We value the work of our volunteers and are excited to share their experiences.

Trey Campbell, APR - August 5
Elizabeth D. Kerns, IOM, ACE - July 29
Marisa Vallbona, APR, Fellow PRSA - July 22
Lisa Miles, APR - July 15
Penny Delaney Cothran - July 8
Rosanna M. Fiske, APR - July 1
Molly H. Wilson - June 24
Del Galloway, APR, Fellow PRSA - June 17
Joice Truban Curry - June 10
Ryan Worthen - June 3
Carrie Goldstein - May 27
Tony D'Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA - May 20 
Debbie Mason, APR, Fellow PRSA - May 13
Dick Hodges, APR, Fellow PRSA - May 6
Nancy F. Hughes - April 29
Christopher Bacey - April 22
Susan Walton, APR - April 15
Douglas MacKenzie - April 8
Ann T. Subervi - April 1
Jay Rayburn, APR, Fellow PRSA - March 25
Jennifer Heinly, MBA - March 18
Tom Eppes, APR, Fellow PRSA - March 11
Karen Kurtz, APR - March 4 
Garland Stansell - February 25
Dean A. Kruckeberg, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA - February 18
Arik Hanson, APR - February 18
Anne M. Dubois, APR, CPRC, Fellow PRSA - February 11
Kevin Sangsland, APR - February 4
Bey-Ling Sha, APR - January 28
Paula Pedene, APR - January 21
Jaimaison Schuler, APR - January 14

PRSA Connects Trey Campbell With Networking Opportunities and Career Growth 
Learning by doing is part of the challenge of social media. For Trey Campbell, APR, director of communications at The Southwestern Company, of all his volunteering experiences, becoming involved with PRSA’s social media “has had the most profound [e]ffect.” 
“I often view the LinkedIn dialogues that take place to see other perspectives about a particular issue,” says Campbell, who also helped start a Nashville Chapter Twitter account and Facebook page. 
While Campbell recognizes “the value of social media in PR,” he also appreciates how PRSA’s traditional networking has connected him to colleagues on a local and national level.  
“It is comforting having a professional peer group and outlets such as the ones offered by PRSA to build a knowledge base for my profession to serve my company and clients,” says Campbell, who has practiced public relations for the past 13 years and was involved with the Middle Tennessee State University PRSSA Chapter as a student. 
Campbell notes PRSA’s career development resources as being integral to multiple promotions and developing a professional network. Also, he says his current employer not only recognizes the power of public relations, but that they “have been very supportive of PRSA for the past 11 years.” 
“They know all of [the] things I am exposed to and [that] the leadership I take from it translates directly into what I can offer them,” says Campbell.

Volunteering Connects Elizabeth D. Kerns to New People and Opportunities
After graduation, Elizabeth D. Kerns, IOM, ACE, looked to PRSA for professional development and a supportive community of experienced practitioners.
“It is so hard to make it in any industry without people that believe in you,” says Kerns, who has worked in public relations for eight years and taught for three. “But, I can attest that the mentors that have held my hand through so much have made the world of difference to me both professionally and personally.”
After relocating to Central Illinois, the local Chapter took Kerns under their wings. Within the first year of joining, Kerns was brought onto the board of directors. A year later, she was asked to serve as president-elect. Being entrusted with such a large responsibility was an amazing experience, according to Kerns, and one that she hopes will make those that believed in her proud. 
Getting to know fellow PRSA members serving as college instructors or professors has also provided useful networking for Kerns, who currently teaches and mentors students at Benedictine University at Springfield. 
Kerns explains, “This campus has a growing [public relations] program and when I heard they had an opportunity for a professional to teach, I knew I wanted to take that opportunity to share with the next generation of PR professionals the passion I have experienced through so many.” 

PRSA is Career-Making, According to Marisa Vallbona 
True Story: 7-Eleven reached out to Marisa Vallbona, APR, Fellow PRSA, after finding her name in the PRSA Directory in 1994. Vallbona still holds the business today, and credits PRSA with her business success.
“It has made my career. Almost every client I’ve had has been a referral through PRSA,” says Vallbona, a PRSA member of more than two decades and college PRSSA member. “I learned valuable leadership skills through all the committees I have joined and chaired, and I have learned so much about teamwork [and] strategic planning.” 
Vallbona also notes that PRSA has provided her with a supportive community of colleagues. Whether she has a business issue or a client challenge, Vallbona knows she can contact fellow PRSA members to brainstorm a solution or even put together new projects. 
At the PRSA Counselors Academy Conference in Arizona, Vallbona and two others brainstormed ideas, which resulted in PRConsultants Group, Inc. 
“My PRSA colleagues have become lifelong friends and contacts,” says Vallbona. “Not only that, but PRSA has shaped my career by teaching me best practices through professional development and encouraging me to strive for higher echelons.” 
Vallbona is currently the president of CIM Incorporated.

