The American Marketing Association in Utah this week welcomed Lori Gilson as its newest vice president of community relations and charitable affairs. Gilson is the president of Bluffdale-based PRMarketing.com.

Gilson said she is busy forming a committee for the AMA, which will focus on helping charities and small businesses market their wares.

“I want the AMA to become very involved in the community in assisting small businesses and charities with marketing,” Gilson said.

PRMarketing.com formed in January as an offshoot of Bluffdale-based SEO.com. Both companies are owned by entrepreneur Mike Mann.

For Mann, giving to charity is a top priority, Gilson explained.

Countless non-profit organizations have benefited from the Internet marketing services provided by Mann’s Grassroots.org, she said.

“[Mann] basically gives everything back to charity and so that’s always been important to our company,” Gilson said.

Once her committee is formed, Gilson said the panel will put together its 2011 goals.

“I believe that entrepreneurs are the spirit of America and I want to support them and help them become successful,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gilson said she spends much of her spare time in her garden. She also loves running and eating sushi.

About the author

Pat Parkinson

Past colleagues say Pat converted to the dark side when he left his 12-year career as a newspaper reporter to work in PR, but we’re glad he did. After more than a decade of dogging politicians, cops and other newsmakers, Pat’s new obsession is pitching solid stories to gain publicity for clients. As such, Pat is also our go-to guy for all things media. Plenty of his press releases have seen success in the San Francisco Chronicle, Denver Post, Miami Herald, San Diego Union-Tribune, Dallas Morning News and Boston Globe. When he’s not feeding his news addiction, Pat travels. He has visited nearly 30 countries and hopes to check off half of Africa.