My favorite part of the 2011 PPRA Annual Meeting – besides our esteemed speakers – was the opportunity I had to look back and review the year.
We started a mentorship program that pairs professionals with less than 10 years in the profession with more experienced practioners that many of you are helping to make a success.
We continued to offer programming that meets the needs of our members. Feedback from events early in the year indicated you wanted to hear from experts on some of the trickier social media issues. So, we brought in experts from up and down the East Coast to share their insights. We also responded to your need for more information on crisis communications by stacking a panel of experts from around the city who have handled some of the region's major crises. In other events, we brought in editors from Time and People, leadership of the Inquirer and Fox-29, and the cities top non-profit leaders.
Part of the fun at PPRA is recognizing leaders who understand the value of public relations for their company or organization. This year we had the opportunity to honor Dr. Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, with our Gold Medal award. Later in the year, we were honored to induct Matt Cabrey, senior director of communications at Shire Pharmaceuticals, into our Hall of Fame.
In order to recruit members, we launched a 'member-get-a-member' effort that has helped add new people to our group. We also added this blog – which if you don't know already, as a member, you can submit posts to add to your portfolio. We tweet on Twitter and post on Facebook daily, which takes a lot of effort by some of our most active members.
In conjunction with Temple University, we also officially launched the archives of PPRA, a multi-year effort to solidify the legacy of our organization and of our members.
Most importantly, we take time to give back to those who are in need of help. Our pro bono program, Philly Proactive, provided promotional services to Girls, Inc. and Rock to the Future. Members also participated in the annual Philly Clean-up Day.
Many thanks to the great members of the Board of Governors! Without them this hard work could not have been accomplished.
PPRA Board of Governors, 2011-2012
Kera L. Armstrong
Meredith Z. Avakian
Ashley Berke
Lisette Bralow
David W. Brown
Matthew Cabrey
Michael Cavacini
Danielle Cohn
Eric Cortes
Bill Cowen
Catherine Engel
Farrah Farnese
Sharla Feldscher
Jill Flanagan
Bonnie L. Grant
Sylvia Kauders
Jessica Lawlor
Christopher Lukach, APR
Melissa Marsili
Silvana Pop
Larry D. Rubin
Megan R. Smith
Bonnie Squires
Mark A. Tarasiewicz
Meredith Wertz
Caryn Williams
This blog post was written by PPRA President Beth Archer. Beth is a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group in Mount Laurel, N.J., where she works with clients in the utility, healthcare and higher education industries. She had her first internship when clips where still clipped out of a newspaper. Connect with Beth on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Showing posts with label Beth Archer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beth Archer. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Making the leap from corporate to agency, with PPRA’s help
The conversation started with an off-hand remark at the PPRA Hall of Fame luncheon last year. I was on maternity leave, but I didn’t want to miss the Hall inducting Lisa Simon. After the festivities, I was catching up with fellow PPRA board member Chris Lukach and I mentioned that I didn’t know how I was going to successfully do my job while juggling a new baby and a two-hour commute.
Like most new parents, I was planning to go back to work. I wasn’t really looking to leave my challenging, engaging job that had afforded me many opportunities over the past six years.
Chris sympathized, and casually mentioned that maybe we should do lunch once I figured out what my plans were.
Fast forward several months and lunches and meetings, and I’m now a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group, working alongside Chris and the AKCG team.
Because of my leap, I am frequently questioned by colleagues: “What’s life like on the other side?”
The fact of the matter is that it is much the same. The work is the same. It requires the same skill set; I’m just managing a more diverse workload. I may be working one day to promote conservation steps a water company has taken, while the next day I may be working on a crisis for a hospital. I’m still working with great friends and interesting clients, just in a different capacity.
What’s different is how I sell my abilities. In corporate, “selling” my abilities stopped at my last job interview. Most of my colleagues assumed that I could perform my job if I was hired for it. Now, I sell our team’s talent every day to current clients, future clients, and, frankly, anyone who will listen.
