BetterPR

In this episode, April Conway, MBA, APR, Public Affairs Officer for the Reno Housing Authority, guest hosts as Deidre Forster, Media Operations Manager for the National Guard Bureau, and Captain Emerson Marcus, Public Affairs Officer for the Nevada National Guard speak about their experiences working in PR for the National Guard. Learn how they navigate communications between themselves and the public, their day-to-day roles, and how the APR+M accreditation helps Deidre in her civilian role.

Are you APR Curious? Join us to get answers to your accreditation questions from our panel of speakers who:

• Are currently going through the process of earning their Accreditation in Public Relations;
• Have recently earned their accreditation and have put it to good use, both career-wise and through public relations crises; and
• Went through the APR accreditation process years ago and can attest to the value of accreditation

Join our VP of Professional Development, Kathie Taylor, APR, and her guests Dan Davis, APR, Public Information Officer for the Carson City School District; Jena Esposito, APR, Public Relations Manager for KPS3; and Valentina Bonaparte, Public Information Officer for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation as they discuss what Accreditation in Public Relations has meant to their careers, their employers and clients and what it can mean for you!

So, you have a story to tell or a newsworthy piece you want to see splashed across the front page. The only problem is, how do you get it in the news? This is where media relations comes in. The relationship between a marketer or PR professional and a journalist or news outlet is an important one based on mutual respect, trust, and knowledge of both your roles in the industry.

As public relations practitioners, we value our media contacts and work to sustain and nurture those relationships. As public relations practitioners in the private sector, media publication, whether it is online, print or broadcast, is an important tool in our tactical toolbox, so working to maintain good relations is key to being able to tell our story through their platforms.

Listen to PR pro Bethany Drysdale and news pro Bob Conrad discuss the finer points of media relations!

In this episode, we talk with Matt Seltzer APR, Partner and Head of Research and Strategy at S2 Marketing in Las Vegas.

Matt is a PRSA Board Member in the Las Vegas Valley Chapter and has spent his career in the public relations industry honing his skills as an expert researcher. He uses these skills to help clients communicate with their audiences more effectively, which is especially important when you're working with a diverse audience.

We'll discuss why research is so important in the PR industry, as well as how you can understand the tools to better understand a multitude of research factors.

Explore how to become a better leader in uncertain times with Ken Jacobs, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP. Ken is the principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, which helps empower public relations and communications agency owners, CEOs, and senior leaders to achieve and surpass their organizational, career, and personal goals by becoming more inspiring, inspired, and effective leaders. It does so via leadership coaching.  

An honest conversation about DE&I

A high-level introduction to what you will hear and learn during the PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter's program – a conversation about DEI and its role in your career, your community and the world around you.

Speakers

Dr. Felicia Blow, APR, and PRSA National Chair. Dr. Blow is an award-winning leader with extensive organizational, fundraising, strategic planning, leadership and management experience. With a 30-year career spanning work in Manufacturing, Waste Management and Environmental Services, Telecommunications; and Higher, Dr. Blow currently serves as Associate Vice President for Development at the renowned historically black institution Hampton University. At Hampton, Dr. Blow led the university’s $150 Million Dream No Small Dreams II Campaign as its campaign director. That campaign concluded in 2019 and exceeded its goal of raising more than $166 million in support of university priorities.  She also has earned the Accredited in Public Relations credential, by PRSA. Dr. Blow earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University; her Master’s in Business Administration degree from Strayer University; and her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University.

Vanessa Vancour is a strategist and founder of Vancourage, bilingual storytelling and strategic consulting firm for brands, organizations, and people who are deeply committed to amplifying diverse voices and doing things differently. Vanessa is a born storyteller, bilingual editorial consultant, and Latinx marketer who’s committed her 16-year career to bring diverse narratives—and meaningful conversations— to every newsroom, classroom, and ad-agency boardroom she's been a part of.

Hosted by Ronele M. Dotson, APR, Fellow PRSA, president and founder of RAD Strategies, a native Nevadan and consumer of all things communications and marketing. Celebrating 20 years of business, Ronele brings more than 30 years of experience – dedicated to ensuring the highest level of engagement with clients and the profession while leading with compassion. A respected regional and statewide community leader, Ronele has received several awards of excellence from her local PRSA chapter and the local American Marketing Association; she is also a PRSA Bronze Anvil recipient. She was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows in 2020.

