2012 PRSA-LA
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT Dennis Kaiser
ValleyCrest Landscape Companies
PRESIDENT-ELECT Stephan Roth
OutThink Partners
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Brian O'Connor
Cunard Line
VP / TREASURER Steve Locascio
The Michael Russell Group
VP / SECRETARY Kerry Sinclair
Chandler Chicco Companies
VICE PRESIDENTS John Musella, APR
The Musella Group
Alfredo Padilla
Media Relations Consultant
Negin Kamali
GolinHarris
DIRECTORS Julie Benson
Princess Cruises
Laura Calliari
AEG Arts & Exhibitions International
Erik Deutsch
ExcelPR Group
Holly Ferris
Ferris Communications
Jean Gonsoulin
The Gonsoulin Group
Victoria Lelash, APR
PainePR
Shari Mesulam
The Mesulam Group
Anna Parra
Anna Parra Public Affairs
Philip Sokoloski
FilmL.A., Inc.
Phyllis Tucker
Hill & Knowlton
Denis Wolcott, APR
The Wolcott Company
Kristin Wood
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
ASSEMBLY DELEGATES Greg Jenkins, APR
Bravo Productions
Peter Hidalgo, APR
Time Warner Cable
Eric Moses
Occidental Petroleum
Sallie Olmstead, APR
Stefan Pollack
The Pollack PR Marketing Group
Rita Tateel
The Celebrity Source
YP LIAISON Dillon Bianchi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mindy Gail |
The Los Angeles Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is comprised of more than 575 public relations professionals representing many LA-area corporations, public relations agencies, independent practitioners, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Our diverse membership benefits from PRSA-LA's educational and networking opportunities, as well as services such as job listings, referral programs, internship opportunities, chapter meetings and other resources.
Chapter Milestones
2011
PRSA-LA welcomes Mindy Gail as its new Executive Director.
2010
PRSA-LA presents Barbara Shore with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for her 40 years of service to the Chapter as Executive Director.
2008
PRSA-LA celebrates its 60th anniversary with the largest gathering of past presidents in the chapter's history. More than 20 past presidents chronicle their recollections about the history of the chapter.
2004
PRSA-LA Board Member Dawn Wilcox, APR stages the first Quality Time with PR Minds event and creates a model program for assisting nonprofits that is emulated by other PRSA chapters.
2003
PRSA-LA holds its first IPG (Independent Practitioners Group) Meeting.
1990
PRSA-LA and the Annenberg School for Communication hold the first Kenneth Owler Smith (KOS) Symposium named after the beloved USC professor.
1989
PRSA-LA awards the first Don Perkins Grant to fund PR services for worthy nonprofit organizations.
1988
PRSA-LA members Eric Stoltz and Tom Trevett form PRSA's first Young Professionals (YP) section.
1985
PRSA-LA awards the first Joseph Roos Award to recognize PR professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary community service.
1970
PRSA-LA Executive Director Barbara Shore is hired to run the chapter's day-to-day operations - a position she held until December 2010.
1965
PRSA-LA elects its first woman president, Pat Penney.
1964
PRSA-LA holds the first annual PRism Awards competition and banquet.
1955
PRSA-LA hosts the national PRSA Annual Conference. More than 1,100 PR pros attend at the Ambassador Hotel.
1948
PRSA-LA incorporated as one of PRSA's first five founding chapters. Bob Roberts elected first chapter president.
|
L.A. Connect
is published by
PRSA-LA
11271 Ventura Blvd. #376
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818.582.3233
www.prsala.org
Philip Sokoloski
Editor
213.977.8630
Andrew Hindes
Associate Editor
323.256.4950
(c) 2012 PRSA-LA
|
L.A. Connect is a submission-driven publication. Contact editor Philip Sokoloski at psokoloski@filmla.com for more information on how to get involved in newsletter production.
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
 | | Dennis Kaiser |
Looking back, it is difficult to believe that the year has passed so quickly!
As one of my final acts as chapter president, I'd like to thank all of the board members, volunteers, sponsors and speakers who gave of themselves in 2012 to make it a year of enrichment for local PR professionals.
