Suzanne Currier
MAP President
I’ve been involved in media in some form or another since 1996 after graduating from Miami University (Ohio) and moving to the DC area. Blindly landing in the ‘media department’ at a Goldberg Marchesano, I quickly learned that the media department was truly where all the fun and excitement was (or at least in my opinion). I learned the basics of media then went client side at Giant Food of Landover. From there I went to Eisner Communications in Baltimore. It was here that I not only grew love Baltimore (minus the Ravens), I also met my husband. Since we were both in the ‘biz’ he wound up moving us to Harrisburg, PA. where I then decided to go to the other side of the desk and became an Account Executive with WGAL-TV, the local NBC affiliate. Two years later, our first of two daughters was born and we quickly realized how important it was to have family nearby. After returning home to Pittsburgh, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with RJW Media and MARC and have officially made Yellow Submarine Marketing Communications my home base for as long as they’ll have me! My experience ranges from accounts such as Cedar Fair Entertainment, Papa Johns Pizza, Maryland and Pennsylvania Lottery accounts, Culvers, Rite Aid, Weight Watchers, Baltimore Aquarium, several local automotive and retail accounts along the way. This is my third year on the MAP board, this year as VP of Celebrations and I’ve met wonderful people, dedicated to this industry and the success of Pittsburgh advertising. I’m honored to work beside them.
Christy Rodibaugh
MAP VP of Education
Christy Rodibaugh has been with MARC USA since 1998, moving to the advertising world from a career in theatre. Since that time she has been instrumental in negotiating and placing media for all of MARC’s clients including True Value, Rite Aid, Schwebel’s, House-Autry and the Pennsylvania Lottery. In addition to her buying duties she supervises all spot buying for several clients including Rite Aid and the Pennsylvania Lottery. Her experience with the new Nielsen and Arbitron media measurement in large markets has made her an expert in both the LPM and PPM technology and an excellent resource for her peers, clients and even vendors.
Christy grew up in Yakima, WA but is proud to now call Pittsburgh her home.
Judy Bernstein Dickinson
VP of Communication
Judy, or JBD as she is known when speaking strictly in acronym, is the director of Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network in Pittsburgh. Interests include directing traffic networks to their fullest extent, not writing bios and addressing herself with 3 names at all times. In the event that the President of Communication is no longer able to fulfill their duties adequately, JBD is confident that she would be able to step into office and carry on their legacy with the honor and dedication it deserves. She is excited to be a part of the MAP board and looks forward to all of the great things that will no doubt come to fruition in 2011.
Picture not available, so pictured at right: former LPGA golfer Judy Dickinson
Betsy Friedman
MAP Secretary
Betsy is the Pennsylvania Sales Representative for Screenvision Direct. Prior to this Betsy has worked for a number of Media Outlets in the Pittsburgh market including for WYDD-FM, Cable Adnet /TCI Media Services, WPGH-TV, and WPXI-TV.
She joined Screenvision in 2009 and has been very successful in jump starting the Pittsburgh market. In addition to selling cinema advertising Betsy is also the Pittsburgh representative for Allied Advertising and THA. With these companies Betsy assists them in running movie screenings for movies studios including Paramount , Disney, Universal , Sony, and Summit Entertainment to name a few.
Betsy served on the Education Committee of the Media Association of Pittsburgh in 2009 And currently serves as Secretary on the Board of MAP. In her spare time Betsy teaches Spinning, spends time with family and friends, and her cats.
Vanessa Nwankwo
Treasurer
Vanessa Nwankwo is a Regional Account Representative with Comcast Spotlight Pittsburgh. Since high school Vanessa knew that the media industry was the place she wanted to build a career. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh in June 2010, Vanessa was a Media Planner at Mullen in Winston Salem, North Carolina for three years. As a Columbus, Ohio native, Vanessa interned at the local cable station, Insight Communications in Corporate Affairs for five years. She was also a Production Assistant in college at the local PBS station, WOSU. Vanessa graduated from The Ohio State University in 2007, where she holds a degree in Strategic Communications. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, watching/gossiping about her favorite TV shows, and spending time with her husband.
Kevin Popovic 
Communications Committee / Social Media Coordinator
Founder of Ideahaus®, Author of Satellite Marketing™
Kevin Popovic is the Founder of Ideahaus®, a creative communications group that helps businesses figure out what to say, and how to say it to their target audiences. Kevin’s role of Communications Director applies his creativity, academics and business acumen to his client’s communications strategy. With studios in Pittsburgh and San Diego, Ideahaus has now been delivering marketing strategy and creative services to B-2-B and B-2-C clients for more than 20 years.
