PRSA Central Ohio’s longstanding success is driven by the leadership of dedicated chapter volunteers, including its Board of Directors, loyal committee chairs, and driven committee members. 

The chapter’s Board of Directors help to ensure that the chapter is committed to its mission of empowering a diverse and inclusive community of members to drive strategic outcomes within their organizations by promoting ethical practice, building dynamic relationships, providing growth opportunities and recognizing excellence. We are proud to announce the 2021 Board of Directors, presented by the Nominating Committee and voted into office by the chapter’s membership: 

Executive Officers

• President - Diane Hurd, Elected 2019
• Past President - Katie Thomas, APR, Elected 2018
• President-Elect - Heather Sheppard
• Treasurer - Kristen Vitartas
• VP Planning & Procedures - Mike Vannest, APR
• VP Membership - Amber Epling
• VP Programs - Christa Dickey
• VP Communication - Serena Smith
• Ethics Officer - Gayle Saunders, APR
• Diversity & Inclusion Officer - Shanikka Flinn

Directors at Large                                      

• Alisa Agozzino, Ph.D., APR
• Shannon Jack
• Tara Parsell
• Jennifer Rieman
• Wendy Schwantes, APR

Assembly Delegates

• John Palmer, APR
• Natalie Kompa, APR

Now is a great time to consider committee-level involvement for 2021. If you’re interested in giving back to our great community of public relations professionals by serving on one of the chapters committees, learn more by reading about each committee and by completing a volunteer interest form today. There are a wide variety of opportunities to participate, with flexible time commitment requirements.

PRSA Central Ohio would like to thank following individuals for agreeing to serve on the chapter’s nominating committee. Each year, the nominating committee confers to review nominations for those to serve on the chapter’s Board of Directors. This group must be made up of no fewer than five voting members, as well as the chapter’s incoming president serving in a non-voting role. Our chapter’s Bylaws require the following types of members to be represented among this group:

• Chair – Past President
• A past chapter president
• A former chapter board member
• A board member not up for reelection
• The chapter’s ethics officer
• Two members at large
• President-elect (ex-officio)

This year’s nominating committee includes:

• Alisa Agozzino, APR, Board Member Not Up For Reelection
• Mackenzie Betts, Former Board Member
• Kerry Francis, APR, Ethics Officer
• Currecia Gamble, Member at Large
• Diane Hurd, President-Elect (ex-officio)
• John Palmer, APR, Past President
• Kim Ratcliff, APR, Member At Large
• Alicia Shoults, Immediate Past President (Chair)

The Nominating Committee will present a slate to the membership for voting, nominating one candidate for each office and expiring Directorship. Voting is expected to begin on the slate in late September or early October upon receipt of National PRSA approval on our chapter’s recent Bylaws changes adding a Diversity & Inclusion Officer.

It’s September, and that means it’s Ethics Month!

The three Ps – politics, pandemics and protests – have definitely highlighted some ethical issues lately. While some, such as truth in reporting, have been straightforward, others are a bit more subtle, like gaslighting. Never before has the ethical practice of public relations been more important.

September is Ethics Month, an opportunity to pause to celebrate the importance of PRSA’s Code of Ethics, recognized as the gold standard for ethical behavior throughout the communications profession. The theme of this year’s Ethics Month is “Doing The Right Thing,” a theme that really resonates in today’s environment – and is more complex than ever before.

One of the great things about being a PRSA member is the access to many resources, including training, best practices and even counsel from me, your Ethics Officer, and the Board of Ethical Standards and Practice (BEPS). This month, BEPS will offer a variety of opportunities to gain information – and share your insight and lessons learned! Some highlights include:
 
Webinars
APRs Speak: Black Men Discuss Ethics, Equity & Inclusion
Password: BEPS
Sept. 2, 12 p.m.
Moderator: Stacy Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA
Panelists: Brandon Wilson, APR, president & CEO, Wilbron Inc.; Roszell Gadson, APR, public affairs specialist, State Farm; Cedric F. Brown, APR, columnist, “D&I Explained,” PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics; Kenn Dixon, APR, vice president of communications & public relations, Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
 
Leading With Ethics
Sept. 8, 3 p.m.
Presenters: Nance Larsen, APR, Fellow PRSA, vice president integrated marketing communications, The Strive Group; BJ Whitman, APR, Fellow PRSA, president, BJW Public Relations; Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, chief communications officer, Alyeska Pipeline Service
 
Twitter Chat
Ethical Challenges in Today’s Global Information World
Sept. 17, 8 p.m.
Follow along @prsa using the hashtags #PRSAChat and #EthicsMonth
 
Editorial Coverage
Weekly PRsay Blog Posts
Feature article in the September issue of Strategies & Tactics

This month, I encourage you to take a moment to think about ways you apply ethics in your daily work – and how that makes a difference for you, your organization and the profession. Check out these great resources, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can be of assistance with gathering information or working through an ethical dilemma.

