 Detroit Chapter Public Relations Society of America | December 2009
PRSA-Detroit honors local public relations By Amanda Chaborek, APR 
Jack Harned, APR, and Mark Benner, APR, pose for a photo at the PRSA-Detroit Annual Meeting Nov. 19. Harned was inducted into the PRSA-Detroit Hall of Fame in recognition of his distinguished career that spans more than 50 years. Benner received the Robert Hefty Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of for his long and outstanding service to PRSA-Detroit. Local public relations practitioners and students were recognized at the PRSA-Detroit’s Annual Meeting held Nov. 19 at the newly renovated DTE Energy Town Square in Detroit. Jack Harned, APR, and Mark Benner, APR, who have 90 years of PR experience combined, received the PRSA-Detroit Hall of Fame Award and the Robert Hefty Distinguished Service Award, respectively. Students Jenna Huskinson and Courtney Siekirk received Donald P. Durocher Memorial Scholarships, while college senior Elizabeth Trudeau received the chapter’s Rising Star internship award. Additionally, seven members were recognized for receiving their Accreditation in Public Relations. The Robert Hefty Distinguished Service Award, named in memory of longtime PRSA-Detroit board member and Bulletin editor Robert Hefty, honors an individual for his or her long and outstanding significant service to PRSA-Detroit. This year’s honoree, Mark Benner, is a strong supporter of PRSA at both the local and national levels. He served as an instrumental member of the PRSA 2008 International Conference Host Committee as well as co-chair of one of the most successful state conferences in PRSA-Detroit’s history in 2006. Benner is also very involved with and supportive of his local business community, serving on the board and executive committee of the Macomb County Chamber and chairing its PR/Marketing Committee. “Great PR is all about engaging in dialogue that nurtures mutually rewarding relationships,” said Benner. “To this end, being recognized by peers in the professional association that most values open, honest communications is a singular and humbling honor.” Benner has more than 40 years of PR experience and serves as senior vice president of corporate communications at Campbell-Ewald. He is a native of Evansville, Ind., and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana State University. He has been a Michigander since 1968. The PRSA-Detroit Hall of Fame Award is the highest recognition the chapter can bestow. It reflects a candidate’s significant contribution to the profession, to the PRSA-Detroit chapter and to the community. This year’s PRSA-Detroit Hall of Fame Award winner, Jack Harned, is one of Detroit’s most distinguished PR professionals. With more than 50 years of experience in public relations—and an additional eight years in journalism—few can match Harned’s background and accomplishments. Throughout his career, Harned has had communications assignments of interest and significance: with General Motors’ Design Staff in the “chrome and muscle” era of the early 1960s; in a GM aerospace division with historic technology assignments for the Apollo moon landing program and defense missile and commercial aircraft program; in GM’s Washington office as the auto industry came under more strident government regulations; in environmental activities as GM developed and introduced emission controls and air bags; in Europe as GM reorganized its international operations; and with top management during corporate governance reforms and globalization in the 1990s. In addition to his professional experiences, Harned had the distinction of studying under the late Scott Cutlip, a pioneer in public relations education and co-author of the classic textbook “Effective Public Relations.” “I appreciate that this award signifies the importance of the role and responsibilities of our profession to our communities and society,” said Harned. In 1995, Harned joined Larry Weis, APR, in forming AutoCom Associates, a public relations counseling firm focused on the automotive and technology fields. He is also an active contributor to the Detroit PR community, serving on PRSA-Detroit’s Automotive Council and as director of the chapter’s Senior Council. A native of Madison, Wis., Harned earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin. College Students Recognized Through Scholarships, Intern Award The chapter’s Donald P. Durocher Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Jenna Huskinson and Courtney Siekirk. The scholarship, named in honor of the late Donald P. Durocher, APR, Fellow PRSA, was established in 1992 and supports students in their pursuit of public relations education and professional development. Huskinson, in her final year at Wayne State University, is the Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) National Committee vice president of regional activities. Last year, she chaired the Wayne State University chapter’s winning campaign for the PR Apprentice competition at the 2009 PRSSA Conference. She is working as an assistant to WSU’s School of Business Administration’s marketing