A New Program Year
Posted by [email protected] on Sep. 9, 2025 / Subscribe 0
The new PPRA program year began on September 1, marking a milestone 80th anniversary.
For those I haven’t had the chance to meet, I first attended a PPRA event in 2019, joined the communications committee the following year, and stepped into the role of Vice President of Communications in 2021.
As someone early in my career, what struck me most about PPRA was the community's warmth and welcome. From the start, I was encouraged to join committees, volunteer with the association, and even take on a leadership role.
Whenever I’ve reached out to a member, whether for a quick Zoom call, advice on a reporter, or to extend an event invitation, I’ve always been met with generosity of time and a willingness to help.
The Board of Governors, listed below, recently gathered for our annual retreat to map out the year ahead. Guided by the feedback we’ve heard from our members, we’re committed to shaping programming and opportunities that reflect your needs. Suggestions we’re acting on include offering more senior-level professional development opportunities, creating events that empower crisis communicators, exploring affinity groups to connect like-minded professionals, and, of course, expanding access to the media.
Here are some of the events we have lined up for the program year (with many more in the works):
- September Pitch Perfect featuring FOX 29’s The Ladies Room hosts: Shiba Russell, Kathy Orr, and Kamryn Scrivens
- October Pitch Perfect with Wakisha Bailey, CBS3
- NBC10 Studio Tour
- Gold Medal Award honoring Amy and Larry Needle
- Philadelphia 2026/America 250 preview with Philadelphia's 2026 Director, Michael Newmuis
- In-person event at WHYY including an overview of the state of public media and networking with the WHYY team
- Social Media Influencer Panel in partnership with Social Media Collective (formerly Social Media PHL)
- Suburban Happy Hours – one in the Pennsylvania suburbs and one in the South Jersey suburbs
- 80th Anniversary Holiday Celebration + Toy Drive
- 2026 Super MarComm Meetup
- … and much more!
Besides our outstanding programming, there are even more reasons to renew your membership — or to join for the first time.
- Harnessing Our Collective Power – We’d all love to grab coffee with our favorite reporters to hear about the stories they’re working on and explore ways to collaborate. But with today’s shrinking newsrooms, that’s not always possible. As a community of hundreds of PR professionals, we can leverage our collective power by inviting media members to Pitch Perfect events, coordinating newsroom tours, and creating opportunities for connection. Together, we strengthen relationships.
- Tapping Into Mentorship – PPRA’s mentorship program connects members with less than 10 years of experience with those who have more. It’s a members-only benefit designed to encourage learning and growth, not just for early-career professionals, but also for anyone looking to gain insights in a specific field, whether it’s media relations, crisis communications, or beyond.
- Mobilizing The PPRA Team - This year, we are intentionally carving out volunteer opportunities for our members that uplift the nonprofits within our own collective network. Do you have a fundraising event that could use volunteers? Are you organizing a community walk or run where you would love to see the PPRA network support? Let’s connect and explore how we can align with your mission and goals.
I’m excited to share more updates soon.
Hannah Merschen, President
The Board of Governors
President - Hannah Merschen
President-Elect - Lauren Hall
Immediate Past-President - Christina Crews
Presidential Advisor - Chris Lukach, APR
Presidential Advisor - Melissa Paone
Treasurer - Alistair Glover
VP for Communications - Taylor Madison
VP for Programs - Giavana Pruiti
VP for Membership - Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein
VP for External Affairs - Jaime Martorana
Secretary - Lauren Tilghman
Director - Edel Howlin
Director - Kenneth Hilario
Director - Joanna Volpe
Hall of Fame Liaison - Arthur Ellis
0 Comments