Erika Lafata’s (Howe) has diverse career in the media and talent industries for 23 years include:
- Radio on-air personality for 6 years in the southeast Texas area, including Houston, as well as radio ad sales & promotions for 5 years the Dallas market
- As a commercial print model & actor on the roster of a Houston-based talent/modeling agency, lending her voice & face to numerous radio & television commercials & industrial films, locally to internationally. Clients include Kroger, Foley’s, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Sakowitz, North Beach Leather, Pier One imports, and Academy Sports & Outdoors.
- Media planner and buyer in the DFW market
- Newspaper writer, photographer & managing editor
- Cable TV advertising sales and production for 8 year
- Publisher of The Frisco Community Newsletter, a weekly grass-roots e-newsletter (41,000 subscribers) focused on non-profit organizations, schools and places of worship
Erika worked in radio advertising sales/promotions in the Dallas market for top stations including 99.5 The Wolf, 570 KLIF, 92.5 KZPS, 100.3 JACK FM and 98.7 KLUV, where she also did voiceover work for clients of the stations. She was recognized in the radio & cable ad sales industries a number of times for her outstanding sales accomplishments, including:
- Being named to national publication Cable Avails Magazine’s Top 100 Cable Advertising Executives in 2000
- Sales Top Achiever for 1999-2000 for CableRep Advertising
- Dallas local market recipient of the 2003 Comcast Spotlight’s President’s Club Award for cable advertising sales
- Named the 2004-2005 CBS Radio President’s Award Winner for the Dallas radio market’s six stations.
Some of her past volunteer and civic activities include:
- Secretary of the American Women in Radio & Television Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter
- Graduate of the Frisco Citizens Police Academy
- Twice Past-President of one of the Lions Clubs in her hometown of Bay City, TX and served on the District Cabinet for Public Relations. Also member of the Frisco (TX) Noon Lions Club.
- Public Relations/Marketing Co-Chair for the Boys and Girls Club of Collin County Chrysalis Gala 2008
- Ambassador, Frisco Chamber of Commerce
The winner of the Mrs. Texas United States competition in 2000, Erika was granted the Texas franchise license from 2004-2009 to produce the state pageant to determine the representative from Texas for the national event in Las Vegas. The premiere competition for married women, the annual event also doubled as a fundraiser, contributing to worthy organizations such as The Cancer Monument Fund and Autism Speaks.
Erika was also was a successful local director in southeast Texas for Miss Texas USA/Miss Texas Teen USA, both state preliminaries to the prestigious nationally televised Miss USA/Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA competitions. Two of her local winners won the Miss Texas Teen USA title back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, with one placing 3rd runner-up at Miss Teen USA.
In 2012, Erika embarked on a new journey by turning her passion for travel into a profession, where she became a full-time professional travel advisor and founded Two Hearts Travel. Erika focuses on the Romance Travel market, helping couples find the perfect romantic experience in Mexico, Hawaii & the Caribbean, for honeymoons, destination weddings, couples’ friends groups getaways, & more. She also books corporate incentive trips and meetings.
Erika and her husband, Matt, have been married since 2007 and share six children between them and an adorable Shih-Apso named Fonzie.
The Blessed Life 