ECD October Chapter Spotlight: PRSA Northwest Pennsylvania Will Never Give Up the Ship!
The East Central District Chapter Spotlight shines for the month of October on PRSA Northwest Pennsylvania. The chapter was founded in 2010 with 10 members and today has 20, making it the second-smallest chapter in the East Central District. But the proud history of the Erie region suggests a strength and staying power that go beyond the numbers.
Erie is known as the “Flagship City” because it was the home port of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship “Niagara.” Perry won the historic Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.At the height of the battle, Perry raised his battle flag emblazoned with the words “Don’t Give Up the Ship” and went on to defeat the British in close action.
The arrival of three major rail lines in the 19th century transformed Erie into a powerhouse in engine, boiler and rail car production, and the region boomed. But its port and rail hub were no match for the post-war rise of the automobile and highway expansion. Population continues to decline.
“Revenue, Retention and Recruitment” is the battle cry as PRSA responds to a national decline in membership. District membership has fallen 21% since the pandemic, and 14 of 15 ECD chapters lost members last year by an average of nearly 10%. NWPA lost only two members in 2025, but that was enough to match the district’s 10% decline.
But the Erie community will not give up the ship, and its dedicated core of PR pros proves they are “the little engine that could.”
Chapter membership includes public relations, communications, marketing and advertising professionals working in Erie and the surrounding region. They represent agencies, corporations, nonprofit and government organizations as well as sole practitioners.
The chapter has been steadfast in maintaining a yearly calendar of networking events, lunch and learns, media mingles, Women’s Leadership Panel and, in April, the Professional Development Conference. True to Commodore Perry, their flagship event is the Niagara Awards. Far from giving up the ship, the Niagara Awards is a part of the chapter that is showing growth. And appropriately enough, it now includes a hallmark of Erie’s railroad history.
“Each year, the chapter’s biggest project is the annual Niagara Awards competition and ceremony, held the Thursday before Thanksgiving,” said 2026 NWPA President Tony Peyronel.
“The program recognizes the best public relations work of the year done by professionals throughout Erie, Crawford and Warren counties. The event averages more than 50 entries and more than 100 attendees each year and will, this year, move to a new space at the historic Brewerie at Union Station in Erie to accommodate those growing numbers.”
Tony said a “Fun Fact” about the chapter is that the judges for this year’s Niagara Awards will be former chapter board members Steve and Marissa Orbanek, who also served as keynote speakers at the chapter’s 2026 Spring Professional Development Conference. Steve is now senior director of university communications and media relations at Temple University, and Marissa is press secretary for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
A challenge for all ECD chapters in a time of declining membership is finding new board members with the leadership and vision to navigate today’s challenges.
“The good news is that we finally have a president-elect, and she is wonderful,” said Tony. “Her name is Ashlyn Keenan. Ash owns her own firm, AK Public Relations, and is also a member of Radius CoWork, Erie’s vibrant co-working community.”
“Stepping into the president-elect role is such an exciting opportunity, and I’m truly honored to serve the PRSA NWPA community in this capacity,” Ashlyn said. “I’m especially excited about bringing fresh energy and new ideas to the chapter, creating opportunities that get people excited to be involved and building an even stronger community for communications professionals across our region.
“This industry has given me so much, and I’m looking forward to giving back while helping inspire the next generation of professionals to get involved, build connections and grow their careers right here in Northwestern Pennsylvania.”
What is the magic ingredient that fortifies NWPA’s “never give up, little engine that could” outlook? Perhaps it’s in their Secret to a Happy Chapter:
“We hold a summer social each year to blow off steam and get folks focused on entering the Niagara Awards competition in the fall,” said Tony. “This year’s event was at The Cloud 9 Wine Bar in Erie. Could buying everyone’s first drink be the secret to a happy chapter?”
Let’s raise a glass to PRSA Northwest Pennsylvania and encourage our East Central District to rally around the Erie battle cry, “Never Give Up the Ship!”
PRSA Northwest Pennsylvania 2026 Officers:
- President: Tony Peyronel
- President-Elect: Ashlyn Keenan
- Past President: Larry Klick
- Treasurer: Lisa Graff
- Secretary: Ken Vybiral
