|
2019 State Conference |
Theme: "PRocess of Champions: Champion Yourself for Greater Success"
Where: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
When: Sunday-Tuesday, April 7-9, 2019
Host Hotel: Embassy Suites
Sharpen your skills in a variety of topics from multi-generational communications to media relations to branding. Below you will find more details on some of the speakers already scheduled, the host city Tuscaloosa, the host hotel, sponsorships, our service project, and more.
Speakers
(Keep checking back; more to come!)
 (Photo Courtesy GenWHY)
Kristin Scroggin
Owner & Lead Trainer genWHY Communications Kristin Scroggin has her master's degree in communication studies, bachelors in communication arts and was a communications lecturer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for 11 years. Her passion is generational diversity and for the past five years she has spoken at conferences and organizations across the United States ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small non-profits on subjects relating to multi-generational communication. Obsessed with travel and desperate to see the world, she and her husband try to keep their heads above water while parenting their four children and any foster children who come their way. |
(Photo Courtesy Style Blueprint)
Verna Gates
Author, Educator, Reporter, Humorist/Speaker/Storyteller, Tour Guide, Travel Writer Verna Gates is a Birmigham-based writer, storyteller, speaker, and photographer. She frequently reports for Reuters, Time, and other national and regional news organizations. Verna was also a producer and writer for CNN, one of the first 50 employed by the organization. She has won numerous awards, and covered top stories such as Hurricane Ivan and the BP Oil Spill as well as interviewed Dolly Parton, the Dalai Lama, and Barack Obama. She recently authored the book 100 Things to do in Birmingham Before you Die. |
 (Photo courtesy University of Alabama Strategic Communications)
Linda Bonnin
Vice President for Strategic Communications The University of Alabama Linda Bonnin created The University of Alabama’s first comprehensive branding campaign in 2016, less than a year after her arrival. Where Legends Are Made, and its authentic storytelling platform, has captured the heart of the university and delighted its publics. It has also won numerous awards. Linda’s common-sense approach to brand building takes the mystery out of a complex task and allows you to focus on the magic that happens when you own and amplify your brand. In addition to branding at UA, Linda leads ten other areas of communications. She works closely with licensing and merchandising, admissions, athletic communications, and fundraising. She also developed Alabama’s first digital marketing campaigns. In addition to her 22 years of experience in higher education—which includes LSU and University of Memphis—Linda has also worked in the non-profit and private sectors, government and the news media. A Harding University graduate, she has won numerous awards, including a Silver Medal award in 2019 from the American Advertising Federation, Tuscaloosa chapter, for her contributions to the advertising industry. Linda currently serves on the board of directors for the American Advertising Federation in Tuscaloosa, is a member of the planning committee for the Tuscaloosa Bicentennial Celebration, and she actively mentors PR and marketing students. |
(Photo Courtesy Trahan & Associates)
Dr. Joseph V. Trahan III, APR, Fellow, PRSA
President and CEO Trahan & Associates Dr. Joseph V. Trahan, III, has more than thirty-two years of public relations/affairs experience in governmental, association, and educational and non-profit public relations. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Reserve, and a former Commander of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center located in Birmingham, Alabama. While in the armed forces, Dr. Trahan successfully operated four Joint Information Bureaus and one Joint Information Center. Trahan has trained more than 3,500 people yearly in media relations throughout almost all of the United States and internationally. Trahan graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American military history. He holds a Master of Arts degree in public relations from Ball State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication with an emphasis in public relations and advertising from The University of Southern Mississippi. An accredited member of Public Relations Society of America, Trahan is a former member of the National PRSA Board of Directors and National PRSSA Faculty Advisor. Trahan is also a Fellow in Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows. |
|
(Photo Courtesy Mandi Stanley)
Mandi Stanley
Owner Mandi Stanley Seminars LLC With more than 22 years of experience on the seminar circuit, Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works primarily with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers. She has traveled throughout North America entertaining and educating more than 60,000 seminar participants, totaling more than 5,000 platform hours. Some of her repeat clients include: Campbell’s Soup Company, United States Air Force, McDonald’s USA, Godiva Chocolate, and the National Football League. She’s a summa cum laude graduate with concentrations in English, communication, and management, and served as a faculty member of the American Management Association for five years. Mandi is the author of The No-Panic Plan for Presenters. |
