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September 2026 
Welcome
Welcome to Power in PRactice, the monthly newsletter of PRSA Dallas. This is your resource for getting the most out of your PRSA local chapter membership. Learn more about events, networking and education opportunities, membership benefits and more.
Pegasus Awards Deadline is Tues, Sept 8!
Regular Entry Period Ends on Tuesday After Labor Day
Awards season is in full swing and we can't wait to honor you and your teams!
The Pegasus Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your best programs, projects, individuals & teams.
You know your company and team are the best in DFW, now is the time for you to showcase that greatness.
The Call for Entries is open now. Take advantage of the regular deadline fees by 11:59 pm on Tues, Sept 8 before prices increase on Sept 9.
Note that Greater Ft. Worth PRSA Chapter members are eligible for the member rate.
Gather your strongest work completed August 2025 through July 2026 for the following categories:
- Community Relations: Community Relations, Reputation/Brand Management, Events and Observances, Internal Communications, Marketing Communications, Crisis Communications, Public Service, Public Affairs, and Most Effective Campaign Under $10,000 Budget.
- Projects: Media Relations, Digital Communications, and Most Effective Influencer Promotion.
- Special Awards: Young PR Pro of the Year, PR Professional of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Agency of the Year.
- Best in Show Awards: Programs and Projects.
Final deadline at the late deadline fee is Mon, Sept 21.Want guaranteed visibility at Pegasus 2026? Contact [email protected].
September President's Message
September is PRSA Ethics Month, a reminder that communicators play a critical role in asking hard questions, advocating for transparency and helping organizations make responsible decisions. This month, PRSA Dallas President, Chantal Boeckman, explores why a strong professional community—and perspectives beyond our own organizations—can help us navigate ethical challenges and grow as leaders.
Upcoming Events / Opportunities
PRSA Dallas Nonprofit Workshop - Speaker Lineup Announced
This year’s Non-Profit Workshop, Next Is Now, will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026.
PRSA Dallas is thrilled to announce several confirmed speakers for this year’s Non-Profit Workshop, Next is Now:
- Charlotte Kramon, Wealth and Philanthropy Reporter, The Dallas Morning News
- Christina Cavalier, Managing Director, The Salvation Army of North Texas
- Catherine Karam, Chief Marketing Officer, Scalanthropy
- Gary Huddleston, Texas Retailers Association
- Jessica Shepard Watts, Ph.D., Chief Partnerships Officer, The Dallas Foundation
- Kathryn Allen, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
- Mark Jones, President and CEO, Bonton Farms
- Sandy Haley Diaz, Founder and Principal, SDH Communications
This year’s speaker lineup will help inspire today’s North Texas nonprofits, who are facing unique challenges that aren’t likely to change trajectory.
The 10th Annual PRSA Dallas Nonprofit Workshop offers area professionals an opportunity to gather critical professional communications insight from the event’s speakers and from fellow non-profit leaders.
The workshop will provide helpful tips to navigate the current challenges and to help secure the future of area non-profits.
Join us to learn more and discover your Next Is Now.
Friday, September 25, 2026
8 AM to 12 PM
North Texas Food Bank – Perot Campus
3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, TX 75075
We still have opportunities for volunteers, panel speakers, and sponsors. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to [email protected] for more details.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Breakfast sponsor:
In-kind venue sponsor:
Upcoming Southwest District Webinar
The PRSA SW District and Chris Talley will explore how PR practitioners are still the essential element to strategic planning in the era of AI in this webinar, The Enduring Power of Brand, Reputation and Crisis Management in the AI Era.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
12:00 p.m.
PRSA Ethics Month
September is Ethics Month! Be sure to register for the national PRSA Ethics Month webinar, "The Human Guardian: Defining Essential Skills for AI-Mediated Public Relations," featuring Dr. Marlene Neill on Monday, Sept. 28 at 10:00 a.m.
2026 PRSA ICON
ICON 2026, taking place Oct. 18–20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla., will bring together communications professionals from across the country for three days of learning, inspiration and meaningful connection. Attendees will explore the issues shaping the profession—including artificial intelligence, leadership, crisis communications, reputation management, measurement, executive visibility and emerging trends—while learning from influential speakers and connecting with peers from across the communications community.