It’s not every day that I have the opportunity to attend a professional development conference in pajama pants, but this year’s Central Ohio PRSA Conference via Zoom made that dream a reality. As an attendee, I joined seven topic-specific sessions, a keynote address presented by Christine King, and a plenary address presented by Hinda Mitchell. Through these sessions, I learned many tips and tricks for effective communication that will certainly aide me throughout my career.

Here are three of my key takeaways from the conference:

Don’t be afraid to update an industry mainstay’s brand.

Rebranding in a Millennial Kind of World (Christine King, Tealbook, CASK Communications)

In the conference’s keynote address, speaker Christine King focused on several popular brands that have rebranded themselves to appeal to a changing consumer base. Wendy’s and Coca-Cola, two examples presented by King, have each approached rebranding differently. Wendy’s reconceptualized by adopting a uniquely informal voice, especially on social media, and has shifted focus away from its history. Wendy’s frequently engages directly with consumers and competitors on social media, often employing millennial humor and wit. However, Coca-Cola has remained committed to its story through initiatives like the Coca-Cola Journey, which aimed to share Coca-Cola’s connection to communities across the world. Coca-Cola has chosen to appeal to younger consumers by updating their visual brand and product offerings, while still creating content that interests an older consumer base.

Develop a clear plan and communicate about it.

When developing campaigns, it’s important to have a game plan. In this session, speakers Samantha Parsons and Leah Franklin presented a six-step process designed to help communicators develop successful nurture campaigns. Successful nurture campaigns rely on strategy at all levels, including consistent coordinated efforts across departments. An integral part of the process is determining which digital channels should be used to disseminate your message. Many professionals believe that only trendy channels can reach your audience, but it’s important to identify which channels work based on who you’re targeting, what their need is, and what you are choosing to measure.

Tell a damn good story.

Strategic Storytelling: Maximizing Your Impact (Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville, FrazierHeiby)

Speaker Ann Mulvany nailed it when she said, “If 2020 has taught us anything so far, it’s that we have to be agile.” In an ever-changing world, communicators must be able to embrace shifts in modes of communication while continuing to produce great stories. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency are important to keep in mind; communicators can create content to utilize in multiple ways across different channels. Communicators can also use existing content to engage with new audiences on emerging platforms, leading to efficient, impactful storytelling. Centering communication strategies around the client’s core values can aid communicators in developing stories that are more genuine and well-received.

I’m so grateful I had the chance to attend the 2020 Central Ohio PRSA Conference. Each conference session contributed to knowledge that will transfer to my studies and future career. Thank you to the conference organizers, presenters, and scholarship committee for providing professional development experiences like this to PR students and professionals across Central Ohio!

As a recent graduate entering the public relations field, I created lots of personal and professional goals the past few months as I mapped out what I want the next steps of my career to be. My favorite goal setting technique is SMART – setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. As I attended PRSA Central Ohio’s “The Modern Communicator” Annual Conference and learned about succeeding in the communication field, I identified SMART tips and tricks that could help individuals or companies rise to the top of their PR game.

SPECIFIC: FrazierHeiby’s session about strategic storytelling offered multiple tips to narrow down your brand’s purpose and value. Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville talked about how important it is to know what your company stands for and be clear about what you’re willing to do on behalf of your company. Strategy is making a clear, informed decision and being specific about your choices. If your company doesn’t have a specific purpose and values, you can’t tell amazing stories in a way that strategically impacts your brand. Finding great characters, moments and emotions can be key to a story that furthers your brand’s specific purpose.

MEASURABLE: Amy Shropshire presented about how content and SEO work together. When content strategy and search engine optimization intersect, measurability is key to ensuring your content is performing the highest it can. It’s important to define your audience, audit what you already have and measure for success.

