Secrets of Success: An Interview with IABC Past-President Michael Smith
Michael Smith, past president of IABC Philadelphia and head of corporate communications for Acts Retirement-Life Communities, shares industry challenges and how he uses messaging to create more uplifting narratives.
Read moreBoard of Directors
President Rick Alcantara |
Rick Alcantara is the principal of Rick Alcantara Consulting. Previously, he founded Tara Communications LLC, a digital marketing agency, led social media marketing for USI Affinity and taught public relations courses at Rowan University. Rick is a member of PRSA’s Counselor’s Academy, past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of PRSA, a two-time PRSA national committee co-chair, and a member of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia. He coached youth soccer for 24 years in Southern New Jersey. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Rowan University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Susquehanna University. Rick Alcantara LinkedIn Profile
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Treasurer and Immediate Past President Alexandra Spooner |
Alex leads the Communications team at AmeriGas, where she is responsible for the design, execution and continuous improvement of the overall communication strategy in support of the Company’s business objectives. Her role includes overseeing the planning, development and distribution of all internal communications, identifying process efficiencies within the department and establishing Communications business-partner relationships with other corporate functions. Alex has more than 18 years of experience in corporate communications, in areas including employee communication and Public Relations. She spent most of her career at Pep Boys, one of the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket chains, in communications roles of progressive responsibility. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communications. She was responsible all facets of internal communication for more than 20,000 employees in stores, support centers, field organizations and distribution centers across the country and in Puerto Rico. In addition, she led Media Relations and Public Relations activities for the Company. Alex holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a B.A. in French language and culture from Penn State. She likes to exercise and spend time with her family.
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Director-at-Large Michael Smith |
Michael Smith is the Managing Director of Corporate Communications for Acts Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior housing and services, where he leads internal and external communications strategies including brand communications, executive and employee communications, public and media relations, digital/social media, and crisis communications. Michael has more than 20 years of corporate communications and public relations leadership experience in both the private and nonprofit fields. He is a graduate of Temple University and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. Michael is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. |
Secretary |
Amy Ashmen is the national director of communications at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she oversees internal and external communications, including public relations and social media, for the nonprofit, which serves many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and child welfare. She holds more than 25 years of corporate communications experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she was a communications manager at Farmers Insurance, communications director for Harleysville Insurance and communications specialist for the California State Automobile Association. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in journalism from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of the Institutes of Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is a certified Zurich Lean Yellow Belt. |
Director-at-Large Bill Seiberlich |
Bill Seiberlich, is president of Wedgewood Communications Services, a writing, editing, and communications services company. Bill was part of the corporate communications department of Saint-Gobain Corporation, the world’s largest building materials company, for more than 30 years, where he was involved in employee communications, public relations and corporate philanthropy. He has been a member of IABC since 1983, serving first on the Board of Directors of IABC Lehigh Valley and then on the IABC Philadelphia board since 1988. Bill is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. Bill Seiberlich LinkedIn Profile
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President Rick Alcantara |
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Rick Alcantara is the principal of Rick Alcantara Consulting. Previously, he founded Tara Communications LLC, a digital marketing agency, led social media marketing for USI Affinity and taught public relations courses at Rowan University. Rick is a member of PRSA’s Counselor’s Academy, past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of PRSA, a two-time PRSA national committee co-chair, and a member of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia. He coached youth soccer for 24 years in Southern New Jersey. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Rowan University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Susquehanna University. |
Treasurer and Immediate Past President Alexandra Spooner |
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Alex leads the Communications team at AmeriGas, where she is responsible for the design, execution and continuous improvement of the overall communication strategy in support of the Company’s business objectives. Her role includes overseeing the planning, development and distribution of all internal communications, identifying process efficiencies within the department and establishing Communications business-partner relationships with other corporate functions. Alex has more than 18 years of experience in corporate communications, in areas including employee communication and Public Relations. She spent most of her career at Pep Boys, one of the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket chains, in communications roles of progressive responsibility. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communications. She was responsible all facets of internal communication for more than 20,000 employees in stores, support centers, field organizations and distribution centers across the country and in Puerto Rico. In addition, she led Media Relations and Public Relations activities for the Company. Alex holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a B.A. in French language and culture from Penn State. She likes to exercise and spend time with her family. Alexandra Spooner LinkedIn bio |
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Director-at-Large Michael Smith |
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Michael Smith is the Managing Director of Corporate Communications for Acts Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior housing and services, where he leads internal and external communications strategies including brand communications, executive and employee communications, public and media relations, digital/social media, and crisis communications. Michael has more than 20 years of corporate communications and public relations leadership experience in both the private and nonprofit fields. He is a graduate of Temple University and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. Michael is a past president of IABC Philadelphia.
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Secretary Amy Ashmen |
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Amy Ashmen is the national director of communications at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she oversees internal and external communications, including public relations and social media, for the nonprofit, which serves many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and child welfare. She holds more than 25 years of corporate communications experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she was a communications manager at Farmers Insurance, communications director for Harleysville Insurance and communications specialist for the California State Automobile Association. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in journalism from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of the Institutes of Organization Management, a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is a certified Zurich Lean Yellow Belt. | |
Director-at-Large Bill Seiberlich |
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Bill Seiberlich, is president of Wedgewood Communications Services, a writing, editing, and communications services company.
Bill was part of the corporate communications department of Saint-Gobain Corporation, the world’s largest building materials company, for more than 30 years, where he was involved in employee communications, public relations and corporate philanthropy. He has been a member of IABC since 1983, serving first on the Board of Directors of IABC Lehigh Valley and then on the IABC Philadelphia board since 1988. Bill is a past president of IABC Philadelphia. Bill Seiberlich LinkedIn bio |