2009 PRSA-LA
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Rita Tateel
President
The Celebrity Source
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Eric Moses
Vice President
Consensus Planning Group
VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER
Kathleen Dunleavy
Communications Lead Mgr.
West Region, Sprint Nextel
VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY
Kimberly Cohn
Director, Mktg. & Comm.
Easter Seals Southern California
VICE PRESIDENT
Bob Gold
President
Bob Gold & Assoc.
VICE PRESIDENT
Brian O'Connor
Director, Marketing & Public Relations
Cunard Line
VICE PRESIDENT
Alfredo Padilla
Vice President, Corp Comm.
Comerica Bank
Western Market
DIRECTORS
Ron Antonette
PR Consultant
Erik Deutsch
Principal
ExcelPR Group
Holly Ferris
President
Ferris Communications
Gregory Jenkins, APR
Partner
Bravo Production
Meg Mc Donald, APR
Owner/CEO
Mc Donald Media Services
Josefina Mora
Marketing Director
Playhouse District Association
Sallie Olmsted, APR
Executive Vice President
Rogers & Cowan
Keith R. Pillow, APR
President & Principal
Caddy Marketing & Communications, Inc.
Stefan I. Pollack
President
The Pollack PR Marketing Group
Phyllis Tucker
Senior Vice President
Hill & Knowlton
Erika White
Asst. Mgr., Brand Comm.
Hilton Hotels Corp.
ASSEMBLY DELEGATES
Michael J. Furtney, APR, Fellow PRSA
Principal
Killeen Furtney Group
Peter Hidalgo, APR
PR Consultant
Daryl R. McCullough
CEO
PainePR
Dawn McKenzie, APR
Assistant Regional
Communications Manager
General Motors Corporation
Ron W. Roecker
President
Enfluence Group
Dawn Wilcox, APR
General Manager, L.A.
Allison & Partners
Denis Wolcott, APR
President
The Wolcott Company
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Erik Deutsch
Editor
323-851-2455
erikd@excelpr.com
Philip Sokoloski
Assoc. Editor
213-977-8630
L.A. Connect
is published by
PRSA-LA
11271 Ventura Blvd. #514
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818-761-5575
(c) 2009 PRSA-LA
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The Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is comprised of more than 500 public relations professionals representing many L.A.-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.
Milestones
1948
PRSA-LA incorporated as one of PRSA's first five founding chapters. Bob Roberts elected first chapter president.
1955
PRSA-LA hosts the national PRSA Annual Conference. More than 1,100 PR pros attend at the Ambassador Hotel.
1964
PRSA-LA holds the first annual PRism Awards competition and banquet.
1965
PRSA-LA elects its first woman president, Pat Penney.
1970
PRSA-LA Executive Director Barbara Shore is hired to run the chapter's day-to-day operations - a position she still holds 38 years later.
1985
PRSA-LA awards the first Joseph Roos Award to recognize PR professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary community service.
1988
PRSA-LA members Eric Stoltz and Tom Trevett form PRSA's first Young Professionals (YP) section.
1989
PRSA-LA awards the first Don Perkins Grant to fund PR services for worthy nonprofit organizations.
1990
PRSA-LA and the Annenberg School for Communication hold the first Kenneth Owler Smith (KOS) Symposium named after the beloved USC professor.
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.
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 1 Night.
6 Locations.
Unlimited Networking!
PRSA-LA Presents ConneXions Networking Mixers on March 26th
L.A.'s a very big place. That's why on March 26th (6-8:30 pm) PRSA-LA will hold its first in a series of ConneXions Networking Mixers at six locations across the greater L.A. area. The goal is to give local PR pros an opportunity to network in a relaxed setting without having to drive across town.
March 26th ConneXion locations:
- Long Beach (Gladstone's at the Pike)
- Pasadena (El Portal Restaurant)
- Downtown L.A. (Spitz)
- Hollywood (Beso)
- Santa Monica (Wokcano Restaurant)
- Studio City (The Studio Café)
For more information and to RSVP, please visit the ConneXions Page on PRSA-LA's Web site.