director. Siekirk, who will graduate in December 2010 from Michigan State University, is the PRSSA’s vice president of chapter development for MSU. In addition to her studies in advertising and public relations, she is an account executive at Healthy & Fit Magazine in Mason, Mich., where she is responsible for social media and Web site updating, and for creating and implementing the publication’s public relations plan. The Rising Star Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional ability, professionalism and achievement in his or her internship. The award is designed to encourage student growth and recognize outstanding initiative in the field of public relations. This year’s award winner, Elizabeth (Liz) Trudeau, is a senior at Wayne State University and president of the school’s PRSSA chapter. She is also the former liaison/director of member relations and represented her chapter at the 2009 National Assembly in New Orleans. Carrie Zarotney, president of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, nominated Trudeau after she interned at the Chamber earlier this year. Zarotney said, “Liz is hungry for knowledge, has a passion for writing and is truly engaged in finding solutions. I have been impressed by not only her work output, but also her resourcefulness, positive attitude and commitment to produce high quality results.” This year’s annual meeting sponsors were J & M Reproductions, Skidmore and Walsh College. |
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Jenna Huskinson (left) receives a certificate recognizing her as one of the recipients of a 2009 PRSA-Detroit Donald P. Durocher Memorial Scholarships from Carrie Zarotney, co-chair of the chapter’s programs/professional development committee. Hutchinson is in her final year at Wayne State University and serves as PRSSA National Committee vice president of regional activities. |
Courtney Siekirk (left) accepts a Durocher scholarship from Carrie Zarotney. Siekirk will graduate in December 2010 from Michigan State University and is the PRSSA’s vice president of chapter development for MSU. |
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Elizabeth (Liz) Trudeau (left) accepts the Rising Star Award from Kameya Shows-Ciers, chair of the PRSA-Detroit Internship/Student Development committee. Trudeau is a senior at Wayne State University and president of the school’s PRSSA chapter. She is also the former liaison/director of member relations and represented her chapter at the 2009 National Assembly in New Orleans. |
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PRSA-Detroit names 2010 officers and directors 
Rich Donley, APR, accepts the gavel from Kim Skeltis, APR, symbolizing the tranfer of the chapter presidency. Members of the PRSA-Detroit, during the chapter’s annual meeting held Nov. 19 at the DTE Energy Town Square, elected 2010 officers and directors. All appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2010. Officers elected to one-year terms, their hometowns, professional titles and business affiliations include:
Elected to three-year terms as directors on the board are:
“It is truly an honor to lead PRSA-Detroit in 2010,” said Donley, who has been actively involved in the chapter for more than a decade. “The state of the chapter is in good shape and we are poised to have an even better 2010, thanks to the current leadership who has worked diligently, tirelessly and with pure energy throughout the year to offer value, quality programming, professional development, networking opportunities, job support and fun. As we learned from these tough economic times, we need to reengage, not disengage. I challenge our members and others in public relations and communications to further engage, so that we can elevate our organization and the public relations field. I’m looking forward to the challenge and the opportunities.” |
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By Kim Skeltis, APR
But while this year tested our chapter in many ways, it was an awe-inspiring year to witness how a society of professionals can come together and do great things, especially in tough times. Trend Micro CEO Eva Chen said at the National Summit that anyone can be creative when you have endless dollars and resources – but true innovation happens when you have limited resources and have to dig deep and be creative. That sounds like PRSA Detroit. And creative and innovative we were. Here are just a few accomplishments in 2009: Creative cost savings We knew 2009 would be a challenging year financially, and we adjusted many of our practices to accommodate members as best we could.
More programs/professional opportunities This year was filled with excellent yet affordable programming, one of our members’ most valued benefits. Thanks to program chairs Carrie Zarotney and Nuria Baldello-Sole for lining up many of these programs, and for their years of service on this committee.
More touch points We added more touch points with our members this year while elevating our chapter to PRSA Detroit 2.0. I’d like to recognize and thank Karah Street for migrating the chapter to these social media platforms.