The privilege of leading the chapter has been a gratifying experience, and I look forward to supporting incoming chapter president Stephan Roth and his leadership team as they build on our success in 2013.
I doubt the team would be too troubled if I told you that 2013 is already shaping up to be an excellent year for chapter programming. At a board retreat in early December, board committee leaders shared their plans to advance chapter offerings on many exciting fronts, from our events schedule to our online and social media presence and more. The first event of 2013, our State of the State of PR event, already has a date and location. See the announcement below for more details.
And speaking of events, while you're making New Year's resolutions, set a goal to to attend the 2013 PRSA Western District Conference in April in Scottsdale, AZ. Early bird registration packages are available now. For more information, visit the conference Web site.
Finally, I want to remind you that PRSA-LA has launched a new Facebook page for broader exposure and we will soon cancel the old Facebook group page. Don't be left out! Please find and "Like" our new page at:
https://www.facebook.com/PrsaLosAngelesChapter
Thank you for being a part of PRSA-LA. I wish you and yours a happy holiday season and prosperous New Year. Respectfully, Dennis Kaiser, PRSA-LA President
dennis@prsala.org
|
___________________________________________
|
 Save the Date
"State of the State of PR: Secrets to Remaining Relevant in 2013"
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Omni Hotel Downtown In the PR profession, each new year brings fresh challenges and new skills to master. To help you stay ahead of the curve, consider attending January's "State of the State of PR" event, one of PRSA-LA's most anticipated annual programs. The event will feature a panel presentation with some of the industry's top thought leaders: - Daniel Weidman, Director, External Communications, Union Bank
- J. P. Schuerman, General Manager, MWW Group
- Steve Sugerman, President, Sugerman Communications Group
- Diana Halper, Vice President of Communications & Media Services, Kaiser Permanente
- Moderated By: Jerry Swerling, Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Public Relations Studies, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Information regarding pricing, parking and registration will be announced soon on the PRSA-LA Web site. |
___________________________________________
|
2012 PRism Awards Wrap Up
 The organizers of the 2012 PRism Awards extend their thanks to all who participated in this year's program.
It was an exciting night and we congratulate all who earned one of our coveted PRism Awards. The chapter bestowed 57 Awards on agencies, corporations, and non-profit organizations in 27 different categories. The chapter also honored a slate of seven 2012 Special Honorees for outstanding public relations contributions. It was great to see such a big festive crowd, as well as the dignitaries who joined us including Al Golin, founder of GolinHarris, Gary Rudnick, President of the Americas for GolinHarris, PR luminary Ron Hartwig from The J. Paul Getty Trust, and Emmy Award-Winning TV personality Bob Eubanks, who presented one of our special awards to Sallie Bixby, President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. To purchase photos of the event, order duplicate PRism Awards or Award of Excellence Certificates, or see the full list of winners, please visit the PRSA-LA Web site.
|
___________________________________________
|
Chapter Social Media Shake Up
PRSA-LA has a new Facebook presence!
Be a part of the conversation. Log in and "Like" our new page today. Early adopters take note: this page replaces the PRSA-LA Facebook Group, which is no longer maintained and is slated for deletion.
|
___________________________________________
|
PR Pros, Nonprofits Share a Little Quality Time
Award-Winning Quality Time Event Builds Community Connections in December
A little quality time goes a long way. That was one of the key takeaways from this year's Quality Time with PR Minds event, which took place on Saturday, December 1. As always, the event was jam packed with fun, creativity and hours of pro-bono PR advice. This year, dozens of public relations professionals and nonprofit representatives were on hand at the event. Volunteers were teamed up with one or two other PR professionals to engage in one-on-one brainstorming. PRSA-LA's "Quality Time" program marked a milestone earlier in the year when it received a 2nd Place Award in PRSA National's PRServing America Award Program. The award was conferred in San Francisco during the PRSA 2012 International Conference. PRSA-LA chapter delegate Peter Hidalgo accepted the award on organizers' behalf. Our thanks go out to all of the volunteers who showed up on a rainy Saturday to make this event a sucess. We also thank our sponsors Kaiser Permanente, Allison+Partners, and Citizen Relations, as well as the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel for hosting this year's event. If you have questions about Quality Time or would like to participate in future events, contact Victoria Lelash at vicky@prsala.org.
