Pitch Live with Amy Summers

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Jermaine Myrie, Chief Executive Officer of MENTOR, the nation's leading organization dedicated to expanding access to high-quality mentoring relationships. A lifelong champion of helping people reach their potential, Jermaine brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across education, business, and the nonprofit sector. His ca...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Kennedy Reed’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and the career-building experiences that helped shape her path from college student to communications professional. Kennedy joined Pitch Publicity in January 2022 and remained with the agency through her graduation from the University of Florida in spring 2023, earn...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Joe Weiss, a natural products industry leader whose career spans more than 30 years across retail, brand development, merchandising, and ingredient innovation. Joe currently serves as global head of brand management at PLT Health Solutions, following eight years as president of Nutrition 21 and earlier serving as vice president of corp...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Myisha Chapman’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how it helped shape her rise into a respected communications leader in healthcare and corporate communications. Now serving as a vice president on the Corporate Healthcare team at Ruder Finn, Myisha advises biotechnology, pharmaceutical and mission-driven orga...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Ilene Silverman, owner and president of Ilene’s Gator Store, a beloved Gainesville retail destination rooted in decades of family legacy. Carrying forward a tradition that began with her family’s original downtown store established in 1935, Silverman has built Ilene’s Gator Store into a recognizable brand known for its deep connection...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Sally Greider’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how that early foundation helped launch her into one of the most competitive arenas in media. Now a director at Horizon Media in New York City, Sally leads digital advertising for brands, specializing in cross-channel, full-funnel campaigns that turn big ideas...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Danny Wuerffel, a former NFL quarterback turned purpose-driven leader whose legacy extends far beyond the field. Best known for leading the Florida Gators football team to their first national championship and earning the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1996, Danny also received the Campbell Trophy as the nation’s top scholar-athlete and...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Nadia Wilson's #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and the powerful trajectory that has followed. As our very first FAMU Pitch Star, Nadia set herself apart from day one with a strategic, self-driven approach to landing her internship, and then maximized every opportunity, from completing our pre-professional progra...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Angela Buonocore, a powerhouse in corporate communications who spent 36 years shaping the reputations and narratives of some of the world’s most influential companies, including GE, IBM, PepsiCo, ITT and Xylem. Rising to chief communications officer in her final three roles, Angela is known for building award-winning advertising and PR...

In this episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers,” the hosting roles are reversed as Pitch Publicity® #PitchStar Victoria Najmy interviews Amy Summers about her new book, “Lift: 10 Mentorship Touchpoints to Empower Your Team and Accelerate Your Career” (Page Two, Feb. 25, 2026). Dedicated to the Pitch Stars, “Lift” presents a modern approach to leadership grounded in presence, purpose, confidence a...

This episode of the “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Lylah Patel, a dancer, choreographer, storyteller and student journalist. Currently a senior at The Dalton School in New York City, Lylah’s creative range spans both the stage and the newsroom. A classically trained Bharatanatyam dancer guided by her guru, Sonali Skandan, since age 5, Lylah has performed at iconic venues including...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Jessica Summers’ #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and follows her evolution into a strategic leader in marketing and public relations. A University of South Florida graduate, Jessica has built a 15-year career leading high-impact campaigns for tech giants, government agencies, nonprofits, and global brands, inclu...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, the physician who literally introduced the word “aerobics” to the world and pioneered preventive medicine decades before jogging, run clubs, and group fitness were mainstream. A global fitness icon and bestselling author of “Aerobics” (1968), Dr. Cooper sparked a movement that has influenced more than 30 million...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” revisits some of Season Two’s most memorable moments with “Pitch Pros” and “Pitch Stars,” sharing metamorphosis moments and leadership lessons in action. These “Pitch Live” excerpts highlight leadership lessons and mentorship touchpoints that will be addressed in Amy’s forthcoming book, “Lift: 10 Mentorship Touchpoints to Empower Your Team and Accelera...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Michelle Coulson, founder and CEO of Remote Rebellion, a company that empowers people to design their dream lives with freedom and flexibility by building meaningful, location-independent careers through remote work. A former recruiter from the UK with nearly a decade of experience across London, Singapore, and Australia, Michelle’s ca...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Lisa Osborne’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how it laid the foundation for her remarkable career in marketing and healthcare technology. While interning at Pitch Publicity®, Lisa earned dual degrees in Public Relations and International Studies from the University of Florida, later continuing her educatio...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features husband-and-wife power duo Patrick Sullivan Jr. and Ashley Leroux, the brilliant entrepreneurial team behind Jigsaw Health, known for their delicious magnesium and potassium electrolyte powders that make feeling good easy. Together, Patrick and Ashley — affectionately known as “Pashley” — have built an empire that blends wellness, crea...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Daniela Restrepo’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how it helped shape her path from student to standout marketing professional. While completing her degree in Public Relations at the University of Florida, Daniela was selected as a MAIP 2022 Fellow, collaborating with a team to research and develop a social...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Gary Green, executive director of the Student Press Law Center — the nation’s only legal organization dedicated solely to protecting the free press rights of student journalists. A longtime champion of press freedom and storytelling, Gary joined the Student Press Law Center in 2023 after leading the Center for Sustainable Journalism at...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Lauren George’s time at Pitch Publicity® in the company’s very early years and how those experiences helped shape her impressive career trajectory. Now serving as vice president of communications at Hilton Grand Vacations in Orlando, Florida, Lauren is an accredited public relations professional with nearly two decades of e...

This episode of Pitch Live with Amy Summers podcast features Lisa Bragg, author of, “Bragging Rights: How to Talk About Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion.” Lisa flips the script on self-promotion, showing professionals how to confidently talk about their work without coming across as awkward or arrogant. A former broadcast journalist turned entrepreneur, she has advised Fortune 500 compani...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Maureen Mooney’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity®, her very first internship, which helped launch her career in public relations. Today, Maureen is an account coordinator at PRESS PR + Marketing in Tampa, Florida, where she excels at turning great stories into headlines, pitching with precision, building strong m...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features LaShelle Williams-Franklin, a powerhouse attorney, changemaker, and co-founder and CEO of the Williams-Franklin Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit that has raised nearly $1 million to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) facing financial hardship. A proud Howard University alumna and recipient of...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Havana Gazlay’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how it helped set her up for a successful public relations career in real estate. With roots in Florida and a degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida, Havana has risen to Account Director at BerlinRosen, carving out a niche at the intersection...

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Geoffrey Hesslink, one of the nation’s leading hunter riders and top trainers in the equestrian world. After a childhood injury ended his promising swimming career, Geoffrey turned to horseback riding as physical therapy — a twist of fate that led to a lifelong passion and extraordinary success. From winning the USEF Talent Search Fina...