ACHIEVABLE: In Hana Bieliauskas’ session about leveraging strong influencer partnerships, I learned about the attainability of influencer work. Overall, 92 percent of consumers trust influencer marketing over traditional advertising, which is a compelling reason to utilize this avenue in your marketing strategy but can be a bit overwhelming knowing where to start. There are many types of influencers, but most posts on Instagram are from micro-influencers, who have between 5,000 and 100,000 followers. Inspire PR Group mainly works with nano-influencers, who have less than 5,000 followers. Influencer marketing doesn’t have to involve celebrities and extremely popular creators – it’s achievable to reach out to nano- and micro-influencers with high engagement to create meaningful relationships for your brand or client.

RELEVANT: In the keynote address about rebranding in a millennial world, Christine King talked about the challenges facing baby boomer brands as they fight to stay relevant in today’s digital environment. As a millennial/Gen Z cusp, which Christine called a “Millzy,” it was interesting to see how much I resonated with her advice. Brands should focus on visualization over explanation to stay relevant, both online and in-person – millennials are drawn to clean lines and minimalistic design that mimics the Silicon Valley experience. They should also provide need-based solutions to stay relevant to millennials, while including a deeper meaning behind their brand story. Disruptors like Amazon and Coca-Cola, who put the customer first while inventing and being patient, are great examples of baby boomer brands innovating to stay relevant in today’s world.

TIME-BOUND: In the plenary session about leading through crisis with Hinda Mitchell, president and founder of Inspire PR Group, I learned so much about how timing is crucial in crisis communications. This topic has been on my mind since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this session gave me insight into the essential traits of a leader and how to respond timely in a crisis. Hinda’s biggest tip was to never assume it won’t happen to you – you have to have a plan ready in case of emergency. When a crisis hits, it’s imperative as a leader to bring your team together to assign roles and make sure you can be reached quickly and easily. Successful brand recovery in a crisis takes authenticity, consistency, reliability, strong execution and time.

I’m so grateful to have been awarded a scholarship to attend The Modern Communicator conference with so many amazing Columbus PR professionals. I can’t wait to continue learning and growing within the chapter and create many SMART goals to come!

While I never thought my first post-grad conference would be over Zoom, I sat down at my laptop on Friday excited and ready to learn. Here is a summary of some of the best advice and tips I received from the best and brightest of Central Ohio PRSA: 

• Hana Bieliauskas from Inspire PR Group taught us about influencer partnerships.  Because of the more authentic nature of influencer content, 92% of consumers trust influencer marketing over traditional, making them a valuable asset to PR strategy.  Don’t forget to thank the influencers you work with by sharing their content and recognizing their hard work. 

• At the Strategic Storytelling: Maximizing Your Impact session, Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville of FrazierHeiby discussed the importance of organizations having strong values that are authentic to their brand and brand purpose. A great example of a brand that stands behind their values is Ben and Jerry’s. 

• Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Abbie Roth informed us on how the hospital uses content marketing to maintain peer reputation. Nationwide Children’s Hospital has a print magazine, website and Twitter account for doctors and medical research content that is minimally branded and professional so that a doctor in any hospital can feel comfortable reading it. 

• COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement has shown us the good and the bad of organizations in crisis. Hinda Mitchell from Inspire PR Group says the most important thing a leader in an organization can do is prepare for a crisis before it happens. Mitchell gave six key steps to being prepared for a crisis: 

• Know who is on the crisis team and why.

• Designate a spokesperson. 

• Have a list of internal and external key contacts and numbers.

• Prepare an established media and social media policy for employees. 

• Do training and scenario planning. 

• Review the plan regularly and update it as necessary to ensure there aren’t any gaps in the plan. 

• You might think public relations and content marketing are two totally different things, but Michelle Garrett of Garrett Public Relations shared how the two can overlap. PR and content marketing are both important for content creation, building relationships, gaining visibility through reaching out to audiences and thought leadership. Garrett gave great advice for PR professionals dabbling in content marketing: if you can’t seem to get media to cover your story, publish it yourself on your blog or website. 

• Video can be very overwhelming to newcomers but video experts Dan Farkas and Beth Menduni shared their favorite hacks for making the best video content. Dan Farkas shared the advice, “Put your talent in the best situation to thrive.” Meaning, make sure your talent is comfortable and prepared to ensure the best video content. They also recommended using Adobe Premiere Rush for simple and effective editing. 

Overall, the virtual conference was a successful learning experience. Big shoutout to PRSA Central Ohio for putting on this event despite the COVID-19 hurdles. 

