PRCA Conference Speakers

2007 sPRF/PRCA Conference Speakers

		Judith Phair, APR, Fellow PRSA Vice President, Communications, Graduate Management Admission Council Presenting Sunday, Sept. 16, 1:00 -3:00p Powerful Leadership In today’s ever-changing world, being a leader means you must be open to change. Not only in what you do, but how the world defines what you do. Judith Phair will share stories and insights to teach seasoned practitioners easy tips to remain at the top of their game. New paradigms for leadership mean that we must be open to new and different things, sometimes things we never imagined would ever be part of our profession. Today being a leader doesn’t measure how much you know, but how we adapt and remain open to opportunity. Judith (Judy) T. Phair is vice president, communications, for the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC®), the association of graduate business schools around the world that owns and administers the GMAT. She leads the Council’s worldwide strategic communications planning and oversees marketing, advertising, media relations, and publications. Previously, Judy headed her own agency, PhairAdvantage Communications. She has also served as vice president for public affairs, Council on Competitiveness; vice president for institutional advancement, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute; assistant dean of external relations, Johns Hopkins University ; and vice president for public relations, Goucher College . Judy was 2005 President and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the largest organization of public relations professionals in the world.

		Jim E. Lukaszewski, APR, Fellow PRSA Chairman and President, The Lukaszewski Group Inc. Presenting, Monday, Sept. 17, 9:00 -10:15a PR To the Rescue: When All Heck Breaks Loose Being heard by the boss and getting to the table, especially during crucial or crisis-driven events, and having influence on strategy and key decisions is what you will learn about during this powerful and highly interactive 75-minute session. James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, CCEP, will teach you powerful techniques for becoming a trusted strategic advisor. You'll learn the necessity of developing the management-oriented mindset, and the behaviors and attitudes that attract management's attention and get you invited into the decision-making process earlier . . . before all the decisions have been made by the high-priced lawyers and outside consultants. James E. Lukaszewski advises, coaches, and counsels the men and women who lead and run very large corporations and organizations worldwide, and those who council them. He helps top executives and managers face tough, touchy, sensitive corporate and reputation problems that can only be resolved through superior personal leadership skills combined with positive, ethical, strategic communication. Corporate Legal Times lists Jim among 28 “Crunch-Time” counselors who should be on your speed dial when “All Hell Breaks Loose.” One of America ’s most prolific communicators, Jim is Founder, Chairman, and President of The Lukaszewski Group, located in White Plains , New York .

		Jinx Coleman Broussard, Ph.D Associate Professor, Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University Presenting, Monday, Sept. 17, 10:30 -11:30a and 2:00-3:00p Trends in PR and what it means in Education today PR has been named as one of the top career choices by Career Builder and enrollment in PR programs has been steadily increasing. What do these changes mean for our profession and how can you maximize your career in public relations and what the profession might need from you in return? Jinx Broussard will offer insight from the educational side of the field about how recent graduates are faring in the job market and how PR professionals can all benefit from this resurgence in the popularity of our career of choice. Dr. Jinx Coleman Broussard has more than 30 years of experience as a public relations practitioner and educator. She is an associate professor in the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge , where she also holds the Douglas Manship Endowed Professorship. She has served as director of University Relations at Dillard University , as press secretary to New Orleans Mayor Sidney J. Barthelemy, as director of public information for the City of New Orleans , and as Louisiana media director for the 1992 Clinton/Gore Presidential campaign. Jinx owns Jinx Broussard Consulting and Public Relations.