Melanie Deziel is the Co-Founder & VP of Marketing at The Convoy, and the author of the best-selling marketing and business communications book “The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story ideas.” She is an international keynote speaker, skilled virtual presenter, and is recognized as one of the world's leading experts in native advertising and branded content. Today on BetterPR, Melanie applies the framework to real, everyday public relations situations.

Along with our theme of mental health, we bring you Mark Mohammadpour, APR, of Chasing the Sun - Your Team's Chief Well-Being Officer!

Mark says "You work really long hours. And you deal with “‘work emergencies” - even in your downtime.

It’s challenging for you to use up your PTO and sick time.

You’re constantly trying to prove your value at work.

You know you need to work out and eat well, but those habits take a backseat. But you also feel guilty for carving out time for rest, exercise, and healthy eating."

Hear Mark's story of how he lost 150 pounds and changed his life to prioritize not only his health and well-being but ours as well.

Join Natalie Brown, APR, and Jena Esposito, APR, to talk about the joys and challenges of both in-house and agency public relations!

Public relations has been named one of the 10 most stressful occupations. Learn about the healing art of Zentangle and how practicing mindful art can significantly improve mental health. As PR practitioners, we know the value of research. Multiple studies have been done about the mental health and stress reduction benefits of Zentangle. Rick Roberts and Maria Roberts, founders of the Zentangle method explore stress relief through this art form that anyone - yes, anyone, can learn!

Rachel Gattuso, APR, fueled by righteous indignation, and Renee Plain, jazz hands or fiesty depending on the day, get real about the challenges - and the joys - of nonprofit public relations.

Join guest host Rebecca Allured, APR, as she continues our discussion on government communications with Meghin Delaney, communications director for Governor Steve Sisolak, and Jessica Ferrato, owner of the Ferrato Co., as they discuss the challenges of communicating at the state level throughout a pandemic and in a highly charged political climate.

Join guest host Rebecca Allured, APR, as Rebecca Venis, Director of Communications for the City of Reno, and Melissa Blosser, Community Relations Manager and Public Information Officer for Douglas County, discuss the challenges facing local government communicators, including misinformation and politics. Learn the strategies these professionals employ to reach multi-generational audiences across a wide variety of channels. 

Mentorship is a two-way gift between the mentor and the mentee because knowledge, inspiration and wisdom can be passed both ways. A lifelong learner is always learning. Listen in to three seasoned PR pros from the PRSA Oregon Chapter, Mara Woloshin, APR and PRSA Fellow, Patti Atkins, APR and Dave Thompson, APR, as they share their stories from decades - yes decades - of providing mentorship to up-and-coming PR Professionals!

Watch the video!

Taking A Stand for Ethics | Ethics In Practice: Ethics Month 2021 with Paula Pedene, APR, Fellow PRSA

Paula Pedene, U.S. Navy veteran and owner of Paula Pedene & Associates, a Service Disabled Veteran and Women Owned Small Business, was one of the first whistleblowers at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where veterans were dying while waiting for care. In retaliation for her disclosures, she was stripped of her role as a public affairs officer, one she held for 20 years. Over the next few years, Paula fought the system – and won. She earned her title back, was promoted to handle national public affairs for the Veterans Administration, and retired with 40 years of service, including her 10-year service in the Navy.

Paula discusses the importance of honesty and ethics in public relations with host Kathie Taylor, APR.

What was it like working seven days a week pushing out communications to the public during COVID-19? Scott Oxarart and Becca Allured, APR, discuss the toll of the pandemic on government communications professionals, and how it feels to use the search term "death" in your email every morning.

Our guests are Suzanne Hendery, MA, APR, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer and Stacey Sunday, APR, Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, for Renown Health, Northern Nevada’s healthcare leader, and Reno’s only locally owned, not-for-profit health system. Renown is the region's only trauma center, covering one million people and with a reach of over 100,000 miles.

Hendery and Sunday discuss the importance of open, transparent communication through the COVID-19 pandemic, including when then-president President Donald Trump famously shared a tweet that called the emergency medical structure “a scam.”

Hendery was honored as the Medigy Healthcare and IT Marketing Community (HITMC) 2020 Marketing Person of the Year, and Sunday was named the 2020 Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development Class of Rising Stars for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emily Bacheller, APR, Reputation Specialist for Renown Health, discusses the role of social media in reputation management and public relations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Kathie and Sara catch up from Sara's last episode to talk about Sara's fantastic new role as a result of earning her APR.