PRSA-LA

ABW After Dark: Challenges and Opportunities in L.A.’s Rapidly Changing Media Landscape
2024-04-24 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Beverly Hills City Hall Municipal Gallery, 455 N. Rexford Drive, Room 220, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210, United States
Join PRSA-LA for an in-person ABW After Dark: Challenges and Opportunities in L.A.’s Rapidly Changing Media Landscape on Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 pm at the Beverly Hills City Hall Municipal Gallery at 455 N. Rexford Drive, Room 220, Beverly Hills.

Generously sponsored by Herbalife, Notified, and VPE Communications, this event brings you a discussion with top local journalists who will share their insider perspectives on the evolving face of traditional journalism, key trends including media consolidation and AI technology, and the impact of digital media consumption. Learn the strategies to adapt and seize the opportunities.

REGISTER HERE

Meet our Panelists:

Hector Becerra

Managing Editor,
LA Times

Cora Jackson-Fossett

Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Sentinel and LA Watts Times

Lori Streifler

President,
City News Service

Armando Barragan
Manager of Broadcast and Digital News Coverage,
ABC7 (KABC-TV) Los Angeles

Moderator:

Susan Hirasuna

Anchor, Fox 11 News

REGISTER HERE

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS:

PRSA Webinar: APR Panel Presentation: Secrets to Success
2024-04-24 11:00 - 12:00 | CA
APR Panel Presentation: Secrets to Success
April 24, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

Join this PRSA Learning Webinar to see what a “great” APR panel presentation looks like as Juanita Traughber, MBA, APR, shares the presentation she made as part of her Accreditation process.
You will learn how to present your research, planning, implementation and evaluation (RPIE) work, have a chance to ask questions and see why the project won national and regional awards.

Speaker

Juanita Traughber, MBA, APR

Register Now

Event is FREE to members.

PRSA Webinar: Boost Your News Writing Skills
2024-04-17 13:00 - 14:00 | CA
Boost Your News Writing Skills
April 17, 2024 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

Many of today’s communicators enter the field of public relations without ever having worked in a newsroom. Yet those same professionals are tasked with writing news releases, contributed articles and advertorials where news editors and reporters are the target audience and gatekeepers.
By the end of this informative, interactive webinar, participants will be able to:

Craft high-impact news releases.
Capture an editor’s attention quickly.
Make their news stories easier to read and understand.
Identify the most popular news topic among all readers.
Understand the differences between advertorials and contributed articles.
Know when not to send out a news announcement.

FREE TO MEMBERS.
RSVP HERE

PRSSA WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
2024-03-02 08:00 - 18:00 | CA
REGISTER NOW!

PRSSA WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Sat., Mar. 2 • 8am – 6pm
California State University, Northridge, Grand Salon
18111 Nordhoff St, Los Angeles, CA 91330

Join CSUN PRSSA and PRSA-LA at the Western District Conference on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Connect with PR professionals, collaborate with other campuses and get some merch! Stay up to date with the conference by following us on Instagram @CSUNPRSSA and @PRSALA. We are excited to meet you!
Featuring Keynote Speaker Matt Prince.
RSVP by Feb. 23 to secure your seat!
COST:
PACKAGE ONE: $35
Includes entrance fees, breakfast and lunch, mixer with industry professionals
PACKAGE TWO: $65
Includes entrance fees, breakfast and lunch, mixer with industry professionals, tote bag, t-shirt, and more.
REGISTER HERE

AT BREAKFAST WITH... A Visit to Telemundo 52 & NBC4 Newsroom
2024-02-22 11:45 - 14:00 | Telemundo 52 NBC4, 100 Universal City Plaza Building 2120, Universal City, CA 91608, CA, 91608, United States
PRSA-LA NBC4 & TELEMUNDO 52 NEWSROOM VISIT
This event is currently sold out.
You are invited to a PRSA-LA newsroom visit to Telemundo 52 and NBC4.
This will be a unique opportunity for 20 participants to take part in an intimate conversation with news leaders from both stations, as well as a studio tour.
Thursday, February 22
11:45am – 2:00pm – Lunch will be served.
100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 2120, Universal City, CA 91608

Meet Todd Mokhtari, President and General Manager of Telemundo 52 and NBC4.
Hear from Telemundo 52 & NBC4 News Leaders including producers and assignment desk.
Enjoy a tour of the news studios.
Host and Moderator: Lizette Carbajal, Vice President of Community Relations & Communications, Telemundo 52 and NBC4

Attendance is limited and tickets to our first on-site newsroom visit since before the pandemic will sell out fast. Reserve your spot now.
Cost: $60 for members, $75 for non-members. 5 max/agency.
REGISTER HERE

Thank you to our sponsor!

PRSA-LA 2024 The State of PR
2024-02-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Indie Desk, 333 S. Grand Ave. Suite 3310, Los Angeles, CA, 90071, United States
PRSA-LA 2024 The State of PR
“Embracing A New Frontier: AI’s Impact on PR”
Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.
Indie Desk
333 S Grand Ave Suite 3310, Los Angeles, CA 90071
In the Wells Fargo North Tower

This event is currently sold out!
Parking Information:
Must enter the Parking Structure at 330 South Hope Street (street level). Parking Validation is available for $10 after 5:01 pm
There are also plenty of streets and parking lots surrounding the venue.
Cash lots are available on 2nd/Grand and 1st/Olive that are within walking distance. Meters in front of the Wells Fargo building on Grand Ave. and at the rear on Hope Street side are free after 6 pm.
Check-In Information:
Check-in will be in the lobby. The venue is in the Wells Fargo North Tower building.
Event Details:
Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence at conferences, over the kitchen table, and at work. Come and hear how PR leaders are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence tools and dealing with the ethical dilemmas AI presents to the PR industry.

