 As you may have heard, Central Pennsylvania’s public relations community lost a great friend and advocate, Ken Robinson, APR, on Sat., Feb. 16.
Ken was a senior strategist at Quantum Communications Ltd. in Harrisburg and vice president of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society’s local chapter. He was also a past president of PRSA’s Central Pennsylvania chapter and a former board member of PRSA’s Mid-Atlantic District. Quantum said in a Feb. 17 statement, “We note with great sadness the sudden passing of our friend and colleague, Ken Robinson. We will miss him dearly. Ken was a distinguished professional, an accomplished musician, loving father and the world’s most doting grandfather. He will always be in our hearts.” Similar tributes have been shared over the past few days via social media, email and in person as friends and colleagues recalled Ken’s expertise, mentorship, generosity and warm heart. A former radio newsman, Ken became the first full-time press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and was chief spokesman during the 1989 Camp Hill prison riot. Later, Ken served as vice president of communications for the Pennsylvania Medical Society and was a member of the American Medical Association’s Communications Advisory Board. He also founded Robinson Group Strategic Communications prior to joining Quantum. Visitation and services for Ken will be held at Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market Street, Camp Hill. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 27 and 10-11 a.m. on Thur., Feb. 28. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. to noon on Thurs., Feb. 28. Because a large turnout is expected, seating will be limited. Ken’s family is planning a larger Celebration of Life service for a future date. PRSA Central PA and its members share in the sorrow over Ken’s passing. His friendship, professionalism and collegiality will be sorely missed. |
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Get Recognized for Your Expertise
Sign Up Now for APR Coaching Sessions
Detailed information about the APR process is available at praccreditation.org. But the best way to get started is to sign up for the upcoming sessions offered by your very own chapter!
Sessions begin February 9, 2019!
Have questions or ready to sign up? Contact Jason Kirsch, APR at 717-857-5645 or jkirsch@prworksinc.com or Bob Saline, APR, Fellow PRSA at 717-580-8162 or bsaline@prworksinc.com.
And the Winners Are…
The 2018 Keystone Award Winners:
- Bravo Group for “Healthy Me PA” (Categories: Government/Public Affairs Program and Digital Public Relations)
- Diakon for “150th Anniversary Campaign” (Category: Special Events and Observances)
- Kinsley Construction, Inc., for “The Kinstructor” (Category: Newsletters), “Employee Benefits” (Category: Internal Communications), and “Master Builder Video” (Category: Video Communication)
- Milton Hershey School for “MHS Brown and Gold Annual Report” (Category: Annual Report) and for “MHS Voices of Diversity Campaign” (Category: Digital Public Relations)
- Nell McCormack Abom Communications for “2018 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids” (Category: Media Relations/Media Placement) and “2018 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids” (Category: Special Events and Observances)
2018 Silver Keystone Award Winners were:
- Highmark for “Highmark/Penn State Health” (Category: Overall Public Relations Program)
- PRworks for “PA Post Launch Campaign” (Category: Overall Public Relations Program)
- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for “TCRPC Newsletter” (Category: Newsletters)
- Students of Millersville University for “Miracle on George Street” and “Dark Dinner” (Category: Student Project)
VIEW/DOWNLOAD images from the luncheon. Password: PRSA
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PAST EVENTS:
PRSA 2018 International Conference in Austin, Texas
PRSA Central PA Chapter Board 2018
President: Lara Brenckle, Online Communications Manager, Select Medical
President-Elect: Leslie Amoros, Vice President and Senior Consultant, Imprado
Secretary: Molly McGowan APR, Public Relations Specialist, Phoenix
Past President and Treasurer: Greg Swartzlander, Director of Digital Communications, Select Medical
Delegate One and Mid-Atlantic District Representative: Liz Smith, APR, President of Integrated Communications Ventures and Professor of Communications
Delegate Two: Thomas P. Boyle, Ph.D., APR, Professor of Communication, Director of Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, Millersville University
Director: Elizabeth Greenaway, Short and Sweet Communications
Director: Kristie Byrum, Ph. D, APR, Fellow, Professor of Public Relations, Bloomsburg University
Director: Pending
PRSA Mid-Atlantic District Orchestrates Third Successful
APR Boot Camp
Central PA members start thinking about earning your APR in 2018!
The PRSA Mid-Atlantic District and its members orchestrated the country’s third successful PRSA Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) district boot camp, April 5-8, in Richmond, Virginia.
The boot camp attracted 17 APR candidates. “Our district is the only district in the nation to sponsor an APR boot camp, and now we’ve conducted one three years in a row,“ said Liz Smith, APR, who served as Mid-Atlantic District chair in 2015 and spearheaded the boot camps with the help and support of PRSA National and host chapter Richmond.
