Dear PRSA members and the Communications community overall:
We are pleased that the search for our next CEO successfully concludes today with the announcement that Matthew Marcial, CAE, CMP has been named PRSA’s new Chief Executive Officer. He begins Monday, March 3, 2025.
Matt brings extensive experience in association leadership, professional development and member engagement. He most recently provided strategic consulting to a variety of associations and nonprofits – helping them drive new revenue and growth. Prior to consulting, he served as CEO of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services. Additionally, he served in senior executive roles with The Institute of Internal Auditors, Meeting Professionals International, NAFA Fleet Management Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
A Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Matt has a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing from Saint Leo University and a master’s in business administration from Florida International University. He intends to complete the process to receive his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
Matt succeeds Philip Bonaventura, who has served as interim CEO since January 1, 2025. We are grateful for Phil’s dedication and steady leadership during this time, as he resumes his full-time role as PRSA’s Chief Financial Officer,.
Matt’s appointment is the result of a thoughtful and rigorous search process led by our CEO Search Committee and the PRSA Board of Directors. Interest in the search – which began in mid-November – was very strong, and we are grateful for such a diverse field of finalists.
A copy of today’s announcement is available in the PRSA Newsroom, and you can read more about Matt in a feature on PRsay.
We value your continued support of and membership in PRSA – and are excited about all we will achieve together in in the months and years ahead.
Thank you!
Ray Day, APR
Search Committee Chair2024 PRSA Chair-elect
Search Committee
Ray Day, APR
2025 PRSA Chair
Search Committee Chair
Joseph Abreu, APR, CPRC
2024 PRSA Chair
Heide Harrell, M.A., APR
Director of Communications, Central Arkansas Water2025 Chair-elect
Kevin Waetke, APR, Fellow PRSA
Associate Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Sammons Financial Group2025 Treasurer
Teresa Valerio Parrot, Ed.D., APR
Principal, TVP Communications2025 Secretary
Philip Bonaventura
Chief Financial Officer, PRSA; Interim CEO as of 1/2025
Michael G. Cherenson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Executive Vice President, SCG Advertising + Public Relations2009 PRSA Chair
Angela Walters Eveillard, APR
Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Hillsborough Community CollegeFormer PRSA Board Member; Former CEO Search Committee Member
Eric Moss
Director of Communications, University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & DiversityPresident-elect, PRSA Puget Sound Chapter
Marsha Pitts-Phillips, APR
President and Founder, MRPP and Associates Communications, LLCPresident, PRSA Minnesota Chapter; Immediate Past Co-chair PRSA DEI Committee
Melissa Farmer Richards, APR
Principal and Founder, iMarketingMix, LLCChair, PRSA Northeast District; President, PRSA Central New York Chapter
Dawn Robinette, APR
Founder, Tale to Tell Communications, LLCChair, PRSA Southwest District; Past President, PRSA San Antonio Chapter
November 30, 2024
November 30, 2024
Dear PRSA members and the Communications community overall:
Interest in the search for the next chief executive officer of PRSA has been very strong! The candidate portal is now
closed, and we are moving to the next phase of the process.
To review, the PRSA Board of Directors has selected 12 current leaders to serve on the Search Committee. They include a cross-section of the organization, including Board officers, District and Chapter leaders, a Past Chair, past Search Committee member and our current Interim CEO. Their names and brief backgrounds are highlighted below.
Throughout the month of December, the Search Committee will assist the Board by reviewing the online submissions and narrowing them to a diverse field of finalists who meet the position specifications. From there:
- Recommend finalists will be invited to virtual interviews with the Board in early January 2025.
- The leading two or three finalists will be invited to meet with the Board in person at the end of January 2025.
The Board has set a goal of emerging with outstanding CEO finalists and, ideally, making an offer to one of them within the first quarter of 2025. If more time is needed to find the right leader, however, the Board remains flexible and committed to doing what’s best for PRSA.
As always, anyone with questions about the search process is invited to email me, as Search Committee Chair, at Ray.Day@stagwellglobal.com.
We value your continued support of and membership in PRSA – and are excited about all we will achieve together in 2025 and beyond.
Thank you!
November 18, 2024
November 18, 2024
Dear PRSA members and the Communications community overall:
The candidate portal is open now through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time U.S. Friday, Nov. 29, as we kick off the search for the next chief executive officer of PRSA. This promises to be an exciting and rewarding role for a visionary, transformational and collaborative
leader who will help propel PRSA into the future.
The candidate portal includes the role description and preferred candidate background, staff and budget overview, details on the PRSA Strategic Plan that the CEO will help implement and
information on how to apply. In short:
- Candidates will use this Application Link.
- Candidates will upload their current resume, LinkedIn profile URL and answers to three strategic questions.
The PRSA Board of Directors has selected 12 current leaders to serve on the Search Committee. They include a cross-section of the organization, including Board officers, District and Chapter leaders, a Past Chair, past Search Committee member and our
current Interim CEO. Their names and brief backgrounds are highlighted on the candidate portal.
The Search Committee will assist the Board by reviewing the online submissions and narrowing them to a diverse field of finalists who meet the
position specifications. The Search Committee’s work will be conducted during the month of December. From there:
- Recommend finalists will be invited to virtual interviews with the Board in early January 2025.
- The leading two or three finalists will be invited to meet with the Board in person at the end of January 2025.
The Board has set a goal of emerging with outstanding CEO finalists and, ideally, making an offer to one of them within the first quarter of 2025. If more time is needed to find the right leader, however, the Board remains flexible and committed to doing what’s best for PRSA.
Meanwhile, our Interim CEO Phil Bonaventura starts Jan. 1, 2025, and the transition with current CEO Linda Thomas Brooks already is under way. Phil has agreed to serve until a new CEO is on board.
The Board and Search Committee remain committed
to communicating regularly and proactively with PRSA and PRSSA members, as well as the Communications community overall. Anyone with questions about the search process is invited to email me, as Search Committee Chair, at Ray.Day@stagwellglobal.com.
We value your continued support of and membership in PRSA – and are excited about all we will achieve together in 2025 and beyond.
Thank you!
Ray Day, APR
Search Committee Chair2024 PRSA Chair-elect