With great sadness, the Public Relations Society of America – Central Pennsylvania Chapter acknowledges the passing of our good friend, immediate past president and current treasurer and membership co-chair Greg Swartzlander.

Greg died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 5, 2018.

We join his family and colleagues in mourning the loss of a talented, kind and creative man.

Greg was the director of digital communications at Select Medical in Mechanicsburg. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College.

Previously, Greg was director of interactive communications for the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He began his career in public relations as a producer and writer for a number of corporate and broadcast television productions and commercials, including serving as an area producer for the “Montel Williams Show” and ABC Television’s “Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve.”

He held a master of science in communications studies from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor of arts in radio-television-film from Temple University.

In addition to work and teaching, Greg was a passionate supporter of local marching bands, designing drills for a number of central Pennsylvania’s high schools. He was assistant marching band director for Cumberland Valley and Camp Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, children Kira and Conor, and extended family. A celebration of Greg’s life will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 13 at Slate Hill Mennonite Church. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Greg’s honor to the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps at https://bluecoats.com/shop/donations/greg-memorial/ or Bluecoats at P.O. Box 2733 North Canton, OH 44720.

PPRS & PRSA’S 2018 Joint Summer Social

Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works

Thursday, August 9, 2018 | 6:00pm-8:00pm

1 S Union Street, Middletown, PA

Enjoy appetizers & drinks, brewery tours, networking and special remarks from veteran and co-founder Pat Devlin.

$25 Members/Students | $35 Non-Member

Feeling creative? Take part in Spritz & Splatter’s social painting event and bring home your very own American flag themed masterpiece!

2017 Keystone Awards

And the winners are…

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

PAST EVENTS:

Central PA Chapter Plays Big Part in PRSA Mid-Atlantic District Quick Start

PRSA Mid-Atlantic District’s Quick Start on November 4, 2017 in Springfield, Va. succeeded in offering outstanding leadership training for chapter and district officers and committee chairs. All the presenters offered valuable insights into improving chapters.

PRSSA-Penn-State,-Millersville-and-Susquehanna-students-with-pros-from-the-PRSA-Mid-Atlantic-District

PRSSA-Millersville-University-leaders-pose-for-a-photo-with-Liz-Smith,-APR,-MBA

PRSA-Mid-Atlantic-District-members-at-Atlantic-Fish-Company-in-Boston

Liz-Smith,-APR,-MBA-and-Greg-Surber,-APR-presented-a-session-on-Launching-District-APR-Boot-Camps

Janet-Kacskos,-APR,-Fellow,-on-right-poses-for-a-photo-with-National-Board-Member-at-Fellows-Dinner

Central-PA-and-Hampton-Roads-chapter-members-pose-for-a-photo-at-Sunday-Gala

2017-PRSA-Chair-Jane-Dvorak,-APR,-Fellow,-welcomed-members-to-the-PRSA-International-Conference-in-Boston

PRSSA Penn State, Millersville and Susquehanna students with pros from the PRSA Mid-Atlantic District

PRSSA Millersville University leaders pose for a photo with Liz Smith, APR, MBA

PRSA Mid-Atlantic District members at Atlantic Fish Company in Boston

Liz Smith, APR, MBA and Greg Surber, APR presented a session on Launching District APR Boot Camps

Central PA and Hampton Roads chapter members pose for a photo at Sunday Gala

Award-winining filmmaker and keynote speaker Morgan Spurlock featured highlights from his documentary, "Super Size Me."

2017 PRSA Chair Jane Dvorak, APR, Fellow, welcomed members to the PRSA International Conference in Boston

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.