Call for Presentations
PRSA 2023 Counselors Academy Spring Conference
The Big EASY: Elevate, Advocate, Strategize, and Yes (I’ll Have Another)!
CAPRSA 2023 Annual Conference
May 8-10| in The Big Easy, New Orleans, LA
Proposal Deadline: Friday, February 3, 11:59 p.m. EST
About PRSA Counselors Academy
Founded in 1960, PRSA Counselors Academy is dedicated to providing principals and senior leaders of small- and mid-size public relations firms in the United States and Canada with the business insights and
tools they need to grow successful businesses. With nearly 300 members, Counselors Academy is passionately committed to maintaining an open and honest peer network that energizes and motivates, provides a sounding board for questions and ideas, and
fosters mutually beneficial relationships. More information about Counselors Academy and its programs can be found at HERE.
About the 2023 Spring Conference
The annual Spring Conference is Counselors Academy’s largest event and attracts senior agency executives, decision-makers, advisers and partners. In addition to agency principals and other leaders, attendees include growth and leadership consultants, industry sponsors, and executives from related businesses and industries.
Year after year, our conference gets rave reviews due to the quality of the content and the willingness of attendees to share experiences, insights and best practices and we’re sure this year will be no exception.
Speaker Proposals
Priority will be given to proven presenters whose proposals are forward thinking and deliver fresh, compelling, business-focused content that is directly relevant to today’s agency leaders and principals. Presentations that are interactive and/or provide an output that participants can act on immediately are also strongly encouraged. Presentations that seem to be sales-focused or specific to promoting one company or organization are strongly discouraged.
SUBMITTAL FORMAT
PLEASE NOTE: All submissions will be shared anonymously with the conference chair and co-chair, as well as the conference committee, to prevent any unintentional bias and to ensure selections are based on the quality of content and merit. Only PRSA will retain the names and company names of those submitting proposals during the first phase of submission reviews. Following the first phase of the selection process, the committee will review speaker reels, testimonials and other identifying information to complete the selection process.
This year, our theme is The Big EASY: Elevate, Advocate, Strategize, and Yes (I’ll Have Another)! tipping the hat to our return to the beautiful and engaging New Orleans. We are looking for dynamic and engaging content that helps agency leaders prepare and focus on key business, leadership, management and personal needs as we think about our agencies and our industry. As we are returning to The Big Easy, we are also returning to the tenets of our work: elevation of messages, advocacy, strategic planning, and more. The following subject areas represent the specific tracks that we will offer to our attendees and suggested workshop topics you may consider in developing your submission and determining how best to position it for success. You will have more success in your submission if you pinpoint which track(s) your expertise can address.
Elevation – All about Growth and Advancement- Growing and sustaining your agency through sound business development
- Business planning: prospecting, mergers and acquisitions
- Strategic alliances for your business and/or your clients
- Business development: developing new service lines and sources of income, identifying new niche markets, proposal/pitch development
- Marketing tools and technology and emerging trends.
- Advocacy for public relations in an ever-changing communications environment.
- The impact of public policy/legislation/regulation on brands and client reputations/activities/expectations
- Internships that shape our next generation of PR leaders.
- D/E/I among agency leadership, how agencies should address diversity and inclusion issues with clients and as community builders, workplace environments.
- PR practitioners as advocates for their clients, for truth and transparency in communications, ethics.
- Recruiting and retention strategies
- Professional development
- HR policies and practices, workplace environment, agency culture.
- Leading effective teams, executive development and training.
- Legal issues and opportunities in building and growing your agency
- Contractors as the new workforce.
- Inspirational leadership in and outside your agency. What does that look like?
- Are we still pivoting post COVID? What does a successful leader look like after a year of an everchanging environment?
- Succession planning strategies
- Creative and sound communication strategy development
- Managing virtual teams and agencies
- Maintaining balance in life, health, and business.
- Tools & Innovation - Resources that streamline processes, build collaboration, maximize client experiences and simplify your life
- Creative ways to energize your team (and yourself).
- When enough is enough (recognizing burnout and how to recover)
- Retaining legal counsel before you need legal advice
- Iron sharpens iron, when to get a professional coach
Presentation Guidelines
Counselors Academy welcomes proposals from public relations firm principals and senior leaders, as well as experts in relevant disciplines including, but not limited to: accounting, law, consulting, human resources, recruitment and retention, business coaching, benefits and compensation, insurance and risk management and agency technology.
This Call for Presentations includes requests for:- Expert breakout presentations (up to 60 minutes in length)
- Expert panels (limited to up to three participants)
- Deliver fresh, innovative thinking in a way that is interactive and engaging.
- Understand that the audience of attendees at Counselors is made up of leaders of small- to mid-size public relations firms.
- Provide clear takeaways that attendees can implement right away.
- Are passionate about their subject matter and can inspire audiences to see their business challenges in new ways and take action.
- Must supply a copy of their presentation at least one month prior to the conference for promotional purposes.
- Must avoid sales pitches, however subtle they may be, for their own products or services.
- Must be able to dynamically deliver a presentation in-person
PLEASE NOTE: Preference will be given to those who can demonstrate strong speaking and audience motivation skills by providing videos or reviews of past presentations to similar audiences.
Submission Process
Submit your innovative and compelling presentation proposal online here. Check the box that says Counselors Academy.
Note: PRSA and Counselors Academy do not reimburse presenters for out-of-pocket expenses such as hotel stays and airfare. PRSA and Counselors Academy do not provide speaker stipends. Presenters who are selected for expert breakout presentations will receive one complimentary conference registration, which does not include meals or networking events. Presenters will have the option to purchase a meal package.
Deadline
Proposals are due no later than Friday, Feb. 3, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Earlier submissions are encouraged. Submit your proposal online here.
Questions?
Submit questions to:
Amy Moore, Events Manager
Email: amy.moore@prsa.org
Phone: (212) 460-0302
LaTricia Woods, 2022 Conference Chairman
Email: LaTricia@mahoganyxan.com
Phone: (480) 374-1908
Benjamin Finzel, 2022 Conference Co-Chairman
Email: Ben@renewpr.com
Phone: (202) 277-6286