Committees – Chairs & Contact Info

Advocacy
The Advocacy Committee works with PRSA National to research, track and speak out about current issues impacting the profession, its principles and reputation.  This group monitors legislative, regulatory and public policy issues and promotes the PRSA Code of Ethics.

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Contact:  Nance Larsen, APR, Fellow PRSA, The Pebble Partnership.

Accreditation
The Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential is the profession’s only national post-graduate certification program.  It measures a public relations practitioner’s fundamental knowledge of communications theory and its application.

The PRSA Alaska Chapter Accreditation Committee works to publicize value in achieving APR status, recruits candidates for the exam, arranges readiness review panels and provides study opportunities.

Contact: Cassandra Stalzer, APR, Rasmuson Foundation.

Aurora Awards
The Aurora Awards and Awards of Excellence encourage professional public relations performance and technique and acknowledges exemplary work in the field.

The Auroras honor comprehensive public relations campaigns that successfully communicate a message using a variety of tools, programs and components.  The Awards of Excellence recognize exemplary design, creation and production of a single public relations tool.

Volunteers are needed to coordinate the award banquet and to arrange award judging.

Contact: Stephanie Nowers, K.I.S. Consulting, LLC.

PRSSA/Education
The PRSA Alaska Chapter is committed to assisting local students advance their education in public relations and communication through the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter.

If you are a college undergraduate considering a career in public relations or communications, PRSSA can help expand your knowledge of public relations and provide access to professional development opportunities.

PRSSA has more than 10,000 members at 303 colleges and universities, including the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

Learn more about PRSSA and visit the PRSSA UAA Chapter’s Facebook page.

Contact: Michelle Egan, APR, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

Fundraising
Supporting the PRSA Alaska Chapter through sponsorship provides your company with the opportunity to target your message and brand exposure to local communications and public relations professionals.

Numerous opportunities are available, including sponsoring monthly luncheons, providing door prizes for events and donating silent auction items for the Len McLean Scholarship Silent Auction.

Volunteers are needed to solicit door prizes, silent auction items and more. The Fundraising Committee is a fantastic opportunity to establish new professional contacts.

Contact: J.J. Harrier, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

Membership
PRSA is the world’s largest advocate for public relations and communications professionals.  As a member of PRSA Alaska, you learn skills to advance as a professional and network with fellow communicators from across the state.

The Membership Committee works to communicate the value of PRSA Alaska membership and to engage existing members. Volunteering on the Membership Committee allows you to get involved in the local chapter and network with public relations professionals while ensuring the local chapter offers the highest standard of services statewide.

Contact: Kristin Helvey, APR, Helvey Communications; Laura Tanis, Aleutians East Borough; and Tim Blum, Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

Mentorship
Professional development and relationship building are two powerful benefits of PRSA membership.  The PRSA Alaska Chapter is currently looking for young professionals who are interested in being matched with an experienced PR pro.   Seasoned professionals are also needed to serve as mentors.

The Mentorship Committee also hosts bi-monthly meetings.

Contact:  Keith Fernandez, Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union and Tim Blum, Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

Programs
PRSA Alaska Chapter provides an estimated 10 lunches and/or professional development seminars annually.  The Program Committee works to ensure the chapter continues to provide the highest-quality programming, including tools and tactics for local communicators to grow as professionals.

PRSA Alaska members can volunteer to provide programming ideas, venue coordination, professional development seminar coordination and more.

Contact: Sarah Erkmann, Alaska Oil & Gas Association and Cassidy Davis, The Tatitlek Corporation.

Publicity
PRSA Alaska strives to be the leading organization of public relations professionals and communicators in the state.  The Publicity Committee works to make this happen.

PRSA Alaska members can volunteer to work on PRSAalaska.org, the chapter’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, Cvent event registration and newsletters, write news releases and more. Put your own professional skills to use to benefit PRSA Alaska.

Contact:

Statewide Unity
PRSA Alaska chapter was established in 1973 and now boasts approximately 130 members statewide and links Alaskan public relations professionals from Fairbanks to Juneau, and all points in between.

The Statewide Unity Committee works to bridge the physical gaps between members and ensure value in membership statewide.

Contact: Statewide Outreach: Michelle Renfrew, APR, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Marisa Sharrah, Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC.