The new leadership of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL) was handed the reigns January 26 at the association's annual awards banquet, which was held at Juban's. 

Amy Nolan, APR, (owner of Nolan Communications) became president as last year's president, Stephen Loy, APR, (interim president of the Louisiana Technology Park) became the immediate past-president.  Other officers are:  Sadie Wilks, APR (director of Public Affairs for the Louisiana Medical Society) - vice president; Chris Trahan (director of Communications & Community Outreach for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System) - secretary and Les Landon, APR (communications for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers)  - treasurer. 

In addition, new board of directors members were inducted that evening.  They are: 

AT LARGE - Whitney Breaux (communications specialist for Visit Baton Rouge); Michelle Clement, APR (director of Communications & Public Relations for the Louisiana Hospital Association); Shelly Dupré (Public Relations director for Object 9); Sonya T. Gordon, APR (public information officer for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System); Jesse Hoggard, APR (director of Communications for the Louisiana Technology Park): and Michelle Z. Spielman, APR (marketing strategist with the LSU Office of Public Affairs).

SOUTHERN PUBLIC RELATIONS FEDERATION (SPRF) REPRESENTATIVES - Loy (Baton Rouge), Nolan (Baton Rouge) and Glen Duncan, APR (state).  Duncan is Communications director for the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Founded in 1972, PRAL consists of more than 200 members with chapters in Alexandria and Baton Rouge. Its large number of highly qualified professionals allows it to nurture those entering the field of public relations and communications. PRAL is the largest, most dynamic public relations organization in the state.  Its Web site is www.pralbr.org.   PRAL is an affiliate of the SPRF, a four-state organization (including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida) that provides added dimensions of professionalism. 

Practitioner of the Year

Casey Rayborn Hicks of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office
Casey Rayborn Hicks became the Public Information Director for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department in December of 2007. She serves as spokesperson for the office and oversees all community relations efforts, including the D.A.R.E. program, Crime Victim's Assistance and Neighborhood Watch. In addition to community and media relations, she produces the office's monthly newsletter, assistant produces the monthly television show and coordinates various outreach efforts. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She served for several years as the Public Information Officer and Multimedia Archives Director for Louisiana Secretary of State before earning her Master's Degree from LSU in Mass Communication in Public Relations. During her time at LSU she served as Community/Faculty Partner Liaison for the Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership. She also has served as an adjunct professor for LSU's Manship College of Mass Communication teaching Media and Public Relations Writing. She specializes in public relations and political communication, particularly in public information and law enforcement. She also has extensive training in crisis communication, writing and media relations. In addition to her work at the Sheriff's Office, she serves on the Crime Stoppers board and the I CARE Advisory Board, is a member of many professional organizations including Public Relations Association of Louisiana, Women in Media, National Information Officers Association, Press Club, The Greater Baton Rouge Literacy Coalition and others. Women in Media presented her with the Award of Excellence in Public Relations in 2009.
 
Communicator of the Year
Adam Knapp
Adam Knapp serves as the president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, where he started in April 2008.  A native of Lake Charles, La., her previously served as the deputy director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority and was a key figure in the creation of the entity, which led the state's long-term recovery efforts after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Prior to that, Knapp served as the Economic Development adviser to two governors and as the policy director for Louisiana Economic Development.  Prior to state government, he worked for Accenture, one of the world's premier technology and management consulting firms, as an emerging technology consultant.  Knapp graduated from Davidson College in 1996 and also studied at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Julius-Maximilians Universitat in Wurzburg, Germany. 

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If a picture is worth a thousand words, then it's up to the Public Relations professional to make sure it conveys the right message. Prepare to make a pilgrimage to charming Natchez, Miss., where you will learn techniques of new and old on how to frame your company's message.
 
With the theme "PR: It's a Frame of Mind," the 2010 Public Relations Association of Mississippi Conference will be held in Natchez, Miss., on April 8-9, 2010. The Conference will be filled with sessions on how to focus your audiences' attention to YOUR MESSAGE. The room rate is $94 at the Natchez Eola Hotel (601-445-6000), and the early bird registration for PRAM members (paid in full by March 25) is $125.00. PRAM is extending the member rate to all members of the Southern Public Relations Federation.
 