Thanks to the collaborative and positive spirit of conference organizers, speakers and attendees, the 2020 Central Ohio PRSA virtual conference was a success! Each year, this event brings PR and communications professionals together for a day of sharing and learning. Although this year’s conference had to be rescheduled and adapted to a virtual format due to COVID-19, we are so grateful for this community who kept the conference entertaining, educational and running smoothly. If you’re interested in learning more about each speaker and their presentation, please visit the links below:

Rebranding in a Millennial Kind of World

Christine King, Tealbook + CASK Communications

Leveraging Strong Influencer Partnerships to Build Awareness, Tell Stories & Build Trust

Hana Bieliauskas, Inspire PR Group

Truths and Myths of Multi-Channel Marketing

Samantha Parsons and Leah Franklin, Cardinal Health

Teaching Social: Why Understanding Social Media’s Usage and Impact is Important for Every Employee

Diane Lang, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Strategic Storytelling: Maximizing Your Impact

Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville, FrazierHeiby

Integrating Content Marketing in a Peer Reputation Strategy

Abbie Roth, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Content and SEO: Better Together

Amy Shropshire, Columbus State Community College

When Organizations are Tested: Leading through Crisis

Hinda Mitchell, Inspire PR Group

What's PR Got to Do with Content Marketing? 

Michelle Garrett, Garrett Public Relations

Selling Out Arenas – One Fan at a Time

Jenn Cartmille, Greater Columbus Sports Commission

Media Buying 101

Mark Subel, Two Wheels Marketing

Stephanie Cotts, Brandwell Solutions

Video Storytelling and Hacks

Dan Farkas, The Ohio State University

Beth Menduni, The Mktg Dept

Building a Long-Term Marketing Strategy for Domestic Violence Shelter Capital Campaign

Hinda Mitchell, Inspire PR

Pam Georgiana, Lutheran Social Services

Big data. The big reason why data can help demonstrate ROI

Rob Carnell, Huntington National Bank

Storytelling in B2B Marketing and Communications

Aaron Brown, Fahlgren Mortine

Data, Data Everywhere

Lauren Parker, FrazierHeiby

In the first-of-its-kind virtual awards ceremony, Central Ohio communication professionals were recognized for the best work in the profession in 2019 at the annual PRism Awards. Despite being unable to gather together and conduct the awards event in the traditional way, PRSA Central Ohio leadership found a way to honor and recognize the highest achievements from the previous year.

“We’re just not going to let the global pandemic diminish our opportunity to honor the best PR work in our region,” said Katie Thomas, APR, Chapter President. “With this pivot, we genuinely expect this to be a PRisms no one will soon forget.”

Congratulations to the winners listed below for their outstanding achievements!

Individual Award Winners
Tom Poling Practitioner of the Year | John Palmer, APR, Ohio Hospital Association
Rising Star | Brian Hammel, Fahlgren Mortine
PRSSA Outstanding Graduate | Konni Lorenz, The Ohio State University
Walt Siefert Award for Outstanding Service to PRSSA | Natalie Kompa, Ed.D., MBA, Ohio Dominican University
Volunteer of the Year | Shannon Jack, Experience Columbus

Best of Show
Profit
TIE: Best of Show | Fahlgren Mortine with Avery Dennison
TIE: Best of Show | Fahlgren Mortine with DHL Supply Chain

Non-Profit
Best of Show | Fahlgren Mortine with Travel Nevada

Campaigns
Community Relations
Profit
Award of Excellence | Event Marketing Strategies
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with BrewDog

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with COSI
PRism Award | Experience Columbus

Crisis Communications and Issues Management
Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Inspire PR Group with Pet Food Institute
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Short North Alliance

Influencer Outreach
Profit
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Donatos Pizza

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with Travel Nevada
PRism Award | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau

Social Media Campaign
Profit
Award of Excellence | Approach Marketing with Raising Cane's Ohio
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Donatos Pizza

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Inspire PR Group with American Dairy Association Mideast
TIE PRism Award | Geben Communication with COTA
TIE PRism Award | MediaSource with The Ohio Development Services Agency

Best Use of a Social Media Platform
Profit
Award of Excellence | The Shelly Company
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Donatos Pizza

Non-Profit
PRism Award | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau

Integrated Communications
Profit
Award of Excellence | FrazierHeiby
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Avery Dennison

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with Donate Life Ohio
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Smart Columbus

Internal Communications
Profit
Award of Excellence | Burkholder Flint Easterday with AEP Ohio
PRism Award | The Wendy's Company

Marketing Communications Consumer Products and Services
Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with Bob Evans Restaurants
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Balloon Time