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IPG Adopts "Think Tank" Format
 PRSA-LA's Independent Practitioners Group (IPG) has adopted a new "think tank" format to help solo PR pros meet the challenges of today's economy. This year's IPG theme is "Independent but Not Alone," and the goal is to provide solutions, suggestions and resources.
The next IPG meeting will take place Friday, April 3rd from 8:30-10:00 am at the Universal City Walk Hard Rock Cafe. Admission is free, and continental breakfast will be served. The meeting will be an interactive brainstorming session focused on future programs and ways to make IPG a more valuable resource. RSVP to prsalaIPG@yahoo.com.
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PRSA-LA Sponsorship Opportunities
Do you have a product or service of interest to Los Angeles-area PR professionals? Becoming a PRSA-LA sponsor is a great way to reach your target audience, build your brand and generate new business.
PRSA-LA offers a wide range of sponsorship opportunities to reach members, who range from agency presidents to freelancers and news media professionals.
For more information, please contact Josefina Mora at (626) 744-0340 / jmora@playhousedistrict.org or Diedra Wylie at (805) 373-9523 / diedra.wylie@gm.com.
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MEMBER NEWS
Wonacott Welcomes Farrow as Account Supervisor
 Wonacott Communications continues to build its interactive entertainment capabilities with the addition of Palmira Farrow to the agency's growing staff. Farrow will serve as an account supervisor handling corporate communications, product launches and digital/new media communications strategies for various Wonacott clients. Immediately prior to joining the agency, Farrow worked for video game industry leader Electronic Arts (EA), where she spearheaded PR programs for more than 20 game titles across various platforms.
Gold Expands Cable Tech Roster
 Bob Gold & Associates has added cable TV solutions provider R.L Drake, LLC to its roster of communications technology clients. The agency will manage marketing and PR support for the new Drake Digital™ suite of products designed to improve how cable operators deliver TV services to subscribers. Drake has provided communications systems and video engineering components for more than 65 years, and is considered an institution in the cable TV industry.
Padilla Appointed to PRSA Foundation Board
 PRSA-LA Board Member Alfredo Padilla has been appointed to serve as secretary of the PRSA Foundation - an independent non-profit organization founded in 1990 to support scholarships, research and initiatives that build greater understanding of the role of PR in serving society. Padilla, who works as VP of corporate communications for Comerica Bank, is the only L.A. area PR pro among the five officers and 11 trustees who will lead the PRSA Foundation in 2009.
Pollack Promotes National Public Gardens Day
 The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) has broadened its long-standing relationship with Rain Bird Corporation on a new initiative, in partnership with the American Public Gardens Association, to develop and stage the first annual National Public Gardens Day on May 8th. The goal is to celebrate and raise awareness of America's public gardens, and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation and education nationwide.
Tellem Energizes Healthcare Practice
 Tellem Worldwide has been named agency of record for Beverly Hills-based Beneveda Medical Group - the first healthcare practice in the US to specialize in energy medicine. The agency will help build awareness of Beneveda's unique approach to diagnosis and treatment, which measures internal energy flow and integrates Western and Eastern medicine.
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Correction: Last month we reported that the Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) was retained to promote the Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration. In fact, PPMG was retained as a subcontractor by NYC-based Public Works Inc. to promote the Celebration's kick-off event. We apologize for the error.
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 As part of our effort to practice what we preach, PRSA-LA continues to expand its Web 2.0 presence on major social media sites. Members are encouraged to use these vibrant online communities to connect with fellow PR pros, share information and become part of the online conversation.
Here's a brief list of social media sites where we have an established presence. If you haven't done so already, why not join PRSA-LA to start putting social media to work for you?
Visit our Facebook group frequently for member updates, photos, videos, etc. Don't forget to check out the discussion board and leave a note on our "wall."
Visit the chapter's LinkedIn group for updates and the opportunity to post questions and connect with fellow members.
 Follow @PRSALANews (twitter.com/prsalanews) and stay tuned for frequent "tweets" about chapter news, as well as live tweets from chapter events.
 Sign up for a Yahoo! ID and click on the purple "Yahoo! Groups" button to join the PRSA-LA group and take part in the discussion.
