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April 2026

Letter from the President

The month of April holds special significance for PRSA Iowa – it marks our anniversary and offers a moment to reflect on the people and vision that shaped our chapter.

Here’s a brief snapshot of how it all began:

PRSA Iowa was chartered on April 5, 1968 – approximately three weeks after the petition for a charter was signed on March 15, 1968.
The petition was signed by 10 prospective members: Gerald Bogan, Robert Bonomi, Robert Clark, Donald Dooley, Jean Dyar, Robert Eide, Robert Hoover, Kenneth McDougall, Walter Walsh, and Thomas Wolff.
By the time the charter was formally presented on June 14, 1968, the number of founding members had grown to 16 professionals.
PRSA Iowa was the 66th chapter accepted by the Public Relations Society of America, which itself was founded 21 years earlier in 1947.

While I cannot say how many of our current members had the opportunity to know these founders personally, I’m confident their vision and leadership laid the foundation for the stability, relevance, and success our chapter has enjoyed.

Today, PRSA Iowa remains financially strong, with more than 170 members – approximately 30% of whom hold their Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). We continue to prioritize quality programming, ongoing professional development, and support for five PRSSA student chapters across the state.

As I look ahead with optimism, I can assure you there is an unwavering commitment to serving our members, strengthening our profession, and investing in the next generation of communicators.

Happy 58th anniversary, PRSA Iowa!

Cheers,

Phillip Nicolino
President
PRSA Iowa Board of Directors

Upcoming Events

PRIME Award Ceremony

When: April 23, 2026, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Valley Community Center

We’re excited to celebrate our 2025 PRIME Award winners! Join us for an evening of networking, recognition, and insights as we highlight the campaigns and strategies that drove success for our chapter members last year. Learn more and register to attend!

May Luncheon

When: May 13, 2026, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Save the day for our upcoming May luncheon, and stay tuned for more details to come!

August Luncheon – AI and Search: Impacts and Evolving Strategies

When: August 13, 2026, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Our highly anticipated August luncheon is already open for registration! Search is evolving from a list of links into a real-time conversation. Learn what this means for PR professionals as audiences swap Google for AI chatbots and social discovery, the "old school" keyword strategy is no longer enough to keep brands visible. Register now to secure your spot.

Scholarship Information

PRSA Scholarships Now Open

2026 PRSA Iowa scholarships are now open! Annually, the PRSA Iowa Chapter offers three scholarships to help students and professionals in the pursuit of public relations education. Applications for all scholarships are open now and due by April 19, 2026. Learn more and apply online here, and reach out to Baillee Furst with any questions.

APR News

Take Action: Earn Your APR

April is Accreditation Month and it’s a great time to take the next step in your public relations career. If you’ve been thinking starting your APR journey, now is the time—we’re here to help you along the way. Learn more about earning your APR and email [email protected] to get started!

OctoPRfest News

Get Involved: OctoPRfest Planning Committee

The PRSA Iowa OctoPRfest is the region’s premier professional development event for public relations practitioners, hosted in Des Moines. Planning for the 2026 conference is officially underway, and we’re looking for volunteers to help create a dynamic day of learning, networking, and skill-building. Professionals at all experience levels are encouraged to get involved. The planning committee will meet virtually once a month, increasing as the conference approaches in October.

Interested in learning more about the roles, responsibilities, or time commitment? Please reach out to Laura McCaw, APR to get more details.

Ethics Column

AI Cannot Replace Expertise in Building Trust

Artificial intelligence has become one of the greatest innovations since the dawn of the internet. Technology continues to enhance our ability to connect globally and access information without needing to visit a library or flip through a newspaper.

To quote a famous superhero movie: "With great power comes great responsibility." AI improves productivity and aids in research and ideation. However, it does not replace the expertise essential to building trust with our audiences. A recent article from Harvard Business School emphasizes the importance of oversight when using AI. While AI may shorten the knowledge gap, it cannot substitute for human skills and expertise.

For more insights, visit Harvard Business School.

Membership Information

Partnership with American Marketing Association Iowa

As a reminder, PRSA Iowa Chapter is partnering with American Marketing Association Iowa to better serve Iowa’s marketing and communications professionals. Members of either organization can now attend the other’s events at member pricing — expanding access to professional development and networking across both communities. We’re excited to bring our members together and create even more value statewide. Visit their events page to check out upcoming opportunities!

Member Profile

This month, we’re spotlighting Alex Wilson, Communications Advisor at Wixted & Company. Learn more about Alex, her career path, and how she got involved in PRSA.

Job Bank

If you're looking for a qualified communications professional to fill a position, make sure to use the PRSA Iowa Chapter Job Bank! PRSA members pay $25 per post, and non-members pay $50 per post. Submit a position for the Job Bank.

Current job listings:

Member Updates

Membership Anniversaries

In each issue of this newsletter, we recognize PRSA Iowa Chapter members who are celebrating milestone PRSA anniversaries. Congratulations to the following individuals who celebrated or will celebrate milestone anniversaries this month.

30 years – Aaron Putze

1 year – Kenzie Dorsey

1 year – Ashley Shiels

Member News

Member survey

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the PRSA Iowa member survey. Your input is valuable as we continue to look at ways to grow and strengthen our chapter. The winner of the gift card for completing the survey is Ryan Johnson!

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