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Montgomery PRCA Members Dominate 2009 Achievement Awards
Archived Press Releases Obama press staffer Corey Ealons, native of Birmingham to keynote PRCA Luncheon Baldwin to lead State PRCA Board Bill Cunningham of Montgomery Professional Achievement Award Winner West Alabama Medallion Awards Release North Alabama Medallion Awards Release Montgomery Medallion Awards Release Mobile Medallion Awards Release East Alabama Medallion Awards Release Birmingham Medallion Awards Release D’Oliveira Named SPRF Professional Achievement Award Winner Lantern Award Winners; Jackson’s Mann & Associates Claims Best in Show Public Relations Council of Alabama NAMES RUSHING Association Manager COLLINS NAMED SPRF Association ASSISTANT Deadline for the 2006-07 Student Medallion Awards has been extended to Aug. 3rd PRCA TO OFFER ACCREDITATION JUMPSTART WORKSHOP ON MARCH 10, 2007 PRCA Recognizes 2006 Medallion Award Winners D’Oliveira Named PRCA Practitioner of the Year Mobile Chapter Named PRCA Chapter of the Year Suzanne Fornaro, APR received the 2006 Professional Achievement Award Fornaro Named PRCA Practitioner of the Year AU’s Michael Tullier, APR, Receives SPRF’s Achievement Award MONTGOMERY (Oct. 3, 2008) -
Bill Cunningham and McWhorter Communication were the two big
winners at the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) Annual
Conference held Oct. 3, at the new Renaissance Montgomery Hotel
and Spa at the Convention Center in historic downtown Montgomery.
The conference, hosted by PRCA’s Montgomery Chapter, was highlighted by the annual
Medallion Awards competition, which recognizes the best work of
the state’s top public relations practitioners. January 3, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nan Baldwin, APR PRCA State VP, Accreditation 205-912-5964 PRCA TO OFFER ACCREDITATION JUMPSTART WORKSHOP ON MARCH 10, 2007 MONTGOMERY – The Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) will host its annual Accreditation Jump-Start Workshop on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at the First Baptist Church of Montgomery (305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, AL 36104) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to all PRCA members and $15 for non-members. Continental breakfast, lunch and all workshop materials will be provided to participants. To register, contact Nan Baldwin, APR - PRCA vice president for accreditation, at nan@mdb.org or 205-912-5964. The workshop delivers an excellent introduction to the accreditation process for Public Relations (PR) practitioners who are interested in pursuing this important milestone in their professional careers. It provides a thorough understanding of the steps involved in becoming an Accredited PR practitioner. Also included will be an overview of five of the major topics tested on the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), a case study exercise and helpful study tips from cross-state Accredited PR practitioners. “Earning the APR designation is a distinct honor that sets experienced PR practitioners apart from others in our profession,” said Baldwin. “Similar to other professional certifications, Accreditation is our professions’ seal of approval identifying those that have mastered the skills, knowledge and abilities specific to the PR profession.” Accreditation in Public Relations is a voluntary certification program for public relations professionals, administered by the Universal Accreditation Board. It is offered to any public relations professional with three or more years’ experience who is a member of a participating professional PR organization. The purpose of Accreditation is to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the PR field. The designation APR signifies a high professional level of experience and competence. As the marketplace becomes more competitive, job listings in the PR field are specifying “APR preferred.” Today, there are thousands of APR’s in the U.S., yet only 10 percent of practitioners in Alabama have attained the APR designation. Accreditation is ideal for PR practitioners seeking to increase their professional marketability. PRCA is a member of the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). For more information, visit www.prcaonline.com or www.praccreditation.org.
