In this newsletter:

•  President’s Column
• August Events
  • “From Panic to Purpose” webinar (Aug. 12)
  • Meet the Media Communicators Social in Vancouver (Aug. 18)
  • Ask Gen Z Anything — National Millennial & Gen Z Community (Aug. 25)
• Take the Next Step: APR Classes Begin September 17
• September Events
  •  AI and the Future of Ethical PR panel webinar (Sept. 15)
  • Communicators Social in Beaverton (Sept. 17)
• Awards & Recognition
  • Spotlight Awards entries due Aug. 31
  • Awards of Distinction nominations due Aug. 31
  • Save the Date: Spotlight Awards celebration, Nov. 18
• Member Spotlights: Bryar Keyes and Becca Mallery
• Member Benefits: Mac’s List
• PRSA Puget Sound event: Ann Wylie workshop, Seattle (Sept. 18)

Celebrate Successes and Community with PRSA Oregon

WEBINAR — AUGUST 12

From Panic to Purpose: The Plan, the Pivot, the Purpose

Wednesday, August 12  |  Noon–1 p.m. PT  |  Free for PRSA chapter members  |  $20 for nonmembers

Drawing from her experience across lifestyle, hospitality, wellness, social impact and fashion, she will discuss the realities of agency life, managing client relationships and developing the confidence to adapt as opportunities evolve.

At ID Agency, Floricel supports campaigns for clients including Covered California, DesignerCon, Tapatío, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, Meguiar’s and Winnebago. She began her career at public relations agencies, progressing from Account Specialist to Account Manager while working in client strategy, media relations, influencer marketing, partnerships and events. Floricel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, San Bernardino, in 2021.

Early-career practitioners will gain practical advice for navigating the transition from college to the workforce, while experienced professionals will discover ways to better mentor, support and empower the next generation of public relations talent.

Free for PRSA Oregon members and members of other PRSA chapters

$20 for nonmembers

Register for the August 12 webinar.

COMMUNICATORS SOCIAL — AUGUST 18

August 18 Communicators Social in Vancouver: Meet the Media with The Columbian

The patio at McMenamins on the Columbia in Vancouver offers a relaxed waterfront setting — the perfect backdrop for an evening of conversation and connection.

Date & Time: Tuesday, August 18, 2026  |  4:30–6:30 p.m.

Location: McMenamins on the Columbia, 1801 SE Columbia River Drive, Vancouver

Reserve your spot at our August 18 Communicators Social & Meet the Media event.

SPECIAL EVENT — AUGUST 25

Ask Gen Z Anything

Tuesday, August 25  |  5–7:30 p.m.  |  Metro Regional Center, Portland

PRSA Oregon is proud to welcome the National Millennial and Gen Z Community to Greater Portland! From August 23-26, two dozen Gen Zers from across the U.S. and France will explore Portland — and our members will have a special opportunity to meet them.

Join us Tuesday, August 25, at 5 p.m. at the Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, for “Ask Gen Z Anything.” The evening begins with a hosted reception and networking, followed by a candid panel discussion, and closes with another opportunity to connect.

Schedule:

• 5:00–5:45 p.m. — Reception & networking

• 5:45–6:45 p.m. — Panel discussion

• 6:45–7:30 p.m. — Reception & networking

PRSA Oregon President Kelliann Amico, APR, Fellow PRSA, will moderate, with a co-moderator to be announced soon. This event is free. PRSA Oregon members and guests may register here.

Bring your questions, make new connections and gain fresh insights into this influential generation.

About the National Millennial and Gen Z Community:

The National Millennial and Gen Z Community represents students and early-career professionals from more than 44 colleges and universities across 40+ states, Washington, D.C., and Guam. Founded in 2016, the community has engaged more than 360 executives from over 130 organizations and taken 32 field trips to cities across the U.S. and abroad. They came together to collaborate, create and drive purposeful conversations that unite us, not divide us.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT — APR

Ready to deepen your strategic expertise and demonstrate your commitment to the public relations profession? PRSA Oregon’s upcoming classes can help you prepare to earn the Accreditation in Public Relations.

