I bring two decades of industry experience to SUNY Plattsburgh, including over 11
years with International Paper covering crisis communication, labor strikes and contract
negotiation, employee relations, community partnerships, and environmental public
affairs and lobbying. Prior to that, I worked for a Chamber of Commerce focusing on
economic development, regional branding/tourism and large-scale events. I was also
co-owner and marketing director of a small manufacturing operation for 20 years, helping
develop new businesses, industry lobbying, launched a successful division, handled
human resources including OSHA and NLRB, and led a branding effort with a new web
presence.
As a mental health counselor I worked as a crisis clinician in a hospital emergency
department where the concept for Shine On! was created 14 years ago. With the help of SUNY Plattsburgh women, Shine On! aims
to increase resiliency in young girls by teaching about media literacy and marketing,
communication skills and character development.
Lemza, C. (2012). Media Relations Case Studies: Hannah’s Hope and The Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
In B. St. John and B. Pritchard, Public Relations Strategy in Action: A Casebook. Wadsworth.
Lemza, C. (2012). Member Relations Case Studies: Communicating Across Controversy: Cardinal
PR and the ROTC. In B. St. John and B. Pritchard, Public Relations Strategy in Action: A Casebook. Wadsworth.
Lemza, C. (2011). Social Media Silence: An examination of social media use in rural New York
political campaigns. The Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 17, 25-28.
Lemza, Colleen and Overton-Healy, Julia. Moderators for Vision2Action, October 26, 2016. City of
Plattsburgh Mayoral Debate.
Ouelette, Michele and Lemza, Colleen. Refereed conference presentation, June 5, 2014. SUNYCUAD, Socially Speaking: Prepping
for the Onslaught, Lake Placid, NY
Invited Keynote Speaker, Regional Women in Business Conference presented by the North
Country Chamber of Commerce “Back to the Basics: F2F Communication” (280 attendees)
Invited Speaker, Adirondack Park Agency, June 13, 2013. “How Business and the Environment
Can Prosper in the Adirondacks.”
Cornell Cooperative Extension Workshop, January 17, 2012, “Using Social Media to Promote
Your Business.” Conference chair and invited presenter.
Won the national Washington Center's Award for Civic Engagement in Higher Education
presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. (2017)
Awarded the Mayoral Award for Community Involvement (2017)
Awarded the SUNY Chancellor's award for teaching (2014)
SUNY Faculty Impact Award (2013)
Awarded over $130,000 in various grants for Shine On!
Instructed Cardinal PR students and helped secure $250k from a Pepsi Refresh Everything
social media contest, raised $25k from the Million Can Redemption Plan for a client
and helped secure $8,400 for Mission of Hope supporting children in Nicaragua