For directions to the Jumpstart workshop, go to www.montgomeryfbc.org. PRCA Recognizes 2006 Medallion
Award Winners - MSDoc The Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) recognized the outstanding work of public relations practitioners during the Medallion Awards presentation at the 2006 PRCA State Conference in the historic Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Friday, September 29, 2006. The Medallion Awards competition recognizes the best work of the state’s PRCA members with certificates of merit, awards of excellence and the Medallion Award, the highest award given. The Medallion Awards were selected by a panel of judges from Public Relations Association of Mississippi (Starkville Chapter), who reviewed 159 entries from 19 categories, awarding 14 Medallion Awards, 25 Awards of Excellence, 13 Certificates of Merit, and two Best of Show awards. The judges considered planning, originality, creativity, effectiveness of communications, budget utilization and the role of the entrant in the project. The Best of Show Award is considered to be the most outstanding of all category entries. This year, the Best of Show – Print was awarded to Redstone Federal Credit Union for its quarterly publication, Connections and the Best of Show – Electronic was awarded to UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center for its Ray of Hope DVD. Award recipients by state chapter and number
of awards won were: A complete listing of winners for the 2006 Medallion Awards can be viewed on the PRCA state website at www.prcaonline.com. About PRCA Contact: Veronica Wilder, VP Students, 2006 MSdoc PDF The Public Relations Council of Alabama presented the 2006 Student Medallion Awards at the PRCA State Conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on September 28, 2006. Virginia McCurry Johnson, a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham took home top honors as the Michael K. Simmons Student of the Year. The Betty Hudgens Student Chapter of the Year was awarded to the University of Aabama at Birmingham. Twelve Medallions were awarded in the following
categories to these students: Total Public Relations Program – External; 2006 Public Relations Client Team - Troy University Special or One-time Public Relations Program: Short-term Internal (fewer than 90 days); Chase Long, Lauren Fierman, Sarah Waters - University of Alabama Writing for Media: Feature Stories Internal/External; Virginia McCurry Johnson - University of Alabama at Birmingham Speech Writing; Virginia McCurry Johnson - University of Alabama at Birmingham and Jonathan Robert Pigg - University of Alabama at Birmingham Special Publications: Promotional Brochures and Folders, Two or More Colors; Lauren Englund - Troy University Direct Mail: Posters; Lauren Englund - Troy University Direct Mail: Miscellaneous; Candace Hulcher - Troy University Graphic Design: Photography, Single or Series for Display; Anthony Cooper - University of Alabama at Birmingham Web Site Design; Anthony Cooper - University of Alabama at Birmingham Potpourri; Cresandra Smothers - University of Alabama To see a complete listing of all awards presented at the conference, check out www.prcaonline.com. Contact:
Denise D’Oliveira, APR,
was named the 2006 Philip R. Forrest Practitioner of the Year
by the Public
Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA). For Immediate Release: October 18, 2006 Contact: Mobile Chapter Named PRCA Chapter of the Year
The Mobile Chapter was named the 2006 Sharon Heflin Chapter of the Year by the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA). Led by president, Traci C. Gyan (pictured), the Mobile Chapter leadership also included: President Elect, Leigh Perry Herndon; VP Finance/Treasurer, Julie Otts; VP Programs, Susan M. Rak-Blanchard; VP Membership, Penny Thatcher; VP Projects, Crystal Wall; Historian, Herb Jordan; Communications, Melissa Hinson; Student Affairs, Mary Louise Mason Hoffman; Accreditation, Denise D'Oliveria APR; Community Service, Catherine Vulerich; Publicity, Amber Guy Wiseman; Past President, Barbara Allen; and Board Advisor, Jennifer Graham Jenkins. The award honors the PRCA Chapter that has exhibited excellence in overall chapter operations during the previous year. Specific focus is placed on the following categories: programs, membership recruitment and retention, membership participation, promotion of public relations internally and externally, projects, community involvement, accreditation and professional development. The winning chapter receives a cash award in addition to a small gift for each member. The award is named for Sharon Heflin, APR, who passed away in 1999. She was a long-time member of the Montgomery Chapter with service on both the state and local boards. Ms. Heflin, who many in Montgomery would call the heart of their chapter, devoted her career of over 20 years to furthering the arts in Alabama, as public information officer for the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Ms. Heflin’s legacy embodies the commitment and excellence in which we hope to aspire to in our local chapters of PRCA. PRCA is the state's oldest and largest group of public relations practitioners. The organization exists to further the professional and networking interests of today's public relations and communication professional in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations. (back)
August 7, 2006 Suzanne Fornaro, APR, has worked nearly 30 years in the field of public relations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in communications from Syracuse University. Suzanne is assistant vice president for public relations with Volkert & Associates, a consulting firm of engineers, architects and environmental scientists based in Mobile. Keith King, Chairman of Volkert’s board of directors, says of Suzanne: “As a pioneer in public relations for the engineering design industry, Suzanne recognized the opportunity to meld technical expertise and communications, thus establishing and maintaining a cohesive, efficient and professional profile for our firm.” After 25 years with Volkert, Suzanne continues her traditional role in public relations developing innovative internal communication tools and taking the firm’s message to the public. She also is part of the in-house professional training team and takes a lead role in community relations planning and activities. Suzanne is Accredited in Public Relations, and is a past president of PRCA Mobile Chapter and the PRCA state Board and is a former SPRF board member. Suzanne’s work has earned numerous recognitions including PRCA Medallions and SPRF Lanterns. Her fellow PRCA Mobile Chapter members recognized her with the Diamond Award in 2002 for service to the chapter and as the Practitioner of the Year in 1986, 1988 and 2005, when she also won the state award as the 2005 PRCA Philip R. Forrest, Jr., Practitioner of the Year. Suzanne and her husband, Bob, have two grown
