An award-winning public relations counselor with more than 22 years of experience, Marisa Vallbona, APR, has created successful marketing communications programs for clients in the consumer products, retail, social media, technology, restaurant, real estate, business-to-business, finance, marine, health care, sports, Hispanic and travel and entertainment industries. She is a published writer and editor who has contributed numerous feature, news and technical articles on a variety of industries.

Her experience representing world-renowned organizations such as Blockbuster and 7-Eleven has led her to win three prestigious Silver Anvil Awards and Best of Show from the Public Relations Society of America. (The Silver Anvil is the top national award in the public relations industry.) Working with this caliber of clients also has enabled Marisa to establish a broad network of media contacts.

In addition to managing her firm, CIM Incorporated, Marisa is a co-founding director of PRConsultantsGroup, Inc. - a national affiliation of public relations practitioners with offices in 34 major markets. PRConsultantsGroup was formed to offer national exposure for clients while providing individual local expertise in a number of major U.S. cities.

Within the first 18 months of being formed, PRConsultants Group attained national recognition in numerous public relations trade publications and business magazines, and was featured in the cover story of INC Magazine's September 2001 issue. The company also is prominently featured in the book Alpha Dogs, How Your Small Business Can Become a Leader of the Pack, by Donna Fenn.

Prior to forming CIM Incorporated, she was principal and co-owner of Rayner & Vallbona, Inc., Advertising and Public Relations from 1990 to 1997. Before that, Marisa was a public relations senior account executive for Berkman & Daniels, the San Diego affiliate office of Hill and Knowlton, one of the world's leading public relations firms. Before that, she was media relations assistant for America's Cup XXVII. She has previous experience at a promotional marketing firm, and at a public relations and advertising agency in Austin, Texas.

Marisa was graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism/public relations and minors in Spanish and French. She also attended L'Université de Dijon in France where she studied intensive French language, translation, culture and history. She speaks Spanish and French fluently. She has working knowledge of Portuguese, Italian and Catalan.

She is featured in the 2006 - 2009 editions of Marquis Finance and Business, the 1997 - 2000 editions of Marquis Who's Who in the World, the 1998 - 2004 editions of Marquis Who's Who in America, the 1998 - 1999 editions of Marquis Who's Who in Business and Industry, the 1998 - 1999 edition of Marquis Who's Who in the Media and Communications, the 1996 - 2001 editions of Marquis Who's Who in the West, the 1997 - 2007 editions of Marquis Who's Who of American Women, and the 1992/1993 Who's Who Worldwide.

She has won numerous awards for public relations excellence from the Public Relations Society of America, Health Care Communicators, PR Club of San Diego, the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and The San Diego Business Journal.

Marisa's professional and community involvement is extensive and includes serving in leadership positions on various boards and committees. She is Accredited in Public Relations by the Universal Accreditation Board and is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She also is a sustaining member of the Junior League of San Diego. An avid runner, Marisa has completed seven marathons, including the prestigious New York City marathon.

For more information about Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), please visit www.praccreditation.org.