Our panel of PR luminaries includes:
Moderator: Fred Cook, Director of the Annenberg Center of Public Relations, University of Southern California
Panelists:
Emily Scherberth, Managing Director, APCO Worldwide West; North America Tech Practice Lead
Melanie Gazazian, TriplePoint PR
Dainius Krasauskas, Public Relations & Advertising Graduate Student, University of Southern California, USC Annenberg
Patrick Buchanan, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Lulus

Agenda:
Thursday, February 15, 2024
6 p.m. Networking Reception
7 p.m. Program
Let’s navigate the AI PR landscape together!
Speakers’ Bios:
Fred Cook
Chair Emeritus, Golin
Director, USC Center for Public Relations

Fred Cook has worked at Golin for over 35 years and credits the company’s culture for his long tenure with the firm.
During his time with the agency, Cook has had the privilege to work with a variety of high-profile CEOs, including Herb Kelleher, Jeff Bezos, and Steve Jobs. He has also managed a wide scope of crises for his clients, including airline crashes, product recalls, and sexual harassment. He is also partially responsible for unleashing several cultural phenomena, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokémon, and the seedless watermelon.
Fred is proud of the firm’s accomplishments, but he is even more excited about the future. The world is experiencing profound changes in demographics, globalization, multiculturalism, and technology which are impacting the way people communicate with each other. To stay ahead of these changes, Golin adopted a proprietary business model called g4, to deliver deeper insights, bigger ideas, and broader engagement to their clients. Since then, Golin has been named ‘Agency of the Year’ more than a dozen times.
In 2014, Cook published “Improvise – Unconventional Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO,” which shares the wisdom he gained as a cabin boy on a Norwegian tanker, a doorman at a 5-star hotel, and a chauffeur for drunks. In 2015, after speaking on college campuses around the world, Fred accepted an additional position with the University of Southern California as the Director of the USC Center for Public Relations at the Annenberg School whose mission is to shape the future of public relations and those who will lead it – through research, education and thought leadership.
Fred is frequently invited to speak at major industry conferences, most recently the AMEC Summit, ICCO Global Summit, and PRCA Americas Conference. Recognized throughout the industry for his leadership, Fred has received numerous awards for his contributions to public relations including the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Holmes Report, PR Week, and PRSA. In 2021, Fred was inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame.
Fred and his wife Cheryl have two children and live in Los Angeles.

Emily Scherberth
Managing Director,
APCO Worldwide West, North America Tech Practice Lead

Emily Scherberth is the managing director of APCO Worldwide’s West region and serves as North America Tech practice lead. She is based in Southern California. Ms. Scherberth is a seasoned corporate communications executive with more than two decades of experience as a storyteller, qualitative researcher, and business strategist. She has guided several Fortune 500 companies as well as early-stage tech and healthcare startups over the course of her career, serving as a trusted counselor to venture capital firms, serial entrepreneurs, and other C-suite executives.
Prior to joining APCO, Ms. Scherberth was the founder and CEO of Symphony PR & Marketing, Inc., a consultancy that worked with disruptive technology, digital health, and healthcare delivery companies. At Symphony, she advised CEOs, created thought leadership platforms, and developed go-to-market strategies for more than two dozen startups including Justin.tv (Twitch), ZipRecruiter, Media Temple, and Crossover Health, and led corporate communications for iconic companies like Mayo Clinic. She also served as an interim head of communications and marketing for several companies in transition and helped executive teams transform their organizations into high-performing cultures. Prior to Symphony, Ms. Scherberth led the consumer technology practice at Allison+Partners, Los Angeles, expanding its portfolio of business to include YouTube and raising the company’s visibility during the rise of Silicon Beach. Earlier in her career, she led award-winning teams at agencies like Fleishman-Hillard and MSLGroup on high-profile consumer brands such as Yahoo!, Nestlé, Nike, and General Motors.
Ms. Scherberth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University, Northridge. She is also an experienced speaker and moderator and has served as an adjunct professor of communications for more than 14 years at various universities across Southern California including Loyola Marymount University, California State University, Fullerton, and California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Melanie Gazazian
TriplePoint PR
PRSA-LA Young Professionals Lead
Melanie Gazazian has been in the PR industry for the last four years with a focus on technology, startup culture, virtual reality, and video games. After her first internship, she knew this would be the career for her.
Melanie graduated from USC with a Master’s in Public Relations and Advertising after graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and English from the University of La Verne. She is currently an Account Executive at TriplePoint PR supporting accounts like Blizzard Entertainment, Paradox Interactive, and more.
At TriplePoint, she worked in-house at Blizzard Entertainment as an in-house consultant, continues to lead several high-profile accounts, and holds the record for the fastest promotion from Associate, to Account Coordinator and finally to Account Executive today.
Aside from work, she is an adult supporter of the youth Leadership Team with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls after serving on the team for 2 years as a girl herself. During her time from 2015-2017, the team created the Leadership Program that is still used today and facilitated the first Disneyland Takeover.

Dainius Krasauskas
Public Relations & Advertising Graduate Student
University of Southern California, USC Annenberg

Dainius Krasauskas is an overly curious, long-haired European creative who loves to innovate. Before joining USC to pursue a Masters in PR and advertising, he brought the Bavarian Prime Minister to a former employer to play with robots, art-directed a rap video with over 20 million views for a soccer superstar, and composed music for one of Europe’s largest modern art museums. He also loves early seasons of “The Simpsons,” generative AI and bossa nova.

Patrick Buchanan
Vice President of Brand Marketing, Lulus
Patrick Buchanan serves as Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Lulus. He joins the organization during an a critical period of growth, leading the charge in establishing the brand’s identity, shaping market perception and translating creative concepts into impactful campaigns to ensure the brand remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving fashion landscape. As a member of Lulus’ leadership team, Patrick plays a pivotal role in guiding the brand’s trajectory and propelling it to new heights of success.
As an award-winning marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience, Patrick is no stranger to leading culture defining, barrier-breaking campaigns. Prior to Lulus, Patrick served as VP of Marketing at Good American, the first-fully inclusive women’s fashion brand, where he spearheaded brand marketing initiatives that challenged the status quo and worked to ensure the Good American brand was at the forefront of the inclusivity movement. Before Good American, Patrick served as senior director of brand marketing at Universal Music Group, collaborating with some of the world’s top musicians, including Lil Wayne, Nas, Justin Bieber and more, to forge closer connections between fans and their favorite artists through fashion. He also previously held key marketing roles at K-Swiss and fashion footwear leader, Creative Recreation, where he drove brand-defining global initiatives.
An innovator at heart, Patrick has forged his own path in the fashion industry, with campaigns that challenge societal norms and the status quo. As a disruptor, super-connector, and conversation driver, his work has garnered global attention with some of the biggest talent in music and entertainment. Leading with brand-forward initiatives and strategic partnerships, he continues to out-pace his track record, building relevance and bolstering bottom lines.