What is also different is the dynamic with my former colleagues in corporate America. If I tell them about our capabilities, will they think I’m over selling? Do they think I’ll charge them for the same conversations about work we have always had?
These hang-ups are likely manufactured in my mind, but they make me extra cautious around corporate colleagues — friends, really — I’ve known for several years.
The truth is that I would like their business. I do want to work with them, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of our relationship. The balance between professional connections and friendships exists, but I’m still finding it. Because, after all, you never know when the next off-hand remark to a friend will lead into the next client, the next project, the next opportunity.
This blog post was written by PPRA President Beth Archer. Beth is a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group in Mount Laurel, N.J., where she works with clients in the utility, healthcare and higher education industries. She had her first internship when clips where still clipped out of a newspaper. Connect with Beth on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Like most new parents, I was planning to go back to work. I wasn’t really looking to leave my challenging, engaging job that had afforded me many opportunities over the past six years.
Chris sympathized, and casually mentioned that maybe we should do lunch once I figured out what my plans were.
Fast forward several months and lunches and meetings, and I’m now a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group, working alongside Chris and the AKCG team.
Because of my leap, I am frequently questioned by colleagues: “What’s life like on the other side?”
The fact of the matter is that it is much the same. The work is the same. It requires the same skill set; I’m just managing a more diverse workload. I may be working one day to promote conservation steps a water company has taken, while the next day I may be working on a crisis for a hospital. I’m still working with great friends and interesting clients, just in a different capacity.
What’s different is how I sell my abilities. In corporate, “selling” my abilities stopped at my last job interview. Most of my colleagues assumed that I could perform my job if I was hired for it. Now, I sell our team’s talent every day to current clients, future clients, and, frankly, anyone who will listen.
What is also different is the dynamic with my former colleagues in corporate America. If I tell them about our capabilities, will they think I’m over selling? Do they think I’ll charge them for the same conversations about work we have always had?
These hang-ups are likely manufactured in my mind, but they make me extra cautious around corporate colleagues — friends, really — I’ve known for several years.
The truth is that I would like their business. I do want to work with them, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of our relationship. The balance between professional connections and friendships exists, but I’m still finding it. Because, after all, you never know when the next off-hand remark to a friend will lead into the next client, the next project, the next opportunity.
This blog post was written by PPRA President Beth Archer. Beth is a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group in Mount Laurel, N.J., where she works with clients in the utility, healthcare and higher education industries. She had her first internship when clips where still clipped out of a newspaper. Connect with Beth on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Student Spotlight : PPRA Associate Member Joe Rapczynski
What made you join PPRA?
I joined for the opportunities to learn from and network with public relations representatives in the area. As a student who is close to graduating and moving on to the “real world,” my professors and mentors stress that we should take any chances we may get to learn. As a member of PPRA, I have access to events such as “Careers 101” that have given me an advantage coming out of college.
What was your Careers 101 experience?
I picked up small, but useful, pieces of information from recent college graduates now working in the field, such as how to get started with an internship, advantages and disadvantages of a small agency versus a corporate atmosphere and the importance of social media. It was also great to meet other students pursuing careers in PR.
What made you choose Communications as a major?
Communications is a broad major that covers a wide variety of industries. Coming out of high school, I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to study. My friends and family always said I was a good writer, so I figured, “why not”? As I took the Communication courses, I enjoyed the course material and class discussions and gained a passion for the field. After a few more focused courses, I realized I wanted to go into public relations.
How do you balance school work with working in the sports information office and being on the basketball team?
It is tough at times, but my coach and the sports information director stress school work first and always understand the life of a student-athlete. My coach gives us the practice schedule months in advance, which helps me manage my time efficiently. Luckily, the SID allows me to come in during my free time in between school and basketball to finish my writing. However, my coach, SID and professors never let me forget that school comes first.
This blog post was written by PPRA President Beth Archer. Beth is a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group in Mount Laurel, N.J., where she works with clients in the utility, healthcare and higher education industries. She had her first internship when clips where still clipped out of a newspaper. Connect with Beth on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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