New Member Profile: BRAD BELOTE, APR

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Originally from: Kingsport, Tenn.

Currently live in: Topsfield, Mass.

Work History/Background: I spent 20 years in a TV newsroom before jumping into corporate communications. I worked for a Fortune 350 innovation company for a decade before moving to New England. I am currently the senior manager for internal communications at the Planet Fitness Club Support Center in Hampton, N.J.

Why I Joined: I’ve been involved in PRSA for more than a decade, serving a variety of local, regional and national volunteer leadership roles. I find the networking and professional development to be more than worth the price of admission.

Bucket List Trip: Walking the Camino de Santiago

Hobbies/Interests: Brad loves the outdoors, exercising, and reading.

Contact Information: bradbelote@gmail.com

Note:  Brad will be serving as Yankee Chapter’s Ethics Officer in 2025.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Hanna Blankenship

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Originally from:            Born in Harbel, Liberia but I grew up in Norwich, Vermont

Currently live in:          Burlington, Vermont


Work History/Background: I am the Communications Coordinator for DREAM, a non-profit that provides mentorship opportunities to youth, and a Marketing Associate for BootstrapVT, a marketing agency in Burlington, Vermont where I interned during college for two years.

Why I joined the Yankee Chapter: I first learned about PRSA through the Champlain College PRSSA chapter during my undergraduate studies. I had the honor of serving on the e-board of Champlain PRSSA all four years, first as Treasurer in my freshman year, then as Vice President from sophomore to senior year. Our chapter had the opportunity to collaborate with Yankee PRSA in various ways, which allowed me to see the great work they were doing and encouraged me to join PRSA after graduation.

Most Challenging PR Situation: I recently helped manage the challenge of containing internal excitement about DREAM’s new island acquisition in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust, ensuring no one prematurely shared the news before the official press release and legal papers were signed.

Bucket List Trip: I would love to visit Kyoto, Japan to see the cherry blossoms.

Hobbies/Interests: In my free time, I love traveling and exploring the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, biking, kayaking, or just going for a walk with my dog, Winston. I recently started yoga teacher training and am excited to become a certified yoga teacher in May and begin teaching classes.


Contact information: My personal email is hanna.j.blankenship@gmail.com. My DREAM work email is hblankenship@dreamprogram.org, and my BootstrapVT email is hanna@bootstrapvt.com.

 

PRxNE Conference 2024

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The Annual Conference of the PRSA Northeast District was held Friday, November 15 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown and the Yankee Chapter was well-represented. Those in attendance and presenting included Robin Schell, APR, Fellow PRSA, Stacey Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, and Lisa Lance, the 2025 Yankee Chapter President-elect. Thanks to all who made the journey and thank you to the PRxNE 2024 Conference host – the PRSA Central New York Chapter!

 

Report from Maine PR Council Annual Conference

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By Robin Schell, APR, Fellow PRSA, Yankee Chapter President

On Friday, Nov. 8th, I had the pleasure of representing Yankee Chapter PRSA at the Maine Public Relations Council annual conference, “Positivity and Progress: Adapting Your PR Strategy For A Changing World.”

Rebecca Emery, APR, Chair of MPRC’s Professional Development committee, and her crew put together an A-plus program of presenters, including a media panel discussion with moderator T.J. Winick, Essex Strategies, Morgan Sturdivant of WABI-TV, Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm of the Maine Monitor/Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting and Megan Gray of the Portland Press Herald.

We also heard words of wisdom from Michael Smart, CEO of MichaelSMARTPR, who gave us an overview of “The Realist’s Guide to AI and Communication” and asked us to think about how we use AI in these categories:  “Training Wheels”, “10-Speed” and “E-Bike.”

Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA, General Manager of G&C talked about “Training Your Ethical Mind:  Preparing to Survive and Thrive in Our Dynamic AI Environment,” urging us all to include AI in our crisis plans and be clear on our AI policies.  As an added bonus, I had a front-row seat to watch Rebecca Emery receive the Edward L. Bernays Award for her outstanding work on behalf of MPRC.

I really enjoyed the presentation by Felicia Knight, President of The Knight Canney Group, entitled, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love PR”.  After a 20-year career in journalism, Felicia had a successful 27-year career in PR and shared these 8 Life Lessons:

Lesson 1:  Don’t be afraid to change your situation. It was scary to pivot from her broadcast journalism career to serving as Communications Director for Sen. Susan Collins in DC, and then Communications Director for the National Endowment for the Arts.  But she was passionate about being able to make a difference and “be a part of history” and loved that she learned something new every day in these new roles.

Lesson 2:  Recognize and believe in your own success. Tired of being on the road and missing family events, she founded Knight Vision International, strategic media solutions, in 2008.  Not the best timing to launch a new business in a recession, but she succeeded – and at this point in her career she overcame the “imposter syndrome”.  She also joined the PRConsultantsGroup and the peer support and opportunities to collaborate were invaluable.

Lesson #3:  Delegate!  Felicia realized she would rather spend her time working directly with stakeholders, getting clients and offering strategic advice.  She hired her first employee and used contractors to get the rest of it done.