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau
PRism Award | Geben Communication with YWCA Columbus

Marketing Communications Business to Business
Profit
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with DHL Supply Chain

Non-Profit
PRism Award | Team Fleisher Communications

Special Events and Observances
Profit
Award of Excellence | Belle Communication with Shake Shack
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Forbidden Root

Non-Profit
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Travel Nevada

Branding/Rebranding
Profit
PRism Award | FrazierHeiby

Non-Profit
PRism Award | City of New Albany

PRSSA Outstanding Project
PRism Award | Capital University with Fahlgren Mortine

Tactics

Single-Issue Publications
Profit
Award of Excellence | FrazierHeiby with AEP Ohio
PRism Award | Ohio Department of Commerce

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | City of Dublin
PRism Award | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau

Series Publications
Profit
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Cardinal Health

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau
PRism Award | Nationwide Children's Hospital

Annual Reports
Profit
PRism Award | The Catholic Foundation of Ohio

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Paul Werth Associates with SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio)
PRism Award | City of Dublin

E-newsletters
Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau
PRism Award | FrazierHeiby with Bristol Village

Presentations / Webinars
Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | FrazierHeiby with Marion CAN DO!
PRism Award | Jaron Terry Communications

Media Relations - Consumer Products and Services
Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with Bob Evans Restaurants
PRism Award | Geben Communication

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Fahlgren Mortine with Pelotonia
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Travel Nevada

Media Relations - Business to Business
Profit
Award of Excellence | Geben Communication with Caster Connection
PRism Award | Belle Communication with The Risk Institute at The Ohio State University

Feature Placements - Print
Profit
Award of Excellence | Belle Communication with Ricart Automotive
PRism Award | Geben Communication with The Parking Spot

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Inspire PR Group with Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau
PRism Award | City of Dublin

Feature Placements - Broadcast
Profit
Award of Excellence | FrazierHeiby with AEP Ohio
PRism Award | Inspire PR Group with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Inspire PR Group with Destination Delaware County Ohio
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with A&F Challenge

Feature Placements - Digital
Profit
Award of Excellence | Belle Communication with Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Eleventh Candle Co.

Non-Profit
PRism Award | Inspire PR Group with Butler County Visitors Bureau

Op-Ed Columns, Byline Articles and Blog Posts
Profit
Award of Excellence | Ohio Northern University
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Alliance Data's card services business

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Nationwide Children's Hospital
PRism Award | Inspire PR Group with Lutheran Social Services‚ CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence

Websites
Profit
Award of Excellence | The Wendy's Company
PRism Award | FrazierHeiby with AEP Ohio

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau
PRism Award | Inspire PR Group with Pet Leadership Council

Video News Release
Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | MediaSource with Nationwide Children's Hospital
PRism Award | MediaSource with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Best Use of Video
Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Inspire PR Group with American Dairy Association Mideast
PRism Award | MediaSource with The American Dairy Association Mideast

Audio
Profit
PRism Award | Ohio State Fair

Use of Data / Analytics
Profit
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Columbia Gas of Ohio

Non-Profit
PRism Award | Geben Communication with Boundless

Diversity and Inclusion
Profit
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with COSI

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | City of Dublin
PRism Award | Nationwide Children's Hospital

Creative Tactics
Profit
PRism Award | FrazierHeiby with Woeber Mustard Company

Non-Profit
Award of Excellence | Nationwide Children's Hospital
PRism Award | Fahlgren Mortine with Travel Nevada

Adjusting to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed daily routines for many of us. How and from where we work has — at least for now — changed to varying degrees, making flexibility welcome and often necessary. The good news is PRSA is now offering an online testing option for those pursuing their Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

APR candidates now have two options to take the Examination for Accredited in Public Relations (EAPR):

1. A Prometric Testing Center, or
2. Remotely, through Prometric’s ProProctor application.

Candidates who choose to take the EAPR remotely must have a computer equipped with a camera and microphone, internet connectivity and the ProProctor application installed prior to the test event. ProProctor allows candidates to test wherever and whenever is most convenient for their schedule.

At this time, remote testing is not available for the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations Examination (CERT). CERT candidates must schedule their examination at a Prometric Testing Center; however, ProProctor is expected to be available for CERT exams in September 2020.

Additionally, PRSA Central Ohio candidates ready for their panel presentation, or motivated to start the process, should contact Susan Alyse Bowers Fortner, Accreditation Committee Chair, for virtual options.

Best of luck to this year’s candidates!