These accomplishments couldn’t have happened without an amazing group of leaders, from our officers and board of directors (special thanks to Scott Simons, APR; Mark Benner, APR; and Carrie Zarotney whose terms expire this year), to committee chairs, to everyone who volunteered in some way this year. And last but not least, Nancy Skidmore, who has been with our chapter 22 years and counting. She continues to be our chapter’s guiding compass. Thank you for entrusting your confidence in me as your 2009 chapter president. It has been a challenging yet thrilling ride, and I am a better person because of working with all of you. Thank you for inspiring me. And may you continue to inspire our chapter’s new leader, Rich Donley, APR – my PRSA colleague and friend who will boldly carry the torch in 2010. In closing, the challenges of our profession, region and society will continue in 2010. And the greatness of this chapter is only limited by the boundaries we place on it. Think about your personal role with PRSA and how you want to make it even better and more relevant. Find your place, carve out a niche, and make your mark on PRSA-Detroit. PRSA Detroit announces seven newly accredited members in 2009 
Four of the seven new chapter APRs join accreditation co-chair Jennifer Flowers, APR, (center) on stage during the annual meeting. The newly accredited members are (left to right) Monte Doran, APR; Tim Wieland, APR; Becky Johnson, APR; and, Kristen Stippich, APR. PRSA-Detroit honored seven chapter members who achieved the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2009 at its annual meeting on Nov. 19. The newly accredited members include:
Established in 1964, the Accreditation Program is the public relations profession’s only national post-graduate certification program. It measures a public relations practitioner’s fundamental knowledge of communications theory and its application; establishes advanced capabilities in research, strategic planning, implementation and evaluation; and demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence and ethical conduct. The skills acquired through the process are applicable to any industry or practice area. Currently, more than 5,000 professionals from the agency, corporate, association and education fields hold the APR mark nationally. |
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Register now for the PRSA 2010 Michigan Conference
Come to the conference to refresh, renew and refocus. Discover and discuss emerging trends and challenges in the public relations field—through interactive breakout sessions and outstanding speakers! Keynote Speakers:
Join us in Novi for a learning event that is sure to surpass all of your expectations. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on conference agenda. PRSA-Detroit well-represented by “Three from The D” By Carolyn Artman, APR, community relations administrator, HealthPlus of Michigan Social media was the hot topic at the PRSA International Conference in San Diego Nov. 8-10. The conference theme, “Delivering Value,” was underlined by keynote speakers Todd Buchholz and Bob Garfield, both NPR commentators, who were entertaining and enlightening. Garfield focused on the decline of newspapers, TV news and other traditional media. Check out his thoughts on the state of modern media. My company, HealthPlus of Michigan, has supported the American Heart Association (AHA), for years. So I attended a session conducted by Edelman PR’s Jennifer H. Pfahler, who led PR efforts for AHA’s successful “Go Red for Women” campaign. She touched on key Macy’s and Merck sponsorships of “Go Red,” how they engaged Marie Osmond as a spokesperson, and earned millions of dollars worth of media coverage to help raise awareness about heart disease as the number one killer of women. (AHA Southeast Michigan’s “Go Red” event is Feb. 24, 2010 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.) In another session entitled, “Strategically Social,” Luanne Lawrence, Oregon State University’s VP for university advancement, outlined how her institution’s social media strategy was creatively and aggressively tied to its overall communications strategy and the university’s goals and brand campaign, “Powered by Orange”. Additionally, Oregon State’s alumni magazine is now completely online, the entire PR team is armed with flip video cameras, and all have “Twitter beats,” so they each Tweet about a different area of the university. Their mission is mobilizing social media to engage students, faculty, alumni, donors and other key audiences to support the university. They often get more alumni event attendance by promoting online rather than with traditional invitations. Colgate University’s PR director co-presented. Discussions about use of social media for non-PR employees, training and “building an army” of followers, creating personal and professional brands and identities were part of the PRSA social media dialog throughout the conference. Jennifer Day, APR, and Pam Young, APR, were PRSA-Detroit’s board delegates in San Diego and attended the PRSA Assembly on Saturday before the conference, in addition to the conference itself. The 2010 PRSA International Conference is Oct. 16-19, 2010 in Washington D.C. Michigan State University announces Detroit area courses Michigan State University’s Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing announced its Spring (January) master’s level class schedule being offered at the Walsh College Novi campus. Classes begin the week of Jan. 4, 2010. Non-degree candidates or those who are considering applying to one of the degree programs can enroll as lifelong learning candidates. Up to three courses are eligible for transfer for degree credit. Course offerings for the program are:
To enroll in any of these courses or for more information, contact Pam Brock at 517.355.2314 or brockp@msu.edu,or Joe Wald at waldj@msu.edu. New Bulletin editorial team for 2010 By Dan Artman, APR After five years of service, PRSA-Detroit Bulletin co-editors John Austerberry, APR, and Len Singer, both from DTE Energy, have concluded their leadership of this publication with this issue. Austerberry was recently elected to a three-year term as a director on the chapter board. “The chapter board recognizes Len and John’s significant contribution as volunteer editors of the Bulletin,” said Rich Donley, APR, incoming 2010 PRSA-Detroit president. “Membership surveys have shown that our newsletter is one of the chapter’s most popular offerings. It is also one of the most frequent ways we communicate with the membership.” A major change implemented during 2009 was the move from a PDF Bulletin to an HTML newsletter with hyperlinks. Leading the Bulletin next year will be a team of four chapter members: co-editors Schanel Moses and Jared Bryan; and writers/editors Moira Horne, APR, and Tom Tryban, APR. Moses is an assistant account executive and Bryan is an intern at Eisbrenner Public Relations in Troy. Horne is a communications specialist at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Blue Care Network HMO in Southfield. Tryban is a freelance PR consultant and speech instructor at Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College. Plans for the 2010 Bulletin include covering more public relations industry trends, Detroit-area communications news and member profiles. If you have a story idea, or would like to write an article in an upcoming issue, please contact Schanel Moses smoses@eisbrenner.com or Jared Bryan. SSubmissions for Bulletin items should be e-mailed to them (with attached Word file). Moses and Bryan also can be reached at 248.641.1446.
