L.A. Connect Masthead
 #PRSALAJanuary 2014  
Table of Contents
Message from the President
Chapter Event: State of the State of PR 2014
In Memoriam: Julian Myers
PRSA-LA Senior Practioners Group
Young Professionals Update
Member News
Credential Corner
Job Listings

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2014 PRSA-LA
Board of Directors

 

 

PRESIDENT

Erik Deutsch
ExcelPR Group


PRESIDENT-ELECT

Jean Gonsoulin
The Gonsoulin Group


IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Steve Roth
OutThink Partners

VP / TREASURER

Kerry Sinclair
GCI Health


VP  / SECRETARY

Kristin Wood
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts



VICE PRESIDENTS

 

Holly Ferris
Ferris Communications

Alfredo Padilla
Wells Fargo Mortgage

Philip Sokoloski
FilmL.A., Inc.


DIRECTORS

 

Jackie Chase
Cunard Line

Natascha French
Allison+Partners

Raul Gordillo
Southern California Gas Co.

Charlie Gu
China Luxury Advisors

Victoria Lelash, APR
Citizen Relations

Shari Mesulam
The Mesulam Group

Rebecca Mikkelsen, APR
Doug Hay & Associates

Matt Myerhoff
L.A. Tourism & Convention Board

Keith Pillow, APR
Caddy Marketing & Communications

Clint Schaff
DARE

Angelica Urquijo
The Imagen Group



ASSEMBLY DELEGATES

 

Peter Hidalgo, APR
Time Warner Cable

Eric Moses
Occidental Petroleum

Sallie Olmstead, APR
Rogers & Cowan

Stefan Pollack
The Pollack PR Marketing Group

Rita Tateel
The Celebrity Source

Denis Wolcott, APR
The Wolcott Company



YP PRESIDENT 

 

Jade Steven

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

Mindy Brundige

 

 

 


Resource Links



New PRSALA Logo Blue ver A 
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 Brundige 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.



YP Logo  

Young Professionals (YP) was founded in January of 1988 by members of PRSA-LA. Its purpose is to provide a forum for the career enhancement of public relations practitioners with fewer than five years of experience.

Through various member services and professional outreach programs, YP members learn about the industry's latest developments and form relationships with peers, as well as with experienced, respected industry professionals.

YP membership represents an opportunity to be a part of one of LA's leading professional public relations societies.

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and join our group on LinkedIn!


 
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PRSA-LA
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Phone: 818.582.3233
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(c) 2014 PRSA-LA
  







































































































   
Erik Deutsch

Greetings and Happy New Year!

It's human nature to want to make each new year better than the last, and for me that desire has never been more intense.

As PRSA-LA's 2014 president, I'm determined to do everything possible to help make the year ahead the best in our chapter's history. No doubt it's a lofty goal following all of the chapter's success in 2013, but there's good reason for optimism: We're blessed to have a very talented board of directors committed to enhancing membership value in all sorts of ways.

In the year ahead, PRSA-LA will present a truly exceptional series of events (stay tuned for a few "firsts"). We're also working to relaunch our senior practitioners group, and we'll soon introduce a completely redesigned online directory of agencies and independent practitioners, with listings offered as a free member benefit.

Finally, we're going to continue to focus on big-picture initiatives, such as advocating for the profession, fostering diversity and ensuring that PR's contribution to the region's economy isn't underestimated.

I welcome your comments, suggestions, morsels of wisdom and yes, even your criticism (we want to learn from our mistakes). Please feel free to reach out to me or any of our 2014 board members and committee chairs - we're easy to find via the Chapter website.

Thank you for your involvement with PRSA-LA and for helping to make 2014 a year to remember.

Sincerely, 

Erik Deutsch, PRSA-LA President
Principal, ExcelPR
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State of the State of PR 
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Luxe City Center Hotel

Don't miss the annual PRSA-LA "State of the State of PR" presentation featuring a panel of some of the industry's top thought leaders.

This marquee event will explore new challenges and opportunities facing LA PR pros in 2014 and beyond. Join us before the program for a networking mixer where you can mingle with PR professionals from a wide range of industries and practice sectors.

Panel participants will include:
 
  • Dave Barthmuss, Executive Director of Regional Communications, Group Manager, Product and Policy Communications (West), General Motors
  • Shell Amega, Vice President of Communications,
    California Science Center
  • Sara Rosales, Vice President of Public Relations, Mattel
  • More to Be Announced
  • Moderator: Geoff Baum, Managing Director, Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, USC Annenberg School for Communications & Journalism  

View the official event page on the PRSA-LA website.


Cost

$50 - PRSA-LA & HPRA Members

$70 - Non-members/Guests

$25 - YP & PRSSA Members

 

Registration

Advance online registration is required. 

  

Sponsorship

Display space is available during networking reception:

$300 for 4 feet (half table)
$500 for 8 feet (full table)

For more details or information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mindy at the PRSA-LA Office, 818.582.3233, mindy@prsala.org.

_________________

Sponsored by: Berkhemer Clayton, Inc.
Senior-level retained executive search since 1994.

___________________________________________
In Memoriam 

   

Julian Myers (1918-2013), Celebrated Hollywood Press Agent 


Julian Myers

Celebrated Hollywood press agent, educator and long-time PRSA member Julian Myers passed away December 21st at the age of 95, just two months after his wife of 43 years - attorney Patsy Nanna Myers - died of complications from a stroke.

Julian was a familiar face at local PR industry events well into his 90s, and his smile, energy and enthusiasm were as legendary as the clients he served.