(Photo Courtesy Alabama NewsCenter)
Mike Tomberlin
Editor Alabama NewsCenter The story of how Alabama Power came to develop Alabama NewsCenter can serve as a lesson to others about the power of content marketing and how to best grow in this area. What started as a desire to do something beyond the static press release morphed into a better way to communicate the stories about the company and then into a way to better tell the good news of the entire state. Tomberlin presents the questions your organization should ask and steps you may consider taking when exploring content marketing and brand journalism. Tomberlin is a lieutenant colonel in the Alabama National Guard, serving since 1986) and was the business reporter for The Birmingham News for more than 16 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in communications. |
REGISTER TODAY
|
PRCA MEMBER RATES
$199.00 Professional PRCA Member - Full Conference $225.00 after 11:45 p.m. March 25 $175.00 Earlybird Full Conference rate before March 12 $129.00 Monday Only (includes Awards Dinner) $79.00 Tuesday Only NON-MEMBER RATES $249.00 Nonmember Full Conference + Medallion Awards $325.00 after 11:45 p.m. March 25 $220.00 Earlybird Full Conference rate before March 12 $199.00 Monday Only (includes Awards Dinner) $99.00 Tuesday Only |
STUDENT PRCA MEMBER RATES
$75.00 Student PRCA Member - Full Conference $85.00 after 11:45 p.m. March 25 $50.00 Earlybird Full Conference rate before March 12 $30.00 Awards Dinner Only MULTI-REGISTRATION DISCOUNT 10% off Full Conference rate only for three or more staff from same organization - Members ONLY. The discount will be applied via coupon code provided upon request from organizations wishing to register 3 or more attendees. |
Conference Site and Host Hotel
The PRCA State Conference will be held at the host hotel Embassy Suites, located at 2410 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
A block of rooms have been reserved at the discounted rate of $134 / night.
Use the link below to register online or call directly and use the group code "PRC."
HOST HOTEL
Embassy Suites by Hilton
2410 University Blvd.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Click HERE for a direct link to register for your hotel room .
(205) 561-2500 (group code is PRC)
A block of rooms have been reserved at the discounted rate of $134 / night.
Use the link below to register online or call directly and use the group code "PRC."
HOST HOTEL
Embassy Suites by Hilton
2410 University Blvd.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Click HERE for a direct link to register for your hotel room .
(205) 561-2500 (group code is PRC)
Welcome to Tuscaloosa!
The City of Tuscaloosa was founded in December 1819 (one day before the state was formed). It derives its name from Chief Tuskaloosa (which means "Black Warrior"), who was defeated by Hernando de Soto in 1540. Tuscaloosa is known as the "Druid City" because of the many water oak trees planted throughout the community. Tuscaloosa, located along the riverbanks of the Black Warrior River, was also the home of the state's capital from 1826 to 1846.
Today, Tuscaloosa has nearly 100,000 residents with more than 38,000 students enrolled at the University of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa is home to many champions. The University of Alabama has a few national championships under its belt for a variety of sports including football, gymnastics, and wheelchair basektball, to name a few. Shelton State Community College is celebrating its eleventh consecutive national championship in cheerleading.
Today, Tuscaloosa has nearly 100,000 residents with more than 38,000 students enrolled at the University of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa is home to many champions. The University of Alabama has a few national championships under its belt for a variety of sports including football, gymnastics, and wheelchair basektball, to name a few. Shelton State Community College is celebrating its eleventh consecutive national championship in cheerleading.
When you visit Tuscaloosa and attend the 2019 PRCA State Conference, we want YOU to champion yourself for greater success! Come see us. Set a spell. And learn the PRocess of Champions.
What to do in T-Town
Tuscaloosa is always jampacked with a variety of activities in April--everything from art shows to air shows. Visit the Tuscaloosa Tourism website here or the Arts and Humanities Council website here for complete lists of local happenings.
Sponsorships
|
|
If you or your organization is interested in helping sponsor the 2019 PRCA State Conference, please email PRCAWA here.
Service Project
The West Alabama Chapter of PRCA asks all attendees to please bring new or gently used children's and pre-teen books to benefit The Literacy Council of West Alabama.
