Buffalo News award-winning reporter Sharon Linstedt will join the public relations practice of Travers Collins & Company (TC&C) as a senior counselor and media relations specialist on June 1, it was announced today by William M. Collins, principal of the firm.

Linstedt, a 23-year veteran of The News and one of its most prolific reporters, recently informed the newspaper's management of her intention to accept the voluntary buy-out package that has been offered to every member of the editorial staff.

"Sharon is a number-one draft choice and she is going to make our already strong team even better," said Collins. "She has been this market's go-to reporter on major business and public issues for years and as a result, her journalism experience and intimate knowledge of the people and inner-workings of the community will be a great asset to our clients."

Collins said Linstedt and he had talked on and off over the years about her crossing over from journalism to public relations but the recent buy-out offer rekindled their talks and eventually led to an agreement. Linstedt will work at The News until the end of March and then take two months off before joining Travers Collins on June 1.

"I had a wonderful run at The News and loved covering the community for the last two decades but I'm equally excited about turning the page and beginning a new chapter in my career and life," Linstedt said. "I've often thought about what I might do other than journalism and working in public relations was always a thought and Travers Collins was the only firm I ever considered because it is so highly respected and has such great clients. I hope I can contribute to the firm's growth."

Travers Collins & Company provides a wide range of marketing communications, public relations and investor relations services to its clients. Headquartered at the Larkin at Exchange Building, TC&C (www.traverscollins.com) is one of Buffalo-Niagara's largest locally owned and operated marketing communications firms, employing a staff of 40. Founded in 1995, the firm is a member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world's largest network of independent public relations firms, as well as one of the leading networks of advertising agencies, the Transworld Advertising Agency Network (TAAN).

www.traverscollins.com