Dec 3 2008 - Annual PR Day Conference

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Houston Chapter will host its 2008 annual PR Day conference on Wednesday, December 3, 2008, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the Westin Oaks Hotel, 5011 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas, 77056. This event was rescheduled following Hurricane Ike. More than 30 public relations, communications and journalism industry experts will be on hand to present sessions in accordance with the conference theme: "Ch-Ch-Change – Leading it, living through it and loving it!" Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Victoria Clarke, is scheduled to deliver the luncheon keynote address, followed by a Q & A, and subsequently, a media panel discussion which includes local television, radio and print journalists.

Victoria Clarke is widely respected as one of the nation's most innovative communications strategists. Clarke currently leads Comcast's integrated strategic communications and government affairs efforts, and serves as a frequent correspondent for the ABC Network. Clarke has advised many of the nation's well-known executives, has served as President of Bozell Eskew and as Vice President of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, where she helped develop the first television ratings system and the cable industry's first on-time guarantee. She most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Clarke was previously the Press Secretary for former President Bush's 1992 re-election campaign, an advisor to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.

PRSA organizers are expecting more than 150 local and regional communications professionals to attend the conference which will feature some of the finest public relations and communications professionals, educators and experts – including social scientists, futurists, journalists, bloggers, chief marketing officers and technologists, as well as specialists in interactive and marketing communications, technology, research and measurement – that will present at this year's PR Day conference. Session topics include: creative media strategies, do-it-yourself blogs, government relations, integrated communications, minority targeted public relations, coaching and career transition, event management, crisis communications, broadcast communications, the power of brand, new professionals and more. Event organizers recently reduced the registration costs to an "Early Bird" price format, which is in effective through November 22. For a complete schedule and registration information, visit www.prsahouston.org.

PRSA Houston also will celebrate and thank 2008 supporters and volunteers at a Holiday Party, immediately following the conference. The annual PR Day conference is an all-volunteer initiative, bringing together leadership from within the Houston chapter's active membership and other partners. This year's committee is led by Chairs Jennifer L. Evans, Tricia Rudisill Bentley and Sherry Franke, APR. Committee members include: Lydia Baehr; Sabra Batts; Nancy Beaty; Anne Deuermeyer; Lisa Dimond Vasquez; Lainie Gordon, APR; Bridgette Hall; Lindsay Isaacs; Anna Kaplan; Ariana Montelongo; Kelly Papinchak George, APR; Scott Scheffler, APR; Susan Schmaeling, APR; Ron Trinidad; Jennifer Walker; and Tanisha Warner.

"This year's PR Day Conference represents an outlet for PR professionals to expand their knowledge, meet some of the best names in the communications industry, network with their peers, and be introduced to the latest innovative products and advanced solutions," said Priscilla Tinsley, 2008 President of the Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter. "Practitioners from entry to senior levels will find value in this conference and will immediately be able to apply the information learned in their day-to-day jobs."

Major sponsors for the one-day conference include Comcast, CenterPoint Energy, Brookwoods Group, Business Wire and Vollmer PR. In addition to sponsorships and an EXPO arena with more than a dozen exhibitors, scholarship funds were raised to support current or recent college students, with a focus in communications. Thanks to the generosity of Shell Oil Company, The Ammerman Experience, Spectra Energy and Toby Stark Public Relations, a record 15 student scholarships have been awarded to cover full-day registration costs for PR Day. For more information on the scholarship recipients, visit www.prsahouston.org.