PRSA Names Patricia “Reace” Alvarenga Smith, APR, to Board of Directors

                                                   Smith to Represent the Southwest District

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2022 – PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community, has named Patricia “Reace” Alvarenga Smith, APR, to its Board of Directors to represent the Southwest District in 2023. She has been a PRSA member since 1998, and a PRSSA member before that, and currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Republic National Distributing Company.

The Southwest District position became vacant upon the election this past November of Heide Harrell, APR, as PRSA’s Secretary. The PRSA Bylaws empower the Board to fill the post for the balance of the unexpired term, which runs from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.

“We are honored to have Reace join the PRSA Board of Directors,” said Dr. Felicia Blow, APR, 2022 PRSA Chair. “She is a true professional with communications and leadership experience that will enrich and enhance the Board’s purpose and activities. We look forward to collaborating with Patricia and making the most of her time in this important role.”

Smith joined Republic National Distributing Company in 2020 where she is responsible for the development of integrated communications strategies and provides executive leadership with thought leadership council, including the creation, guidance and execution of the company’s internal and external trade/community communications strategy.

Prior to that, Smith held positions of increasing responsibility at Dean Foods, as well as at Dex Media and Texas Health Resources.

Smith was president of PRSA Dallas in 2010 and has been an active member over the past two decades, including serving as chair of the Chapter’s APR Committee in 2012, chair of the Southwest District in 2018, and an executive committee member for PRSA’s Corporate Communications Professional Interest Section since 2019. She was also a member of the PRSA Board of Directors Nominating Committee in 2019.

In 2021, Smith was named a board member of the City of Grand Prairie Library. She has also done work with the Junior League of Arlington, the University of Texas at Arlington Alumni Association and the Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group.

Smith graduated from UT Arlington with a degree in communications.