The Organization of American Women in Public Relations, the group that was developed to connect women leaders in public relations across North America, announced the addition of 9 new members to serve on the organization’s national advisory council in 2017.
Directors are located in cities across the USA; Deirdre Breakenridge (New Jersey), Shonali Burke (Washington, DC), Gini Dietrich (Chicago, IL), Abbie Fink (Phoenix, AZ), Shannon Furey (NJ), Michelle Garrett (Columbus, OH), Rebekah Iliff (San Francisco, CA), Crosby Noricks (San Diego, CA) and Nicole Rodrigues (Los Angeles, CA).
“Our membership will greatly benefit from the experience of these women leaders,” says Talia Beckett Davis, President of Women in PR USA and Founder of Pink Pearl PR. “One of our main goals when forming this organization was to provide a place for women to thrive earlier in their careers and to strengthen the capabilities of established leaders in the PR industry.”
Advisory Council Members will be officially welcomed at a launch celebration in New York City on June 8, 2017 (Women in PR New York). The organization is building chapters across the USA.
“Being named to this council, especially with so many other outstanding female executives in public relations, is a great honor,” says Rodrigues of NRPR Group. “When I started NRPR Group, I did so with a mission to share my experience and know-how with aspiring PR professionals. At heart, I’m a coach and a teacher, and I can’t wait to take our industry to the next level with Women in PR USA.”
The organization will be proactively reaching out to event partners, sponsors and PR industry leaders over the coming months to seek input into future activities.
“Women dominate the PR industry in junior- and mid-level jobs, yet we hold less than 30 percent of leadership positions,” says Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich and author Spin Sucks. “Through Women in PR USA, this will change. We aim to add more women to boards, increase work flexibility, eliminate stereotypes, and teach women how to promote themselves. It’s pertinent we support one another, collaborate together, and garner the well-deserved senior leadership positions.”
The team is committed to maintaining a high caliber of programs for members and aims to become a thought leader and influencer in the field of public relations. Women in PR USA is the only organization across North America dedicated to advancing women in the field of public relations.
“When women get together we can move mountains. Women in PR USA is the supportive community that will foster great connections and shape the future of women in PR,” says Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communications.
“As the field of public relations continues to evolve, women need the support of other women to thrive in our profession. While many women work in our industry, there’s still a gender gap in leadership roles. Women in PR USA will help the female leaders of tomorrow break through that gap,” says Messenger Garrett, CEO of Garrett Public Relations.