May 2026

Letter from the President

May is a month that quietly carries a lot of meaning.
 
It’s Small Business Month, a time to remind ourselves of the expertise, confidence, and professionalism demonstrated by individual practitioners, consultants, and agency owners across our profession. It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month, which underscores the importance of building habits, support systems, and space for reflection that allow us to sustain both our work and ourselves over the long term. And it’s National Military Appreciation Month, an opportunity to recognize the service members, veterans, and military families in our PRSA community and beyond.
 
Taken together, these themes reinforce something fundamental: public relations isn’t just about strategy or storytelling—it’s about people. The people we serve, the people we work alongside, and the people we continue to learn from.
 
That’s why I’m especially excited about PRSA Iowa’s quarterly meeting on May 13. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time—and this is one you won’t want to miss. We’re welcoming two outstanding leaders from Edelman for an in person presentation on the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, offering insights on trust, credibility, and the evolving expectations placed on communicators. The event is open to both members and non members, with a virtual option available for those unable to join in person.
 
I’ve had the opportunity to work in the trenches with both presenters, and I can say with confidence: you’ll walk away with practical perspective, not just data points.
 
I hope you’ll join us on May 13.

Cheers,

Phillip Nicolino, APR 
President
PRSA Iowa Board of Directors

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Upcoming Events

May Luncheon

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

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a world retreating towards insularity. Join our luncheon — virtually or in person — to hear from leaders at Edelman’s financial communications boutique, Edelman Smithfield, for a presentation of this year’s report and discussion of implications for communicators. Get registered today!  

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. 

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Congratulations!

Congratulations to all of the 2025 PRIME Awards winners and to Eric Kwame Adae, Ph.D., APR, our most recently pinned APR. 

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APR News

Advance your career: Earn your APR

The accreditation in public relations is designed to strengthen your strategic thinking, build confidence and demonstrate your expertise as a public relations professional. The path to earning the APR credential includes four key steps:

As a skilled public relations professional, your success is dependent on staying relevant, resourceful and inspired. Earning your APR shows employers, clients and peers that you have the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in today’s ever-challenging communications environment.

While April and APR month is over, our chapter continues to support the accreditation process throughout the year. To learn more, email [email protected].

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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.

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Ethics Column

Ethics for an Evolving Profession

The PRSA Code of Ethics is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the ethical practice of public relations. First developed in 1950, the Code applies to PRSA members and is designed to be a useful guide as they carry out their ethical responsibilities, setting out principles that uphold core values, including advocacy, honesty, expertise, independence, loyalty and fairness.
 
The PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) is comprised of senior professionals and PRSA members. BEPS provides an abundance of educational resources and training for public relations professionals that include case studies, position papers, blogs and other assets. We’d like to remind chapter members to take advantage of these valuable resources.
 
Jane Keairns, APR & Dawn Buzynski, APR  

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Member Profile

This month, we’re spotlighting Sara Engelhart, Senior Communications Specialist at Trilix. Learn more about Sara, her career path, and how she got involved in PRSA. 

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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:

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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.

5 years

1 year 

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Strategies & Tactics Highlights

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Sponsor Spotlight

We'd like to recognize and thank our participating sponsors!

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