The APR credential recognizes practitioners who have demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities in strategic communication, research, planning, implementation, evaluation, ethics and professional practice. Earning the APR can strengthen your credibility, sharpen your skills and prepare you for greater leadership opportunities.

PRSA Oregon’s volunteer coaches are experienced, accredited practitioners committed to helping candidates succeed. They combine real-world insights with guidance on the knowledge and competencies assessed during the APR process.

Classes may be especially valuable for:

• Public relations practitioners with at least five years of experience.

• Communication professionals preparing for career advancement.

• Managers and leaders seeking to strengthen their strategic influence.

• APR candidates who need support completing the process.

Classes will be held on Zoom on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. The first session, an orientation to the APR process, is scheduled for Thursday, September 17.

To join the class list or ask questions, contact Carol Fenstermacher, APR, at fenstermachers@comcast.net.

WEBINAR — SEPTEMBER 15

AI and the Future of Ethical PR: Perspectives Across the Profession

Tuesday, September 15  |  Noon–1 p.m. PT  |  Free for PRSA chapter members  |  $20 for nonmembers

Artificial intelligence is changing how public relations professionals research, develop content, advise leaders, manage reputations and engage audiences. As adoption accelerates, communicators must navigate questions about accuracy, transparency, bias, accountability and public trust while also understanding how to use AI productively.

Join PRSA Oregon for a panel discussion about how AI is reshaping the profession and what its ethical use requires. The discussion will bring together different perspectives from across the profession to explore the opportunities AI creates, the risks communicators must recognize and the human judgment that remains essential.

The panel will include:

• Langley Allbritton, AI Comms Consulting, advises on how to intentionally embed human judgment and ethics into AI communication strategies and workflows.

• Magali Lola Corrales, vice president of PRSSA, offering the perspective of students and emerging professionals preparing to enter an AI-influenced workplace.

• Mark Dvorak, APR, Fellow PRSA, former chair of the PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards, grounding the conversation in the ethical principles that guide the profession.

• Rashaad O’Neal, sharing real-world experience identifying and correcting inaccurate AI-generated information and its implications for digital identity and reputation.

Facilitated by PRSA Oregon Ethics Officer Rhonda Morin, APR, the webinar will examine the safeguards and professional judgment needed to use AI responsibly through the lens of the six core values of the PRSA Code of Ethics:

• Advocacy: How can communicators advocate responsibly for their organizations and clients when using AI?

• Honesty: What do accuracy, verification and appropriate disclosure require?

• Expertise: What must practitioners understand before relying on AI-generated information or content?

• Independence: How can communicators maintain objective professional judgment rather than deferring to an AI tool?

• Loyalty: How do practitioners balance their obligations to clients and employers with their responsibility to the public?

• Fairness: How can communicators identify bias, support inclusive representation and avoid harm?

AI may have disrupted how public relations work is produced, but it will never change the ethical principles or professional responsibilities that guide our profession.

Free for PRSA Oregon members and members of other PRSA chapters

$20 for nonmembers

Register today to join what promises to be an insightful conversation.

COMMUNICATORS SOCIAL — SEPTEMBER 17

Good Conversation is on Tap in Beaverton

Thursday, September 17  |  4:30–6:30 p.m.  |  Murrayhill Taphouse & Gastro Pub, Beaverton

Salem showed up at last month’s Communicators Social! Join us at our next event!

Meet new people, reconnect with familiar faces and unwind with fellow communicators at PRSA Oregon’s September Communicators Social!

Join us Thursday, September 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Murrayhill Taphouse & Gastro Pub in Beaverton. Whether you work in public relations, marketing, communications or a related field, you’re invited to stop by for casual conversation, professional connections and a little end-of-day fun.

PRSA Oregon will provide light bites, and beverages will be available for purchase at the no-host bar. The event is free and open to everyone, but registration is required. Bring a colleague or come on your own — either way, you’ll find a welcoming group and plenty of good conversation waiting for you!

September Communicators Social

Thursday, September 17  |  4:30–6:30 p.m.

Murrayhill Taphouse & Gastro Pub, 14550 SW Murray Scholls Drive, Beaverton

Join us at our September 17 Communicators Social.