Lisa Miles Reflects on Volunteering
Being able to carve out opportunities for creativity is a large part of what keeps Lisa Miles, APR, interested in PRSA.“I think more strategically and much more out of the box than I would if I wasn’t a member,” says Miles, who has been a PRSA member since 1999.
Miles’ membership is most relevant to her because other members have positively impacted the way she does business as a solo practitioner. 
In addition to being president-elect of the PRSA Maryland Chapter, Miles serves on the PRSA Maryland Chapter Board of Directors, as an Assembly delegate, local APR chair, local awards chair, Silver and Bronze Anvil judge and member of the National Nominating Committee. 
By volunteering, Miles has received referrals and learned a tremendous amount from connecting with fellow members, whether bouncing ideas off of them or working jointly on projects. Also, an APR since 2002, Miles noted this credential solidified an adjunct teaching position in the Mass Communications Department at Towson University.
With 21 years of public relations experience, Miles is currently the president of Miles Public Relations.

Sharing Volunteer Experiences Benefits Penny Delaney Cothran and Her Employer
Penny Delaney Cothran has been in public relations since her first agency job in 1999, but did not get involved with PRSA until 2003. Cothran has served in several PRSA volunteer capacities, from planning luncheons and professional development conferences to serving as an officer. One of her favorite duties is to serve on their annual recognition event committee, the Mercury Awards. As Cothran explains, “this committee gives me a glimpse of the entries waiting to be judged. I can see first-hand what an award-winning campaign or tactic looks like.”
Cothran enjoys getting to know her colleagues around their statewide South Carolina Chapter. She cannot fathom what she would do without their encouragement and understanding. There’s a level of mutual respect and admiration among the volunteers. Cothran knows her career is safe because her fellow volunteers can testify to her work ethic, as she can for them. She considers the other volunteers true friends since they understand the daily pressures she endures and they can lend a sympathetic ear.
According to Cothran, “you cannot technically call a job a career until you are invested in that industry over several jobs and several years. More so, I would add that you cannot call it a career until you’ve given back to the industry. I love my line of work, and PRSA has loved me back as a result.”
Conthran makes sure her employer knows about the growth and change that occurs in her each time she participates in PRSA activities. She has been able to parlay that knowledge into articles and she has used her contacts to find additional expert writers and trainers for her association. She feels fortunate that her CEO believes in professional development and has always said he’d support her in PRSA.
Cothran is currently the vice president, director of communications & editor of the South Carolina Bankers Association’s Palmetto Banker and the president-elect of the South Carolina Chapter.

Volunteering Expands the Expertise and Skills of Rosanna M. Fiske
Rosanna M. Fiske, APR has been in public relations for nearly 20 years and a PRSA member for more than 16 years. Fiske majored in journalism, and looking back she wishes she had been a PRSSA member because she would have been much more prepared and would have graduated with an already–built network of professionals.
Fiske admits that belonging to PRSA’s networks has had a big impact in her career. Every job after her first position in marketing has come as a result of her PRSA contacts. As she explains, “my experiences as a volunteer — locally and nationally — have helped to expand my expertise and skill set. My dues are happily paid annually with full confidence that I’ll get something from the investment.”
As a PRSA volunteer, Fiske believes she’s become a better wife and parent because she’s learned to be a better listener. She feels volunteering for PRSA has helped her become more in tune with what others outside of her industry are doing. Fiske states, “it’s tough to be part of an organization or to be a specialist and get that outside perspective, yet that is so important for our clients, our brands and organizations. PRSA provides the platform to obtain that external perspective.”
Fiske credits PRSA for changing her career path. She was a successful agency executive, but after hearing a moving presentation from a past PRSA president about the need for qualified educators in public relations, she put things in motion to become an educator. For Fiske, her membership continues to be relevant and valuable. For the past 10 years, it has helped her build her own “tool box” and rolodex. Fiske said, “PRSA membership is most relevant and significant when you dive in. You’ll get both professional and personal benefits. My membership has delivered and continues to deliver both.”
Fiske is currently the graduate coordinator & associate professor at Florida International University. Fiske is the chair-elect of the PRSA board of directors.