Over the years he worked with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, John Wayne and many other showbiz icons. In his later years Julian also became a champion marathon runner, often racing for philanthropic causes including Amigo Day, a project that he created to fight prejudice by encouraging people to "just greet anyone anywhere, your way, each first Sunday of the month."

Julian had a sincere passion for helping less experienced professionals further their own PR ambitions. Many PRSA-LA members had the pleasure of attending one of Julian's courses during his 35 years of teaching at UCLA, Loyola Marymount and other local institutions.

In 2009 (at age of 91), Julian rejoined PRSA-LA after a 35-year absence. At the time, he told L.A. Connect, "I don't give a damn about yesterday, and I'm not all that interested in today. I always look forward to tomorrow."

Julian is survived by his three children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Goodbye, Julian. You will be missed.
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Calling all PR Agency Leaders with 20-Plus Years' Experience...

   

PRSA-LA Set to Relaunch Senior Practitioners Group        



After a long hiatus, PRSA-LA will soon relaunch its local version of PRSA's "Counselors Academy" to provide the most senior-level professionals an opportunity to network, share ideas and build camaraderie with their peers.

The new "Counselors Academy - Los Angeles" will target PR agency leaders with 20-plus years of experience. Events will serve as a forum to discuss trends, agency management, profitability, new business development and other issues vital to leading a PR agency in today's fast-paced environment.

The new group is spearheaded by longtime PRSA-LA members Susan Tellem, APR, Denis Wolcott, APR and Stefan Pollack.

For more information, please contact the PRSA-LA office: info@prsala.org (use subject line "Senior Practitioners").
___________________________________________
Young Professionals Update 

   

Jade Stevens Named President of PRSA-LA Young Professionals Group  



Jade Stevens
Say hello to Jade Stevens, 2014 president of PRSA-LA's Young Professionals (YP) group, which provides professional outreach programs and services to members with less than five years of experience.

As president, Jade' s mission is to make a name for YP in the L.A. market while helping current and prospective members take advantage of all the group's networking and professional development opportunities.

Jade works as a special projects associate at Lagrant Communications, a multicultural integrated marketing communications firm. Prior to graduating in 2011, she was the president of PRSSA at CSU, Dominguez Hills.

For more information about YP, please visit the Young Professionals page on PRSA-LA's website.
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Member News  

   

Public Relations Strategist Publishes Wolcott-Penned Article Celebrating PR Achievements of California Science Center

 

Dennis Wolcott, APR
PRSA-LA board member Denis Wolcott, APR was recently published in PRSA's national magazine, The Public Relations Strategist. Wolcott's article chronicled the PR achievements of The California Science Center and its campaign to promote the 2012 arrival of space shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles. Wolcott's article also discusses the brand partnership that Science Center forged with Toyota Motor Corporation along the way, and includes behind-the-scenes insight from Science Center Vice President of Communications Shell Amega. Read Denis' story here.    


Berkhemer Clayton Celebrates 20 Years of Service

Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire
Berkhemer Clayton, a leader in senior-level retained executive search, is celebrating its 20th year in business. The firm was co-founded by PRSA-LA member Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire and Fred Clayton in January 1994 to manage national executive searches for corporations, higher education and non-profit organizations. As  the only such firm founded by a former PR agency owner, Berkhemer Clayton prides itself on personal, day-to-day involvement by seasoned practitioners who combine search expertise with deep career experience in several specialty practice areas. Three years ago the firm launched a Hong Kong office to help find executives in Asia, and it is currently working with many blue chip clients there including Coca-Cola, Gap and GE. Betsy also recently published her first book, "The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors."


Tellem Grody PR Adds Six New Client Partnerships
Susan Tellem, APR
Susan Tellem, APR

Tellem Grody PR, a Malibu-based public relations and social media marketing agency founded in 1994 by PRSA member Susan Tellem, APR, recently added six new entertainment and healthcare clients to its roster. On the entertainment side, new clients include Nitro Circus Live, The Fresh Beat Band, Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour and Drum Channel. New healthcare clients include BuildMyBod and Nurses Lounge.
___________________________________________
Credential Corner
Four APR Pins to Be Awarded at 2014
State of the State Event 
 
Four PRSA-LA members will be recognized at the January 22nd "State of the State of PR" event for earning their Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). While one member was accredited recently, the other three earned their APR several years ago, but did not receive their APR lapel pin. They are:

Erica Reynolds Desjardins, who earned her APR in 2013. She recently relocated from Washington DC, where she worked in media analysis at the Pentagon. Erica looks forward to putting her experience to work for a local firm.
 
Keith Pillow, a member of this year's Board of Directors and founder of Caddy Marketing and Communications, was accredited in 2008.
 
Tracy Garcia Gale, a senior associate with WCG, became an APR in 2010.
 
Sally Falkow, CEO of Meritus Media, earned her APR in her native South Africa some time ago.

PRSA-LA congratulates them all. The APR is a way to distinguish yourself among your peers by demonstrating your professional knowledge, skills and abilities. To learn how our chapter supports APR candidates, contact APR Committee Chairperson Rebecca Mikkelsen, APR at rebeccam@usa.net / 626.660.5231.
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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 recent job postings by Autry National Center of the American West, Bluebeam Software, Cetera Financial Group, City of Santa Monica, C&R Communications, dOMAIN Public Relations, fortyseven communications, Morgan Marketing & Public Relations and Spin PR, among others.

If you need assistance accessing the site, contact info@prsala.org.