We had 12 members attend this year’s PRSSA National Conference in sunny Orlando, Florida. We wanted to recap our favorite experiences, speakers and lessons with our Chapter!

Back Row L to R: Breann Andersen, Paige Fagen, Stacey Nardozzi, Andrea Filter, Allison Root, Sam Bourque, Katlynn Downey, Kelsey Schultz. Front Row L to R: Danielle Morabito, Shelby Schwarzkoff, Taylor Heggen, Kristina Green

Danielle Morabito: The ideas, advice, and networking tips I learned were countless. I truly enjoyed how every day was different and how we were able to meet so many different PR professionals. By having such a diverse selection of sessions, it makes you think about what you want to do for your career. In addition, Orlando was an amazing place. Having the hot weather and fun attractions around made free time totally worth it. You learn a lot about yourself and what you want for your future – that is probably the most beneficial aspect I took back home with me.

Allison Root: Attending National Conference has prompted me to consider career paths I haven’t before. I was inspired by many of the speakers to go out and continue to better myself as a future professional. I particularly enjoyed the session on creativity with speakers Jeffrey Ory and Gary Buchanan. Keynote Speaker Rick Leventhal of Fox News gave great advice on how to pitch journalists and reporters effectively, even going so far as to show examples of good and bad pitches he has received. National Conference was a surreal learning experience and allowed me to bond with other members.

Sam Bourque: I loved being able to travel with members of our chapter and meet so many other PR students and professionals from around the country. It was an amazing experience to listen to such a wide range of speakers and professionals. I left Orlando feeling more prepared for graduation, while also being extremely excited for the year to come!

Kelsey Schultz: Many topics were discussed at the 2011 PRSSA National Conference, but this one particularly made me think the most. A public relations subject that is not fully explained in the classroom setting is crisis communications. As a student in the public relations field, the majority of my work is geared towards campaigns for building awareness for positive public interest. But what happens when a brand or individual suddenly has a negative image or reputation? How do public relations students like myself use skills to build back credibility? Richard Levick, President and CEO of Levick Strategic Communications, gave a better understanding of how to accomplish this sort of ordeal. Levick explained that in crisis communications, you never know what is going to come next. One must be transparent, take action, and have leadership skills to effectively make it known to the public you are trying to make an improvement. Levick stated that there is a greater cost in crisis communication if one does nothing compared to putting a positive effort forth. When an effort is put forth though, it must be done rather fast. The longer time waits, the more likely individuals will leak information. This is the the start of rumors, lies and people making their own perceptions of a situation. If I could take away one thought from Richard Levick’s session it would be  ”When you make a promise, you fulfill it.” These words from Levick are ones I wish to carry with me through out my career, no matter if it is a crisis situation or not. Richard Levick was one of the most knowledgeable speakers at the 2011 PRSSA National Conference and I would like to thank him for his time and wonderful insights.

Shelby Schwarzkoff: National Conference was one of the best experiences of my PR career thus far! I gained new knowledge about the industry from keynote speakers and professionals in the field. By attending the sessions, I have a better understanding of what kind of PR I’d like to do; which for me is corporate PR. Also, I loved learning about what other chapters have been doing, fundraising ideas, and other ways on how to improve our own Chapter. In addition, networking with young professionals from around the nation and PR professionals in the industry was invaluable. Overall, I would not trade this experience for the world, and look forward to attending National Conference again next year!

Stacey Nardozzi: National Conference was a great learning and networking experience. I was able to listen to multiple public relations professionals speak on a variety of topics from media relations to ethics in the profession. It was great to be able to represent GV PRSSA and present a Chapter Development session with four other Chapter members. I enjoyed the keynote speaker Rick Leventhal, Senior Correspondent for Fox News Channel. He spoke about media relations practices and what a public relations professional should “not” do. Leventhal showed us examples of bad and good email pitches. Overall, conference was a great bonding experience for our Chapter members and I gained valuable contacts and insight into the the profession.

Taylor Heggen: National Conference was a wonderful opportunity for me to network with other PRSSA Chapters from across the nation. It was amazing to see the number of students that are just as passionate about PR as I am, and attending the conference reassured me that I had chosen the right major for me. This was my second year attending National Conference, and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to experience it again. Each session taught me something new, and I loved representing our Chapter during our presentation. We received a lot of positive feedback and I was told that other Chapters look up to us. I couldn’t be more proud of what our Chapter has done in the past year. I am so excited to be planning our Regional Conference in April, it will be a great experience that all of our members will benefit from. Although not many of our members were able to experience National Conference, I highly encourage them to attend the Regional Conference so they can get a taste what National Conference is all about.

Katlynn Downey: Conference exceeded my expectations in every sense.  The speakers and professionals provided us with great lectures that informed us of topics we only touch on in class.  My two favorite sessions were on crisis communication and agency vs. corporate public relations.  Our Chapter also had the opportunity to meet other PRSSA Chapters from across the country as well as professionals from a variety of PR fields.  Overall, conference was an awesome experience. For member who could not attend  this year, I highly recommend attending next year!

Breann Andersen: National Conference was such an eye-opening experience. Having the opportunity to present helped to establish connections with other Chapters throughout Michigan, and improved my confidence level when speaking in public. I especially loved the keynote speaker, Rick Leventhal. He inspired me to put myself out there and build relationships with as many professionals as possible. Overall, conference was a success, from networking with professionals and students to the positive energy in the atmosphere; everyone had a passion for PR and it was nice to be surrounded by others who share the same desire for the organization and profession.

Kristina Green: Not only was National Conference an opportunity to bond within our own Chapter, but members were able to expand their network with young professionals across the country. I enjoyed getting a closer and more in-depth look at the different areas we are able to practice public relations. It was a great experience to be invited to attend the PRSA General Session featuring Soledad O’Brien of CNN and to get an inside look on what us graduating seniors have to look forward to as being a part of PRSA in the future. I was able to gain a clearer view on what my goals are for the next few months as I prepare to enter the real world. Without the help of PRSSA and National Conference, I don’t think I’d be as ready for graduation as I am now. National Conference is an experience no PRSSA member should miss!

A special thank you to all of our sponsors who supported us in our travels to Florida! We couldn’t have done with without your help.