Active Involvement Provides Incredible Experiences to Molly H. Wilson
Molly H. Wilson has worked in public relations for almost seven years and joined PRSA three years ago. From the beginning, she has served on a Philadelphia Chapter committee or at the board level and as a result, has gained incredible experience. As Wilson explains, “these roles have pushed me to grow both on a personal and professional level and have allowed me to become a more valuable employee and stronger leader.”
Wilson’s involvement in PRSA has allowed her to become a well-rounded and informed public relations practitioner. She has met many wonderful and incredibly talented individuals through PRSA, and has created a network of peers, mentors, and friends — each of whom has positively impacted her career. Wilson accepted a new job this past winter partly due to a connection she made during a PRSA event. She has been able to take on roles that allow exposure to different people and projects, and ultimately increase the depth of her experience and capabilities. Wilson sums up her involvement by stating, “It has allowed me to increase my PR industry network, hone leadership skills and push me out of my comfort zone a bit to learn different skills.”
PRSA involvement is encouraged by Wilson’s employer because they know that it is an experience that will help her grow, allows her to give back to the community and industry, and provides ample opportunities to expand her network, which can help support new business and recruitment efforts. 
Wilson is currently a senior account supervisor for Tonic. She is the president-elect of the Philadelphia Chapter.

Volunteering Locally Developed Del Galloway’s Network and Leadership Skills
Del Galloway, APR, Fellow PRSA has been in public relations for 27 years and a PRSA member for 17 years. Galloway was a student member of the PRSSA Alpha Chapter at the University of Florida, and continues to be a proud Gators fan. He believes his involvement with the North Florida Chapter provided strong professional development and networking opportunities which has positively impacted his career. Galloway said that volunteering within PRSA’s networks provided “the opportunity to work with talented professionals, many of whom have become dear friends.” And, volunteering has also allowed him to develop his leadership skills. 
Due to his PRSA affiliation, his previous firm secured a wonderful piece of business in the Czech Republic. Galloway’s current employer, United Way Worldwide, supports his involvement because they encourage professional development and advancement. They understand it’s an investment and have thus far experienced a positive return. For Galloway, his membership continues to be relevant because it has helped him grow professionally. He explains, “PRSA has provided excellent educational opportunities, and it’s allowed me to develop a wonderful network of colleagues and friends.”
Galloway is currently the vice president, public relations, brand leadership at United Way Worldwide. In 2004, Galloway served as president of PRSA.

Volunteering Provides Joice Truban Curry With Personal and Professional Connections
Joice Truban Curry was a PRSSA member while attending San Diego State University and joined PRSA in 1995. Belonging to PRSA’s networks has greatly affected Curry, professionally and personally, as she has met longtime friends, mentors and colleagues. 
Curry has been actively involved in the San Diego Chapter’s Board of Directors and served as Chapter president twice since 1995. After serving as a Silver Anvil judge, she was inspired to enter her own firm and has won three Silver Anvils and one Mark of Excellence Award within the last ten years. Curry has served as chair for both the National Bronze and Silver Anvils. In 2009, she was the head of Honors and Awards committee, and co-chaired the International Conference host committee. 
Curry believes her career has been shaped by her PRSA membership. Most importantly, she met great mentors that helped her start her own company, c3 Communications, which just celebrated its 10 year anniversary in January. As Curry explains, “My career would not be where it is now without being a PRSA member. It is wonderful to have colleagues to collaborate with, not only in the San Diego public relations community, but all over the country.” 
Curry is currently the president/CEO of c3 Communications.

Accepting Chapter Board Leadership was Pivotal for Ryan Worthen
Ryan Worthen started his career in corporate communications in 2002 and joined PRSA in 2007.
Worthen’s employer strongly encourages his PRSA involvement as the professional development he receives adds tangible value to the company through the injection of new ideas, available resources, extensive research and much more. Additionally, he is provided numerous opportunities to meet other company leaders and representatives at PRSA functions and often uses those occasions to share about his company’s success.
Worthen’s experience with the Thoroughbred Chapter has proven to be the most valuable component of his membership. As he describes, “the networking has proven to open doors and spark ideas that may not have come elsewhere, and the professional development offered during our monthly luncheons pushes me to explore new tactics that others have found successful.”
Personally, Worthen has gained friendships that extend beyond just monthly luncheons, conference calls and board meetings. Professionally, volunteering within his local Chapter has given Worthen an opportunity to serve in an elected position with peers who are respected and knowledgeable about a diverse scope of public relations and corporate communications challenges. Worthen explains that, “by volunteering, I am able to use my communication skills and creativity for the benefit of others both in my industry and the community.” 
Worthen is the president-elect of the Thoroughbred Chapter and is currently a communications manager with the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance.

Volunteering Locally Helps Carrie Goldstein Grow and Network
Carrie Goldstein has been in public relations for 10 years and joined PRSA when she first started in New York, then lapsed and rejoined two years ago. 
Six years ago, Goldstein created her own business. As she continues to grow her practice from a freelancer with larger agencies to taking on some smaller clients of her own, she has found that being a part of PRSA is very helpful. Goldstein explains that, “being an active member provides me with the opportunities to have colleagues, which is hard to come by as an entrepreneur.” Professionally, PRSA has helped her to grow and network. It provides Goldstein with an industry education that she misses from working at a large agency. She is working towards her APR and has found both the National and Chapter resources invaluable.
As Goldstein became more involved in the Gulfstream Chapter, she found that she enjoyed working on programs with other volunteers. And, now, as President-Elect of the Chapter, she is also getting the opportunity to manage volunteers, work with teams and help the Chapter to thrive in the future. 
Goldstein is currently the president of Impact Image, Inc.

