Meeting/Event Information

Love Lessons: The story behind Virgin America’s Free Love Campaign
 
With the lifting of the Wright Amendment in October 2014, Love Field presented an opportunity for Virgin America to bring product and fare competition to travelers from downtown Dallas. Despite gaining approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as American Airlines agreement to divest two Love Field gates to Virgin America as part of the American-USAirways merger, it was not a signed deal.  With Southwest pursuing full control over all 20 gates at Love Field, Virgin America faced the challenge of quickly convincing local Dallas leaders and travelers to let Virgin America fly. Join PRSA Dallas on Thursday, January 29 for our first chapter breakfast of 2015 to learn how Virgin America successfully leveraged its brand, digital advocacy and speed to achieve this important goal.
 
Abby Lunardini, Vice President, Brand Marketing & Communications for Virgin America and Marvin Singleton, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Dallas will share the strategy behind the campaign to Free Love Field.

Plus, Virgin America will be giving away one free domestic round trip ticket!
 
When:
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015
7:30 AM to – 9:00 AM

Location:
Dean Foods, 2711 North Haskell Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204
Park in visitor parking in any of the four underground garages (parking will be validated). Event will be on the 39th floor of Cityplace tower, a stop on the DART red, orange and blue line trains. If you take DART to the event, take the street exit to enter the tower.
 
Registration deadline:  Midnight, Monday, Jan. 26th. If you DO NOT receive an email confirmation, you are NOT registered.
No walkups allowed.

Cost:
$25 for PRSA Dallas members prepaid online
$45 for non-members prepaid online
$15 for Students

***Cancellation Policy:
Event cancellation requests must be submitted via email to Liz Kennedy and received by 5pm  Monday, Jan. 26 to receive a full refund. Cancellation requests received after this time and date will not receive a refund due to our guarantee policies with the facility.

***Substitution Policy:
Attendee substitutions from within the same company may be made at any time but must be requested in writing. Please send an email to Liz Kennedy to request a substitution. Substitutions are not confirmed until you receive written approval from PRSA.

Speakers:

 
Abby Lunardini
Vice President, Brand Marketing & Communications
Virgin America
With 15 years of experience in public relations, brand communications and public affairs, Abby has helped lead Virgin America's communications efforts since the launch of the brand in the U.S. in 2007. Prior to assuming the VP of Brand Marketing & Communications role, Abby served as a Managing Director at Mercury Public Affairs, where she led the agency's integrated digital media practice. Prior to Virgin America, Abby held a number of senior communications positions, including serving as the Special Assistant for Executive Communications for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Director of Advocacy Communications at the University of California - where she led coordinated communications and lobbying efforts for the 10-campus system. Abby served as the Press Secretary for a member of the California State Assembly and began her career as an Assistant Field Representative for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. In addition to being a political junkie who worked in Advance roles on a number of national and statewide campaigns, Abby is a self-proclaimed "music nerd," who enjoyed stints worked in marketing at both Warner Records and Sony Music in London.


Marvin Singleton
Executive Vice President and General Manager for Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Dallas
Marvin Singleton brings more than 24 years of communications and public affairs expertise in the political, non-profit, corporate and higher education sectors. He has worked to develop and lead campaigns for corporations and organizations and advises clients on communications strategies, internal communications, change management, crisis communications, executive communications, and public affairs. Before transitioning to Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Singleton served in a similar capacity as managing director at Public Strategies. While at Public Strategies, he served as embedded vice president of communications for a Fortune 40 technology company’s $8 billion IT Services business unit operating in 90 countries and led a global team of 12 responsible for development of strategy and execution of all communications and social media activities. Prior to joining the firm, he was a founder and served as chief information officer for Dallas-based Legend Airlines, where he developed and managed the company’s information, telecommunications and reservations systems. Singleton worked on both the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns of Ross Perot, serving as policy strategist and field operations manager. He obtained his Bachelors of Arts from Southern Methodist University and resides in Dallas his wife, Lisa, and their son William. He serves as President of the Advisory Board of SMU’s School of Communications, Board Member of the Trinity Commons Foundation, and member of the Communications Committee of the Dallas Regional Chamber.

Thank you to our event sponsors:
Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Dallas
Dean Foods