A member of the Michigan corporate community for many years, Marx maintained excellent professional relationships with media decision-makers and the business community. He was a frequent guest speaker before business and civic organizations, and a leading authority on retail trends and issues for the local, regional and national media. Marx and partner Michael Layne opened Marx Layne & Company in 1987. He started his career in 1965 beginning as a vice president and controller for Sharffs, a retail group in Southeastern Ohio. From 1970 to 1984, Marx served in marketing and other senior management positions at a number of retail outlets, including the Jacobson Stores, Rike’s (a division of Federated Department Stores), the J. L. Hudson Company and Dayton Hudson Department Stores. “Fred was a wonderful friend and business partner,” said Layne. “He loved people and was genuinely interested in them. Everybody knew Fred Marx and Fred knew everybody. He loved work. His clients and employees were like family to him. He was creative and brilliant and will be missed greatly.” Sheldon Toll, a retired partner of Honigman Miller, said, “Fred was passionate about his work and was often referred to as a retail guru by others, frequently being quoted in the media across the country for his expertise. He knew everyone; he was the unofficial mayor of metro Detroit.” Over the years, Marx served on the boards of several organizations, including the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Historical Society, the Wayne State University Board of Visitors, and Applebaum College of Pharmacy. He is survived by his wife, Sally, and four adult children. The Quell Group has won three 2009 MarCom Awards for its work in web site design and interactive flash video development. The firm was recognized with a platinum web site overall award for the Quell Interactive homepage, a gold web site design award for Nexteer Automotive and an honorable mention for the Billhighway.com interactive flash demonstration video. The MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievements by marketing and communication professionals. Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications is working with Brighton, Michigan-based MiSource, an organization dedicated to helping Michigan municipalities more effectively find and work with those in the design, planning, engineering and manufacturing field. The firm also has promoted ArtServe Michigan’s “Ignite ‘09”—Uniting Voices for Arts & Culture” event, held in November at the Max. Also, Tanner Friedman’s work on behalf of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s “Broadcasting for Jobs” campaign has earned the firm recognition by PR News as one of only seven top marketing programs nationwide in the publication’s Nonprofit PR Awards program. Additionally, the firm has garnered four 2009 International MarCom Awards for media relations work on behalf of Goodwill Industries, The National Summit and professional services firm O’Keefe & Associates. Jeff Caponigro, APR, Fellow PRSA and president and CEO of Caponigro Public Relations in Southfield and Tampa, Fla., was honored recently by PRSA Tampa Bay. Caponigro received the “Excellence in Chapter Service” award for his work to regenerate the chapter’s accreditation program, for which he served as chair, and for his chairmanship of the chapter’s elections/nominations committee. Leisa Mayette has joined Identity Marketing & Public Relations as financial administrator. Mayette will handle all accounting operations, including accounts receivable and payable, billing, banking responsibilities and payroll administration. She will also provide project and administrative assistance for the Identity team.
April 22, 2010 – 2010 PRSA-Michigan Conference – Rock Financial Showplace, Novi. |
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It feels like yesterday that I accepted the role as your 2009 president, and now I am writing my last president’s column. And how much has happened in a year – for our country, our community and our chapter. PRSA Detroit mirrored the turmoil around us, challenging us with problems we had never faced – members losing jobs, companies no longer paying dues, and financially-strapped businesses that could no longer sponsor PRSA. We had to rethink how we did everything.
Online registration is now open for the 
Frederick H. Marx, a founding partner of Marx Layne & Company, suffered heart failure and died while at his Bloomfield Hills home on Nov. 1. He was 67. Marx was a public relations counselor and mentor, known for his insight and expertise in strategic planning and adversity management. Throughout his career, Marx directed public relations, marketing, sales promotion, advertising and civic and governmental affairs, in addition to acting as a spokesperson for several companies.
Jasmin Nadalizadeh has joined Stratacomm, LLC, as an assistant account executive. Most recently, she served as the agency’s summer intern, providing communications support for a variety of accounts. Prior to joining Stratacomm, Nadalizadeh completed an internship at A&M/Octone Records in New York, where she provided social media outreach, event planning, research and analysis support. She also organized and executed grassroots and promotional campaigns for The Syndicate, an entertainment marketing company. She received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Wayne State University, where she held various leadership roles as an active member of the university’s James S. Measell PRSSA chapter.
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