He is also the author of Satellite Marketing™, a proven development process that helps Marketing and Sales strategists answer the question, “how can we use social media to sell our products and services?” With Doctoral studies in Instructional Technologies, Popovic continues his academic pursuits, including publishing, “Tweeting @DoctorWelby: Practical Examples of Social Media in Healthcare” in the Journal of Communications in Healthcare.
Kevin was recently ranked #43 in Fast Company’s Influence Project to find “the most influential people online”.
Want to learn more? Get posts, articles, best practices and case studies from Kevin at the Ideahaus Member Community:
http://ideahaus.com/community/
Andy Coleman
Communications Committee
Andy holds a degree in advertising and public relations with a minor in broadcasting from Point Park University, graduating in 2006. He has spent his academic and professional career developing a unique combination of business sense, creativity, humor and artistry. While his professional repertoire crosses disciplines, it is grounded heavily in media planning and buying within the Pittsburgh agencies Brunner, MARC USA and currently BAM Advertising. Between them, he’s had the opportunity to work across a varied roster of national and regional brands including Bob Evans Restaurants, Cedar Fair Amusement Parks, Culligan Water, Culver’s Restaurants, Moen faucets, the Pennsylvania Lottery, TGI Friday’s and True Value Hardware. Andy is absolutely at home on any stage, from public speaking to live theater. Prior to joining the agency world, he completed a 12.5 month whirlwind tour in ‘media sales’ (hawking big screen televisions, computers — and the long-term protection plans that come with them) at the now-defunct Circuit City in West Mifflin, Pa. From this, he was able to obtain a unique tolerance and patience, knowledge of the retail industry and a pretty sweet TV.
Melanie Querry
Communications Committee
Melanie Querry is the President and Founder of Beyond Spots & Dots, a full service advertising agency located in Pittsburgh.
Melanie’s expertise is in helping business owners and marketing managers understand how to allocate their marketing budgets more effectively so the dollars work harder on the business’s behalf. As a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, she has a degree in Advertising specifically. Melanie has been successful in the broadcast television and cable sales areas. Due to her direct experience in handling the advertising for many Corporations such as, National City Bank, PNC Bank, First Commonwealth, Dollar Bank, Highmark, Nissan Dealer Group, Wendy’s, Yum Brands, and more, Melanie is an expert in negotiating all types of media buys. Melanie wears several hats at Beyond Spots & Dots. She currently oversees all aspects of the business, from new business planning to media planning, negotiating and buying, to training and supervising daily employee routines. Most importantly, she is passionate about growing the business and planning for optimal growth.
Keith Trdina 
Communications Committee
I am a husband, father of three and grandfather of five.
I graduated from Robert Morris College (now RMU), became part of Pittsburgh’s advertising community (radio account executive) and joined MAP (then Pittsburgh Radio & Television Club) in 1978.
I spent the next twelve years going up and down Pittsburgh’s radio dial, as an AE and an SM, ‘learning the business’ from some of our local broadcast legends, at WIXZ 1360 AM (Renda Broadcasting), WYDD/WKPA/TV3/TCS Sports (Gateway Broadcasting), WSHH (Nationwide Broadcasting), WLTJ (WPNT, Inc.) and WAMO (Sheridan Broadcasting).
On June 1, 1990, I entered the world of outdoor advertising and spent the ensuing 21 years placing practically every type/size of local, regional and national advertiser and/or agency imaginable on Lamar Billboards.
I’m an ‘over the hill’ bass player that can still ‘play’, so I do.
I believe that tomorrow may bring a brand new wonderful experience…and I can hardly wait!
Trish Duffy
Communications Committee
Trish moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 to attend La Roche College. After receiving her bachelors in Graphic and Communication Design, she set out to learn the fundamentals of print, first working in a retail print environment and then as the sole designer for a print and fulfillment company. She currently works as the lead marketing designer for a private label apparel manufacturer as well as providing freelance design services to local businesses. Her interests span all media outlets associated with communication and marketing. When not sketching and designing, Trish enjoys camping, live music (preferably rock or bluegrass) and winter sports.
