PRSA Announces Nomination of Ray Day, APR, as 2025 Chair

PRSA has announced the nominees for its 2024 Board of Directors. 

The officer candidates are Ray Day, APR, vice chair of Stagwell, nominated for 2025 chair, Jessica M. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, president, Fionix Consulting, LLC, proposed for the role of treasurer and Sam Sims, APR, Fellow PRSA, president, Sims Grp, recommended for secretary.

Membership delegates will vote on the nominees and any petitioning candidates at the annual PRSA Leadership Assembly on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Nashville, Tenn., prior to ICON 2023. If elected, the nominees will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2024.

The PRSA Nominating Committee also announced their selections for the open Director positions for the 2024-2025 Board:

• Midwest District Director

Jason J. Sprenger, APR, Game Changer Communications

• Southeast District Director

John Gregory Clemons, APR, Clemons Communications, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Loyola University-New Orleans

• Southwest District Director

Patricia “Reace” Alvarenga Smith, APR, LIBERTY Steel Group

• Sunshine District Director

Christina Morton, APR, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

• Director-At-Large

Michael A. Brown Sr., Alaka’Ina Foundation Family of Companies

• North Pacific District Director

The Nominating Committee did not put forth a nominee from the North Pacific District. Qualified candidates may apply by petition.

Rounding out the Executive Committee for 2024 will be Joseph Abreu, APR, chief communications officer, Clerk of the Court & Comptroller, Lee County (Fla.), who was confirmed as the 2024 PRSA chair at the PRSA Leadership Assembly in 2022, and Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, chief communications officer, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., who will serve as immediate past chair.

Article VIII, Section 5 of the PRSA Bylaws provides: Nominations may also be made by petition for all positions by at least 10 Leadership Assembly delegates and filed with the Secretary of the Society at PRSA’s office in New York at least 30 days prior to the Leadership Assembly. Immediately upon receipt, the Secretary shall send a notice of nominations to all members.

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

PRSSA Teams Up With Multicultural Magazine for Bateman Competition

Every year, student members of PRSSA compete in the Bateman Case Study Competition where they research, plan and implement a PR campaign. 

In 2024, student teams will focus on Culturs to help create awareness of the magazine on college campuses and its mission to enhance community and foster the human connection of culturally fluid communities of multiethnic, multicultural, mixed race and geographically mobile people. 

Students will execute their campaigns in early 2024 with the winners being selected before the end of the 2023-24 school year. Entries will be judged by communications executives, academics and student advisers.

The Bateman Case Study Competition originated in 1973 as a national case study allowing PRSSA members to exercise the analytical skills required for PR problem-solving.

Details on Ethics Month 2023

Each September, PRSA recognizes Ethics Month to bring increased attention to the core foundation of the communications profession. Look for the copy of the Code of Ethics inserted in the September issue of Strategies & Tactics. You may sign the Code for your records.

Programming this month includes a free webinar: 

• “Shining a Light on Dark Tactics: Disinformation, Climate Litigation and the PRSA Code of Ethics,” Sept. 14, 3-4 p.m. Register here.

Please visit prsa.org/ethics for additional programming and ethics resources and PRSA’s social media platforms for updates throughout the month.