PRSA-LA Board Retreat
2024-01-13 | CA

PRSA-LA Holiday Cheers & Cocktails
2023-12-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Weber Shandwick Los Angeles, 1840 Century Park East (Rooftop), Los Angeles, CA 90067, 90067, United States
HOLIDAY CHEERS & COCKTAILS

JINGLE, JINGLE — IT’S TIME TO MIX & MINGLE!
Date: December 14
Time: 6 – 8 PM
Venue: Weber Shandwick Los Angeles
1840 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA 90067 (Rooftop)

Presented by PRSA-LA and Weber Shandwick Los Angeles.

REGISTER HERE

Join us as we toast to the PR industry!
Meet the new 2024 PRSA-LA Board of Directors
Bring an unwrapped toy and enter a raffle to win wine baskets, gift cards, beauty products, and more! The toys are being donated to foster youth in Los Angeles through Five Acres.

*Hosted beer, wine, and light appetizers.
Tickets for PRSA-LA Members $20; Non-Members $35; includes entry in the Holiday Raffle.
*First 50 people get a FREE parking voucher
REGISTER HERE

End-of-Year Reporting for PR, Comms and Marketing
2023-12-06 11:00 - 12:00 | CA
As the year wraps up, thorough end-of-year reporting becomes a crucial compass, transforming key achievements, insights, and challenges into actionable strategies for future success.
Join Meltwater and PRSA LA for an exclusive lunch & learn uniting PR, communications, and marketing professionals for collaborative discussions on:
• Identifying the most valuable metrics and KPIs for end-of-year reports.
• Strategically adapting your reporting strategies for 2024, considering the evolving landscape.
• Grasping the pivotal role of data in informing decisions and measuring output.
PRSA-LA Member: Price: $15.00
Non-member: Price: $25.00

RSVP HERE

PRSA-LA's Young Professionals Office Hour
2023-11-08 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
PRSA-LA YP Office Hour
Wednesday, November 8
4 pm. – 5 p.m.
ZOOM Meeting ID: bit.ly/YPOFFICEHOUR

Join us for PRSA-LA’s Young Professionals Office Hour, an opportunity for young professionals or any individual who is starting a career in public relations to ask questions about the industry, meet others, or learn about resources. The Office Hour is much like seeing a professor at a specific time available to students, and now it’s available for young professionals.
If you have team members or friends who could benefit from dropping by during the Office Hour, pass along the information.
ZOOM Meeting ID: bit.ly/YPOFFICEHOUR
This is a free virtual event perfect for anyone starting their career in the PR field.

PRSA-LA 59th PRism Awards
2023-10-26 18:00 - 21:00 | Los Angeles River Center & Gardens, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, 570 West Avenue 26, #100, Los Angeles, CA, 90065, United States
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
6:00 – 9:00 PM
AT THE
Los Angeles River Center & Gardens
570 W Ave 26, Los Angeles, CA 90065
PRSA-LA’s 59th Annual PRism Awards—the Los Angeles region’s premier awards program recognizing excellence in public relations strategic campaigns, tactical programs, and professional merit will be held in person on October 26, 2023, at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens. Join this prestigious event with your peers and colleagues!
REGISTER NOW
DOWNLOAD SPONSORSHIP FORM HERE.

We are proud to announce the 38 finalists of this year’s PRSA-LA PRism Awards, our Communications Team of the Year, Mattel, Inc., Barbie and Dolls Division, and our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Leo Pearlstein.
Let’s honor these honorees and the best in strategic public relations and tactical execution by PR professionals throughout greater Los Angeles! With the theme of Rise Together, the ceremony will celebrate the progress and diversity in the Los Angeles PR industry, and confer more than 75 strategic campaign and tactics awards across a variety of categories, in addition to special awards for Best in Show and the President’s Award.

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THANK YOU TO OUR CHAPTER SPONSORS!

CHAPTER PLATINUM SPONSOR

CHAPTER GOLD SPONSOR

CHAPTER SILVER SPONSOR

2023 PRSA ICON
2023-10-15 - 2023-10-17 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Plan Now and Save Money on ICON 2023 in Music City
ICON 2023 will bring its special blend of incomparable networking and professional development opportunities for public relations and communications professionals to Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 15-17 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Join your fellow attendees from all over the map to share insights and explore new ideas.
A special Early Bird Discount is in place only until Dec. 31, 2022, for ICON 2023.
Take advantage of this cost-effective, limited-time offer. It’s the lowest rate that will ever be offered for ICON 2023! Register Now!
REGISTER HERE:
https://www.prsa.org/conferences-and-awards/icon-2023

New to Freelance PR Work?
2023-10-12 14:00 - 15:00 | The Wonderful Company, 11444 W. Olympic Blvd.,, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
PRSA-LA Independent Practitioners Alliance (IPA) in-person programming alert!
If you are new to independent contracting, or thinking about going out on your own, join us on Thursday, October 12 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. to connect with tenured independent PR professionals for insights, advice and have your questions answered. Joseph Marchelewski, President and Owner at AIJ Communications and PRSA-LA Past President; Erik Deutsch, Principal ExcelPR Group, also PRSA-LA Past President; and Stacy Wonacott, PRSA-LA Independent Practitioners Alliance Committee Head and Principal Stacy Schwartz PR, among others, will offer key takeaways for your business in a casual one-on-one setting.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: The Wonderful Company, 11444 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Parking lot entrance on Butler Ave.
Cost: $20 for members/$25 for non-members
*Parking is free*
Coffee and light refreshments will be served
RSVP HERE

Quality Time with PR Minds
2023-10-07 08:30 - 12:00 | Allison, 3105 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90016, United States
Saturday, October 7
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(light breakfast will be served)
Location:
Allison
3105 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

