PRSA Announces 2020 Officer and Board of Directors Nominees

Michelle Olson, APR, Nominated as Chair-Elect

NEW YORK, June 25, 2019 — PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community, announced the officer and director nominees for its 2020 Board of Directors.

The nominees for 2020 officer positions are: chair-elect, Michelle Olson, APR, head of PR Group, Fingerpaint; treasurer, Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, chief communications officer, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company; secretary, Amy Coward, APR, Fellow PRSA, vice president, public relations, Prisma Health Midlands Foundation. These officer nominees currently serve as directors on the 2019 board, representing the Western, North Pacific and Southeast districts, respectively.

Current chair-elect, Garland Stansell, APR, chief communications officer, Children’s of Alabama, was confirmed as the 2020 PRSA Chair at the PRSA Leadership Assembly in 2018. PRSA Chair Debra Peterson, APR, president of Comm365, will be immediate past chair in 2020.

The PRSA Nominating Committee, led by Jane Dvorak, APR, Fellow PRSA, also announced its selections for director positions for the 2020 board. All nominees will stand for election at the 2019 PRSA Leadership Assembly prior to the start of the 2019 PRSA International Conference in San Diego Oct. 20-22.

“PRSA has a bright future ahead with the caliber of leaders that have come forward to ensure the association continues to remain relevant to members and advocates for the industry,” said Dvorak. “With great diligence and purposeful thought, the Nominating Committee is proud to put forth a slate of nominees that embody strong leadership, passion and diversity on many levels.”

The individuals who were nominated for the open director positions on the PRSA board are:

• Midwest District

The Nominating Committee has not put forth a nominee from the Midwest District. Qualified candidates may enter their names on the ballot by filing a petition.*

• North Pacific District

Scott Trotter, APR, senior director of communications, Utah Valley University

• Southeast District

Denise Hill, Ph.D., APR, assistant professor of strategic communications, School of Communications, Elon University

• Southwest District

Heide Harrell, APR, director of marketing and business development, Rose Law Firm

• Sunshine District

Angela Walters Eveillard, APR, strategic communications officer, Hillsborough Community College

• Director At-Large

Jorge Francisco D’Garay, president & CEO, MXUS Public Relations

*Candidates by Petition
Article VII, Section 5 of the PRSA Bylaws provides that nominations may also be made by petition by at least 10 Leadership Assembly delegates and filed with the secretary at PRSA Headquarters no later than Thursday, Sept. 19. Immediately upon receipt of any such nominations, the secretary shall send a notice of such nominations to all members.

For more information on how to petition for a board position, please email nomcomm@prsa.org.

Following Assembly elections, successful candidates will join these incumbent members on the 2020 board:

• East Central District

Rick Batyko, APR, Fellow PRSA, executive director, marketing and communications, YMCA of Greater Cleveland

• Mid-Atlantic District

Samantha Villegas, APR, senior consultant, Raftelis

• Northeast District

Jane Law, APR, director of communications/communications manager,  New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

• Western District

Should Michelle Olson, APR be voted chair-elect, the Western District position would become vacant for 2020. Per the bylaws, Article 5, Section 3, the unexpired term may be filled by the board. A call for nominations from members who hold their APR and reside in the Western District will open after the Assembly.

• Director At-Large

Errol Cockfield, senior vice president, communications, MSNBC and NBC News

• Director At-Large

Ana Toro, APR, Fellow PRSA, independent consultant, A. Toro Business Relations

About PRSA
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. Founded in 1948, PRSA is the principal advocate for industry excellence and ethical conduct and provides members lifelong learning opportunities and leading-edge resources to enhance professional connections and support them at every stage of their career. With more than 30,000 members, PRSA is collectively represented in all 50 states by 110 Chapters and 14 Professional Interest Sections, and on nearly 375 college and university campuses through its student organization, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). For more information, please visit www.prsa.org.

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Media Contact:
Rod Granger
(212) 460-0307
rod.granger@prsa.org