Andrea Tantillo grew up in South Arkansas and so many of us got to Texas as fast as she could. She has worked at the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for almost 14.5 years. She is a Principal Communications Coordinator in the Community and Environmental Planning Department, where she helps plan and implement the department’s communications strategies, facilitates two quarterly roundtables, and directs the agency’s annual parks awards and recognition program. She is also a charter member and president of Timmons Talkers Toastmasters, a community club composed mostly of H-GAC employees. She is also an adjunct instructor in the Entertainment and Media Arts Department at South Arkansas College and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and PRSA-Houston. She started her Toastmasters journey in 2016 and earned a DTM in October 2018. She has served as a club officer, Pathways Ambassador, Spring Conference Co-Chair, Program Quality Director Team Member, Club and Area Speech Contest Winner, and is currently serving District 56 as the Public Relations Manager. Andrea has more than 30 years of communications experience, including print and broadcast media, higher education, nonprofit fundraising, residential real estate marketing, and governmental sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Mass Communication from Southern Arkansas University and a Master of Science in Strategic Communications from Purdue University. In her spare time she manages her cat’s Instagram account.