REGISTER HERE
Quality Time with PR Minds is Back In Person!
Quality Time with PR Minds is a one-day community service opportunity for PR professionals, presented in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management.
Now celebrating its 19th anniversary, this annual event brings together professional volunteers and local nonprofits for one-on-one counseling.
Quality Time with PR Minds is a great opportunity to give back to the organizations that make Los Angeles a great place to live and work and is a unique way to collaborate and share knowledge with other PRSA-LA members. Gain insight as you team up with other PR professionals and nonprofits for productive brainstorming sessions.
All PR, communications, and marketing professionals with at least two years of experience are welcome to volunteer. No experience working with nonprofits? No problem! You’ll be teamed up with other professionals to help come up with great ideas.
Use your creative thinking, and problem-solving skills to help local nonprofits with their communication challenges!
Event is free but you will need to RSVP.
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Allison

DoGoodery

Cause Communications

Mission Driven PR

Green PR
2023-09-14 08:00 - 13:00 | RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, 90401, United States
Green PR
Thursday, September 14

8am – 1pm PDT

Hosted by

REGISTER HERE

Who should attend: This session is designed for any and all communications professionals – from public relations, investor relations, and marketing — at all levels, including executives.
A half-day seminar of speakers and panels describing the latest thinking, strategies, and issues facing companies and organizations in communicating their sustainability efforts, compliance with a growing number of regulations, responding to consumer demands for more sustainability products or operations, how to answer accusations of “greenwashing” or respond to allegations of “woke capitalism” and more.
Our opening session is with David Fenton, founder of Fenton Communications, one of PR Week’s 100 most influential PR people, and considered a pioneer in social-cause public relations. Attendees will get a copy of his recent book – “The Activist’s Media Handbook.” Our luncheon speaker is Magali (Maggie) Delmas, Professor of Management at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA Anderson School of Management, a foremost expert on corporate sustainability reporting. Maggie and her colleagues have recently released a “Transparency Index” into corporate sustainability.
Other speakers during our morning panels include Eliza Ruggiero, SVP of Abernathy H-Advisors; Erik Olvera, Chief Campaigns Officer at Fenton Communications; Erin Curtis, Vice President at Fiona Hutton & Associates and former Deputy Secretary, Communications & External Affairs at CalEPA; and Aurora Winslade, Edison International’s Director of Sustainability.

Pricing:
Early bird rate (Sales end on Sep 6, 2023): PRSALA members $200. Nonmembers $275
Regular rate: PRSALA members $275. Nonmembers $345. PRSSA Students $25
Lunch session only: PRSALA members $50. Nonmembers $65. PRSSA Students $15.
REGISTER HERE

Speakers are:
David Fenton, named “one of the 100 most influential P.R. people” by PR Week and “the Robin Hood of public relations” by The National Journal, founded Fenton in 1982 to create communications campaigns for the environment, public health and human rights. For more than five decades he has pioneered the use of PR, social media and advertising techniques for social change. Fenton started his career as a photojournalist in the late 1960s – his book Shots: An American Photographer’s Journal was published in 2005. He was formerly director of public relations at Rolling Stone magazine and co-producer of the No-Nukes concerts in 1979 at Madison Square Garden with Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and other artists. He has also helped create JStreet, Climate Nexus, the Death Penalty Information Center, and Families for a Future. He sold Fenton a few years ago to work on climate change full time. (https://davidfentonactivist.com/)
Magali Delmas is a Professor of Management at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and the Anderson School of Management. She is the director of the UCLA Center for Corporate Environmental Performance and the Center for Impact@Anderson. She was the President of the Alliance for Research in Corporate Sustainability (ARCS) from 2014 to 2017, an organization that serves as a vehicle for advancing rigorous academic research on corporate sustainability issues. Her research interests are primarily in the areas of Business strategy and Corporate Sustainability. Magali Delmas has written more than 90 articles, book chapters and case studies on business and the natural environment. She is the recipient of the Academy of Management/Organization and the Natural Environment Distinguished Scholar Award. She works on developing effective information strategies to promote conservation behavior and the development of green markets. Here is a short video of her recent work on green consumers, and a link to her recent book: The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market with the Planet published at Stanford Press. (https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/person/magali-delmas/)
Eliza Ruggiero provides ongoing strategic communications and investor relations counsel to clients during special situations, including mergers and acquisitions, business transformations, shareholder activism defense and proxy contests. Eliza brings an analytical approach to her work, helping clients across a range of industries assess and develop stakeholder communications programs that effectively build and protect value.
In addition to her special situations work, Eliza is passionate about advising clients on the implementation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) communications and disclosure programs. Eliza brings extensive experience advising clients on the development of ESG reports, assessing ESG ratings and rankings, helping clients enhance ESG disclosure, implementing reporting frameworks and supporting constructive engagement with shareholders on ESG issues and proposals. (https://abernathy.h-advisors.global/portrait/eliza-ruggiero/)
Erik Olvera is an accomplished communications strategist with more than 20 years of experience working with several of the nation’s leading environmental, LGBTQ, racial justice and voting rights organizations. He currently serves as Fenton’s Chief of Issue Advocacy, providing organizations focused on advocacy, politics and social justice with communications strategy and support to achieve their goals through campaigns that increase awareness, shape public discourse and build loyalty with new audiences. Prior to joining Fenton, he served as the Chief Communications Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), where he oversaw all aspects of the racial justice organization’s legal and public policy communications. While there, he provided strategic guidance as the organization looked toward its future and led several projects to deepen the legacy organization’s work with the communities that it serves. Before SPLC, he was the head of communications for environmentalist Tom Steyer’s GOTV and political organizations, where he helped develop the Need to Impeach movement. He previously served as the Senior Director of Communications for Earthjustice, where he was responsible for shaping discourse for the organization’s legal and public policy work. The Regis University alumnus also spent several years leading communications for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), where he worked on a wide range of LGBTQ legislation and legal cases. Some of his work at NCLR includes designing the Born Perfect public education campaign to end conversion therapy on minors nationwide and developing the communications plan that helped lead to the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality victory. (https://fenton.com/expert/erik-olvera/)
Erin Curtis, Vice President, Fiona Hutton & Associates
Issue Areas: Water and Natural Resources, Climate, Air Quality, Renewable Energy, Environmental Regulations, Public Lands, Higher Education, Federal, State & Local Government
Expertise: Strategic Media Engagement, Reputation Management, Message Development, Crisis Communications, Policy Development & Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement, Issue Campaigns, Event Planning
Recognition: Associated Press – local journalism awards; National Council for Marketing & Public Relations District Communicator of the Year
Affiliations: California Public Information Officials; PRSA California Capital Chapter; Phi Delta Kappa; California Community Colleges Public Relations Association (former); Association of California Community College Administrators (former); National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (former); National Institute for Leadership Development (Leaders 2004)
(https://fionahuttonassoc.com/team/)
Aurora Winslade serves as Edison International’s director of Sustainability where she is responsible for the company’s sustainability strategy, goals and programs, publication of the annual sustainability report, sustainability disclosures, and serving as a key sustainability spokesperson for one of the nation’s largest all electric utilities that is helping lead the transformation of the electric industry towards a clean energy future. She previously was the director of the Office of Sustainability at Stanford University, where she led the effort to advance operational sustainability across the university, realize the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and zero waste by 2030, and launched the Living Lab Fellowship Program for Sustainability in collaboration with Doerr School of Sustainability. Prior to Stanford, Aurora was the director of Sustainability at Swarthmore College, where she built and led the Office of Sustainability and launched new programs such as “To Zero by Thirty-Five: Swarthmore’s Carbon-Free Future Plan to Eliminate Swarthmore’s Carbon Emissions by 2035”; the college’s zero waste program; the award-winning Carbon Charge program; and the President’s Sustainability Research Fellowship program. Previously, she has built, led, and redesigned sustainability and energy programs for the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Energy, and the University of California Santa Cruz. She also co-founded and teaches in an international certificate program in “Social Entrepreneurship and Leading Change” with the Bard College Sustainable MBA program, where she has been an instructor in the #1-Ranked Green MBA program in the U.S. (according to Princeton Review) since 2017. Aurora holds an MBA from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts, Agriculture, Ecology & Political Economy from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Dr. Howard Botts is CoreLogic’s Chief Scientist and Executive leader of the Science and Analytics team. Dr. Botts leads climate change and natural hazard science, data science, and geo-spatial professionals who generate and maintain solutions for the insurance, real estate, capital markets, mortgage, banking, and energy industries. With more than 30 years of experience in geo-spatial modeling, Dr. Botts is a recognized expert in developing natural hazard risk solutions and his work has been published extensively. He frequently presents to business and professional organizations on a variety of topics, climate change impacts on the real estate ecosystem, natural hazard risk, and weather forensics. Dr. Botts earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in geography from California State University at Northridge and received a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

