What do our members need?
First things first, I want to thank the East Central District Board for its encouragement and support of my candidacy. I also want to thank the members who signed petitions on my behalf to make this floor nomination possible. I am genuinely grateful for your confidence and your trust.
In 1995, I joined a public relations agency in Grand Rapids. The owner was a passionate advocate for something called the Public Relations Society of America. To be honest, I had no idea what that was.
I graduated as a journalism major with visions of becoming the next (Bob) Woodward or (Carl) Bernstein. But like many communications professionals, my career took a different path. I moved into public affairs and then public relations, and my boss encouraged me to join PRSA.
What seemed like a simple membership decision ended up shaping the course of my career. Over the years, PRSA became the place where I learned not just what we do as communicators, but why we do it.
One of the most important milestones in that journey was earning my APR.
For those who have been around a while, you’ll remember what the process looked like in 1999. There was an oral panel, followed by an eight-hour written examination. You typically took it in the spring and then waited until July for a letter in the mail telling you whether you’d passed. It was rigorous. It was intimidating. And it forced me to think about public relations not simply as a job, but as a profession grounded in strategy, ethics, research, planning and measurement.
I’ve been a PRSA member since 1997, and nearly 30 years later, I can honestly say that PRSA has been a beautiful thread throughout my career. In fact, for nearly the last 10 years, I have paid for my membership out of my own pocket because my employers didn’t cover it. I don’t say that as a complaint. I share it because it reflects the value I place on this organization. Year after year, I continued to renew because PRSA has consistently provided something worth investing in: professional growth, trusted relationships, leadership opportunities, and connections to colleagues who help us navigate an ever-changing profession.
I’ve been fortunate to serve as president of the Western Michigan Chapter, chair of the East Central District, and in various volunteer roles at every level. Those experiences have reinforced something I believe strongly: PRSA’s greatest asset is not its structure, its bylaws or even its programming.
It’s the members. It’s those who mentor young professionals, lead chapters, pursue APR, share their expertise, and give their time to strengthen this profession.
I was encouraged by leaders in the East Central District to seek this position, and I accepted because I believe PRSA has never been more important. Our profession is facing extraordinary changes. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work. Expectations of communicators continue to grow. Trust remains one of the most valuable assets organizations possess. As those changes accelerate, we have to ensure that PRSA remains indispensable to practitioners. We must continue providing practical, relevant resources that help communicators succeed today, not just celebrate what worked yesterday. We should constantly be asking ourselves:
I commit to bring the perspective of someone who has spent nearly three decades benefiting from this organization, serving this organization and believing in this organization. It is an honor to represent the East Central District on the National Board to help ensure PRSA remains strong, relevant and valuable for the next generation of communicators.
The 2027 board represents a broad cross-section of PRSA chapters throughout the East Central District, bringing diverse professional experiences and perspectives to district leadership. Nine chapters have representation on the 2027 board. Maribeth Farkas (Detroit) and Alexa Welch (Bluegrass) are rolling off the board after this year.
“I am grateful for the willingness of these outstanding professionals to serve our district,” said Mark D. Weinstein, immediate past chair and chair of the nominating committee. “Their commitment to leadership, collaboration and advancing the public relations profession positions ECD for continued success. I am confident our best years are ahead for our district.”