Valerie Puma has been named Communications Specialist for AAA Western and Central New York and will assist the public relations department with internal and external communications, media relations, and more across the region.

Valerie comes to AAA with several years of hands-on experience as a television and newspaper journalist, photographer, and copywriter. She earned both her bachelor’s degrees, in English and in political science, from Binghamton University. After graduation, Valerie applied her journalism skills as a multimedia journalist and producer at WICZ Fox 40 News in Binghamton and later returned to her writing roots as a staff reporter for the Cortland Standard newspaper.

Valerie looks forward to her new role in public relations. “I am beyond excited to join the AAA team and utilize my communications skills in a new way,” she said. “AAA has so much to offer, and I’m looking forward to sharing AAA’s work with communities throughout Western and Central New York.”

Originally from the Gulf Coast of Texas, Valerie enjoys exploring everything New York state has to offer and spends her spare time reading, watching movies, and trying out new recipes.

She will work out of the AAA Liverpool office and will assist with communication needs at AAA Travel & Insurance Centers in Camillus and DeWitt, while coordinating communication-related efforts across the entire region.