REGISTER HERE

At Breakfast With (ABW) Health Journalists
2023-08-24 08:00 - 09:00 | CA
AT BREAKFAST WITH (ABW) HEALTH JOURNALISTS
Via Zoom
8 am, Thursday, August 24
$15 for PRSA-LA, HPRA-LA, and BPRS-LA members | $30 for non-members | $5 PRSSA students
Sponsored by:

REGISTER HERE

Speakers:
Kathleen Doheny

Kathleen Doheny is a Los Angeles-based independent journalist, specializing in health, behavior, fitness, and lifestyle stories. She reports for WebMD, Medscape, MD Edge, Psycom.net, Practical Pain Management, Senior Planet/affiliated with AARP, NextAvenue.org and other sites. She is a mom, mother-in-law and proud and happy Mimi who likes to hike, jog and shop. Current fitness motivation: keeping up with 2 energetic grandchildren.

Denise Dador

Denise Dador is the Eyewitness News Health Specialist whose “Circle of Health” reports can be seen on ABC7 Eyewitness News at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Since joining ABC7 in 1998, Denise’s mission has been to help Southern Californians improve their lives with timely medical information and advice. Through her reports, L.A’s top medical experts become accessible and relatable. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, her stories played a pivotal role in helping Angelenos navigate their changing world. Besides volunteering to help groups that fund medical research and patient care, Denise also represents KABC in her work with various Asian Pacific Islander and Filipino- American community organizations.
Denise grew up in San Francisco. She attended Long Island University in Brooklyn and graduated from Mills College with a degree in communication. At WXYZ-TV in Detroit, she anchored the weekend news and hosted a weekly talk show. At KMPH in Fresno, she was the main anchor of their 10pm news.
Denise has received numerous journalism and community service awards including national recognition for her work with Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches. She received Emmy awards for News Feature Reporting and Outstanding Children’s Programming.
Outside of work, Denise is a wife and mother of a teen-aged son and daughter who both have big dreams. While she would like to say she is an avid runner or skier, streaming historical documentaries and period dramas has become her latest obsession.

Robert Garrova

Robert covers mental health at a time when L.A. — and the nation — is failing people who live with a serious mental illness. The L.A. County jail system is the de-facto mental health institution for our region, and people who want help with their mental health often can’t get it, even if they can afford it. He’ll work to help Angelenos understand how we got here and what reforms aim to change things. He’ll do this through the stories of people struggling with their own mental health and those trying to get care for a loved one.
His reporting has taken him to the edge of wildfires in California, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, steps away from a robot that’s now exploring Mars, and into the homes of countless Angelenos.
Robert has had many jobs in radio. He used to help produce and direct the flagship show for Marketplace, a daily business and economic news show. He also spent a couple of years in the Northeast working as a reporter. He found his love of audio journalism while interning on LAist’s (formerly KPCC’s) Off-Ramp in 2013.
He was born and raised in SoCal. He is most proud when his journalism can help raise the voices of people struggling in this beautiful region stricken by inequality.
REGISTER HERE

PRSA-LA at Dodgers Night: Hit a Home Run for PRSA-LA Scholarship Program
2023-08-17 19:10 - 22:00 | Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Join PRSA-LA at Dodgers Night: Hit a Home Run for PRSA-LA Scholarship Program!
Thursday, August 17th at 7:10 pm PT
RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/43lrGD1

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

PRSA-LA is thrilled to announce our highly anticipated Dodgers Night on Thursday, August 17th, at 7:10 pm PT! This exciting event aims to raise funds for the PRSA-LA Scholarship Program, supporting outstanding college students pursuing Public Relations or Communications degrees.

After a four-year hiatus, the PRSA-LA Dodgers Night is back and better than ever. We have secured 40 tickets for this exclusive event, so grab yours before they’re gone!

By participating in this event, you get to enjoy an exhilarating Dodgers game and contribute to the future of PR by supporting deserving students through the PRSA-LA Scholarship Program. These scholarships help recognize and assist exceptional undergraduate and graduate students in pursuing a career in Public Relations or Communications.