		Greg Stroud Creative Director, Scripps Networks (HGTV, FOOD, DIY, FINE LIVING, GAC) Presenting, Monday, Sept. 17, 10:30 -11:30a and 2:00-3:00p Brave New World: PR in the Age of Consumer-centric Media As technology drives news presentation and consumption, public relations professionals must use multidimensional platforms to reach their publics via the media. Newspapers are partnering with television stations and cable companies while large media organizations are becoming even larger. User-generated or covertly-generated media is creating more effective buzz than ever before. The influences of this concentrated media demand a new kind of public relations professional who can efficiently and effectively translate stories across the converging media platforms. This program will offer the latest new media information and will help practitioners better understand the ever-changing media landscape. Greg Stroud is currently Creative Director at FlNELiving, part of the Scripps Networks Family. Greg was involved with that network's on-line show premieres, one of the first times a show launched on-line prior to on-air. Prior to FINE, Greg worked at The Weather Channel and created much of the advertising for weather.com. At both networks Greg was heavily involved with re-branding and re-designing. Greg and his teams have won numerous creative and marketing awards, including Addys, Tellys, Prornax/BDA Golds and more. He has also in the past worked as a TV anchor, winning Alabama AP awards. He was 6th grade class president.

		Dwight Orr Founder/President, Creative Marketing Programs Presenting Monday, Sept. 17, 10:30 -11:30a and 2:00-3:00p The Bottom Line: PR Analyzes Media Impact A variety of consumer-focused strategies will be shared that demonstrate what works, what doesn't and why with regard to public relations and marketing communication initiatives. Understand how tracking the impact of mass media, website, direct communications and public relations efforts can provide valuable insight into consumer behaviors. Several or these key behavioral patterns will be discussed along with proven solutions to engage consumers in an interactive dialog that leads to a long-term preference for your organization. Attendees will also take part in an Interactive Testing Game that tests their marketing knowledge. Dwight Orr is founder and President of Creative Marketing Programs located in Kansas City . Since 1985, his company has developed relationship management and customer retention programs for clients across the country. CMP specializes in complex interactive direct marketing projects, sophisticated segmented response systems and the meticulous testing, tracking and analysis of results. As a result of his and his company's ongoing quest to find out what makes consumers tick, CMP has helped their clients build a better bottom line by increasing customer satisfaction, implementing retention strategies and improving acquisition efforts. Dwight has been a guest speaker at state and national health care conferences and often presents to marketing departments across the country.

		Missy LaBorde, APR Faculty, Arts, English and Humanities Department , Louisiana State Univ. at Alexandria Presenting Monday, Sept. 17, 3:30 – 5:00p Powering Up for Your Dream PR Job Graduation has come and gone (or is quickly approaching) and now you're on the interview circuit. Information from this session will give you the power to really shine during the job search process. We'll discuss practical tips to help you power up to land your perfect PR job. Melissa C. LaBorde, APR, currently serves as assistant professor of communication studies at LSU Alexandria. She received her graduate degree in communication and her bachelor’s degree in journalism (public relations emphasis) from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. She teaches mass communication and public speaking courses for the department. She has 15 years of public relations experience in the education and non-profit sector. She holds the national accredited in public relations credential, APR, and was awarded the SPRF Professional Achievement Award in 2003. She has served on the board of various community boards such as the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, Junior League of Alexandria, Red Cross and Renaissance Home.

		Judy Culbreth Editorial Director, Mobile Bay Monthly Presenting Tuesday, Sept. 18, 8:00 -9:00a How to Baby Your Contacts People in the media can sometimes behave like spoiled children. They want their own way. They don't like to share. They procrastinate, and then demand immediate attention. And, they only want to play with their friends. This session will offer tips on how to be a contact whisperer. Yes, you can train producers and editors to be responsive and mature. Judy Culbreth has been editorial director of Mobile Bay Monthly since September 2005. Prior to moving back home to Alabama , her New York media career included work at Seventeen, Ladies’ Home Journal and Mademoiselle magazines. She served as executive director of Redbook and editor-in-chief of Working Mother magazine for 10 years. She also appeared monthly for four years on the “Today Show” as the show’s first work/family contributing editor. Judy was also a guest on hundreds of national TV shows, such as “MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour,” “NBC Nightly News,” “CBS Evening News,” ABC’s “Prime Time Live,” “Dateline,” and cable networks MSNBC and CNN. Judy is the recipient of two Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Awards, an EMMA (Exceptional Merit Media Award), and the Walter Annenberg Essentiality Award. She is a frequent contributor to "Reader's Digest" and the author of “The Boomers’ Guide to Online Dating.”

