The LAF version of #followfriday

Sidenote: I really tried to do Top 5. I did Top 7. I tried not to do an honorable mention, but this is my blog and I do what I want. Let’s chalk it up to being an overachiever. I will do this every Friday with a different “category” – so it will be down to 1 male and 1 female from now on. - LAF

Top 7 Women

@rockstarjen – There is a reason that Jen is the CEO of the LAF fan club. If I had to describe Jen in one word, it would be fabulous. She is extremely smart, funny and is always up for banter with me – and instant dance parties.

@amymengel – Amy is another great one – she’s great at Photoshop, loves connecting with people and writes a great blog. She’s always willing to listen if you’re having an issue, and she has that quick wit comeback that always impresses me.

@shonali – Shonali is the type of PR pro that I strive to be. She’s incredible. She is always willing to mentor me and ask how I’m doing – a quality I truly value in a friend.

@lolakwrites – If you follow me, you should follow Laura Kwedar. Enough said. We meet for Happy Hour and laugh at how much alike we are. She’s a witty, smart PR pro who isn’t afraid to use big words.

@skneebone – Sharon is my mentor for the ASAE Leadership Academy. She really pushes me to evaluate the type of association exec that I am, and we have a lot in common. She is always willing to help, and is extremely knowledgable in the association world. She is always there to congratulate me on my victories and push me to the limits.

@michele_moore – Without Michele, I would have never heard of the word Cupcakeista. I met Michele at my first internship at Moroch. She’s a savvy PR girl who tells it like it is, and always has me thinking. Plus, she tells it like it is.

@kellyecrane – Kelly is another smart cookie. She is a very strong person and extremely inspiring. I like to converse with her on anything from PR to my love for a certain rap song (she knows which one I’m talking about.) If you are looking for sunshine on a cloudy day, K is the one to follow.

Honorable mentions: @PRtini, @vargasl, @cynthiadamour, @kpaffhouse, @libbaloo, @mdbarber, @evoigt, @featurej, @chevis, @isishargrave, @steelergurl, @sfeuer

Top 7 Men

@patrickrevans -I can relate to Patrick on pretty much anything – we both love soccer and are pretty young PR pros. He is one of the smartest people I know, and I can bounce ideas off of him and always get great feedback. He posts great articles, and I love his blog – flacker.net.

@arikhanson – Arik is in my top 5 of mentors – He’s knowledgeable about the PR field and is always pushing me to think outside the box. We recently had a great brainstorm session and I was blown away by how creative and awesome he is. Not only can I talk to him about PR, but he enjoys sports banter. A + in my book.

@dmullen – There isn’t much I can say about David that you might not already know. He’s a rockstar in every sense of the word – he’s always up for a challenge. He’s very passionate about the communications field, and is always willing to help out if you have any questions. He has a great blog that really pushes you to think and evaluate your strategy in the workforce. A must follow for any PR/comm person.

@jasonsprenger – Jason and I co-wrote a blog post together, and I was most impressed with his dedication, follow-up and the ease at which we get along. He’s a smart, talented PR pro who I would be honored to work with again. He is always asking questions and pushing you to go the distance.

@chrisilluminati -If you’re having a bad day and up for a good laugh, Chris is your man. He is by far the most funny person I chat with. He is an innovative writer that does a lot of freelance work – plus writes a lot of blogs. He tells it like it is, and maybe it’s because he’s from Jersey. My dad grew up in S. Jersey/PA area before moving to Texas, and they are some of the greatest people I know.

@chrisjortiz – He doesn’t know this, but his blog (stuffjournalistslike.com) is the one that prompted me to start my own. I really dig witty and smart writing, and Chris exudes both of these qualities with excellence and ease. He is currently working as a freelance journalist and always has me laughing.

@vedo – Words can’t describe Richie. I don’t know how he handles all that he does, but he does it with ease and flair. He has a way about him that is very beneficial to the PR world – and he always has me thinking outside of my train of thought. A great guy to know.

Honorable mentions: @jaykeith, @dfolkens, @alextanpr, @kmskala, @sternalpr, @storyassistant, @morate, @narciso17, @chuckhemann, @bkmcae, @jacobstapp, @kwesirobertson, @davidspinks, @bigalittlea