|
___________________________________________
|
|
2012 Don Perkins Grant Winner
SCORE Los Angeles: Accelerating Growth for Small Businesses
PRSA-LA is pleased to announce the winner of its 2012 Don Perkins Grant, SCORE Los Angeles. SCORE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground by offering them information and resources they need to succeed. Thanks to support from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and volunteers with diverse business experience, SCORE provides Los Angeles businesses with mentors, business counseling, tools, templates and tips, as well as workshops and webinars. Its parent organization, the national SCORE Association, was founded in 1964 to educate and grow small businesses nationwide. SCORE plans to use the Don Perkins Grant toward a PR initiative to increase awareness of SCORE in Los Angeles, recruit qualified SCORE mentors and localize the benefits of the national SCORE Fast Launch program, which helps veterans and their families start and grow small businesses. With the help of this PR program, SCORE believes it could service at least one-and-a-half times the number of clients it currently serves. The year-long PR campaign is expected to include press releases, story pitches, a press kit, appearances on radio and TV talk shows and public service announcements tailored for local audiences. The funds provided by PRSA-LA's Don Perkins Grant will help offset the costs associated with these tactics. SCORE Los Angeles was chosen from an impressive applicant pool of nonprofit organizations working to provide services or programs to the PRSA-LA chapter area. SCORE painted a clear picture of how these tactics fit in with its PR strategy to ultimately support the organization's mission to grow small businesses throughout Los Angeles. To learn more about SCORE Los Angeles, visit http://www.scorela.org/. For information on the national association, go to http://www.score.org/. |
___________________________________________
|
|
Member Education Benefits
Complimentary Online Learning Opportunities Available in January
 PRSA National offers all members a very special member benefit: FREE access to its entire catalog of online learning opportunities (section-specific material excluded). Here is a rundown of some of the options that will be available next month. For more information or to register for these opportunities, click on the link associated with each: - Digital Media and Today's Digital News Release: Making It Easy for Journalists to Pick Up Your Story
In this free webinar, PRSA members will learn what information journalists need to know to cover any story, and in what format they prefer to receive it. Participants will also learn how to optimize their digital news releases for maximum Web exposure. Date: January 17, 2013. Presenter: Malayna Williams, Ph.D. REGISTER
- The Barcelona Principle #1: Setting Measurable Goals
Would you like to learn proven techniques for setting objectives for success? The Barcelona Principles are the first-ever PR measurement standards adopted by hundreds of associations, companies and individuals. Learn how to identify "good" and "bad" objective statements and link them with overall business goals. Date: January 22, 2013. Presenter: Pauline Draper-Watts. REGISTER
- Write for Readability: Help Your Audience Members Read, Understand and Remember Your Message
How can you make your copy easier to read? In this free webinar, you'll learn nine techniques for measuring, managing and promoting reading ease. Date: January 24, 2013. Presenter: Ann Wylie. REGISTER
|
___________________________________________
|
Attention Employers!
PRSA-LA Job Listings
The job listings section of PRSA-LA's website is a great resource for reaching qualified PR professionals seeking employment. Listings are free to post, and remain on the site for 30 days (renewable upon request). Click here to post a job.
Members, check out the new job opportunities posted this month by African Travel, Consensus, Inc., The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Formula PR, Kaiser Permanente, Rosetta Marketing, Trafalgar Tours and Wells Fargo, among others.
If you need assistance accessing the site, contact info@prsala.org.
|
___________________________________________
|
MEMBER/AGENCY NEWS
Do you have professional news to share? Did you or a colleague get promoted or receive an honor or award? Did your agency win new business? If so, let us know so we can share the good news with your fellow PRSA-LA members. Please e-mail info to L.A. Connect Editor Philip Sokoloski at psokoloski@filmla.com.
