Wednesday Kudos: Public Relations Group Names New Officers

Kudos

by Stephanie Baker ([email protected]) January 22, 2013 10:51 pm 124 views 

Today's round-up includes a plethora of public relations assignments and a college veteran taking a new post at the University of Arkansas Bumpers College.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announced the organization’s 2013 officers.

Heide Harrell, M.A., APR, a senior public relations account executive at Stone Ward, will serve as President of the organization.

Harrell brings nearly 10 years of communications experience to the role of 2013 chapter president. She succeeds the 2012 Arkansas Chapter of PRSA president, Lisa Bondurant, M.A., APR, principal, executive vice president and director of public relations and client services at The Communications Group.

Additional Arkansas PRSA officers elected for 2013 are:

  • President-Elect (serving as chapter president in 2014): Eileen Denne, APR, Arkansas Pharmacists Association
  • Vice President: Jessica Szenher, APR, Jessica Szenher Consulting
  • Secretary: Brandi Hinkle, MBA, APR, Arkansas Department of Higher Educaton
  • Treasurer: Alexis Sims, American Heart Association
  • Past-President: Lisa Bondurant, M.A., APR, The Communications Group
  • Assembly Delegate: Dan McFadden, APR, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
  • Director at Large: Markham Howe, APR, Howe Communications
  • Director at Large: Adena White, Conway Chamber of Commerce
  • Director at Large: Ginny Hensley, APR, Arkansas Children’s Hospital

BUMPERS COMMUNICATIONS POST FILLED
Robby Edwards has been named director of communication for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Edwards, who co-reports to Mitchell Spearman, director of development for Bumpers College, and to the office of university relations, began his new position on Jan. 10. He moves to the Bumpers College after working as associate director of media relations in the U of A athletic department since 2000.

Edwards will work with the dean’s staff, faculty, departments, program offices, stakeholders and students to assist in the outreach, marketing and branding efforts of promoting the three-fold mission of the college — food, family and the environment — with the goal of preparing students for careers that matter in professions advancing those fields.

Edwards will also serve as a liaison to the office of university relations, work with the media, work on publications and the college’s web site, publicize student and faculty accomplishments, promote faculty and staff as experts in their areas, and work with the communication staff from the Division of Agriculture, among other duties.

Edwards previously spent 10 years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, five as an assistant and five as the sports information director. Before moving to Fayetteville, he worked as the executive/financial communication coordinator in corporate public relations at CenturyTel Inc., a telecommunications company headquartered in Monroe, La.

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