Lesson #4:  It is helpful to have backup.   You never know when life will throw you a curveball, and you’ll be out of commission for health issues or other reasons.  She made the decision to merge with Canney Communications and form The Knight Canney Group.

Lesson #5:  If you’re unhappy, speak up.  Though The Knight Canney Group was a great partnership, the pressure to support employees meant Felicia was taking client assignments just to pay the bills – so she pivoted again, going from an S-Corp model to an LLC.  She was loving PR again!

Lesson #6:  Life Is Short, No Matter How Long You Live.  Felicia suffered traumatic grief when she lost both her father and her brother in 2016.   It was an “aha” moment and she began letting go of the things she didn’t want to do and making more time for the things she DID enjoy.  She got more engaged in her Board roles and did more traveling for fun.

Lesson #7:  Let Go of What You Can’t Control.   COVID-19 hit everyone hard, so she did what everyone else did – joined the great baking frenzy!   She also got help from PPP (the Paycheck Protection Program).  Her business was back at full strength 18 months later.

Lesson #8:  Plan for your retirement.  Her message to everyone in the room was, “start now.”  Get a financial planner, put money aside from every paycheck and take advantage of company retirement or pension plans and 401K matches.  Her official retirement date will be Dec. 2024 at which point she will be very selective of the client assignments she will be taking.  “No more phone calls at 11 p.m.!”

We wish Felicia the best in her next chapter.

 

ICON 2024 – Report from the PRSA National Conference

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Lisa Lance, MA, MBA, Yankee Chapter President-Elect

Last month, I had the honor of representing the Yankee Chapter as an Assembly Delegate during the PRSA ICON 2024 National Conference in Anaheim, California. This was my first time attending, and it was wonderful to meet so many members of our chapter and the Northeast District in person.

2025 PRSA National Slate of Officers Approved

We heard reports from PRSA leadership and voted to approve the slate of all 2025 Board of Directors nominees who were running unopposed. We then heard remarks from the candidate for Western District Director, Paula L. Pedene, APR, Fellow PRSA, who was nominated by petition for this role.  The delegates voted to elect Paula Pedene as the 2025 Western District Director.

Two well-qualified candidates ran for the role of 2025 Chair-Elect. Heide Harrell, MA, APR, was the candidate slated by the Nominating Committee, and Jessica M. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, was running by petition. The assembly delegates had the opportunity to hear from each candidate, as well as two endorsements for each followed by Q&A.  Members of our chapter leadership had voiced strong support for Jessica Graham, and I believed her presentation and statements of support were the most compelling, so I voted for her.  Ultimately, Heidi Harrell was voted in as Chair-Elect.

PRSA Announces 2025 Board of Directors at Annual Leadership Assembly | PRSA

 

Bylaws Amendments 2024

This year, there were two proposed amendments to the PRSA Bylaws. The first amendment, to Article IV, Section 10, focused on the role of the PRSA Board of Directors in officer nominations. The proposed change was that nominations of the candidates for Chair-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary would be made to the Leadership Assembly by the Nominating Committee or by petition instead of by the Board of Directors.

The second amendment, to Article VIII, Section 1, focused on the composition of the Nominating Committee and proposed adding two voting directors (who would be appointed by the Board of Directors) as well as one member of the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS), who would be selected by BEPS.

There was a lively discussion about the amendments. At the October Yankee Chapter Board meeting, the Board voted to oppose the proposed amendments and, as there were no changes to the proposals made on the floor at the Leadership Assembly meeting, I opposed the amendments. Both amendments ultimately passed.

The meeting ended with moderated panel sessions on topics including AI and university program accreditation, followed by chapter awards.

I found the Leadership Assembly to be a great example of the democratic process, as delegates had the opportunity to voice different views, ask questions, request clarification, and then vote. It was an engaging and positive process, and I am looking forward to everything PRSA National has to offer in 2025.

 

Reality Check! Real World Mash Up Arms Young Pros for Success

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What a great turnout for the Yankee Chapter’s Real World Mash Up! From free headshots to priceless advice from seasoned PR pros, the Mash Up brought together Communications students, young professionals and longtime Yankee Chapter members for a deep dive into the art and effort of getting that first PR job.

The event, held October 28 at Southern NH University, opened with a panel discussion about “Getting Hired in Today’s World.” Big thanks to our impressive panel of young PR pros and moderator Jon Boroshok, APR, professor in the SNHU Communications department. More than 20 students were on hand to hear our panel discuss the ways they used their contacts to land their first internships and jobs. Thank you to our panel:

  • Samantha Boselli, Freelance Consultant
  • Hannah Costello, Account Executive, Wireside
  • Sarah Davis, Marketing Specialist, Dartmouth Health Children’s
  • Lauren Materia, Social Media Coordinator, New England Center for Children

VIEW THE PANEL DISCUSSION HERE

Following the panel discussion, attendees engaged in a little “speed dating,” going from table to table to gain knowledge on topics of interest led by our industry experts. Thank you to our roundtable experts:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Dave Humphreys, Director of AI Integration, SNHU
  • Communication Measurement: Katie Paine, Measurement, Insights, and Analytics Consultant, Paine Publishing
  • Crisis Communication: Lauren Keane, VP of Communications, SNHU
  • Effective Presentation Skills: Stacey Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, Senior Counsel, Jackson Jackson & Wagner
  • Maximizing Social Media and LinkedIn: Keri Pappalardo, Director of Marketing, Lavallee Brensinger Architects
  • Personal Branding: Mary Flowers, Consultant.