Involvement Leads to Learning and Relationships for Tony D’Angelo
Tony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA has been in public relations since 1983 and a PRSA member since 1986. He was also an active PRSSA member while a Syracuse University student. Belonging to the PRSA networks has impacted his career. In every level of his involvement, whether it is Chapter, District, National committees, the PRSA Board of Directors or College of Fellows, his experiences have led to learning and relationships that he values deeply. “It’s been volunteer work but I’ve been the real beneficiary, as I’ve become more valuable in terms of what I can contribute and the number of people with whom I can interact and share.” D’Angelo explains that volunteering has been a great resource both personally and professionally, “I’ve come to know literally hundreds of fellow professionals I respect and like and have learned from.” D’Angelo says, “Professionally, I have over time developed leadership and management skills that include and go beyond the practice of public relations which have enhanced my career development and volunteer work.” His employer encourages and continues to support his involvement with PRSA because they have seen his professional development, with the new ideas and thinking he’s been able contribute and bring back to the organization. D’Angelo values his PRSA membership because it keeps him fresh and relevant.
D’Angelo is currently the director of operations for St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Foundation.

Interacting with Fellow Volunteers Offers Debbie Mason Countless Benefits
Debbie Mason, APR, Fellow PRSA has been in public relations since 1981, a PRSA member since 1983, and she became Accredited in 1986. As a student, she was the PRSSA President of the Alpha Chapter and then the PRSSA Southeast District Director. With nearly 30 years in the industry, she has transitioned from healthcare to corporate, to agency, to solo consulting and nonprofit. Along the way she has been an active member of the Health Academy Section, the Corporate Communications Section, the Counselors Academy and the Association/Nonprofit Section and explains that “PRSA has been outstanding for the professional development learning through seminars and peer-to-peer mentoring and networking.” 
Mason credits much of her success to the early mentors who “adopted” her as a young professional and taught her leadership skills and knowledge about the profession and abilities far beyond her chronological years. Mason recognizes that many things have happened as a result of her membership — she was invited to serve on boards of special organizations by colleagues she met through PRSA, she earned her Masters in Communications Management, and most importantly she met and became dear friends with many fellow members. After 27 years, Mason still values her membership because it provides her with the ability to serve the profession which she feels most passionately, while still remaining fresh and relevant through the many learning opportunities. 
Mason is currently SVP/Chief Brand & Development Officer of the United Way of Broward County. She is the President of the PRSA Foundation and the Chair-Elect of the Nonprofit Association Section.

Active Involvement in PRSA Enriches Dick Hodges Life
Dick Hodges, APR, Fellow PRSA became a public relations staff member of an advertising agency in 1951 after working as a reporter for The Atlanta Constitution. Hodges became a member of PRSA’s Georgia Chapter in February 1957, 53 years ago, and has remained an active member and volunteer.
After serving as chairman of the PRSA International Conference in Atlanta in the late ‘60s, Hodges was selected to join the Counselors Academy Section Executive Committee, which he served for several years. “That experience was useful in exposing me to other outstanding practitioners from around the country,” says Hodges.
While it is difficult for Hodges to pinpoint “one thing” that happened because of his PRSA membership, he notes “there are many things directly or indirectly that helped me personally or professionally due to my PRSA membership. [For example] getting to know so many truly outstanding men and women in the field.”
“The recognitions that have come my way via PRSA, and other organizations, have been a source of pride and provided a sense of some accomplishment,” Hodges says. “Mostly, I have valued PRSA as a leader of this important field in advocacy and promotion of professionalism, ethics and integrity.”
Hodges is currently enjoying the Atlanta suburbs as a retired public relations professional.

Volunteering Connects Nancy F. Hughes to New People and Ideas
Nancy F. Hughes has been in public relations and a PRSA member since 1986. Hughes explains that PRSA’s networks are beneficial because “it is so easy to get caught up within your own area of work, your own circle of contacts. PRSA introduces me to new people, new issues, and new ideas that have been helpful in my career.”  For Hughes, volunteering has provided her with valuable professional development opportunities. She believes association volunteering gives her the chance to try new responsibilities and stretch her skills in a supportive environment. When asked if there is one thing in her career that happened because of her membership, Hughes stated. “My PRSA colleagues have been my best sources for job leads. And in between jobs, they have been important members of my support network.”  Hughes’ membership continues to be an important and relevent part of her career. She is currently working on her APR Accreditation and is a member of a small study group that started after taking a Jump Start preparation class. “We have become a support group, cheering on each other in class, in our work, and in our private lives.”
Hughes is currently the chair elect of the Health Academy Section and is the assistant vice president, communications and marketing, of the National Health Council.