Student scholarship winners will be announced in the summer and awarded their scholarships for the fall semester. They will also receive one year of FREE access to all PRSA-LA webinars and events, providing valuable networking opportunities and the chance to learn from seasoned PR professionals.

Ticket Pricing:

PRSA-LA Members: $35 each
Non-Members: $50 each

For more information about the PRSA-LA Scholarship Program and its impact, please visit the Scholarship home page here.

Join PRSA-LA at Dodgers Night and help us hit a home run for the PRSA-LA Scholarship Program! Your support makes a difference. We’ll follow up with the attendees on where we’ll meet at the game for some fun networking.

We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/43lrGD1

PRSA-LA 2023 Sunrise Honors
2023-08-04 08:30 - 10:00 | LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St,, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
PRSA-LA’s 5TH ANNUAL SUNRISE HONORS
A Celebration of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Sunrise Honors is part of PRSA-LA’s mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. The honorees are trailblazers!
Friday, August 4, 2023, 8.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
REGISTER HERE
The Sunrise Honors Celebration is part of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA-LA) mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. The honorees are trailblazers on the front lines in and out of the boardroom. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusivity within their organization or industry.
Join us on Friday, August 4, at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for PRSA-LA’s 5th Annual Sunrise Honors: A Celebration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The prestigious PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors recognizes leaders who have gone above and beyond to open doors and make lasting changes in the PR industry.
Here are this year’s honorees!

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Members: $50 (includes PRSA-LA, BPRS-LA, HPRA-LA, VOICES)
Non-members: $70
Students: $12
REGISTER HERE
Parking – There is $20 parking off Arcadia Street behind the La Plaza de Cultura y Artes building. Additional parking is also available at Olvera Street.
Refund Policy – Refunds up to 1 day before the event. Eventbrite’s fee is nonrefundable.
Be an event sponsor and show your support for our event and the PR community. CLICK HERE for more information on sponsorship.

State of PR Technology 2023 Presented by Prowly
2023-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
The State of PR Technology 2023″ Webinar
Presented by Prowly

Wednesday, July 19th at Noon PT
via Zoom

PRSA-LA Members: FREE; Non-PRSA-LA Members: $25 each
REGISTER HERE

Join us for an engaging online conversation on July 19th at noon PDT as Prowly and PRSA-LA present “The State of PR Technology 2023” webinar. This event will provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of PR technology and its future implications. Here’s what you can expect from “The State of PR Technology 2023” webinar:

Explore the latest industry trends and best practices in PR measurement and reporting, empowering you with the knowledge to stay ahead.
Learn how to make informed decisions when investing in PR tools and software, even when facing tight budgets.
Discover how PR tools can help streamline tasks and boost productivity, optimizing your time and resources.
Gain valuable insights into the integration of AI in PR and learn how to leverage it effectively in your work.

💡 Meet our esteemed speakers:
🌟 Aleksandra Kubicka – PR evangelist at Prowly. With 14 years of experience in the PR and B2B communication industry, Aleksandra has worked with diverse organizations, including tech PR agencies and multinational startup teams.
🌟 Tonya McKenzie – Founder and CEO of Sand&Shores. Tonya is a highly regarded leadership and communications consultant specializing in helping businesses and entrepreneurs tell their stories, elevate their message, and build a strong reputation in the media and their communities.
🌟 John McCartney, APR – Founder and Principal of Jmac PR, PRSA-LA Board Member and Chapter Treasurer. With over two decades of experience in PR and marketing, John has led successful campaigns for technology, advertising, consumer, entertainment, and media brands.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the state of PR technology and its future implications. Register today to secure your spot for “The State of PR Technology 2023” webinar, and join us on July 19th at noon PDT for an enriching online discussion!
REGISTER HERE

PRSA-LA Holiday Party
2023-06-22 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
PRSA-LA Holiday Party
Thu., Dec. 7
More information tba.

Comms & Cocktails with HPRA-LA & NAHJ-LA
2023-06-22 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
Comms & Cocktails with HPRA-LA & NAHJ-LA
Thu., Sep. 21
More info tba.

PRSA - APR: Nuts and Bolts - APR Examination
2023-06-21 09:00 - 09:45 | CA
Do you want to learn more about the Panel Presentation Process? Join us for the next APR Nuts & Bolts Series event as Becky Best, APR outlines the protocol and what to expect when a candidate presents to a panel of APRs.
Have you ever thought about earning Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)? Do you have questions about the APR process? If so, PRSA has the perfect forum for you.
Join us online for the next event to learn all about the APR process and have your questions answered:
Webinar Schedule
APR: Nuts and Bolts – APR Examination
Wednesday, June 21 at Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
Register >> http://bit.ly/3Zxzh0j

PRSA-LA & Weber Shandwick Comms & Cocktails
2023-06-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Weber Shandwick Los Angeles, 1840 Century Park East (Rooftop), Los Angeles, CA 90067, 90067, United States
PRSA-LA & Weber Shandwick Comms & Cocktails
Thursday, June 15, 2023
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Weber Shandwick Los Angeles
1840 Century Park East (Rooftop), Los Angeles, CA 90067
Park in the 1840 garage, levels A1-7. Please pull a ticket and we will provide validation. No cost but advance RSVP is required. This event is open to members and non-members.

PRSA-LA and Weber Shandwick Los Angeles present Comms and Cocktails – Thursday, June 15, 2023 at Weber Shandwick Los Angeles’ rooftop. Mix and mingle with young PR pros and veterans alike!
Attendance is free but you must be on the RSVP list. There will be light appetizers and beverages available. The event is open to members and non-members.
REGISTER HERE

PRSA - APR: Nuts and Bolts – APR Panel Presentation
2023-05-17 09:00 - 09:45 | CA
Do you want to learn more about the Panel Presentation Process? Join us for the next APR Nuts & Bolts Series event as Becky Best, APR outlines the protocol and what to expect when a candidate presents to a panel of APRs.
Have you ever thought about earning Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)? Do you have questions about the APR process? If so, PRSA has the perfect forum for you.
Join us online for the next events to learn all about the APR process and have your questions answered:
Webinar Schedule
APR: Nuts and Bolts – APR Panel Presentation
Wednesday, May 17 at Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
APR: Nuts and Bolts – APR Examination
Wednesday, June 21 at Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
Register >> http://bit.ly/3Zxzh0j

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Mixer
2023-05-11 18:00 - 20:00 | CA
AAPI Heritage Month Networking Mixer hosted by PRSA-LA and AAJA-LA
Thursday • May 11th, 2023
6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Sake Dojo, 333 1st Street, Los Angeles

REGISTER HERE

PR Pros and Journalists – Cocktails and Chatting It Up for AAPI Month
Come celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with both PRSA-LA and AAJA-LA on Thursday, May 11th at 6:00 pm PDT at Sake Dojo, located in the heart of Little Tokyo. Attendees will have the opportunity to make new connections and to hear others share their AAPI background and story and the important issues facing the AAPI community. The first drink is on us as well as complimentary appetizers – see you there!