daughters, Rachel and Nancy, and two grandchildren, Jordan and
Rachel Bradley. She enjoys traveling in the United States and abroad
on vacations. (back) Fornaro Named PRCA Practitioner of the Year
Suzanne Fornaro, APR, was named2005 Philip R. Forrest Practitioner of the Year by the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA). As the director of public relations for Volkert & Associates, a 650-person engineering, environmental and construction services firm, Suzanne is responsible for corporate public relations and communications. She is nationally accredited in public relations by the Universal Accreditation Board and has won 14 awards from professional organizations for her work in the field of public relations. She has a B.A. degree in public relations and advertising from the University of Georgia and an M.S. in communications from Syracuse University. Suzanne has served on the boards and as president of the local and state chapters of PRCA and as president of the Press Club of Mobile. She represented PRCA on the board and served as secretary of the Southern Public Relations Federation. She is a readiness review panelist for APR candidates from SPRF and an instructor for chapter accreditation courses. On April 1, Suzanne completed a two-year term as national president of the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), a 15,000-member volunteer advocacy organization with affiliates in 43 states. She is a past president of the local and state affiliates of LDA. Her local volunteer activities include Partners in Education, Exploring/Learning for Life Program of the Boy Scouts of America, Mobile Area Education Foundation, United Way of Southwest Alabama, American Red Cross, and Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. The Philip R. Forrest, Jr. Practitioner of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed on a member by the PRCA. An outstanding member from each PRCA chapter is nominated by his peers as his or her chapter’s Practitioner of the Year and must prepare an entry detailing their career achievements for judging on the state level. Suzanne was nominated by the Mobile Chapter of PRCA and there were five other nominees from chapters around the state. The selection is based on professional activities, community service, career achievement and examples of the nominee’s work. The award was re-named in memory of Philip R. Forrest, Jr., a longtime member of the Mobile Chapter, after his death in 1983. He was the 1977 recipient of PRCA’s then Practitioner of the Year Award. (back) AU’s Michael Tullier, APR, Receives SPRF’s Achievement Award
The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) presented its highest honor—the Professional Achievement Award—to Auburn University’s Michael Tullier, APR. The award was presented during the Federation’s annual conference on Aug. 16 at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi. Tullier is director of external relations for AU’s College of Education. The Pubic Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) nominated him for the award by naming him its 2004 Philip R. Forrest Jr. Practitioner of the Year. Each of SPRF’s four member organizations may nominate one professional for the annual award. Nominees are judged in areas of career achievement, professional activities, continuing education/Accreditation, and community service. “Michael’s public relations peers and those he mentors hold him in the highest esteem,” Carol Mann, APR, SPRF president, said. “He maintains the utmost standards in everything he does whether it is his career, community service, interaction with other professionals, or his personal life. This award recognizes Michael’s accomplishments as a leader, professional, and selfless volunteer. I expect him to accomplish even greater things for years to come.” He currently serves as PRCA’s immediate past president, SPRF’s vice president of Accreditation, and a member of the industry’s Universal Accreditation Board, which oversees the nationwide program that current accredits more than 5,000 public relations professionals. He earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2003, a master’s of public administration at Auburn in 1998, and a bachelor of arts in mass communication from Louisiana State University in 1994. A member of PRCA’s East Alabama Chapter, Tullier has served in leadership roles at the local, state and regional levels since helping to found the chapter in 1997. He was twice recognized as its Practitioner of the Year for a career that includes public relations service to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, and AU’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. He accepted his current position in AU’s College of Education in 2004. He has taught both public relations and public administrations courses at AU as an adjunct instructor and is the professional adviser to PRCA’s Auburn University student chapter. Tullier’s
professional and volunteer work has garnered awards at the state
and regional level in the areas of campaigns, community relations,
events promotion, publications, survey research and interactive
technology. He currently volunteers in a public relations capacity
for the Food Bank of East Alabama, United Way of Lee County,
Auburn Rotary Club, and Business by the Book quarterly gatherings.
He is an active member of Auburn United Methodist Church. (back) |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA