops for entry and mid-level professionals. HPRA will again hold its Premio Awards & Scholarship event in October, which recognizes esteemed professionals in the Communications industry and awards ten $1,000 scholarships.

Bernardo joined Euro RSCG Magnet in July 2002 from Golin/Harris International. She has more than seven years of experience in public relations and marketing and handles accounts for the ER Magnet Latino Practice. Some of her clients include LACTAID(R), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Banco Popular. Bernardo is active in the Hispanic community graduating from the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute and serving on the board of directors for MANA de Orange County from 2001-2003. She recently was named by the Orange County League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) as “Woman of the Year” in Communications. Bernardo graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Bongiovanni, a multicultural publicist with expertise in the mainstream, Hispanic and African American markets, has more than 6 years of experience in the field of public relations and marketing. Bongiovanni is currently responsible for planning and executing public relations campaigns for clients such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., the California Milk Processor Board (Got Milk?), the National Honey Board and Johnny Walker. Bongiovanni obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Business from the distinguished Centro Internacional de Hotelería y Servicios in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1995. She has also completed the Marketing & Advertising Certificate Program at University of California, Los Angeles.