Event is open to members and non-members.
To get your free drink ticket, you must be on the RSVP list.
Members (PRSA-LA, AAJA-LA): $15
Non Members: $25

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

REGISTER HERE

Road to PRisms: Creating Award-Winning Entries
2023-05-04 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
The Road to PRisms: Creating Award-Winning Entries
Featuring Runyon Saltzman, Two-Time Best In Show Winner

Thursday, May 4, 2023
Noon – 1 PM
Via ZOOM
REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT HERE

For two years in a row, RSE’s strategic communications work for the Governor’s Office of the State of California’s COVID-19 communications earned them PRSA-LA’s PRism Award for Best In Show, meaning their entry scored the highest of all submissions entered for the annual awards.
Hear from the team behind this award-winning work and how they won big, not only with getting Californians vaccinated against COVID-19, but with multiple PRism Award wins!
REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT HERE

PRSA-LA IPA Event: Building and Maintaining a Business Pipeline
2023-05-03 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
PRSA-LA’s IPA section presents

Building and Maintaining a Business Pipeline
May 3 • Noon – 1 pm
via Zoom
RSVP HERE

One of the most challenging aspects of having your own business is building and maintaining a viable new business pipeline. Join PRSA-LA’s IPA section for a virtual programming session and hear from PR industry veterans Jonathan Fitzgarrald, Managing Partner of Equinox Strategy Partners, Larry Kohn, President, Kohn Communications and Claudia Santa Cruz, President Santa Cruz Communications, Inc. valuable insights on how to develop a strong business pipeline while keeping your current clients happy.

TICKET AMOUNT / PRICE
Member: / $10
Non-Member: / $20
Student: / $5
Other: / $20

Panelists:

Jonathan Fitzgarrald
Managing Partner
Equinox Strategy Partners
What does it take to transform a nonexistent book of business into a multimillion client pipeline?
Jonathan Fitzgarrald, Managing Partner of Equinox Strategy Partners, looks to undervalued professionals, untapping their potential to grow revenue, market visibility and their practices. Many of the professionals Jonathan advises report up to 20 percent increases in revenue within the first year. Jonathan’s personalized business strategies lead clients to discover their own business motivations. But what accounts for his motivation? Quite simply, Jonathan enjoys empowering professionals to succeed.
Jonathan’s proprietary approach adapts a Moneyball strategy by recognizing and coaching traditionally overlooked, highly skilled professionals in legal, financial, accounting and professional services firms.
His keynote, retreat and leadership programs cover such topics as the cross-generational tension, succession planning from the Next Gen’s perspective, using culture to manage teams better, partner compensation and connecting emotionally with clients.
Speaking to a range of audiences, from the Managing Partner Forum to the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Jonathan is a prolific presenter of business programs and media commentator. He has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The American Lawyer, The National Law Journal, The Recorder, ABA Journal and has appeared on The CBS Evening News.
He believes that leaders are made not born. Competing in equestrian events has been a major influence and resilience builder—Jonathan literally must jump over every obstacle until he is the last one standing.
Social Handles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanfitzgarrald/
Twitter/Instagram @JRFitzgarrald

Claudia Santa Cruz
President
Santa Cruz Communications, Inc.
Claudia Santa Cruz is the President of Santa Cruz Communications, Inc., a woman-owned, award-winning Hispanic public relations boutique agency found in 2001. A seasoned Public Relations professional, with over 25 years of experience, Santa Cruz currently leads and oversees the agency’s work, developing strategic campaigns that produce measurable results to a roster of national organizations who seek to reach the coveted U.S. Hispanic market. Some of its current and past clients include No Kid Hungry, Telemundo, City of Hope, Adsmovil, Billboard, e-Salon, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, among others. Prior to starting her own business, Santa Cruz, who co-authored Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, worked for ten years in the corporate world, specifically at Telemundo network in Miami, and Telemundo 52 and Univision 34 in Los Angeles. A recipient of a PRSA PRISM Award and a Latino Marketing Award, Santa Cruz received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Northridge. She was born in Peru, and lived in Bolivia, the Philippines and Norway prior to moving to the United States.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santacruzpr
LinkedIn: @Santa Cruz Communications
Twitter: @SantaCruzPR

Larry Kohn
President
Kohn Communications
Larry Kohn has been assisting professionals in their business development for over 40 years. He was an early pioneer in the practice of Executive Coaching. His long-term success is due to his ability to help his clients develop comfortable and effective strategies for meeting new contacts and creating motivational content. He has also developed the web app BizDevCoach which is a combination of technology and tutorial to help his clients create and implement their biz dev plan. For more information visit www.kohncommunications.com
Linked in address: www.linkedin.com/in/LawrenceKohn

MODERATOR

Stacy Schwartz
Independent Public Relations Strategist and Consultant
Stacy Schwartz is a seasoned and award-winning public relations professional with nearly twenty years of experience across multiple industries and media verticals. She works successfully with public and private companies and brands to provide high-level strategy and implement media campaigns, including corporate communications, media relations, product launches, crisis communications, social media programs and special events. Her client experience is broad yet focused, including both B2B and B2C expertise, with a focus on professional services.
A veteran in the industry, Stacy prides herself on her keen ability to know what will resonate with media, influencers, and key audiences, and provides high-level guidance to her professional service clients in the banking and finance and legal industries to achieve their goals through both creative and tried and true media strategies. She works regularly with clients who need help creating favorable brand awareness and corporate positioning for clients in the banking and finance and legal industry, helping to position top executives as thought leaders in their specialty areas and raise awareness for the company’s profiles. Her work with these clients focuses on media relations in multiple media markets throughout California and nationwide, where she garners significant media coverage on a regular basis and liaises with national teams to drive the overall PR strategy and campaign direction.
Stacy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California, Davis. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors hiking and at the beach. She currently sits on the board of PRSA-LA and leads the Independent Practitioners Alliance group.
Linkedin: @Stacy Wonacott
LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2081289/

