FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear PPRA Members,

As my term as President is coming to an end, I'm reflecting back on all of this year's PPRA Board of Governors' accomplishments.

We hosted nearly 20 educational programs that enriched the development of our members. I met countless members of the media, both locally and nationally, to learn how to better serve the newsrooms as a public relations practitioner. O ne of my favorite projects was working with ArtWell as our Philly PRoactive charity of choice. And above all, I gained valuable leadership skills. Thank you all so much for helping to make my role as President so special. You all left a lasting impression on me. 

When I was inducted as President, I made a promise at the 2018 Annual Meeting Celebration to make PPRA a more welcoming organization. I encouraged more community members to join PPRA and become part of this growing family. With that same sentiment, we joined forces with Philadelphia's chapter of PRSA to launch a Diversity and Inclusion Commitment. We are so #PPRAProud to officially launch this. What better timing than to share our initiatives during Pride Month.

Please join me on June 13 as I pass the gavel on to Deirdre Hopkins. She has been a leader of PPRA for the past few years and I am so excited to have her as our new President. Sign up here!

Warm Regards,

Nina Scimenes Rodebaugh
2018-2019 President
Philadelphia Public Relations Association
HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED
On May 22,  several members of PPRA helped stuff and distribute at-home art kits with ArtWell Philadelphia for 135 students in the 2nd and 4th grade at James Rhoads Elementary School in West Philly!

 
PPRA hosted "Channel Chat: The Inside Scoop on Philadelphia's Broadcast Media Scene" on May 14 at the Philadelphia Bar Association. 
Panelists from CBS3, KYW Newsradio, WHYY, 6ABC, NBC10 and PJM Interconnection discussed how to pitch producers and editors  in the television and radio industry.

On May 1, PPRA inducted Gregg Feistman into the Hall of Fame with a luncheon at Ballroom at the Ben. Feistman directs Temple University's public relations major, is an advisor for Temple's PRSSA chapter and PRowl Public Relations, Temple's nationally affiliated, student-run PR firm.


On April 16, members attended "Strategic Alliances: Public Relations and Sponsorships" at the Science History Institute. Panelists discussed the evolving world of earned media and new content platforms, 
and how sponsorships can help achieve brand exposure. 
Thanks to Science History Institute for hosting this special program. 
#PPRAProud & MEMBER NEWS
PPRA Hall of Famers Joanne Calabria and Nina Zucker served as co-chairs of the Avenue of the Arts, Inc.'s first Visionary Awards which were held  May 15 at The Lucy. In addition to chairing the Gala, Calabria and Zucker helped create the award to recognize private and public sector leaders who support the city's arts district. The inaugural awards were presented to the Honorable Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania and Mayor of Philadelphia, who spearheaded the effort to create the Avenue, and Carl Dranoff, head of Dranoff Properties, the local developer who launched the residential boom on South Broad Street.

Emily Cummins and Alexa Johnson of Visit Bucks County hosted a "Gourmet Getaway" for nine Philadelphia and NYC Instagram influencers, including names like @Love_PhillyFood, @PHLFoodstagram, @BookofEats and @ManayunkMade. The 2-day food & drink focused press trip took media on an exclusive content creating tour of Bucks County restaurants, farms and more.
 
2019 Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Feistman received the 2019 Klein College of Media and Communication Excellence in Faculty Service Award. 

Gloria Hochman
's next book, "Stan Hochman Unfiltered: 50 Years of Wit and Wisdom from the Groundbreaking Sportswriter," will be published by Temple University Press in December, 2019.  It includes Stan's most poignant and controversial columns on baseball, basketball, football, horse-racing, boxing, hockey, restaurant reviews and yes, even Liz Taylor. 

Bridget Paverd of the PR firm GillespieHall helped host a successful live reading event celebrating esteemed Belgium author and playright Bernard Dewulf at Dew Point Brewery. Dewulf is the city poet of Antwerp, has published 12 books, several plays and has won many awards.

Marissa Reale was promoted to Account Executive after one year with Braithwaite Communications.

Win an award? Speaking on a panel? Landed an amazing media hit?  
Email us your good news at info@ppra.com or tweet us using #PPRAProud
MEDIA MOVES
WHYY has acquired the assets of local news outlet Billy Penn from Spirited Media and has added the Billy Penn website to its portfolio of trusted regional journalism services. Story ideas should still be pitched to the staff at Billy Penn, who are now WHYY employees.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

New faces have joined PPRA. Make sure to say hello if you see them at one of our next events!
  • Larry Ceisler, Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Eve Levinson, The Philadelphia Orchestra
  • Greg Richter, Drexel University
  • Ed Ridgway, Ridgway Consulting / Main Line PR
  • Lisa Ryan, Philabundance
  • Abby Snopek, Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
JOB BANK

Your dream career could be a few clicks away. Visit PPRA's Job Bank for more details on the following positions:  
  • Corporate Communications Manager, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau 
  • Director of Communications, Please Touch Museum 
  • Marketing and Communications Manager, KenCrest 
Have a job you want to promote in the Job Bank to reach over 300 PR professionals in the area?  Click here to post your job !