Connecting with Fellow Volunteers Professionally Benefits Christopher Bacey 
Christopher Bacey has been in public relations and a PRSA member for more than 15 years. Bacey was also a PRSSA member while he attended college at St Bonaventure University, where he was active in the school newspaper. Bacey states that belonging to PRSA’s networks has benefited his career because it provided a platform to learn best practices. It has also helped him to network and to share information with other companies to improve their public relations and communications efforts. As a volunteer, Bacey has met extremely smart individuals who are great at what they do and serve as outstanding role models. He is in awe of some of his fellow volunteers and what they know about the field from a theoretical standpoint. After serving as secretary of the International Section, Bacey was asked to head the Section itself in 2011.
Bacey is currently the communications director of Identity Theft 911.

Active Involvement Creates Unforgettable Experiences for Susan Walton
Susan Walton, APR has been a public relations practitioner for nearly 20 years as a corporate public relations professional, operating her own public relations business, and now as a public relations educator. Walton believes that PRSA provides a touchpoint for every one of these areas of public relations practice, and others. Whatever she is pursuing professionally, she can find information, events and fellow professionals that can enhance what she does. 
Walton admits that belonging to the PRSA network has had a great impact on her career, “We have a terrific local PRSA Chapter. One of the reasons I’m so pleased to associate with it is that it helps form a strong bridge between the professionals and our students — the next generation of public relations practitioners.” Walton joined the public relations faculty at Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2006, the same year she became a PRSA member. BYU highly values her involvement in PRSA considering the PRSSA Chapter was one of the earliest ones established in the U.S. Their affiliation with PRSA helps them to better understand the public relations trends, issues and professional expectations facing their students, and to better prepare them for these.
Walton serves as chair of PRSA's Member Research Task Force, and this has really helped her to better understand the needs and goals of a breadth of PRSA members. It’s also reinforced the importance of something we all learned in school and which continues to be a key principle of public relations — the importance of gathering data and of continuously measuring and evaluating results.
She has had the opportunity to write about some of her experiences in PRSA publications, which has been a great honor and a great opportunity. In addition, Walton has served as an advisor to the group of BYU students who helped plan the 2006 PRSSA National Conference in Salt Lake City. She highly valued the unforgettable experience of working with students and advisors from all over the country and meeting the world-class professionals who presented.
Walton is currently an associate professor at Brigham Young University.

Volunteering Connects Douglas MacKenzie to Peers and Industry Professionals
Douglas MacKenzie has been in public relations for 20 years and a PRSA member for 8 years. MacKenzie tells us that belonging to the PRSA network has provided him with valuable networking and professional development opportunities. The member benefit he finds most valuable is the opportunity to meet both peers and industry professionals. Due to his membership, he has become a resource for travel and tourism related inquiries and research. As a volunteer with the Travel and Tourism Section and the Section Council, MacKenzie states that he has “met some awesome people.” Mackenzie’s employer promotes and encourages his PRSA involvement.
MacKenzie is the 2010 chair of the Travel and Tourism Section and is currently the director of communications for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Volunteering Introduced Ann Subervi to Lifelong Friends and New Clients 
Ann T. Subervi has been in public relations since 1984 and a PRSA member since 1986. As a student at Syracuse University she was an active PRSSA member. Subervi states that belonging to PRSA’s network has been a tremendous asset to her career —  “I’ve networked my way to great jobs, and now as a business owner, to great clients, not to mention the many great friends I’ve made along the way.” Her involvement with PRSA encouraged her to start her own agency and source several pieces of business. Subervi has launched two agencies, sold one successfully and is currently building the second thanks to her volunteer work with the Counselors Academy. She admits her PRSA membership has been a big influence, and as her career changed through the profession, so did the value and benefits of her PRSA membership. “In the beginning, my membership helped me learn new skills. As a manager it taught me the business of running an agency and how to manage co-workers and clients, and now it’s allowing me to become a leading voice in ethics for the profession as a whole. It’s giving me the opportunity to give back, which I truly enjoy.”
Subervi writes the monthly column "Ask the Professional" for PR Tactics. Subervi is an active volunteer with the New Jersey Chapter, is the 2010 chair of the Counselors Academy and is currently the president and CEO of Utopia Communications Inc.

