PRSA Announces 2025 Board of Directors at Annual Leadership Assembly

PRSA announced the individuals elected to its 2025 Board of Directors. 

On Oct. 14, the delegates of the 2024 Leadership Assembly elected Heide Harrell, M.A., APR, chair-elect, and eight other members to serve in officer and director positions beginning Jan. 1.

Officers (one-year term):

• Chair-elect – Heide Harrell, M.A., APR
• Treasurer – Kevin Waetke, APR, Fellow PRSA
• Secretary – Teresa Valerio Parrot, Ed.D., APR

Directors (two-year term):

• East Central District Director: John Palmer, APR
• Mid-Atlantic District Director: Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D., APR
• Western District Director: Paula L. Pedene, APR, Fellow PRSA
• Director-At-Large (converted Northeast District Director): Chuck Wallington, Ph.D.
• Director-At-Large (converted Tri-State District Director): Andrea Gils Monzón
• Director-At-Large: Sam Sims, APR, Fellow PRSA

Harrell is currently director of communications for Central Arkansas Water, a metropolitan water system that serves almost 500,000 Arkansans in eight counties. Before Central Arkansas Water, Harrell was vice president and communications director of the Private Wealth Management division at Stephens, one of the largest, privately held independent investment firms away from Wall Street, as well as director of marketing and business development at Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River.

Her many PRSA roles include serving as a member of the PRSA Board from 2020-2022 and as secretary in 2023. She served as senior council this year. With over 20 years of communications and marketing experience, Harrell has contributed to committees and task forces supporting PRSSA students and PRSA’s annual conference. She has also been chair and director of the Southwest District and president of the Arkansas Chapter.

Joining Ray Day, APR, as chair, and Joseph Abreu, APR, CPRC, as the immediate past chair, are:

• Midwest District Director – Jason J. Sprenger, APR
• Southeast District Director – John Gregory Clemons, APR
• Southwest District Director – Patricia “Reace” Alvarenga Smith, APR
• Sunshine District Director – Christina Morton, APR
• North Pacific District – Janelle Guthrie, APR, Fellow PRSA
• Director At-Large –Michael A. Brown Sr.

PRSA Leadership Transition

2024 PRSA Chair Joseph Abreu, APR, CPRC, shared the following leadership news in a letter to PRSA members on Oct. 24.

Dear Valued Member,

We are writing today with an important message about PRSA’s leadership.

Our CEO, Linda Thomas Brooks, and your PRSA Board of Directors have determined together that Linda will be leaving PRSA at the end of her current contract when it expires on Dec. 31, 2024. We have named our CFO Phil Bonaventura as Interim CEO, starting Jan. 1, 2025, as the Board searches for a new long-term leader.

We are grateful for Linda’s dedication and advocacy on behalf of PRSA and the role she has played during the last four years. From navigating the COVID pandemic to reimagining many of our events and programs, Linda leaves us with the foundation required for growth and serving our members now and into the future.

Ensuring PRSA is the premier communications organization is the top priority of your national Board of Directors. We work tirelessly alongside staff and volunteer leaders to elevate our association and our profession.

We also have established ambitious goals in our Strategic Plan to ensure we consistently address our operational opportunities and challenges, while providing you with the highest-quality membership experience.

Your Board of Directors is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and has appointed our Chair-Elect, Ray Day, APR, to lead the CEO search committee and process. Information about the desired PRSA CEO candidate profile, search timeline and the process to submit candidate nominees will be available in the coming weeks.

We value your continued support of and membership in PRSA.

PRSSA Establishes New Chapter at University of South Carolina Upstate

PRSSA has launched a new chapter at the University of South Carolina Upstate. 

This addition is a noteworthy achievement for the University of South Carolina Upstate, creating more opportunities for professional development, networking, and access to educational resources for its students interested in the profession. 

The University of South Carolina Upstate’s communications program provides a comprehensive curriculum, equipping students with critical skills in strategic communication, media studies and public relations. 

By joining PRSSA, students can apply their academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, gaining hands-on experience that enhances their career readiness in a dynamic and evolving profession. 

Why You Should Enter the 2025 Anvil Awards

The 2025 Anvil Awards have begun accepting entries. The money-saving Early Entry Deadline is Jan. 16

Entering your company into the Anvil Awards allows you to celebrate your teams’ impressive achievements and reward individuals for their hard work. The Anvils have long been considered the icon of the profession and the benchmark of high performance in communications.

Check out all the categories you can enter on the PRSA website.

Meet Our Newest Group Members

PRSA is pleased to welcome the following companies and organizations as new Group Members over the past few months:

• Aflac, Columbus, Ga.
• Cucamonga Valley (Calif.) Water District
• City of Aurora, Ill.
• Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
• NABCA, Arlington, Va.
• Indiana University Northwest, Gary, Ind.
• Pendulum Intelligence, Seattle, Wash.
• HDR, Omaha, Neb.
• Department of Energy – Hanford Field Office, Richland, Wash.
• Berg & Associates, Portland, Ore.
• San Jacinto College, Pasadena, Texas
• Petco, San Diego, Calif.
• Allyn Media, Dallas, Texas
• City of Syracuse, N.Y.
• City of Newport News, Va.

Learn more about group membership here.