Bios

Amy Gravina has been active in the marketing and public relations field in Southwest Florida for the past 25 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Florida. In 1984, she established Gravina Associates, a full-service marketing and public relations firm headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. Gravina is an Accredited Public Relations Professional (APR), and was named Southwest Florida's first PR Professional of the Year in 1987. She has received numerous awards for the firm's public relations campaigns and marketing programs including the state's top honor from the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) for "The TwinEagles Success Story." She currently serves on the board of directors of the FPRA Counselor's Network, the Uncommon Friends Foundation, the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Florida Gulf Bank.

Laurel Smith joined Gravina, Smith & Matte, Inc. in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida. In 1988, the Southwest Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association named her PR Professional of the Year, and in 1991, she achieved professional accreditation from FPRA. Her work on behalf of the South Florida Water Management District, The Bonita Bay Group and Southwest Florida International Airport has been recognized with awards from FPRA, the Airport Operators Council International and the Advertising Federation. Smith is an alumna of Leadership Lee County and is an active volunteer, past campaign chair and past board chair for United Way of Lee County.

Tina McCain Matte joined Gravina, Smith & Matte, Inc. in November 1999 and was named partner in January 2001. She has more than 20 years of experience in professional communications, marketing and public relations, and has received numerous awards for public relations campaigns, marketing and advertising materials, and publications. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and journalism from the University of South Florida. Matte is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Lee County and a member of the Florida Public Relations Association and the Urban Land Institute. Also, she serves on the board of directors for Floridians for Better Transportation and Salvation Army. In 2004, Matte was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush for a second term to the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission and was elected chair in 2006.

Sharon Arnold joined Gravina, Smith & Matte, Inc. in September 2001 and was named partner in January 2005. With more than two decades of domestic and international experience in the public relations and marketing field, she has earned professional recognition for newsletter production, media relations, advertising and crisis communications. Arnold is on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and the Water Enhancement & Restoration Coalition, and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the Florida Public Relations Association and Pilot Club of Fort Myers.  She is a graduate of the University of West Florida.