UAB Volunteer Jay Rayburn Reflects on His Experiences 
Jay Rayburn, APR, Fellow PRSA has been in public relations for 35 years and a PRSA member for 20 years. Although he was not a PRSSA member, he wishes he had been involved as a student. Belonging to PRSA has given Rayburn the opportunity to network, which has often led to paid consultations and new clients. Due to his PRSA membership, he was able to become Accredited in public relations which led to his current role as vice chair of the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), where he has met some of the nicest and most interesting people he has ever known. The accessibility to a network of experienced colleagues has proven to be the most significant benefit of his PRSA membership. His employer encourages his involvement with PRSA and all kinds of professional organizations that enhance personal development and the reputation of the University. 
Rayburn is currently an associate professor at Florida State University.

Active Involvement Has Helped Jennifer Heinly Grow Her Business
Jennifer Heinly, MBA has been in public relations for over 20 years and a PRSA member since college when she was an active member of the PRSSA Chapter at California State University. PRSA has had a positive impact in Heinly’s career — she had several opportunities for growth including improving her leadership skills, enhancing her speaking skills and also building a network with other professionals nationwide. As a result of PRSA membership, Heinly joined forces with several other members to form the Sage Public Relations Group of Independent PR consultants. As an active executive committee member of the Independent Practictioners Alliance Section, Heinl has learned from many of her fellow members about running and growing her own independent practice.
Heinly is currently the president of J&J Consulting.

Active Involvement Offers Incomparable Benefits to Tom Eppes
After three years as a newspaper reporter, Tom Eppes, APR, Fellow PRSA began his public relations career in 1977 and joined PRSA in 1981. In hindsight, involvement in PRSSA would have been helpful in kicking off his job search during the 1974 recession. 
Since being introduced to the Counselors Academy, Eppes has found it to be enormously helpful in teaching him how to run the business aspects of an agency. He learned how to run a business from peers at agencies around the country and was able to test many of his ideas about integrated marketing communications with them. “We grew to become one of the larger public relations firms in the state, and I owe much to the Counselor's Academy for making that possible.” The relationships formed as an active Counselors Academy member have remained strong and very valuable. “I became a better counselor and strategist because of the many learning opportunities provided by PRSA.” 
Throughout the years he had employers who supported his involvement with PRSA and those who didn’t, but whether he or his employer covered the cost of membership, he valued it and didn’t want to miss the benefits. For Eppes, the most valuable benefit is how PRSA has kept him state of the art. Through every revolutionary change that has affected the profession, PRSA has helped him keep current with innovation. “With more than 30 years in this profession, I have seen an incredible amount of change and often wondered how people in this fast-moving business have kept current without PRSA.” 
Eppes is a 29 year member of PRSA and was an active National Board member from 2007–2009.

Volunteering Offers Personal and Professional Benefits to Karen Kurtz
Karen Kurtz, APR has been in public relations and a PRSA member for 13 years. Kurtz believes that her PRSA involvement has helped her obtain every job interview. She has also gained knowledge through participation in Chapter and District professional development sessions, which offer great learning opportunities at an affordable price. Volunteering within the Oklahoma City Chapter, the Southwest District and various Accreditation committees has helped her gain outstanding business contacts, lifelong friendships and support from colleagues in her industry. Kurtz states that “being part of the Chapter has helped me build a network of career support. I always know who to call when I need to brainstorm about business, career and any personal issues.”  Due to her voluntary leadership within the Oklahoma City Chapter, Kurtz obtained the opportunity to interview and eventually land her current job. Her employer continues to encourage her involvement and “feels that it’s a great opportunity to gain industry knowledge and keep up with trends.” The most significant part of Kurtz’s PRSA membership continues to be the people she has met as they have expanded her knowledge and given her the opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Kurtz is currently a corporate communications specialist at OGE Energy Corporation.

Active Member Garland Stansell Benefits Personally and Professionally as a Volunteer
Garland Stansell has been a public relations practitioner since 1986 and a PRSA member since 2001. Stansell was an active PRSSA member and helped establish the first student-run public relations agency in the country during his time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. According to Stansell, volunteering with the PRSA Health Academy has been a highlight in his career and has added to his professional and personal knowledge of the public relations profession. 
“PRSA has broadened and deepened the reach of my networks and helped to bring more visibility to my career,” said Stansell. When asked how PRSA membership was most helpful, Stansell responded that PRSA has been significant in networking, relationships and professional development. His employer values his involvement and continues to support his volunteer activities at PRSA. 
Stansell has been a member for the past nine years. He is currently the chief communications officer at Children's Health System.

