Diverse Audience Panel

Kristi Carson

Kristi Carson is the public and community relations director for Emmis-St. Louis, which owns and operates four commercial radio stations: KSHE 95, 97.1 FM Talk, 105.7 The Point and K-Hits 96 FM, their respective high-definition radio stations and websites.

After graduating from Lafayette High School in West St. Louis County in 1983, Kristi went on to receive her bachelor’s of arts degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City in mass communication in 1987. She began her professional broadcasting career in 1986 at Y107 FM, Jefferson City, which led her back to St. Louis’ Top 20 Market in 1992, where she has become an on-air personality at Magic 108 FM, Q104, Alice @ 104.1., “The Mall”, Red @ 104.1, and most recently, 97.1 FM Talk.

As public and community relations director, Kristi maintains and distributes internal and external communications as well as coordinating Emmis-St. Louis’ community outreach efforts. In September 2007, Kristi will be celebrating 10 years with Emmis – St. Louis.

Vera Culley

Vera Culley is a web producer for myFOXstl.com. A 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois, she began her journalism career in St. Louis, starting at KPLR Channel 11 as an associate producer. Her responsibilities as well as her skills quickly evolved as she took on other positions, including assignment editor, field producer, part-time news producer and Web content manager for KPLR’s news Web site.

Her ability to spot news, break stories and juggle the inner working of a newsroom on a daily basis provided the strong foundation needed to take the next step forward. In 2006, Vera joined the myFOXstl.com Web team. Its September launch brought a fresh look and source for news content in St. Louis. Vera’s contribution to the myFOXstl.com team helped the site have the most successful launch in the FOX family and continues to competitively penetrate the St. Louis market.

In her spare time, Vera enjoys spending time with her son Christian, reading, singing and writing short stories.

Nancy Elswick

Nancy Elswick is director of MediaQuest, which offers account planning, media planning/buying, as well as professional training seminars. Elswick has supervised media strategy for a myriad of national, local and international marketers in areas of packaged goods, restaurants, manufacturing, automotive, retail, beverages, travel/tourism, healthcare, banking, and non-for-profit. Prior to MediaQuest, she spent 25 years with two advertising agencies - as media communication director with D'Arcy Advertising and corporate media director for Falhgren:Lintas.

Elswick has been on the board of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and Advertising Research Foundation (NYC), and is a member of the Media Research Club of Chicago, as well as the Ad Club of St. Louis.

A graduate of Maryville University with a B.S. in marketing, Elswick is a candidate for a master's degree in marketing communications from Webster University.

Nancy Larson

Nancy Larson has been editor of the Vital VOICE progressive/GLBT newspaper for more than six years. Before moving to St. Louis, she worked as a writer/producer/assignments editor in television news, first in Birmingham, Ala., and later in Detroit, Mich., for the ABC network-owned station, WXYZ-TV.

She has a B.A. in communications from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Gilberto Pinela
Enterate

Gilberto Pinela

The name Gilberto Pinela is synonymous with Hispanic St. Louis. His interests are wide-ranging; as are his influences. From radio and television pioneer to civic leader, Pinela has traveled a long and ultimately fulfilling road to St. Louis.

Reaching out to the Hispanic community through the electronic media is nothing new to Pinela, who has hosted "Ahora San Luis" since mid 2001. This variety/talk show airs on City TV 10, www.CITYTV10.com, and brings news and interviews of significance to both the Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities. Guests have included Mayor Francis Slay, Albert Pujols, Cheech Marin and William Chignoli, executive director of La Clinica. “Ahora San Luis” is the first Spanish language television talk/variety show created and produced in the state of Missouri. Pinela also co-hosts the hour-long live variety/entertainment show “Best of STL" and "Enterate with Gilberto Pinela."

Following his recent appearance as master of ceremony for the Seventh Annual St. Louis Regional Fair Housing Training Symposium, Pinela was praised by United States Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Carolyn Y. Peoples for his ability to “connect with the audience.” St. Louis Field Office Director of the U.S. Dept. of HUD, Roy E. Pierce commended Pinela for a “job well done.”

Pinela is recipient of the Missouri Affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women 2005 Quest Award, bestowed on communicators whose continued performance reflects an enduring quest for the highest standards of professional excellence. He is an active board member of the Alumni Association the Citizens Academy of the FBI, AFTRA, United Way, Friends of the Zoo, Missouri Historical Society, CVC Multicultural Committee, New American Committee for U.S. Congressman Russ Carnahan, Community Partnership of the Saint Louis Symphony.