Meeting Today’s PR Challenges 2019

PRSA’s annual “Meeting Today’s PR Challenges” Conference will be Wednesday, April 24

ERIE, PA  – For today’s public relations professionals, the challenges are significant. With the constant spread of information through both social and traditional media outlets, consumers are taking in this information at a greater pace than ever before. It’s up to communications professionals to keep up.

That’s a task easier said than done, but “Meeting Today’s PR Challenges,” a one-day professional development program, will provide professionals with the information and tools that can help.

Scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, at Penn State Behrend, the program, which is co-sponsored by the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Edinboro University and Penn State Behrend, will feature workshops and presentations for marketing communications and public relations professionals. The program will be held in Penn State Behrend’s Reed Union Building.

Sessions will be presented by professionals from Erie Food Tours, UPMC Hamot, Red Letter Hospitality, Ember+Forge, Tipsy Bean, and the Millcreek Township Office of Emergency Management. The luncheon keynote talk, titled “Perception Shift: Changing a National Conversation,” will be given by Joseph Cephas, Vice President of Communications & Brand Experience at the American Society of Interior Designers.

“Both new and seasoned professionals can gain incredible insight toward the changing world of public relations and marketing communications through these speaker sessions,” said Amanda Kochirka, president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of PRSA. Whether you’re part of a small local business or a company with hundreds of employees, you can benefit from these sessions, which demonstrate how to establish your brand, curate stories and media, and excel in all communications.”

The cost to attend is as follows:

  • Full Course*:
    • $44 for PRSA members
    • $84 for non-members
  • Half Course**:
    • $20 for PRSA members
    • $30 for non-members
  • Luncheon and Keynote:
    • $15 for PRSA members
    • $25 for non-members

* Full-course registration includes breakfast, lunch, and a bowl of Penn State’s Berkey Creamery Ice Cream, provided at the afternoon networking session.

** Half-course registration allows up to three sessions throughout the day. Lunch is not included with the half-course registration.

Attendees who would prefer to be invoiced can request one by emailing Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu. Please note that cancellations will be accepted one week prior to event. Otherwise, reservations will be expected to be paid in full.

Students from any of the region’s colleges and universities — Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University and Penn State Behrend — who are studying communications, public relations or a related field may attend free of charge but must register in advance by emailing Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu.

Topics and instructors for the course include:

  • Keynote Lunch Talk: Perception Shift: Changing a National Conversation
    • Joseph Cephas Vice President, Communications & Brand Experience American Society of Interior  Designers | ASID
  • Low Budget, Big Reach: Small Business Advertising in the Digital Age
    • Kelly Karns Owner Erie Food Tours
  • From Surgery to Snow Babies: Media Relations at UPMC Hamot
    • Karen Beardsley Media Relations Manager UPMC Hamot
  • The Rise of Red Letter
    • Anne Lewis Marketing Manager Red Letter Hospitality
  • Finding a Brew (Brand) that Fits You
    • Hannah Kirby Owner Ember+Forge, Gisele Littrell Owner Tipsy Bean
  • Serious to Hilarious: It’s Not as Easy as You Think
    • Caleb Dixon Emergency Management Coordinator, Millcreek Township Office of Emergency Management

For a complete schedule and sessions descriptions, click here.

To download a brochure for this year’s program, click here.

REGISTER NOW

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