SPOTLIGHT AWARDS — ENTRIES DUE AUG. 31

Award-Winning Work Deserves Recognition

It’s your time to shine! Entries for the 2026 PRSA Oregon Spotlight Awards & Awards of Distinction are due Monday, August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Showcase the programs and campaigns that made an impact this year. Whether you addressed a complex challenge, reached an important audience or achieved measurable results, your work deserves to be celebrated.

By entering, you can:

• Earn recognition from your peers.

• Demonstrate the strategic value of your work.

• Celebrate your team’s accomplishments.

• Build visibility for your organization or client.

Need help preparing your entry? Watch our June 30 webinar, “How to Submit a Winning Spotlight Awards Entry.”

PRSA Oregon is also accepting nominations for its Awards of Distinction through August 31. These awards recognize individuals whose leadership, service and professional contributions have strengthened public relations in Oregon.

SAVE THE DATE

2026 Spotlight Awards Celebration

Wednesday, November 18  |  Nordic Northwest — Nordia House | Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. 

Nordic Northwest — Nordia House

Recognize the next generation of communications leaders by submitting a nomination today.

Learn more and submit a nomination at the PRSA Emerging Professionals Awards.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Bryar Keyes

Bryar is a passionate communicator who loves creating frameworks that build communities and support mission-driven work. Over his decade-long career, Bryar has worked with top-tier companies across a gamut of industries worldwide.

“The beautiful thing about an organization like PRSA is that real, human connection will always be a necessary part of life, and work. I have been involved in PRSSA/PRSA for more than 10 years, and truly appreciate the connections I have made through this organization. Volunteering is, at its core, a mutually beneficial relationship between the PR community and the practitioner.”

Bryar’s hobbies include cooking, hiking, photography and botany.

Connect with Bryar on LinkedIn.

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Becca Mallery, Treasurer

Becca joined the PRSA Oregon Board as an opportunity to give back to an organization that has helped her grow professionally. As Treasurer, she has enjoyed strengthening the chapter’s financial processes and creating systems that will hopefully make the role a little easier for future volunteers. One of her favorite parts of serving on the Board is collaborating with communications professionals from across Oregon who are always willing to share ideas and support one another.

“For me, communications is one of those professions where you never stop learning. PRSA has connected me with people who challenge me to think differently, share ideas, and continue growing. That’s what keeps me coming back.”

Outside of work, Becca enjoys spending time with her husband, Dave, and their five-year-old daughter, Elena. They recently took on a major home renovation project, so weekends are often spent building, painting, or tackling the next item on the ever-growing project list. She also enjoys traveling (especially to Kauai) and running her small web design business, Web Wizards.

“I really enjoy building systems that make things work better. Whether it’s improving communication processes at work or strengthening the Treasurer role for whoever comes next, I like leaving organizations better than I found them.”

Connect with Becca on LinkedIn.

MEMBER RESOURCES

Build Your Career with Mac’s List

Looking for your next opportunity — or simply thinking about what’s next in your career? PRSA Oregon’s partnership with Mac’s List gives members access to one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier career resources.

More than a regional job board, Mac’s List helps professionals build meaningful careers through practical job search tools, expert advice and career development resources. Job seekers can search hundreds of opportunities across Oregon, Washington and the Pacific Northwest, create customized job alerts and access a library of articles, podcasts, courses and career guidance covering everything from resumes and networking to interviewing and career transitions.

Mac’s List is also a valuable resource for employers looking to attract experienced communications professionals. PRSA Oregon members receive a $15 discount on a single job posting, making it easier to connect with qualified candidates throughout the region.

Whether you’re exploring a new position, advancing your career or hiring your next team member, Mac’s List offers resources to help you succeed.

Learn more, search jobs or post an opening through our PRSA Oregon partnership.

SAVE THE DATE — PARTNER EVENT

How to Write with AI: Bring Human Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence With Ann Wylie

Friday, September 18, 2026  |  8:30 a.m. – Noon  |  Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center

Location: Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center

17620 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188

Register here.

These important partnerships make it possible for PRSA Oregon to provide high-quality programming, professional development and community connections for communicators throughout the region.