RSVP HERE

2023 PRSA Western District Conference
2023-04-26 - 2023-04-28 | The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ, United States
Plan to join the 2023 PRSA Western District Conference in Tuscon from April 26-28!
Take advantage of the Early Bird Registration – NOW: https://lnkd.in/eqrK6PxH

PRSA-LA Young Professionals Event: Landing Your First Job - What You Need to Know
2023-04-13 18:00 - 19:00 | CA
Landing Your First Job – What You Need to Know
Webinar held by the PRSA-LA Young Professionals Committee.
Thursday, April 13 • 6:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Will you be graduating this year? Looking for an entry-level position in public relations?

Join the PRSA-LA Young Professionals virtual event, “Landing Your First Job: What You Need to Know,” on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Moderated by Marisol Barrios Perez of Mission Driven PR and CSUDH Adjunct Lecturer, the Zoom event will feature YP Panelists Melanie Gazazian of TriplePoint PR and Kayla Holley of Maverick Creative, who will provide information to help you navigate interviews and enter the PR workforce. Scott Pansky of Allison+Partners will share what their company looks for in prospective candidates.

MEET OUR SPEAKER PANEL:

Kayla Holley, Maverick Creative
Kayla Holley is a marketing communications professional armed with over 2 years of agency experience in the travel, hospitality, nonprofit, construction, and education industries. During college, she lived, studied, and worked in Dublin, Ireland for 3 months where she secured her first marketing internship and more importantly than that, gained cultural intelligence.
She finished her second internship with a marketing communications agency her junior year and was promoted to a coordinator position shortly thereafter. She took client calls between classes and shifts at her second job for her last year and a half of college. Serving on PRSSA National Committee senior year, she organized and produced several articles for PR Daily, wrote blogs and hosted podcasts for various PRSSA platforms, served on the PRSA Board of Ethics & Professional Standards, and helped create better autonomy within the PRSSA organization.
Kayla graduated with a B.A. in public relations and a B.S. in business administration from SUNY Oswego in May 2022. Since graduating, she has progressed in her goal of visiting 30 countries before 30, spending time in Dublin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Florence, Rome & Barcelona. In October she left home and moved across the country to Los Angeles. Kayla is now an assistant account executive at Maverick Creative agency, supports her mom’s bookkeeping business, travels often, and volunteers with PRSA-LA.

Melanie Gazazian, TriplePoint PR
Melanie Gazazian has been in the PR industry for the last four years with a focus on technology, startup culture, virtual reality, and video games. After her first internship, she knew this would be the career for her.
Melanie graduated from USC with a Master’s in Public Relations and Advertising after graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and English from the University of La Verne. She is currently an Account Coordinator at TriplePoint PR supporting accounts like Blizzard Entertainment, Paradox Interactive and more.

Scott Pansky, Allison+Partners
Scott is a co-founder of the agency and leads Allison+Partners’ Social Impact group. He developed the agency’s proprietary Corporate Socialanthropy™ process, which helps corporations identify social impact partners and builds the foundation for long-term campaigns that incorporate employee recruitment and retention programs, internal and external communications, and cause-related marketing strategies. READ MORE…

Moderated by
Marisol Barrios Perez, MSPA, APR
Founder, CEO, Mission Driven PR, Inc.
With more than 25 years of successful experience in communications, public relations, and the nonprofit sector, Marisol creates impact with GRACE, a five-step process in public relations to transform an organization’s mission. Through her company Mission Driven PR, Inc. and Nonprofit PR Academy, she helps nonprofit communications and development professionals generate impact in public relations that align with their missions. In addition, she provides event management to her nonprofit clients. READ MORE…

REGISTER HERE

PRSA-LA At Breakfast With (ABW)... Arts & Consumer Entertainment Journalists
2023-03-23 08:00 - 09:00 | CA
PRSA-LA’s At Breakfast With (ABW)
Arts & Consumer Entertainment Journalists
Thursday, March 23 | 8 am to 9 am
Via Zoom

$15 for PRSA-LA, HPRA-LA, and BPRS-LA members | $30 for non-members | Free for PRSSA students

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

REGISTER HERE

Panelists:

Tricia Durrant
Supervising Producer, ET, ETonline.com,
Tricia Durrant has 15 years of experience in talent relations, booking, and producing entertainment news. She has worked at E! Entertainment, ‘Access Hollywood,’ and currently ‘Entertainment Tonight.’ She is a proud University of Miami Hurricane.

Craig Nakano
Assistant Managing Editor, Entertainment & Arts, Los Angeles Times
Craig is the assistant managing editor for entertainment at the Los Angeles Times, running a team that covers movies, TV, music. podcasting, celebrity news, internet culture, books, and fine arts. He previously served as deputy editor for the department, and prior to that, as arts editor coordinating critics and reporters covering art, architecture, theater, classical music, and dance. Since starting at The Times in 2000, he also has been an editor for the Home and Travel sections. Before Craig moved to L.A., he was an editor at the San Francisco Chronicle and the Desert Sun in Palm Springs. He is an alum of Northwestern University.

Paula Ulichney
Photo Editor, The Associated Press

Pamela Avila
Entertainment Editor, USA Today
Pamela Avila is a journalist, editor, and social media strategist based in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Her reporting focuses on entertainment, pop culture, and books with a lens often on the Latinx community and the way those topics intersect with social justice issues. She currently serves as USA TODAY’s Evening Entertainment Editor and Latinx Culture Writer. Previously she worked as a social media manager for Los Angeles Magazine, and more of her bylines can be found in Business Insider, Hunker, E! News, Shondaland, and the Los Angeles Review of Books.

Moderator
Maricela Cueva
President, VPE Communications,
PRSA-LA Board Member

Via Zoom | $15 for PRSA-LA, HPRA-LA, and BPRS-LA members | $30 for non-members | Free for PRSSA students
REGISTER HERE