Just a taste of the terrific sessions that are lined up for the conference include:

---The Ten Commandments of Effective Public Relations  

---The New Face of PR (Managing PR vs. Practicing PR)  

---Staying within the Copyright Frameworks

 

In addition to several dynamic and informative speakers, the conference will feature networking opportunities and the chance to honor the wonderful public relations practitioners in our state and the incredible work they do. We will hold the PRism Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, April 8, and the Awards of Professional Excellence Luncheon on Friday, April 9, to close the conference.
 
You don't want to miss this meeting in a picturesque setting that will forever change your frame of mind! Simply complete the attached registration form and send it in today to reserve your seat. More information will soon be available at www.pramonline.org.

Click here for Registration Form 

 

PRAM Installs 2010 Board of Directors

Serving as president of the association is Caron Blanton, APR, director of legislative services at the Mississippi Department of Education. Other officers are Kelly Scrivner, vice president of Programs; Meagan Coughlin, vice president of Awards; Kristie Aylett, APR, vice president of Communications; Celeste Cade, vice president of Student Services; Macaulay Whitaker, secretary; Melissa Bryant, treasurer; and Pete Smith, immediate past president.  

Accreditation coordinators for each region of the state are Robin Street, APR, North; Shannon Coker, APR, Central; and Kurt Brautigam, APR, South.

 

John Forde, PhD, APR, Jarrod Ravencraft and Pam Swain will join Blanton and Aylett to represent Mississippi on the board of the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF).

The ceremony took place at the January board meeting held in Jackson. Ravencraft, in his role as a past PRAM president and the 2010 president of the Southern Public Relations Federation, conducted the installation.

 

PRAM consists of approximately 600 public relations professionals from advertising and public relations agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, government, education, industries and others throughout the state of Mississippi. PRAM is a source of expertise and inspiration, and a forum for networking with public relations practitioners throughout the state and the region. The association is composed of 11 local chapters geographically located throughout the state's major population centers. Membership in PRAM includes membership in SPRF, which brings Mississippi public relations practitioners together with others in Alabama, Louisiana, and the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle. For more information about the organization, visit www.pramonline.org.

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PRCA News
  
Get schooled at PRCA U

April 11-13, 2010 | Auburn, Alabama | www.PRCAU.com
 

Ladies and gentleman, we invite you to PRCA U - where good 'ole academia meets a sophisticated, edgy new way of thinking. It's time to dust off those bobby socks, shake out those pom-poms and head down to Auburn, Alabama, April 11-13, 2010, for the trip of your life.
 
We like to call it an 'outta sight ROAD TRIP that even your boss won't want to miss. Our highly qualified "administrators" (aka, conference committee) have been working hard to bring you top-notch "professors" (aka, speakers) with the highest caliber credentials, like:
 
---Alma Derricks and Lee Gaither - Two talented Hollywood entertainment executives to help you "Get Out of Your Own Head" and attack your branding efforts in a whole new way
---Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA - Home and Garden Television's director of partnership development who's headed to Auburn to get you "Ready for Your Close-Up" in the new 24-hour news cycle.
---Rick Murray - President of Edelman Digital U.S. will keeping his "students" attention with an exciting presentation on audience engagement.
---Jon Sullivan - External communications manager for Aflac will be bringing the world-famous duck to town to teach you how to enhance corporate reputation through events. 
 
Now we know our students will be coming from all over the region. It's tough to get here, but we'll make it worth your while. We're planning more fun (aka, Frat party), awesome food (no food fights, please!) and oh, the main reason for your visit, a little schooling.
 
Golly geez, we know knowledge is good. But don't think of this as work. The whole point is to just enjoy yourself. And don't forget, a road trip like this never looks bad on your permanent record.
 
So visit www.PRCAU.com and sign up for PRCA U today. PRCA U - New Thinking in an Old School.

 

PRCA Announces 2010 State Board of Directors