PRSA-LA has its own channel on YouTube with videos from chapter events (videos courtesy of PRSA-LA partner iPressroom).
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Accreditation Update
Free APR Webinar on April 9th
 Have you thought about becoming accredited in public relations? Earning your APR is a unique opportunity to sharpen your craft and distinguish yourself as a PR professional.
PRSA National is hosting a free live Webinar titled "Accelerate Your Career in Public Relations" on Thursday, April 9th (noon - 1:00 pm Pacific time) to explain the benefits of earning your APR and what's involved in the accreditation process. Registration for the Webinar is free for both PRSA members and non-members alike.
Click here to register.
In other APR news, Rebecca Mikkelsen, APR has joined Sallie Olmsted, APR as a co-chair of PRSA-LA's Accreditation Committee. For more information about accreditation, or to request an APR application, please contact Sallie or Rebecca at solmsted@rogersandcowan.com / rebeccam@usa.net.
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 Mark Your Calendar
March 26
ConneXions Networking Mixers
6 Locations Across L.A.
April 3
IPG Group Meeting
April 8
At Breakfast With...
Healthcare Media
April 15
Young Professionals
"Meet the Media"
April 22-24
Western District Conference
Newport Beach
April 30
Brown Bag Lunch Teleseminar
(details coming soon)
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Welcome New Members
PRSA-LA welcomes the following new members:
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Western District Conference Surfs into Newport Beach April 22-24
 Cowabunga! It's time to hit the surf and join fellow PR pros from across the Western US as PRSA's Western District Conference comes to the Newport Beach Hyatt Regency April 22-24.
This year's theme is "Making Waves," which is appropriate given the event will feature thought-leaders such as Peter Shankman (the "big kahuna" behind HARO) and brand/marketing expert Peter Leinberger. So grab your boogie board and plan to attend! More info is available on the conference Web site. |
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New PRSA-LA Member Benefit
Course Discounts at UCLA Extension
PRSA-LA members can now save up to $25 on select public relations courses offered by UCLA Extension.
Courses focus on a wide range of PR topics, from writing and working with the media to fundraising and special events. All count towards UCLA Extension's Certificate Program in Public Relations.
So get ready to catapult your career with continuing education! Spring Quarter begins March 31st.
For more information (including a list of discounted courses), visit the UCLA Extension Discount Page on PRSA-LA's Web site. |
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PRSA National Launches Job Mentoring Program
PRSA National recently enhanced its online Jobcenter (www.prsa.org/jobcenter) with a range of new career resources including "Job Mentor" and "Ask the Experts" programs.
Job seekers can now access free, expert advice about resume writing, networking and interviewing techniques. They can also pose specific questions to PRSA accredited experts on tricky job search issues, such as how to respond to questions involving salary requirements. The goal is to give PRSA members the edge they need in today's challenging job market. |
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KOS Symposium Video Highlights
On February 26th, PRSA-LA and the Annenberg School for Communication at USC presented the 19th Annual Kenneth Owler Smith (KOS) Symposium. This year's edition was titled "Global Recession: Public Relations Calamity or Opportunity?" It featured an all-star panel of experts and a keynote from renowned PR industry analyst Paul Holmes. Video highlights and a full audio stream of the event can be viewed on PRSA-LA's Web site courtesy of Jacket Media (www.jacketmedia.com).
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It's Awards Time in the OC
 Our friends at the Orange County Chapter of PRSA (OC/PRSA) are seeking entries for the 34th Annual PROTOS Awards, which honor the best local PR programs and professionals.
The early entry deadline is Friday, April 17th (final deadline is May 1st). This year's "Passport to PROTOS" Awards Banquet will be held on Friday, June 26th.
For more information, visit the OC/PRSA Web site or contact Kate Mossbarger, PROTOS Awards Chair, at (949) 583-2619 or kate.mossbarger@porternovelli.com. |
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 Do you or a colleague have professional news to share? Did you 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 Erik Deutsch at erikd@excelpr.com or Assoc. Editor Philip Sokoloski at psokoloski@filmla.com.
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