UA’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations Recognizes PR Mentors

CHICAGO — The University of Alabama’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations hosted its second Honoring Milestones in Mentoring Awards Banquet at the Union League Club of Chicago Oct. 27.

The organization honored six outstanding mentors in front of more than 300 public-relations practitioners, educators and students. This year’s banquet attendance figure exceeded last year’s inaugural event.

The following honorees were selected in six categories by their peers, the Milestones in Mentoring Host Committee or the Plank Center Advisory Board:

• Legacy: Ann Barkelew, senior counselor and founding general manager of Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis/St. Paul
• Agency: Howard Paster (posthumously), former chairman and chief executive officer, Hill & Knowlton
• Young Professional: Joseph Tateoka, associate, Technology Practice, Burson-Marsteller
• Educator: Dr. Rochelle Ford, associate dean for research and academic affairs of the John H. Johnson School of Communications, Howard University
• Corporate: John Onoda, advisory board, Fleishman-Hillard
• Executive: Peter Hirshberg, chief executive officer, The Re:imagine Group

“We’re pleased to recognize leaders in our industry, from academia to the executive level, who have displayed a commitment to mentoring the next generation of public-relations practitioners,” said Ron Culp, founder of Culp & Co. and vice chair of the Plank Center. “We’re proud to see the industry embrace this focus on mentoring, which is an essential component of a successful career in public relations.”

The Honoring Milestones in Mentoring Awards Banquet included a reception, dinner and awards ceremony. Executive honoree Peter Hirshberg served as the evening’s keynote speaker.

Cheryl Procter-Rogers, senior consultant at A Step Ahead Public Relations; Erin Gardiner, senior vice president in the health practice of Edelman; and Kevin Saghy, public relations and marketing specialist at the Chicago Cubs, served as co-chairs of the event with guidance from Karla Gower, director of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at The University of Alabama.

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to expand the Center’s broad range of programs that include leadership research grants to faculty at more than a dozen universities, student scholarships, a Webinar series and a fellowship program for educators. The banquet raised nearly $50,000 for these programs.

About the Plank Center

In 2005, the University of Alabama 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, which represents more than 10,000 members in 300-plus 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 for three consecutive years has been ranked among the top five public relations programs in the country by PRWeek Magazine.

More information about the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations can be found at www.plankcenter.ua.edu.