Melissa Bruno, Assistant Account Executive, Schwartz Communications

Melissa Bruno joins the Persevere Disaster Relief Advisory Board with a diverse background in the field of public relations and event management.  She has media experience in the healthcare, information technology, education, construction, professional athletics and consumer products industries.

Prior to joining Schwartz Communications in 2006, Bruno worked in corporate training at Boston-based consulting firm Bain & Company, as well as with public relations firms Bishoff Communications and Hawthorne Associates.  She has also spent time in the non-profit sector, grant writing and managing community film programs with a Boston-area independent film organization.

In 2004, Bruno was selected to work with the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox as a post-season media relations liaison.

Bruno holds a B.A. from Boston College in Communications and Film Studies.  She is an avid baseball fan and enjoys traveling and independent films.

Mark Switaj, Divisional Business Development Manager, American Medical Response Ambulance Corporation

Mark Switaj joins the Persevere Disaster Relief Board of Advisors with an extensive background in emergency-related management and more than seven years of experience in Emergency Medical Services.

Switaj joined American Medical Response in 2003 as an Emergency Medical Technician and upon graduation from Boston College in 2005, moved into the business development sector, where he has since moved up to a managerial level.  During the 2004 Democratic National Convention, while still working for American Medical Response, Switaj also spent time as Assistant to the Acting Deputy Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On top of this experience, Switaj holds dual degrees in Human Resources Management and Information Systems from Boston College.

Switaj began his career as a volunteer EMT with Holmdel, New Jersey, EMS in 1999.  Since then he has worked for Rural Metro EMS (New Jersey) and the Boston College Emergency Medical Services, where he served as Captain starting in 2003.

Switaj is a nationally certified Emergency Medical Technician and a former member of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics.  In 2005, the Boston College Office of the Dean for Student Development recognized Switaj as an Outstanding Leader in the Boston College Community.