Mark your calendar for Tuesday, July 11 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Mapp Building for a professional development day with 2022 PRSA National Chair and CEO Dr. Felicia Blow, APR, 2010 PRSA National Chair and CEO Gary McCormick, APR, and Alderman Group CEO Rob Alderman!

Get your tickets on Eventbrite! Continental breakfast and lunch are included with the purchase of a ticket. Please note: you do not have to be a PRSA member to attend.

**Registration closes on Wednesday, July 5.**

Transforming the DEI Landscape through Leadership in PR/Communications

Communicators and public relations professionals lift societies and improve democracies through their engagement, words, and actions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion all represent an opportunity for profound influence by these professionals. As the data show, those organizations that “lean into” DEI programs, strategies, and have inclusive cultures are more profitable, successful, and have employee populations that are more engaged. I often speak of the “dimensions of diversity” which go beyond Black/White issues. There are issues of gender, age, geography, education, and so on… Organizational cultures that demonstrate value of these areas are simply better places to work

Communicators and PR professionals are the heart of this movement. The use of inclusive language guides, being the conscious of your organizations, and “speaking truth to power” are all within our “wheel houses” for execution. This session will provide insights on the important role that communicators and public relations professionals office have and must continually leverage to enhance DEI engagement and understanding.

About Dr. Felicia Blow, APR:

Dr. Felicia Blow, APR, is 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 2019 and exceeded its goal in 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.

Building a Personal Board of Directors

Just like every smart company, you should have a personal board of directors that is focused on oversight of your career. Beyond mentoring, these individuals are involved in your career development and bring insights to your skills and decisions. How do you identify your personal board members and how should you engage them to make it mutually beneficial?

About Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA:
Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, served as the director of corporate communications marketing and public relations for Scripps Networks Interactive, parent company of cable networks HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country.

Previously at Scripps, he supported the promotion of its home giveways – HGTV Dream Home, HGTV Urban Oasis and HGTV Smart Home; identified opportunities for reciprocal marketing for HGTV and DIY Network; and was the director of public relations for DIY Network and Fine Living TV Network and supported the HGTV Dream Home Gary joined Scripps Networks after 17 years of public relations and public affairs support to federal government clients. 

He has developed and implemented the government’s largest communications programs for such technical and controversial programs as chemical weapons disposal and high-level nuclear waste; and has worked for two nationally recognized public relations firms, as well as in radio, television and print media.

Gary served as the Chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America in 2010. He served as the president of the PRSA Foundation in 2006 and 2007, and has been a co-chair of the Champions for PRSSA since 2005. He has been recognized for his contributions to PRSA as the 2015 recipient of its Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA and the 2006 Honoree of the Educators Academy David Ferguson Award. He was inducted into the inaugural class of his alma mater’s Hall of Fame in Journalism and Public Relations at Colorado State University in 2011.

Saving Space Camp

The Alderman Group, based in Cleveland, Tenn., was tasked with trying to revive Space Camp, a longtime tradition for many teens and youth at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. He and his team created internal and external buy in through primal marketingwhich was featured in The New York Times, CNN, FORBES, and WIRED magazines. The campaign succeeded in raising over $1.5 million dollars in 7 days.

About Rob Alderman:

Rob Alderman is a husband, father, and entrepreneur. He is a founder and CEO of The Alderman Group, a creative agency located right here in Cleveland Tennessee, and a founding partner of Social Joey, a digital content company that specializes in social media content for franchises across the country. His client work includes campaigns for NASA, Gatorade, Mitt Romney’s Presidential campaign, Space Camp and Porsche USA. He has won numerous awards including PRSA Bronze Anvil, National ADDY Best in Show, and National Silver Telly.

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