UA’s Plank Center to Honor Nonprofit Director for Mentorship

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at The University of Alabama will present its inaugural Executive Mentorship Award to Billy Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit leading the fight against childhood hunger in America, at an Oct. 14 dinner at the Union League Club in Chicago.

The Plank Center will also recognize public relations mentors and leaders in four other categories that evening:

▪ Legacy: Harold Burson, founding chairman, Burson-Marsteller; Dan Edelman, founder and chairman, Daniel J. Edelman Inc.; and Al Golin, chairman, GolinHarris

▪ Corporate PR Executive: Marilyn Laurie, former president, Laurie Consulting, and former senior AT&T executive (awarded posthumously)

▪ Young Professional: Kevin Saghy, public relations and marketing specialist, Chicago Cubs

▪ Academic: Dr. E. Culpepper Clark, dean, College of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Georgia

“The Honoring Milestones in Mentoring dinner was created to recognize those in the profession who lead by example, modeling the way through two-way communication and exemplary behaviors,” said dinner co-chair Ron Culp, Ketchum partner and head of the agency’s North American corporate practice and Plank Center board member. “All of our award recipients have demonstrated throughout their careers the power of leadership through mentoring.”

Other dinner co-chairs are Keith Burton, president of Insidedge, and Bill Heyman, founder and CEO of Heyman Associates.

Shore founded Share Our Strength in 1984 to help address childhood hunger in the United States.  Today the organization brings together community groups, activists and food programs to surround children with nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Shore is also the author of Revolution of the Heart, The Cathedral Within and The Light of Conscience. In 2008, he received the Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award from the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. The biennial award recognizes exceptional citizen-leaders and their work to correct social injustice. Shore was also named one of America’s Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report in 2005.

Honoring Milestones in Mentoring will include a reception, dinner and awards ceremony.  Tickets are $250 per person or $2,500 per table of 10. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. Proceeds will be used to support research, national awards and service programs to advance the understanding and practice of ethical and responsible public relations. A registration form can be downloaded at www.plankcenter.ua.edu.

In 2005, the UA Board of Trustees established The Plank Center, named for public relations leader and UA alumna, the late Betsy Plank, to develop and recognize outstanding performance in the profession and classroom. Through a variety of programs, and in concert with groups and associations, the Center works to nurture and help develop outstanding leaders.

In addition to national leaders in the practice and education, the Center Board includes an ex officio position for the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America, that represents approximately 10,000 members in 307 colleges and universities.

The Center is housed in UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. UA’s public relations program, with nearly 600 students, is the largest undergraduate degree program within the College. The program is certified by the Public Relations Society of America and was named by PRWeek Magazine as the top ranked undergraduate public relations program in the country in 2010.