		Pam Middleton Owner/Consultant, Middleton Communications Presenting Tuesday, Sept. 18, 9:15 -10:45a and 2:30 - 4:00p Connecting the Dots: Using Everything You Know To Be An Exceptional Communicator Pam Middleton believes in using everything you know and all of your cumulative experience to be a successful communicator. The key is to value relevance, to be able to bring life experience and learning to bear on the matter at hand. While the fundamentals of human communications and connections never really change, the environment in which we live and work today is in a near-constant state of flux. So how do we keep ourselves fresh and able to make those important connections in an unplugged, borderless and virtual world that for the first time in history has four generations in the workforce at the same time? Middleton, who credits storytelling skills from her rural Alabama upbringing with much of her writing success, will demonstrate how to combine effectively what you know from past experience with continuous learning and new ways of thinking. Pam Middleton, a native Alabaman, began her media and communications career as a reporter for the Mobile Press Register, where she won three top Associated Press awards for feature writing. She moved to New York in the mid-1970s and began a 20-year career in corporate communications with three Fortune 50 companies and KPMG, a “Big 4” accounting and consulting firm. In the latter position, she served as Director of National and Global Communications for an organization with more than 100,000 employees worldwide and also was Chief of Staff to the firm’s CEO. She spent three years on special assignment in Europe in the late 1980s as the business world began globalizing and her firm focused on enhancing its marketing and communications efforts on a global scale. For the past 10 years, Pam has served as a writer and communications strategist and consultant to dozens of corporations, and not-for-profit. She is a graduate of the University of South Alabama with a double major in History and English Literature.

		Jeffrey Black, APR President, Black Sheep Reputations Presenting Tuesday, Sept. 18, 9:15 -10:45a and 2:30 - 4:00p Become a PR Super Spokesperson This session is designed for leaders of organizations who need to be prepared to “meet the press” and face the public … in times of good and bad. Through highly interactive discussion and role plays, participants will learn how to: Use the media … to tell YOUR story. Prepare key, visual messages and turn them into great “sound bites.” Stay on message and take control of a media interview, even when it becomes adversarial. Stand, sit and project properly to maximize the verbal message. Look and dress the part. Project caring strength, especially during a crisis. Jeffrey Black, APR, from Manning, SC is the principal of Black Sheep Reputations, a communications training and consulting company with clients worldwide. Jeffrey has an extensive media background, primarily in television. He worked on the prime-time television drama, “Dynasty,” hosted a Los Angeles cable TV show and was an anchor, reporter and program host for the CBS and FOX affiliates in Birmingham, Alabama. His extensive client list includes, General Electric, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, several NASCAR drivers, Home Depot, M&M/Mars Candy, NBC Television and numerous other organizations. His work has taken him to eight countries. Visit his website at www.talkingblacksheep.com for program information.

		Josh Hallett Owner/Consultant, Hyku, LLC Presenting Tuesday, Sept. 18, 9:15 -10:45a and 2:30 - 4:00p Getting Social Online Social media is changing the way people communicate, consume media and interact with businesses. There is a unique opportunity for public relations practitioners to connect one on one with their customers and potential clients. Josh will provide an overview of the social media landscape: blogs, podcasts, wikis, etc. then show you how to effectively reach out to online communities. Josh Hallett is an internationally recognized thought leader in the convergence of social media and corporate public relations & marketing. To pay the bills, Josh operates Hyku, LLC and provides social media consulting and development work to Fortune 500 firms, the traditional media and some of the world’s largest public relations and marketing firms. Josh is a Fellow/Board Member of the Society of New Communications Research as well as a member of the Information Architecture Institute and the Florida Public Relations Association.

		Donna Garland Director of Enterprise Communications The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Presenting Monday, Sept. 17, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm Communication in a Flat World: Navigating the Networks of Global Health and New Media The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the responsibility of protecting the health of the American public. In today's very technologically connected world, communication is the key to success, and CDC is increasing its emphasis on its ability to communicate effectively. CDC's fundamentals of communication in times of crisis, as well as every day of the year, are to get information out early, tell the truth, and keep the public's trust as the foundation for all they do.