Citizen Relations Named "Global Consumer Agency of the Year"
 | | Daryl McCullough |
Citizen Relations was recently recognized as "Global Consumer Agency of the Year" at the Global Sabre Awards and Holmes Report 2012 Global PR Summit. The award is one of many conferred on the agency in 2012; in April, Citizen Relations was honored as the 2012 "North American Mid-Size Agency of the Year" by The Holmes Report and also received the prestigious "Excellence Award" from Procter & Gamble. Citizen Relations launched last year, formally bonding PainePR from the U.S., Optimum from Canada and Band & Brown and Brando from the U.K. The union is further supported by strategic alliances with SPRG from the Asia Pacific region, The Jeffrey Group from Latin America and partnerships in India and Russia.
United Service Organizations (USO) Partners with PPMG on TEAM USO
 | | Stefan Pollack |
The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) recently announced that the United Service Organizations (USO) has retained PPMG as its PR and marketing agency to support its individual fundraising outreach program, TEAM USO. PPMG devised and implemented a holiday campaign for TEAM USO for the 2012 holiday season. The campaign is designed to promote, enhance and expand the positive reputation of the USO brand while recruiting new community supporters to partner with TEAM USO.
XapNews PR Creates "Pitch Engine" for Small Business
 | | Sallie Olmstead |
Blue-chip tested PR firm Olmstead Williams Communications recently introduced XapNews.com, a user-friendly "pitch engine" designed for attention-hungry small businesses. The new service is intended for use by small businesses without the resources to retain long-term PR counsel. An alternative to wire serivces, XapNews provides customers with a convenient online experience and access to targeted PR lists to maximize media exposure via magazines, newspapers, websites, blogs, radio and television news.
Wonacott Communications Celebrates Multiple PRism Wins
 | | Jason Wonacott |
Independent public relations and integrated communications agency Wonacott Communications won two awards recognizing its outstanding achievements in videogames public relations programs at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) PRism Awards for the Los Angeles Chapter. Under the "New Product/Service Launch" category, the agency won an award for its launch campaign supporting Skullgirls, a downloadable (DLC) 2-D fighting game on behalf of videogame publisher Autumn Games. Wonacott also received an award under the "One-Time Media or Special Events" category for its work on leading videogame publisher THQ's Darksiders II hands-off preview event, which was held in January 2012.
PPMG Tapped to Build Awareness for Leading Events Industry Forum
 | | Noemi Pollack |
The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) recently announced that Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world's leading event organizer for the travel/meetings industry, has appointed PPMG as its U.S. PR agency to support domestic strategic communications for AIBTM, the Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition. PPMG will support the AIBTM marketing team to plan and implement a campaign that will build awareness and drive attendance for the event in Chicago, which takes place June 11-13, 2013 at McCormick Place.
"Design Evangelist" Julie Taylor Recognized for Architecture PR Work
 | | Julie D. Taylor |
Public relations practitioner Julie D. Taylor, principal of Taylor & Company, recently received a 2012 Allied Professions Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects California Council (AIACC). Taylor, who is the first public relations professional to receive this award, was honored for her "extraordinary support of the architectural profession... weaving the tapestry of healthy, livable, and enjoyable communities." Taylor & Company, founded in 1994, is a public relations and marketing services firm exclusively for organizations involved in design, architecture, building, furnishings, and the betterment of the built environment.
|
___________________________________________
|
Welcome New Members
Lynda Fulford
California Lutheran University
| Mario Gonzalez
Port of Long Beach
| |
|
Michelle Rodriguez
Santa Barbara Convention & Visitors Bureau
| Kim Willsher
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
|
|
|
|
_________________________________________
|
|
Volunteers Needed: Share Your Wisdom with PRSSA Students
 Do you have wisdom that would benefit future public relations professionals? Do you enjoy teaching PR-related topics to college students?
PRSA-LA sponsors seven Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapters--Biola University, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, Loyola Marymount University, Pepperdine University and the University of Southern California. All chapters host meetings that feature guest speakers, and they're always looking for professionals willing to visit their campuses.
If you're interested in serving as a guest speaker, please email your name, title, company and topic, and we'll share your interest with the LA-area PRSSA chapters.
For more information on how to support PRSA-LA's student chapters, please contact Holly Ferris at holly@prsala.org or 562.429.6456.
|
|
|
|
