A new year always seems to be synonymous with change.  And for many people, any kind of change can be challenging – new job, new house, new puppy, new wrinkles.

In my case, all of the above apply. Luckily, I’ve always been one of those unusual folks that actually embraces change. I tend to get bored easily and thrive on seeking out new adventures.  That’s why I am excited and honored to add serving as the new president of our Greater Kansas City chapter of PRSA to my list for 2017.

PRSA has been an integral part of my career for the past 30 (gulp!) years.  I have served on several committees, been a three-time board member, won a bunch of PRISM awards, and earned my APR.  While these have all been rewarding, it’s the lifetime friendships I’ve made that will always be what I value most about this organization.

I feel lucky to be joined on this year’s board by an incredible group of hard-working, enthusiastic professionals who truly want to see our chapter excel as your resource for educational programming, networking events and opportunities to grow in your career.  It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out in public relations or are close to retirement – there should always be something relevant that each of us gains from our membership.  As president, I want to make sure you have the resources available to continue learning, advancing and achieving.

Our board’s primary goals this year are to elevate our programming, branding and PRISM awards to better engage our members. Please let me know other ways we can bring positive change while building upon the success our chapter has enjoyed for many years.

Thank you for being part of the Greater Kansas City PRSA chapter!  

Jean Peat, APR
GKC-PRSA President, 2017

Visit KC and Kansas City are excited to host the 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 14-22 at Sprint Center and the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence. Broadcast nationwide on NBC, the event will attract more than 600 professional athletes and 75,000 spectators to our region over the nine-day period.
 
To pull off an event of this caliber, the Local Organizing Committee needs the support of several local volunteers who specialize or are interested in media relations, social media or event support. This is a great opportunity to build your resume and support a major media event in our city. Volunteer opportunities include escorting athletes, transcribing press conferences and assisting with social media posts. Learn more and sign up at http://signup.com/go/xb2gos.
 
Questions? Contact Derek Klaus with Visit KC at dklaus@visitkc.com or 816-691-3849. To learn more about the event, visit 2017usfigureskatingchampionships.com.