Heather Grzelka, APR // Principal
heather@madeirapr.com
Heather enjoys nearly 20 years experience advancing social causes by generating positive media attention that influences policymakers and increases donor support. Before founding Madeira Public Relations in 2011, Heather spent the first decade of her career successfully navigating the Washington, D.C. political arena on behalf of numerous nationally recognized nonprofit organizations.
During her tenure as media relations director at the American Lung Association’s national headquarters office in Washington, D.C., Heather and her team built support for lifesaving policy measures reducing the burden of air pollution and smoking-related illnesses.
A passionate public health advocate, Heather also spent several years working in scientific communications at the American Society of Clinical Oncology where she played an instrumental role in developing the media strategy surrounding the announcement of the world’s first therapeutic cancer vaccine.
Following her graduation from George Mason University, Heather began her career at a boutique capital area research and public relations firm representing such notable clients as Comcast Cable and The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
As the principal of Madeira Public Relations, Heather continues to work closely with the American Lung Association to advance its ambitious public health agenda in the social and earned media space. Her firm has also provided strategic counsel to the national office of The ALS Association, the National Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the American Heart Association, PetIQ and the state of California among numerous other organizations with purposeful missions.
Within the past five years, her firm’s work has earned more than a dozen national awards and was honored to be recognized as Media of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pasco County Chapter.
Heather is a past president of the Florida Public Relations Association Tampa Bay Chapter in addition to maintaining an active membership with the Public Relations Society of America. She frequently lectures on trending public relations topics at the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay.
A civic-minded professional, Heather is a district leader for the Humane Society of the United States and is certified to deploy with the Florida State Animal Response Coalition. During her off hours, Heather is a metalsmith and an avid paddleboarding enthusiast.
Heather enjoys nearly 20 years experience advancing social causes by generating positive media attention that influences policymakers and increases donor support. Before founding Madeira Public Relations in 2011, Heather spent the first decade of her career successfully navigating the Washington, D.C. political arena on behalf of numerous nationally recognized nonprofit organizations.
During her tenure as media relations director at the American Lung Association’s national headquarters office in Washington, D.C., Heather and her team built support for lifesaving policy measures reducing the burden of air pollution and smoking-related illnesses.
A passionate public health advocate, Heather also spent several years working in scientific communications at the American Society of Clinical Oncology where she played an instrumental role in developing the media strategy surrounding the announcement of the world’s first therapeutic cancer vaccine.
Following her graduation from George Mason University, Heather began her career at a boutique capital area research and public relations firm representing such notable clients as Comcast Cable and The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
As the principal of Madeira Public Relations, Heather continues to work closely with the American Lung Association to advance its ambitious public health agenda in the social and earned media space. Her firm has also provided strategic counsel to the national office of The ALS Association, the National Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the American Heart Association, PetIQ and the state of California among numerous other organizations with purposeful missions.
Within the past five years, her firm’s work has earned more than a dozen national awards and was honored to be recognized as Media of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pasco County Chapter.
Heather is a past president of the Florida Public Relations Association Tampa Bay Chapter in addition to maintaining an active membership with the Public Relations Society of America. She frequently lectures on trending public relations topics at the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay.
A civic-minded professional, Heather is a district leader for the Humane Society of the United States and is certified to deploy with the Florida State Animal Response Coalition. During her off hours, Heather is a metalsmith and an avid paddleboarding enthusiast.