    In case you missed it, you can view a recording of the panel discussion HERE

     

Member Mixer – Fall Fun at Mount Sunapee!

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Members of the Yankee Chapter of PRSA gathered at Mount Sunapee for the Upper Valley Member Mixer on Thurs. Oct. 24, 2024 – they worked with Ski NH to put on the event.

After a walking tour, Abi Allen, Communications Director of NH, spoke about “Navigating Change In The Ski Industry” and shared examples of how her team has used social media and campaigns to attract skiers to Vail Resort mountains. Thank you to our hosts for providing beautiful fall color and a fun time!

Mix & Jingle – Yankee PRSA Annual Meeting December 11, 2024

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Yankee Chapter PRSA Invites You to Save the Date:

Wed. Dec. 11, 2024

Meet The Media “Mix & Jingle,” presented by the Nackey S. Loeb School.

Location: Nackey S. Loeb School, inside the NH Institute of Politics on the campus of Saint Anselm College, in the West Wing room.

After our media panel, join us for mocktails, appetizers and holiday cheer sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental

SEE EVENT PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER

New Member Profile: ABBEY BERGER-KNORR

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Originally from: Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Currently live in: Burlington, Vermont

Work History/Background: Public Relations Associate at Cultivate, a communications firm based in Burlington, VT. This is my first full-time PR role as a young professional and where I currently work.

Why I Joined Yankee: I had the pleasure of getting to know the Yankee Chapter through leading my alma mater’s PRSSA chapter. I was President of Champlain College’s chapter, PRSSA Champlain. Our chapter collaborated with and learned from the wonderful professionals within the Yankee chapter which inspired me to join post-graduation.

Most Challenging PR Situation: I recently helped to resolve the rescinding of a press release that was mistakenly sent out for a client prematurely.

Bucket List Trip: I have always wanted to visit Peru to see Machu Picchu!

Hobbies/Interests: In my free time, I am a singer-songwriter and radio host under my artist name, “Abbey B.K.” You can find both my original music and my podcast “ab.stract” on listening platforms.

Contact information: My personal email is abbey.bergerknorr@gmail.com and my company email is abbey@cultivatepr.co.

 

ICYMI: Ethics Month Professional Development Session

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Ethics Month Professional Development Session: Rebuilding Trust, Ethics and Communication In An Era Of Innovation

On Wed. Sept. 25th, the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and the Yankee Chapter of PRSA partnered to present a virtual “lunch and learn” featuring highlights from Edelman’s 2024 Trust Barometer.  Drake Baer, Senior Vice President, Thought Leadership at the Edelman Trust Institute, led the discussion.  Here are some observations from that session:

Trends

  • Rapid innovation offers the promise of a new era of prosperity, but also risks exacerbating trust issues, leading to further societal instability and political polarization.
  • More people are doing their own research (Googling, etc.) to find information they trust.
  • If you want people to trust you, give them a voice. “Your constituents want you to hear their concerns and let them ask questions.”
  • In a year when half of the world’s population will elect new leaders, our communities are more politically polarized than ever. Only 30% of those surveyed would want to live with, help, or work with people who have different political views than they do.

Trusted Sources

  • Business is seen as ethical and competent, but Government is seen as the least competent and unethical of the sectors studied (there is a 52-point gap between Business and Government in the Trust Barometer).
  • While scientists are trusted sources, there are concerns that the government has too much influence on science. One observation was made that “scientists don’t know how to communicate,” and they need to make info transparent and accessible.
  • Businesses are seen as making sure innovations are safe, ahead of the sectors of government and media. “The switch from NGO’s as trusted sources to Businesses as trusted sources is striking.”
  • But, lack of confidence in government means declining trust in the institutions responsible for steering us through change.
  • Peers are among the most trusted sources of information among those surveyed.

Takeaways for Communicators

  • If more people are seeking their own information rather than relying on sources from sectors they trust, consider how your own organization’s SEO can help share information and drive inquiries to you. Build more online assets for independent research by your publics. How can you be a better, more trusted source of information about your sector?
  • Give your constituents more agency—help them to learn your goals and why they should align with your organization. “Paint the vision,” says Baer.
  • Know that the CEO is not always the best person to put out there, given subject matter expertise and peer influence—think about the best, most trusted messenger.
  • Implementation is as important as innovation. (it’s one thing to invent it and another to anticipate the issues that come along with that innovation).  Think: Issue anticipation.
  • Business must partner for change.  Think: Build collaborations with partners.
  • Science must integrate with society, as they are trusted. Think: Who are your subject matter experts? How do you build trust in these sources?

 

Laura Simoes is a member of Yankee Chapter PRSA and serves as Executive Director of the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communication.  For more information on other professional development workshops available, visit: Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications.