PRSA Announces 2025 Board of Directors Nominations

PRSA has announced the nominees for the 2025 Board of Directors.

The officer candidates are: 

• Chair-elect: Heide Harrell, M.A., APR, director of communications, Central Arkansas Water
• Treasurer: Kevin M. Waetke, APR, Fellow PRSA, associate vice president, corporate marketing, Sammons Financial Group
• Secretary: Teresa Valerio Parrot, Ed.D., APR, principal, TVP Communications

Membership delegates will vote on the nominees and any petitioning candidates at the annual Leadership Assembly on Oct. 14, in Anaheim, Calif., before ICON 2024. If elected, the nominees will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2025.

The PRSA Nominating Committee also selected the open Director positions for the 2025 Board. In accordance with the PRSA Bylaws (Article VIII, Section 4.c.), the Committee has converted the Northeast and Tri-State District Director positions to at-large positions for this term as there weren’t any candidates by the initial application deadline. 

The selections of the Committee:

• East Central District Director: John Palmer, APR, director, media and public relations, Ohio Hospital Association
• Mid-Atlantic District Director: Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D., APR, professor and director of graduate studies, Virginia Tech School of Communications
• Director-At-Large (converted Northeast District Director): Chuck Wallington, Ph.D., EVP and chief marketing & communications officer, Cone Health
• Director-At-Large (converted Tri-State District Director): Andrea Gils Monzón, founder, Shiftmakers Consulting
• Director-At-Large: Sam Sims, APR, Fellow PRSA, president, Sims Grp
• Western District Director: The Nominating Committee has not put forth a nominee from the Western District. Qualified candidates may apply by petition.

In 2025, Ray Day, APR, will serve as chair, and Joseph Abreu, APR, will be the immediate past chair.

Article VIII, Section 5 of the PRSA Bylaws provides that nominations for all positions may also be made by petition for at least 10 Leadership Assembly delegates and filed with the Secretary of the Society at PRSA Headquarters at least 30 days before the annual meeting of the Leadership Assembly. 

Potential nominees must submit applications for consideration by Sept. 14. For more information on petitioning for a Board position, please visit the Member Resources page on the PRSA website.

PRSA and PRMuseum Form Strategic Partnership

Earlier this summer, PRSA and The Museum of Public Relations announced they had reached a formal agreement to jointly create and execute new educational programs and events and deliver expanded research that will further their joint mission of strengthening and advancing the practice of public relations.

The PRMuseum, a centerpiece of the new initiative, has relocated to PRSA’s New York City headquarters. With more than 5,000 artifacts, the museum is the only institution in the world dedicated to preserving historical material documenting the profession’s development as a social institution.

Learn more at prmuseum.org.

Are You Interested in Being a Chapter Ethics Officer?

Ethics Month is coming in September and several PRSA Chapters still have openings for volunteer ethics officers.

In this role, the officer collaborates with the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) to provide ethics education and consultation to local members. 

The position requires a minimum one-year term, with BEPS providing ongoing support, training and resources to ensure the highest levels of ethical performance among PRSA members.

Interested members may contact beps@prsa.org.

PRSA Welcomes the Greater Worcester Chapter

PRSA has launched a new Chapter, Greater Worcester, dedicated to its members in Central Massachusetts. Lauren Howe, principal and owner of empHowered PR, is serving as president. 

Chapter members held their inaugural outing in early June, enjoying a Worcester Red Sox game together.