Volunteering Offers Multiple Benefits to Dean A. Kruckeberg, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
As a PRSA member and volunteer, Dean A. Kruckeberg, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA has received unsurpassed benefits and support that have helped him further his career. Kruckeberg began his public relations career in 1968 and joined PRSA in the fall of 1976. Since joining, his membership has provided incomparable opportunities to serve in the Public Relations industry locally and internationally. Belonging to PRSA has offered Kruckeberg a gateway to a global community of practitioners, scholars and students. As the Chair of the International Section and an active volunteer of the External Research Review Committee and Commission on PR Education, Kruckeberg has met colleagues and shared ideas for teaching and research. Through PRSA, Kruckeberg has received great opportunities for professional growth and for shaping and influencing the profession.
Kruckeberg has been a member for the past 34 years. He is currently the director of The Center for Global Public Relations and a Communications Professor at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Anne M. Dubois Reflects on Her Experiences as a Chapter and Committe Volunteer
Anne M. Dubois, APR, CPRC, Fellow PRSA, has been in public relations since 1982 and a PRSA member since 1988. Belonging to PRSA’s networks has had a big impact on Dubois’s career by providing her with invaluable networking and professional growth. “Exchanging ideas and PR solutions through meetings and ongoing communications with other PR professionals helped her build strong relationships and assisted in keeping skills fresh and in-step with the ever changing world of public relations.”She explains that the volunteer work within the North Florida Chapter and National committees have “added a dimension unlike any other professional organization which I’ve belonged to, the volunteer work has led to leadership positions that continue to grow skills needed in the workplace.” Dubois believes that many good things have happened in her career because of her membership at PRSA. Since her election into the PRSA College of Fellows, many members of her local community have sought her expertise, she was able to present on public relations/social media to Chamber members, she served as a judge for a county re-branding campaign and a school district interested in a long-term communications strategy. However, Dubois believes the most relevant accomplishment as a PRSA member is “all the professional friendships I've gained over the last two decades.”
Dubois has been an active PRSA member since 1988 and is currently a managing partner at Dubois Betourne & Associates.

For Arik Hanson, It’s All About Relationships
Hanson has engaged many top bloggers to promote HAPPO, and on Friday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. CST,  they, along with agency leaders and PR professionals from across the country, will donate their time and talents to help fellow PR pros connect with employers.

What motivated you to coordinate HAPPO?
About a month ago, I received an e-mail from an organization named TalentSeekr. A representative from the company was pitching me on ads to post on my blog. While the offer was intriguing, I passed for a variety of reasons. But a few days later, my friend David Mullen got me thinking again with an insightful post that pointed out that the ads could actually help our friends and colleagues find jobs. Initially, I was selfishly thinking only about my own blog and not others. While I was still opposed to the ads, I wanted to do something to help. After giving it some additional thought, I came up with an alternative idea (along with my good friend, Valerie Simon), and that was the start of “Help a PR Pro Out Day.”

Why should job seekers and employers participate in HAPPO?
Obviously, we're hopeful we can help find people jobs. That's our number one goal. But, we also think employers will benefit from this event, too. HAPPO may help employers uncover or identify talent that they may have not otherwise have found.

Who else is assisting with HAPPO?
What started out as a tight-knit group of friends and PR bloggers across the country has grown to 32 different "HAPPO champions" helping us spread the word and connect job seekers with employers in local markets from coast to coast. A number of professional organizations are also lending their support, including PRSA, IABC and the Publicity Club of New York. Designers from all corners of the country are also involved with HAPPO as we invited folks to submit design ideas for the HAPPO visual identity last week. We received more than 25 submissions and voting took place earlier this week. The winner was announced this week. One of our HAPPO champions, Deidre Breakenridge, was gracious enough to donate her books, “PR 2.0” and “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations,” to the winner. There are many additional stories demonstrating how others have helped, but the basic message is simple: The "who else" is clearly what has made HAPPO what it is today.

How has belonging to PRSA’s networks (Chapters, Sections, etc.) affected your career?
Being an active part of PRSA has completely transformed my career. I've also been lucky enough to meet a lot of good friends along the way. And, over the last year, thanks to social networks like Twitter, I've had the chance to connect with PRSA members from all over the country. Folks, such as Mary Barber in Alaska and Lauren Fernandez and Richie Escovedo in Dallas/Fort Worth — I don't just consider these people colleagues, but good friends. I am truly grateful for all PRSA has done for me and my professional career.

How has volunteering within PRSA's networks affected you personally or professionally?
Volunteering with Minnesota PRSA has been instrumental to my personal and professional growth. I've learned new skills (event management) and honed existing ones (writing, leadership skills). But, what I've probably benefited from the most is the way PRSA has enriched my life through the relationships I've built. Those relationships are now the backbone of my professional, and in some instances, personal, network of friends and colleagues across the country.

Is there one thing in your career that happened because of your membership with PRSA or a PRSA network?
Absolutely. My last three jobs have been a direct result of the relationships I've built through PRSA. Without those connections and relationships, those jobs (and my current consulting business) simply don't happen. Period.