Ty Morse
Communications Committee
Ty Morse graduated from Davidson College in 2004 after spending summers studying seaturtles to earn a degree in Biology and several semesters writing Frankenstein: The Rock Opera to complete his degree in English. In the midst of these studies, he also managed to spend a semester abroad in Seville, Spain where he solidified his fluency in Spanish and developed a love of travel. After college, Ty and his music-writing partners developed productions of Frankenstein around the country. Following his love of music, Ty recorded his own albums and searched out other bands to support, ultimately creating the record label Royalty, Etc, which continues to promote independent music from Minneapolis. While Ty launched his own business ventures, he also edited music for Discovery Channel programs in Washington, D.C. and later worked at Virgin Records in New York. Currently, Ty is the CEO of Songwhale, a technology-based marketing company that he co-founded in Pittsburgh in 2007.
Janice Weisman
Celebrations Committee
Janice is currently an account executive at WTAE-TV and has been in the world of ad sales for 10+ years. Starting in radio at K-Bear which quickly switched to The Point in the mid-nineties, she has experienced the whirlwind of company buy-outs, format launches and management upheavals. After several years in radio as mainly an account executive and a short stint as the ‘non-traditional new business director’ in West Palm, Janice returned to Pittsburgh, worked in direct mail for Valassis and then re-joined electronic media at WTAE in 2008. Janice has been a consistent top performer, is well-versed in several media elements, has great talent in client relations and sustains strong negotiation skills.
Born in Pittsburgh, spent her ‘formative’ years in Connecticut, went to college at the University of Michigan and is happy to be residing back in her hometown now near her parents. Janice loves giant dogs, is a big fan of travel and enjoys all sorts of culinary delights! Janice is thrilled to be on the board of the Media Association of Pittsburgh and is committed to the growth and development of Pittsburgh’s media environment.
Matthew Holland
Celebrations Committee
I am currently the Station Manager for Radio Disney.
Prior to that I was the Local and National Sales Manager for ESPN Radio.
I have been in advertising for 10 years.
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.
I am a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh.
Catherine J Dent
Celebrations Committee
Prior to joining RJW Media in 2000, Cathy spent 5 years as Media Director at FSC Marketing Communications-Pittsburgh.She began her career in Cleveland at Marcus Advertising, and then spent 8 years with Manheim Advertising followed by 5 years with Classic Automotive Marketing. Cathy has been active on the board of the Pittsburgh Radio and TV Club (now MAP), served 2 termsas Treasurer, and is currently a board member on the Celebration Committee. A Cleveland native, Cathy graduated from Kent State University.
Ashlee Mauti
Education Committee
Ashlee Mauti graduated from Robert Morris University with a BSBA with a marketing focus in 2003. Ashlee was very involved on campus, including being a Resident Assistant, an active member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and completing a semester abroad at the American University, Rome Campus. Ashlee was most heavily involved in the RMU chapter of the American Marketing Association, serving as President her Senior year. The chapter received national recognition for Most Revitalized Chapter and Ashlee was also named RMU’s Marketing Major of the Year.
Upon graduation, Ashlee took a position with CBS Radio as an Account Executive. In this role she had responsibility for effectively planning multimedia campaigns for a broad level of clients, both direct and through agencies. After 5 years in this advertising sales role, she left become a marketing coordinator for Covelli Enterprises, the 5th largest restaurant owner group in the country and the largest Panera Bread franchisee. Within a year, Ashlee was promoted to Regional Marketing Director for Western PA and WV. After growing sales and implementing marketing partnerships in PA and WV for two years, she was promoted to Director of Marketing for all of Covelli Enterprises’ operations. Her position oversees a marketing team spread over 5 states responsible for 200 Panera Bread Bakery Cafes and 6 O’ Charley’s Restaurants, which generate $400M in revenue. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Foundation.
Dave Brudy
Education Committee
Dave’s quest is to constantly acquire more knowledge and to learn everyday. “If you keep your ears open, the information keeps flowing.”
His many decades spent in the marketing and advertising business has helped to form the DRB Group LLC, a marketing and advertising firm that spans coast to coast. “Communication is a major key to our successes with the many high powered clients,” he states. “We’re all in the people business.”
Attaining a MA in Education, Dave’s undergraduate degrees remained in the disciplines of Marketing and Business. A keynote speaker in the department of energy and ICSC allows him the opportunity to transfer his knowledge and practices to the masses.