PRSA Connect on Tour: Dallas / Fort Worth
Every day, communicators are tasked with reaching employees who may never sit at a desk, open an email or log on to an intranet.
Whether they’re working on an airport ramp, manufacturing floor, hospital unit, retail location or in the field, frontline employees are essential to organizational success — and often the hardest audience to reach.
Board with the PRSA Employee Communications Section for a one-day professional development experience designed to help communications leaders develop stronger employee engagement.
During this immersive event, you’ll hear from communications professionals who are successfully navigating the challenges of reaching mobile and distributed workforces through innovative channel strategies, audience targeting, manager communications and digital workplace solutions.
Friday, November 13
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Inside the Minds of Hiring Managers - August Event Recap
It was a packed house of members and non-members for the August event, “Inside the Minds of Hiring Managers.” Moderator John Ponzio (PRSA Dallas VP of programming) posed insightful questions of panelists Kirsten Gappelberg with Tyler Technologies, Nicole Paquette with Communities Foundation of Texas, and Greg Miller with Genuine Article who shared their experiences and advice around navigating the application and interview process. Some of the recurring themes of the panel included highlight your business acumen; use AI as a coach or sounding board, not as a cheat code; build relationships whenever possible; and do your homework.
For any PRSA Dallas member looking for a new position, make sure you’re part of the PRSA Dallas Members group on LinkedIn where job leads are regularly shared.
2027 PRSA Southwest District Conference Call for Speakers
The SW District Conference Planning Committee is already hard at work shaping an incredible 2027 event in Fort Worth! Interested in taking the stage or have a recommendation for a phenomenal speaker? Complete this short form to help kick start program planning. While this isn't an official call for speakers (that's coming later), it's a great opportunity to be considered early.
Volunteer with PRSA Dallas Today!
The best thing about PRSA Dallas is our volunteers! Volunteering is the best way to meet new people, expand your network and have a great time.
The more active volunteers we have, the more we can accomplish as a chapter. If you're interested in getting involved, fill out our volunteer form and a member of the Board will contact you.
Register for this month's webinars from PRSA:
Sept. 10: Webinar, 5 Ways to Cut Through the Clutter, Make every piece you write easier to read and understand with techniques and targets based on 130 years of readability research. Leave with cool, free tools for measuring monitoring and managing readability.
Sept. 16: Webinar, The Reality and Impact of Being a Government Communicator: Career Tips and Undiscovered Opportunities, This webinar will connect young professionals and PRSSA students with a panel of experienced government communication and public affairs professionals who can speak to the realities, benefits, and impact of federal, state and local government roles.
New and Reinstated Members
Calista Segura, Luke's Locker
Cami Christian, PR Senior Director, LDWW
Courtney Spakes, HRBP | Community Relations & Employee Engagement, Flowco
Elena A. Hawthorne, Director of University Advancement Communications, Sam Houston State University
Eline Wiggins, Writer, HKS Inc.
Jessica Abadin, Southern Methodist University
Jessica Emmett Sellers, Outreach Coordinator, City of Waco
Kate Fleitas, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Maria Rose Durrans, Public Relations and Marketing,
Quincy Gautier, University of Texas at Arlington
Renee Cossman, Cossman PR LLC
Sandy Diaz Hailey, SDH Communications
Saul Garza, Communications Manager, City of Irving
Scott L. Baradell, APR, CEO, Idea Grove
Share your thoughts and receive a $150 credit toward reinstating your PRSA membership
As a former PRSA member, your perspective is especially valuable. Complete this short (6-8-minute) survey and receive a $150 credit toward reinstating your PRSA membership, plus a waived $35 activation fee. Whether your feedback reflects what worked well, what could have been better, or what would inspire you to return, your insights will help shape PRSA’s future and improve the member experience. We hope you’ll consider giving PRSA another look. Take the survey here.
About PRSA Dallas
The Dallas Chapter of PRSA serves nearly 400 communications and public relations professionals in North Texas. Founded in 1950, the chapter provides members with a variety of professional networking opportunities, programs and services. Connect with us at www.prsadallas.org.
