AAC Members

Alan DeSantis

After graduating from JMU in 1986, Alan DeSantis earned his doctorate at Indiana University in 1993 in Rhetorical Studies. For the last 13 years, Alan has been a professor at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Communication. Both his teaching and research interests highlight the role of social discourse in constructing race and gender relationships.
Along with his responsibilities within his department, Alan also has been appointed as UK’s Athletics Representative to the NCAA, serving as his President’s liaison between the University’s academic and athletic interests.
He and his wife, Lori, live in Lexington with their two wonderful children--James (7) and Abigail (10).
 

Beth McBroom

Beth McBroom, a native of Charleston, SC, graduated with honors from the School of Communication Studies in 2004.  While at JMU, she was involved in the Communication Studies Resource Center, Lambda Pi Eta, and other student organizations.  Following graduation, she completed Hyatt Hotels & Resorts' Corporate Management Training Program  and was thereafter promoted to Assistant Guest Services Manager.  In July 2005, she accepted a position as Marketing Coordinator for the Washington, D.C., office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, a national law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Beth now works closely with the Firm's attorneys on a variety of projects including planning events in Washington, submitting proposals for business development, maintaining the Firm's website, and coordinating public relations opportunities.   She is currently involved in assisting the  office's administrative partner in formulating a multi-faceted Branding & Community Outreach program that will promote corporate citizenship. Beth enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and fellow JMU graduate John  Paul, watching MTV's reality shows, reading, and trying new restaurants from Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List.
 

Andy Perrine currently serves as associate vice president for communications and marketing in the division of Advancement at James Madison University. He has been with the university for 8 years in the areas of marketing and public relations and currently serves as interim university spokesperson.  Andy graduated from the James Madison University College of Arts and Letters in 1986. He majored in Communication Arts.
After graduation he worked in public relations with Bario & Associates, and then in advertising with Sass & Associates in Annapolis, MD. He moved to Grey Advertising in New York, NY, Thompson Medical, and to Hal Riney & Partners in New York, NY where he worked on Fuji Film, Carvel ice cream and Mutual of New York. Perrine then started Gravity Media Productions in Harrisonburg in 1995.

Perrine currently sits on the board of directors of the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and is a member of Blessed Sacrament church. He is married to Suzanne McCahill and has two children, 9-year-old Neal and 6-year-old Alice.
 

Tracy Weise

After graduating JMU in 1994, Tracy Weise received a Master’s Degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in health communication from the University of Alabama. Tracy began work in Memphis, Tennessee, managing media relations for a regional hospital. She moved to an agency working with healthcare and manufacturing clients. She left to work in-house with one of her largest clients, an international steel buildings manufacturer. Tracy was exposed to a variety of industries including manufacturing, non-profit, energy, high-tech and healthcare and she also began teaching public speaking and speech writing at local universities.
In 2000, Tracy moved with her husband to Denver, Colorado working as an independent marketing consultant and speechwriter. Three years later, with several clients and significant growth in business, she and her husband Jay founded Weise Communications, Inc., an integrated advertising and public relations agency. She now runs the day-to-day operations of the agency, oversees accounts and manages public relations services. She designs, implements and maintains public relations, internal communications and marketing programs.   Tracy has been recognized for her excellence through a variety of organizations. She is launching another company dedicated to executive speech writing, presentation development and training.
Tracy and Jay live in Denver, enjoying life close to the mountains. They have a new baby girl who was born in January 2006.
 

Michael Wissot is a Managing General Partner of SymAction Communications, a corporate communications and market research firm.  He also serves as an adjunct professor of communications at Pepperdine University, as well as a political analyst for KABC talk radio. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University, a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Arizona, and a Master of International Management degree from Thunderbird.

Wissot has moderated focus groups and conducted surveys for such clients as Coca-Cola, 20th Century FOX, Motion Pictures Association of America, Thomson Financial, Ameriquest Mortgage, Miller Brewing, Wynn Las Vegas, and Kroger. He also contributed to messaging projects for President George W. Bush, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and several other world leaders and CEOs.
Wissot received his political start while working for U.S. Senator John McCain.  He served several years as CEO of Dentistry.com.  Wissot’s background in sports entertainment is highlighted by stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks and Insight Bowl.
Wissot has made several television and radio appearances and has published articles for PR Week, Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal, Jerusalem Post, and The Daily News.