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  • Meet the PRSA Board: Sofia Coon, Director at Large

    Who is Sofia Coon?
    I’m 26 years old and am originally from Syracuse, NY. I’m currently a Senior Account Executive at Scratch Marketing and Media in Cambridge, MA. I’ve been with the company for about a year and a half and love the technology startups and companies we work with. I enjoy that I can nerd out on things like data integration, mobile apps, customer experience platforms and more. Trying to find a basic way to explain complex things is a fun challenge for me. I am extremely passionate about public relations and love that I get to help shape the strategy and messaging used by a client to provide awareness for them within their industry.

    You’ve been a board member for a few years. What is your focus for 2017? 
    I was a PRSSA member at both Curry College in Milton, MA where I earned my Bachelor’s and Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY where I earned my Master’s. When I moved back to Boston, I immediately got involved with the Boston chapter as I knew it would give me the networking contacts and friends that I would need throughout my career. I started on the junior leadership team, working to reinvigorate the young professionals network (YPN) with a colleague. The two of us recreated the program structure for professionals with 5 or less years’ experience, hosting networking sessions and events that catered to what the new PR professional needs to know. In 2016, I was asked to become a Director at Large on the board. I am now in my second term, continuing work with YPN as well as being a part of the committee for the 2017 PRSA International Conference, which will be held in Boston this fall.  I am also working with our campus connection program – providing Boston area schools with information on the tools and resources PRSA can provide rising juniors and seniors. I look forward to seeing what all three opportunities bring in 2017 and continuing to be a part of the board for years to come.

    Why are you involved with PRSA and what has it meant for your career?
    PRSA has always been a rock for me. The seasoned professionals I’ve met have been through a number of the same obstacles and challenges that I have. I know I can count on them to respond to an email, help me with a recommendation or provide me the advice and guidance that will continue to send me down a successful career path in the future. All I can do is to continue to have the same “pay it forward” mentality and do what I can for the generations of PR professionals behind me. I also know that I can reach out to a PRSA member internationally and more likely than not they are happy to answer any questions I may have. I was recently doing some industry research in Canada and had multiple members that were willing to have phone and video conversations to tell me about their experiences.

    What is your recommendations for individuals thinking about joining PRSA?

    I always offer them a chance to be a guest at an event or to look at what the national website has to offer in terms of webinars and mentorships. I have a number of examples of how PRSA has helped me navigate my career and I can share how it will help them if they become a part of the network.

    When you’re not involved with PRSA Boston or doing your full time PR gig, what do you do?
    I love reading and reviewing books. I have so many daily adventures in my job, but I love reading about other worlds and time periods. I’m also a big musical theater and drama nerd. I used to be on the board of a theater company in Wayland, MA and now volunteer for box office or front of house management when I have the opportunity. My boyfriend and I also love going on road trips. Vermont is one of our favorite places to go when we have a long weekend.

    Tell us something not many people know about you (Don’t worry….we’ll keep it a secret!).  

    I have a bookstagram! I’m getting it back up and running in 2017 as I had to take a small hiatus, but follow me on @BookishBlueFox for some book recommendations and to follow my personal reading challenge of 60 books in 12 months (I read 55 in 2016).

  • Breaking: PRSA Files Affidavit Opposing JCOPE Reclassifying PR as Lobbying

    New York, NY (March 8, 2016) — PRSA, along with the PR Council and the Arthur W. Page Societyfiled separate third-party affidavits with the New York State court to stay the enforcement of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) Advisory Opinion No. 16-01 that seeks to classify some public relations activities as lobbying. Four public relations agencies have filed a lawsuit regarding the same advisory. We are not a part of the lawsuit but our affidavits have been filed at the same time.

    Because this issue is so important to the communication industry, our three trade associations have joined forces to help explain to the court the broad-reaching impact and perhaps unintended consequences that may affect all of our members. Our three groups have unique perspectives to provide to the court to explain our concerns about compliance and infringement on information exchange with the press.

    PRSA Boston Press Contact: Joshua Milne, josh@joshuamilnepr.com, (617) 501-1620 for Mark McClennan, APR. Mark is the elected Chair of the 22,000 PRSA membership, is from PRSA Boston and a past president of this chapter. More on social: @prsaboston #JCOPE

    To learn more about this subject, you can read PRSA’s full statement regarding the affidavit and earlier statement on the impact of this advisory opinion. 

    Additionally, here are some recent articles related to the issue:

  • Ready, Set, Go! 2015 APR Calendar is Up!

    In APR, Career, News Feed on

    Did you have a New Year’s resolution to dedicate time toward your professional enrichment? Well put away the scale and storage bins… this is the resolution you can keep!

    We have announced our Spring 2015 Accreditation schedule, and PRSA National offers an optional year-round Online APR Study Course and three times a year (spring, summer and fall) adds value to that experience via connected web-based Cohort Learning Groups (fees apply to include a group discount). You can learn more via this APR Study Webcast.

    We are trying to acquire some of the required texts for a new Chapter APR Study Library through our member professors.  In the meantime, you will find ample information to get started on the Accreditation section of this website.

    So persuade a friend or colleague and accept the APR Challenge! And maybe Oliver will join one of your study sessions!

    Post Author

    Loring BarnesLoring Barnes, APR is our fierce cheerleader for the APR program, this year with Dan Dent, APR. She’s co-chair for the 2016 Northeast District Conference, president-elect of PRSA Boston, and Oliver is one of her two executive assistants at Clarity.