Dave Mozeleski is Communications and Media Specialist at Liberty Lutheran. He’s been a PPRA member for two years.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-mozeleski/

PPRA: Dave, tell us a bit about your background and your current job.

DM: I’ve been Media and Communications Specialist for Liberty Lutheran Services since July 2015. My time is spent writing press releases/media alerts, managing our 10 social media platforms, writing/editing/creating web content for marketing and advancement, shooting/editing/producing videos for social media, and much more.

Before Liberty, I called WHYY home for 11 years where I was Promotions Manager handling on-air promotions and well as video production needs for outside clients. I was also a Creative Services Producer for CBS3 Philadelphia. My career began at Nexstar Broadcasting (WYOU/WBRE) in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where I held various positions as studio crew, commercial producer and promotions writer/producer/editor for 5 years.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what projects are you working on right now?

DM: My clients right now are the communities of Liberty Lutheran Services.

Liberty owns and operates five senior living communities in southeast and central PA – Paul’s Run, Artman, The Village at Penn State, and The Manor at York Town.

Liberty also operates The Becoming Center in Ambler, The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC), and Lutheran Congregational Services (LCS).

One of the exciting aspects of my position is that each community has its own feel and personality. I have to know each community’s audience and what is best for each community as far as social media and media attention.

I am currently working on press pitches for events at The Village at Penn State surrounding the annual Blue and White Game, updating the events web pages for The Manor at York Town, preparing videos about volunteering for LCS and Paul’s Run, blogs about rekindling old friendships later in life in our communities, and more.

PPRA: What is your favorite part about your job?

DM: I love sharing the stories of our residents. Seeing the face of a husband and wife who have been married 75 years as they are interviewed by CBS3 about the secret to their marriage. Interviewing a resident volunteer about why she is making relief kits for hurricane victims and then sitting with her as she watches the Facebook video later in the day while reading comments from her out–of-state-family. It’s very rewarding working with a senior population, they have so much to share and tell the younger generations.

I also love connecting people to each other. I’m in the unique position where I know and see what is going on in each community on a daily basis. While our communities are varied, our staff loves to hear about events and happenings at each other community. I try to keep those lines of communication open.

PPRA: What was your latest & greatest accomplishment at your job?

DM: With the Eagles heading to the Super Bowl, a staff member alerted me to the fact that one of our residents played for one season with the Eagles in 1941. I googled him and discovered that Mr. Gloden, age 99, was the third oldest living professional football player in the nation. I contacted NBC10 and got to work making sure we could tell Mr. Gloden’s story. NCB10 did a live shot at his community during their 11:30 newscast and also ran a feature package during their 4:30pm newscast and aired that again during their 7pm Eagles special.

I also contacted the Eagles head office, who arranged for 2 cheerleaders to come out and deliver a personalized game jersey to Mr. Gloden.

Seeing Mr. Gloden light up as he was being interviewed, and then again as he watched the newscast was priceless.

Within 48 hours of being posted on NBC10’s Facebook page, this story had 771 likes/loves, 17 comments and 122 shares.

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

DM: Take time to make connections and share vital information. However, never share anything that was told to you in confidence.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

DM: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King – all eight books.

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly (museum, park, store, etc.)?

DM: I’ve been a member of the Philadelphia Zoo for going on eight years now. Although it was a two hour drive from home, my folks would bring the family there at least once a year when I was growing up and we would stay from open to close to see everything multiple times. Now I bring my kids there at least four times each year. Even if we only spend an hour or two, we always have a great time.

Plus, I proposed to my wife in front of the tiger exhibit, a la Rocky II.

PPRA: How do you take your cheesesteak?

DM: Whiz & fried onions.

PPRA: Our PPRA 2017-18 PRoactive partnership is with Tree House Books. What was your favorite childhood book and why?

DM: I have two favorites – “Danny and the Dinosaur” by Syd Hoff and “Snoopy and the Red Baron” (from 1966) by Charles Schultz. Danny is a favorite because as a kid, I always wanted a dinosaur. I now read it to my kids at least once per week at bedtime. Snoopy is because I would read it my oldest daughter when we would stay over at my parents house. We would take turns reading it and making sound effects.