PRSA Puget Sound Names New Leadership for 2008

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Puget Sound Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) kicked off 2008 today with a fresh slate of local public relations leaders at the helm.

“Our new officers bring an abundance of both expertise and drive to the organization”

“Our new officers bring an abundance of both expertise and drive to the organization,” said Janelle Guthrie, APR, 2008 president of the Puget Sound Chapter of PRSA. “They’ve made substantial contributions to the industry and promise exemplary service to PRSA during a time of rapid change in the world of public relations. I’m delighted to welcome this dedicated new team.”

The 2008 officers and their positions in PRSA:

• Janelle Guthrie, APR – President – State Attorney General’s Office
• Linda Elliott Farmer, APR – VP, Administration – City of Federal Way
• Jennifer Hawton, APR – VP, Programs – Boeing
• J. Ryan Shannon, APR – VP, Membership – State Attorney General’s Office
• Troy Brown, APR – VP, Education – Brandner Communications, Inc.
• Rita Brautigam, APR – Secretary, Mentors Program – TagTeam Global
• Erik Elvejord – Treasurer – Holland America Line
• David Blandford, APR – Past President, Ethics Officer – Seattle’s Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

The newly-appointed directors of the board are as follows: Rich Murphy, Life Sciences Discovery Fund; Amy Turner, Enviroissues; Kathryn Reith, APR; Neil Neroutsos, APR, Snohomish County PUD; Erika Schmidt, APR, The Frause Group; Tara Darrow, APR, Starbucks; Linda Wang-Stewart, Ph.D., APR, Wang-Stewart Consulting; Randy Hurlow, APR, REI.

This year’s assembly delegates to the national PRSA organization include: Megan Behrbaum, APR, REI; Walt Greenwood, APR, Greenwood Public Relations; Deanna Zachrisson, APR, Port of Seattle, Aviation Division, Seattle-Tacoma Int'l Airport; and Candy Young, APR, Synchro Creative Communications.

About PRSA

The Public Relations Society of America, based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has more than 28,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections, along with Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 255 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The Puget Sound Chapter of PRSA is one of the 10 largest PRSA chapters in the nation, with roughly 400 members from throughout Western Washington. Members of this non-profit association represent corporations, agencies, sole practitioners, military, government, health care and other service organizations. For more information, visit www.prsapugetsound.org.

Editors note:

APR is a mark of accreditation for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. The designation is earned based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. Nationwide, approximately 6,000 public relations professionals have achieved accreditation since the program began in 1964.