Is there anything else you think we should know?
For me, HAPPO has demonstrated the power and generosity of the global PR community (yes, global, as we've had interest from the UK, Germany and Australia). HAPPO only started a week ago, and in that time, we've fleshed out a fully functional blog (thanks to the good work of my friend "PR Cog"), a Facebook page (thanks to Michael Schaffer in Washington, D.C.), and countless other ideas from the 32 champions and other people helping us all over the country. It's been amazing and rewarding to see a community of my peers come together like this. I'm hopeful we will make many meaningful connections on Friday. And, even if some of those connections don't lead to jobs, I'm hoping the meetings and introductions will build momentum and spur job seekers to take creative approaches to the job search in the weeks and months ahead.

Introducing Kevin Sangsland, an Active Technology Section Volunteer
During the past four years, Kevin Sangsland’s membership has provided the structure, resources and networks that helped launch his career and achieve APR status. As a member, Sangsland is able to take advantage of professional development resources and solve problems that cannot be solved just by tapping his immediate personal network. After relocating from New York to Detroit, the local Chapter and their resources were instrumental in finding job opportunities. He believes that being part of this organization has given him the opportunity to access rich resources of information on the industry and the various careers it creates.     

As a Technology Section volunteer, Sangsland has gained an appreciation of the work and effort required to run PRSA events and professional seminars. The events Sangsland has helped to coordinate have been successful and informational as he learned the inner workings of PRSA through working as a liaison between the Technology Section and the local Chapter to drive the event development. Sangsland has worked in public relations for nine years, and is currently an account executive with Airfoil Public Relations in Detroit. 

Introducing Bey-Ling Sha, an Active Chapter and Committee Volunteer 
Bey-Ling Sha, APR, has been in public relations since 1993 and with PRSA for 17 years. Sha’s PRSA days started at Purdue University, and although she wasn’t active in PRSSA, she still wishes she had been. “At the time, I didn’t appreciate the networking and educational opportunities that PRSSA had to offer” says Sha. Today Sha, a volunteer within the Educators Academy and Chair of the Committee on Work, Life & Gender Issues, has been meeting colleagues and sharing ideas for teaching and research. Thanks to her participation in the PSRA San Diego Chapter, Sha has established networks of employers for jobs and internships for students.
“My employer encourages my involvement with PRSA, to the point of paying my membership dues when the budget permits. My supervisor values my PRSA involvement because she knows it leads to the building and maintaining of relationships with our stakeholders, which include internship sponsors for our students. My PRSA membership is most relevant to me as an external demonstration of my internal commitment to the public relations profession.”
Sha has been an active PRSA member since 1993 and is currently an associate professor with San Diego State University’s School of Journalism & Mass Communications Studies.   

Introducing Paula Pedene, an Active Chapter and Section Volunteer 
Paula Pedene, APR, a member for more than 12 years, built her career foundation in broadcasting, which taught her well for the public relations profession. Within PRSA, the support from colleagues, training, national publications and networking have helped her to advance as a professional, to advance the public relations profession, and to make some great friends along the way. Moving successfully through the Accreditation process was a huge eye opener for Pedene, where she learned how to pull a plan together and how to demonstrate measurable results. She finds that the PRSA tagline, “Advancing the Profession and the Professional,” is truly the bottom line.  
As an active Phoenix Chapter and Health Academy Section volunteer, she has expanded her horizons and thinking by learning from her colleagues and trying new avenues she would not otherwise have known about had she not been involved. She feels honored to give back to such a great entity and hopes PRSA continues to grow and expand and reach its 1000th anniversary. Pedene has been an active PRSA member since 1997 and is currently a public affairs officer with the Phoenix Veteran Affairs Healthcare System.

Introducing Jaimaison Schuler, APR, an Active Chapter Volunteer
As a PRSA member and volunteer, Jaimaison Schuler, APR has received incomparable support and networking opportunities that have helped establish his career. Schuler joined PRSA as a student member while attending the University of Southern Indiana. Belonging and volunteering at the local Chapter level has helped make his career. He found his first job out of his internship through the local Chapter job site, while his next two jobs were a direct result of networking within PRSA. Thanks to PRSA, he has met so many different professionals locally, within the district and nationally, that he feels very well connected.  
While volunteering on and off with the Hoosier Chapter during the past 12 years, Schuler has learned new techniques, developed areas of public relations that he might not otherwise have been exposed to in his “day job” and made some of his closest friends. The benefits he has received as a PRSA member have allowed him to obtain a successful career position as a direct result of networking and volunteering at his local Chapter. He highly values his membership as it has allowed him access to professional development resources and the National publications Public Relations Tactics and The Public Relations Strategist, while offering opportunities to witness how other professionals tackle a project and what learnings he can translate into his environment. Schuler has been an active PRSA member since 1998 and is currently a neuroscience communications consultant with Eli Lilly and Company.