• DALLAS
Continuing its slate of awards, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) presented Exchange associates with public affairs honors.
Each year, Exchange associates worldwide serve as volunteers for the Public Affairs Representatives (PAR) program, administered by the Headquarters Public Affairs Team.
This program encourages associates to share and monitor media coverage relevant to the Exchange through social and local media outlets respective to their installations.
Although participation is voluntary, top-performing PARs are rewarded annually with Exchange gift cards ranging from $250-$1,000 and a personal note from Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Shull.
“The Public Affairs Representative program has been an extremely successful extension of the Public Affairs team since 2005, and every year our associates go above and beyond to help get Exchange messaging out,” said Sandi Lute, senior vice president (SVP), Marketing Customer Engagement.
“Our PARs are an integral part of our team, and we are eternally grateful for the work they do,” Lute said.
THE AWARDS
The PAR of the Year award recognizes the associate who submits the most content that mentions the Exchange and is sourced directly from an Exchange-issued press release.
The Brand Representative of the Year award recognizes the associate who submits the most content that mentions the Exchange from newspapers, news websites or social media, and is not a direct result of an Exchange-generated press release or media pitch.
In 2024, PARs submitted more than 10,200 PAR and brand reports.
WINNERS
The 2024 Public Affairs Representative program winners were:
PAR of the Year: Sue Antonello, visual merchandiser, Fort Novosel, Ala.
Second Place: Nguyen Ai Vy Tran, office technician, Travis AFB, Calif.
Third Place: Elizabeth Haefner, office technician, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Brand Representative of the Year: Sue Antonello, visual merchandiser, Fort Novosel
Second Place: Alexandra Dewberry, office technician, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Third Place: Natasa Stroud, visual merchandiser, Fort Eisenhower
Honorable Mention: David Parker, office technician, Edwards AFB, Calif.
Most Improved: Natasa Stroud, visual merchandiser, Fort Eisenhower, Ga.
“The key to successfully getting our message out on social media lies in building a strong relationship with our base’s Public Affairs Office (PAO), base program partners as well as maintaining a solid connection with our services and vending team,” Stroud said.
“By working together, we’ve been able to achieve not only a significant number of shares and mentions, but also ensure that our community stays well-informed about the events and updates happening at the Exchange and base-wide,” she explained. “Working alongside these amazing teams made it very easy to become the 2024 Most Improved PAR, which I am incredibly grateful for.”
Rookie of the Year: Lizandra Santana Rivera, visual merchandiser, Fort Cavazos, Texas
“It is an honor to be recognized as a new PAR,” said Santana Rivera. “What has helped me is the communication between the team and myself.
“Being well-informed allows me to keep the community updated on the continuous service we offer, while also helping me build and strengthen the Fort Cavazos Exchange’s relationships with the community.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
