Hall of Fame NFL Legend Emmitt Smith Added to ICON 2022 Lineup

PRSA has added Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Fame running back, to the speaker lineup at ICON 2022, taking place on Nov. 13-15 at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.  

In conversation with Gary McCollum, author, activist, mentor and former SVP and GM, Cox Communications, Smith will discuss how communications professionals can protect, manage and enhance brand reputation; resources and tools he uses to strategically impact and develop his businesses and charities; and the DE&I challenges and opportunities communicators face in today’s fraught political climate.   

Smith’s on-field achievements for the Dallas Cowboys include three Super Bowl championship rings and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. After his 15-year career, Smith served as a football analyst and then took his television career a step further when he won the third season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” during which he was dubbed “the king of effortless cool.” 

Registration is open for PRSA’s annual conference, which will include both in-person and virtual programming options. Smith joins journalist Katty Kay and Academy Award-winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin as ICON 2022 keynote speakers. For additional details and to register, visit the ICON 2022 website.

College of Fellows Welcomes 17 New Members 

The College of Fellows has elected 17 new members for its class of 2022:

• Ellen Averill, APR, Fellow PRSA, Vice President Communications & Strategy, Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.; Tulsa, Okla. 

• Sandra R. Brodnicki, APR, Fellow PRSA, Partner, The S & G Group; Arlington, Texas 

• Jeremy C. Burton, APR, Fellow PRSA, Vice President for Connection, The Voice of the Martyrs; Bartlesville, Okla. 

• Clark P. Dumont, M.S., APR, Fellow PRSA, Principal & Counselor, Dumont Communications; Las Vegas 

• Jamie D. Floer, APR, Fellow PRSA, Communications Manager, Toho Water Authority; Kissimmee, Fla. 

• Kelly C. Gaggin, PhD, APR, Fellow PRSA, Assistant Teaching Professor, Syracuse University; Fayetteville, N.Y. 

• Lauren Green-Caldwell, APR, Fellow PRSA, Vice President Communications, CCMO, National Jewish Health; Denver 

• J. Elyse Hammett, APR, Fellow PRSA, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; Atlanta 

• Wendy Shill Kurtz, APR, Fellow PRSA, Founder and President, Elizabeth Charles & Associates, LLC; Winter Garden, Fla. 

• Kena L. Lewis, APR, Fellow PRSA, Senior Director, Public Affairs & Media Relations, Orlando Health; Orlando, Fla. 

• Debra Peterson, APR, Fellow PRSA, President, Comm365; Overland Park, Kan. 

• Sally Ridenour, APR, Fellow PRSA, Chief Content Strategist, Oregon Department of Transportation; Salem, Ore. 

• Tracy Schario, APR, Fellow PRSA, Senior Manager and Department Head, External Communications, MITRE; White Stone, Va. 

• Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, Dean, College of Communications, California State University, Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.

• Pamela Thompson, MBA, APR, Fellow PRSA, Manager of Internal Communications, AllianceRx Walgreens Prime; Wylie, Texas 

• Laura Moore Van Hoosier, APR, Fellow PRSA, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations & Communications, Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas; Grapevine, Texas 

• Rebecca M. Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, Executive Director of Communications, New Braunfels Independent School District; New Braunfels, Texas 

The APR Practice Examination Now Available On Demand

Developed by the Universal Accreditation Board, this practice test covers the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to prepare you for the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) examination. The 20 test items include the rationale for each answer.

Please visit the PRSA website for details on the test.