The PRCA Story
The East Alabama Chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) is gearing up for another great year. Our organization meets on the last Wednesday of each month at Noon at Saugahatchee Country Club. The chapter came to be one rainy evening in an Auburn pub some 10 years ago. PRCA was established to unite PR professionals across the state. We all share a common interest in public relations whether in private, public or non-profit organizations. PRCA is a great place to network with peers and exchange ideas. Along with networking, PRCA offers career development opportunities, mentors college students and works to improve the professionalism of public relations practice through its accreditation program.
PRCA is the state’s longest operating and largest group of public relations practitioners, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The group is more formally organized now, with approximately 450 members in six Alabama chapters - Birmingham, East Alabama (in Auburn), Mobile, Montgomery, North Alabama (in Huntsville), and West Alabama (in Tuscaloosa). PRCA is a part of the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). SPRF is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, North Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi who share a common interest in the public relations profession. Membership in the Federation is automatic for members of PRCA, the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO), the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM).
Past Presidents
1998-1999, Pete Pepinsky
1999-2000, Michael Tullier, APR
2000-2001, Mike Clardy
2001-2002, Pam Powers-Smith
2002-2003, Terri Knight
2003-2004, John Atkinson
2004-2005, Jennifer Gibson
2005-2006, Robyn Bridges
2006-2007, Heather Smith Williams
2007-2008, Leigh Krehling
Practitioners of the Year:
1999, Pete Pepinsky*
2000,
2001, Terri Knight
2002, Michael Tullier, APR
2003, Margaret Fitch-Hauser, Ph.D.
2004, Michael Tullier, APR*
2005, John Atkinson
2006, Pam Powers-Smith
2007, Robyn Bridges
2008, Jennifer Ryan
*denotes members who also were recognized as state Practitioners of the Year