Minnesota PRSA has announced a new leadership roster for 2009, as the chapter celebrates its 60th anniversary. Minnesota PRSA is the tenth-largest chapter of the world’s leading organization for public relations professionals.
“After 60 years, our chapter is committed to showcasing the value of strategic public relations amid today’s economy and rapidly changing media environment,” said Jan Hennings, APR, president of Minnesota PRSA. “Our newly-appointed board of directors has the extensive public relations experience to lead our industry forward into the future.”
Minnesota PRSA is comprised of more than 400 members who represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms, education and nonprofit organizations.
The 2009 Minnesota PRSA Executive Committee includes: President: Jan Hennings, APR, communications director, Minnesota Hospital Association. Hennings is communications director for the Minnesota Hospital Association where she is responsible for all external communication strategies and activities. Hennings has been an active member of Minnesota PRSA for 18 years and has served on the Professional Development committee and on the Classics committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with a special emphasis in public relations, from the University of Minnesota.
Vice President: Candee Wolf, APR, director, marketing and communications, American Dental Partners/Metro Dentalcare. Wolf is director of marketing and communications for American Dental Partners (ADPI) and its dental affiliates, including Metro Dentalcare in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She has been an active Minnesota PRSA member for 11 years, serving as its director, secretary and treasurer, as well as co-chair of the Classics committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Stout, and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.
Treasurer: Brooke Worden, APR, account director, Weber Shandwick. Worden is an account director in the financial services group at Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis office. A member of Minnesota PRSA since 2000, Worden served on the Classics committee from 2001-2003 and served as co-chair of the professional development and networking committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from Hamline University.
Secretary and Director of Student Relations: Brant Skogrand, APR, MBC, vice president, Risdall McKinney Public Relations. Skogrand is vice president with Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR). He formerly was the professional adviser to the Public Relations Student Society (PRSSA) chapter at the University of St. Thomas. He has served as director of communications on the board of directors, as well as co-chair of the student relations committee. He holds a master’s degree in business communication from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Ethics Officer: David Kostik, APR, president, Kostik Associates, Inc. Kostik is president of Kostik Associates, Inc., a Minneapolis-based firm that provides public relations, fundraising, and strategic planning counsel to a variety of business, nonprofit and government organizations. He has been a member of PRSA since 1975, serving as president of the Minnesota PRSA in 1991. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of St. Thomas.
Immediate Past President: Anna White-Lovely, APR, marketing and brand manager, CarVal Investors. White-Lovely is currently the Minnesota PRSA immediate past president and is the marketing and brand manager at CarVal Investors, an independent subsidiary of Cargill. She has served on the Minnesota PRSA board of directors since 2005. Lovely is a 1996 graduate of Luther College and has a master’s from the University of Minnesota, department of communication studies.
The 2009 Minnesota PRSA Board of Directors includes:Director of Business Community Outreach: Melanie Boulay Becker, APR, principal, Boulay Becker Communications. Boulay Becker is the owner of Boulay Becker Communications. Becker has been a PRSA member since 1987 and has previously served Minnesota PRSA as a board member from 1998 to 1999 and as a committee co-chair for five years. Becker has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Director of Internal and External Communications: Tracy Carlson, APR, media relations supervisor, Padilla Speer Beardsley. Carlson is a media relations supervisor for Padilla Speer Beardsley. She was director for the Minnesota PRSA Classics committee and co-chair of the student relations committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, with an emphasis in public relations, from St. Cloud State University.
Director of Professional Development and Networking: Arik Hanson, APR, internal communications, Fairview Health Services. Hanson is a communications consultant at Fairview Health Services, one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in Minnesota. He has been a PRSA member since 2001 and has served on various committees including the communications committee and student relations committee and recently co-chaired the professional development and networking committee. He received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Winona State University.
Director of Accreditation and Job Mart: Kelli Harms, APR, public relations specialist, Winnebago Industries, Inc. Harms is a public relations specialist at Winnebago Industries, Inc., a leading U.S. manufacturer of motor homes, based in Forest City, Iowa. She is a member of Minnesota PRSA’s accreditation committee. Harms earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communications/public relations from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Director of Classics and Awards: Anna Lewicki Long, APR, communications director, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Lewicki Long is the communications director for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, overseeing all statewide public relations, marketing and advertising efforts. Long also serves as a public affairs officer for the Minnesota Air National Guard and has conducted missions in Croatia, Bosnia, Central America, Norway and Germany. In addition to helping launch the Alphabet Bash on behalf of PRSA, she formerly served as co-chair of the Minnesota PRSA networking and professional practices committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and photojournalism from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
Director of Membership: Sandy Swanson, APR, co-op partner, YESS! Companies. Swanson is a consultant with YESS! Companies, a collaborative creative resource serving multiple industries. She is a member of PRSA, American Marketing Association and she served two terms as member services director on IABC Minnesota’s board of directors.
Minnesota PRSA is the tenth-largest chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 110 chapters nationwide, including 19 professional interest sections and affinity groups. Minnesota PRSA is comprised of more than 430 members who represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.