2022 PRSA Western District Conference Recap
Posted on Jun. 16, 2022 / Subscribe 0
By Cynthia P. Weaver, PRSA Phoenix Board Member
Profession.
The Public Relations industry has played an integral role in some of the most notable publicity campaigns in U.S. history and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has been at the forefront of supporting PR professionals throughout their career growth and development for the past 75 years. This year as the nation’s largest Public Relations association prepares to celebrate its 75th Anniversary, several PR practitioners gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii for the annual Western District Conference (WDC). As professionals are returning to the office, after two years of working at home due to the Covid pandemic, this in-person professional development event provided much-needed opportunities for networking, continuing education and career development.
Destination.
Arizona was well represented at the conference by Phoenix chapter members Heather Vana, Krista Hinz, Cynthia Weaver, Veronica Biczo and Ryan Narramore as well as Tucson chapter members. The Prince Waikiki Hotel, the conference headquarters, offered beautiful ocean and bay views as well as upscale amenities and accommodations. The WDC planning committee and PRSA Hawaii Chapter provided a phenomenal destination learning opportunity for attendees to experience the best of Hawaiian culture. The conference kicked off with a Hawaiian-themed welcome reception (complete with sundresses, floral leis and Hawaiian shirts) at the hotel pool bar. Conference organizers went above and beyond to create an authentic Hawaiian experience by coordinating activities, which highlighted island life featuring native cuisine at all conference general sessions.
Experience.
The opening general session featured a keynote presentation with Peter Shankman, founder of Help a Reporter Out (HARO). Shankman discussed the future of the PR industry and how NFTs and other digital trends will transform how companies do business. Throughout the three-day event, there were several dynamic plenary sessions, which introduced new ideas and concepts to some members while enhancing knowledge for others. The general sessions featured compelling topics including a panel discussion about the impact of Covid on various communities in Hawaii and what PR tactics were used to create and deliver relevant messaging to support Covid testing and vaccinations. The panel of local professionals shared detailed data on outreach efforts along with campaign results. Other general session highlights included the closing keynote presentation by Brandi Boatner, Digital & Advocacy Communications Manager at IBM. Boatner presented an engaging discussion on how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts help companies create authentic connections with clients and target audiences. The closing session also featured the presentation of the PRSA Western District Platinum Service Award to Carolyn Casertano, PRSA Regional Representative and Southern Arizona Ethics Chair. Casertano is from Tucson, AZ, the host location for the 2023 Western District Conference.
Learning.
WDC programming consisted of an array of career-enhancing topics to elevate PR practitioners’ knowledge, skills and abilities. PRSA Phoenix members Cynthia Weaver and Veronica Biczo contributed to the learning process by hosting plenary sessions. Weaver presented “Communicating with Intention” in the strategic communications track to discuss best practices for hosting successful/relevant PR campaigns. Biczo presented “Content + Context Leading to Conversions” to discuss how content marketing can drive sales. Both sessions were interactive and well attended. Other notable sessions featured thought leadership, entrepreneurship, leadership development and community building. For a complete list of this year’s speakers and topics, visit Schedule - 2022 - PRSA Western District.
Leisure.
The WDC hosted an optional “Dine Around” after-hours group activity on the second day of the conference. Participants received tickets and transportation to several popular local restaurants to network in a social setting. WDC attendees made the most of their island destination learning experience by enjoying their “free time” at the beach, hiking and sightseeing. When it came time to say farewell, many conference attendees continued networking with newfound friends by coordinating rideshare transportation to the airport. Overall, the conference provided a welcoming in-person learning and networking opportunity as professionals continue to transition back into the office.
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