Committees

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.

Contact: Nance Larsen, APR, Fellow PRSA, Gere Tactical, Inc.

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: Blythe Campbell, APR

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.

Contacts: Heidi Embley, Embley Communications, LLC, Kelsey Fiedler, Thompson & Co. Public Relations and Lorraine Henry, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources commissioner’s office 

Board Development
Contacts: Brooke Taylor, APR, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, and Kristin Helvey, APR, Helvey Communications

Board Governance
Contact: Angela Gonzalez, Chugachmiut and Heather Marron, Alaska Communications

Diversity & Inclusion
The PRSA Alaska Chapter embraces all of the people who make up the diverse state in which it operates. This committee ensures the chapter remains proactive in applying a diversity and inclusion lens to all of its efforts ― from leadership development and membership outreach to content creation.

Contacts: TBD

CommEx
Contact: TBD

Stewardship
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 and providing door prizes. Volunteers are needed to solicit sponsorships, door prizes and more. The stewardship committee is a fantastic opportunity to establish new professional contacts.

Contact: Co-chairs Molly Cornish Cordy, Catholic Social Services Alaska 

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.

Contacts: Carla Browning, APR, University of Alaska Fairbanks

PRSA Alaska Mentor Program
Do you want to take your career to the next level? Are you facing a challenging workplace dilemma? PRSA Alaska’s Mentor Program can provide the guidance you need to achieve your career-related goals. Whether you want to strengthen your resume or solve a challenging work-related problem, mentors can provide a fresh perspective by sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise with their matches. If you are interested in being matched with a mentor or becoming a mentor, contact Blythe Campbell through the PRSA Alaska contact us form.

Contact: TBD

Programming
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.

Contacts: Gina Romero, Yuit Communications, Megan Webb, GCI and Cheyenna Kuplak, Doyon

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: Katie Severin, AARP and M. Scott Moon, Kenaitze Indian Tribe

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: Gary Scott, Rasmuson Foundation, and Stacy Barnes, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation