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December 2018 
President's Message
It doesn’t seem that long ago when I sat in front of my computer contemplating what I was going to write about in my January article for the PRSA Dallas Chapter newsletter. I had a faint sense of dread in knowing that I was going to have to come up with content for another 11 monthly articles. I can’t help but be amazed how fast time has flown this year as I write my last monthly article for 2018. I am so honored to have been the Dallas Chapter President this year. I have enjoyed meeting and working with so many of you.
I hope to see you at the Holiday Social on December 13. I hope you will be there for a great networking event and to vote for our 2019 PRSA Dallas Chapter Board. I am turning over the leadership of the Dallas Chapter to Brooke Traister, our 2018 President-Elect. Our chapter will be in great hands next year, and Brooke is already planning for an exciting year of programming and networking opportunities. I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me this year, both personally, and to keep our chapter strong. The chapter board, committee chairs and committee members have created outstanding programs and results this year. I can’t thank all of you enough for your volunteerism and attendance at our programs. Thanks again for allowing me to be your leader this year. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.
Donna Coletti, APR
Monthly Event
PRSA Dallas Holiday Mixer and Annual Meeting
Join us on December 13 for an evening of networking and cheer to celebrate our accomplishments and recognize the volunteers who helped make this an outstanding year for PRSA Dallas. Additionally, PRSA Dallas will elect its officers for 2019 in accordance with our chapter bylaws.
The 2019 Slate of Officers:
President-Elect: James Shackelford, APR; SomaComm
Vice President: Malizy Scruggs, APR; The Starr Conspiracy
Secretary: Rachel Deems; Moroch
Treasurer: Christi Matthys, APR; Three Box Strategic Communications
Assembly Delegate (2019-21): Donna Coletti, APR; Coletti Marketing and Content Strategy
Assembly Delegate (2019-21): Katie Carrol-Whitton, APR; Southwest Transplant Alliance
Assembly Delegate (2019): Leah Ekmark Williams, APR; Dala Communications
Assembly Delegate (Alternate): Rachel Hedstrom, APR; The Gentry Agency
Assembly Delegate (Alternate): Jeff Smith, APR; ORIX Corporation USA
PRSA Dallas is proud to continue our tradition of supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Dallas at this event. We’ll collect voluntary donations (cash or check) to provide $20 gift cards so parents can fulfill their children’s wishes this holiday. Alternatively, donations can be made online (click here) prior to the event – please add “PRSA Dallas” to the group name on the form.
Details:
Thursday, December 13, 2018
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Social House
5100 Belt Line Rd #410
Dallas, TX 75254
Tickets: Members Free; Guests/Students $15
NuPros Event
REGISTER TODAY for the final NuPros event of the year!
Prove the value of PR tactics to senior leadership through strategic measurement on Thursday, Dec. 6!
Join the NuPros group to hear from Alison Valentine, account director at Cision and our very own, Whitney Strittmatter, public relations manager at Brinker International, Inc. Most PR professionals know the struggle of measuring the ROI of PR tactics, but Alison and Whitney will share best practices on how to tie PR metrics of success to an organization's business goals. Walk away with tangible examples of how to present valuable PR reports to senior leadership.
This event is FREE and open to anyone interested in the topic. You do not have to be a PRSA member to attend, but you do need to register here. A fee will be applied at registration, but it will be refunded to guests in attendance after the event.
Mark your calendars:
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 6
- Time: 6:15 – 8 p.m.
- Location: Brinker International (Building C) - 6727 Hillcrest Plaza Drive, Dallas, TX 75230
- Located on the first floor in building C in the “Play Room”
- Parking is available in front of building C
- Cost: $10 to register; fee will be refunded to guests in attendance after the event
- Register online
PRSA Dallas members, here’s how you can help. If you know a NuPro (PR professional with 0-5 years’ experience) who you currently work with, mentor, or stay in touch with, please forward this event information their way. Your support in someone else’s career is very impactful.
About the speakers:
Alison Valentine, Account Director, Cision
Alison Valentine, Account Director for Cision, works with both agencies and the top Fortune 1000 companies on their earned media efforts. In today’s earned media landscape, PR professionals are experiencing more and more pressure to identify conversion metrics that drive sales and business in the same way that other marketing sectors do. By using an Earned Media Management Platform, Alison is able to partner with these brands and collectively identify target audience based on demographic data, execute multichannel content distribution to the target audience, and measure the outcomes of these efforts and how they ultimately move the needle for the individual business initiatives.
Whitney Strittmatter, Public Relations Manager, Brinker International, Inc.
Whitney is a public relations professional with a broad range of experience in media relations, social media and event planning. As a public relations manager at Brinker International, Inc., the holding company of Chili’s(R) Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy(R) restaurants, Whitney works cross-functionally to outline strategic PR tactics for the year, owns reporting and measuring metrics of success, pushes the brands forward by constantly testing new ideas, learning quickly and adjusting plans as needed.
Whitney began her career leading the social media and public relations efforts for an independent agent of Nationwide Insurance before moving into a public relations agency setting. She has served both business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients, including HomeTeam Pest Defense, Coolibar, Baylor Scott & White, Oakley, Cascade Ice Sparkling Water, Belk department stores, Village Health Partners and various commercial real estate clients.
Whitney received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in enterprise studies from the University of Oklahoma, and is an active member of PRSA Dallas.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Early Bird $995 Discount for ICON 2019 in San Diego
For a limited time, you can purchase a full conference package to PRSA’s 2019 International Conference in San Diego for the Early Bird Discount Price of only $995!
This Conference offers more than 100 professional development sessions, features inspiring keynote speakers, brings together PRSA members from far and wide, and includes exhibiting companies with relevant products and services.
Take advantage of this limited-time deal by Dec. 31, 2018 and save big!
Save the date! Amazon employee communications manager kicks off 2019 programming
Join PRSA Dallas on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, for our 2019 kickoff breakfast, "The Nerd Strategy: Using Data as a Communication Superpower." Presented by Kristin Graham, employee communications leader from Amazon Web Services, you'll learn insights about today’s evolving audiences and how we can be flexible to meet their messaging needs. She will share a collection of “nerd facts” about how information can be made more bite-sized and how to stretch our own comfort zones. This event is sponsored by Visit Dallas. Registration will open soon on www.prsadallas.org!
APR Spotlight
Congratulations to our two newest APR recipients!
Two PRSA Dallas members received their APR certification. Congratulations go to Jessamy Brown and James Shackleford, both of whom will be honored in a pinning ceremony at our upcoming holiday party. The APR committee also plans to have another APR panel presentation in January.
Interested in earning your APR certification? Learn more about how the APR can set you apart in your career!
Awards
Volunteers needed to judge the Puget Sound PRSA awards
PRSA Dallas is seeking PR pros at all levels to judge the PRSA Puget Sound chapter awards. Those with APR are especially needed! It should only take a couple of hours of your time, and your knowledge and expertise will be greatly appreciated. You may also gain ideas for your own PR practice. The judging will take place during the month of December. Each entry will have at least two judges, and all judging materials can be accessed online and completed at your convenience.
Interested? Click the link to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Deems.
DFW Communicators Job Bank
Looking for a job? Need to fill a position?
Check out the DFW Communicators Job Bank, a collaborative project providing a single source of news, jobs, events and freelance listings for all sponsoring organizations.
Recent postings:
SPM Communications Dallas, TX
Marketing Specialist (Global Online Programs)
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
Digital Communications Specialist
Parkland Health & Hospital System Dallas, TX
Dallas Zoo Management Dallas, TX
HCK2 Partners Addison, TX
About PRSA Dallas
The Dallas Chapter of PRSA serves more than 400 practitioners of public relations in North Texas. The chapter was founded in 1950, just three years after the founding of the national society. The chapter provides members with a variety of professional networking opportunities and services, such as the Communicators Job Bank, a monthly newsletter, professional development programs, monthly luncheons, mentoring programs and college outreach programs.
Connect with us: www.prsadallas.org
Facebook: PRSA Dallas
LinkedIn: PRSA Dallas Chapter
Twitter: @prsadallas
