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September 2026

Letter from the President

As summer gives way to fall, some of us are adjusting to new routines. If you’re like me and have kids, that means the start of a new school year. For others, it could be changing schedules, fall planning, budget discussions, conference season or year-end initiatives.

These transitions often require us to make dozens of decisions every day, many of which seem relatively small in the moment but can have a lasting impact.

That's one reason I appreciate PRSA using September to reinforce the importance of sound judgment and professional integrity through Ethics Month. Too often, ethics is viewed through the lens of organizational crises or front-page headlines. In reality, it appears in daily choices: How we present information, how transparent we are with stakeholders, how we use AI, how we counsel leaders and how we respond when competing priorities arise. Ethics Month serves as an opportunity to reinforce these principles and explore resources that support ethical communications practices throughout the year.

The good news is that these decisions don't require perfection. They require thoughtful consideration, self-awareness and a commitment to doing what's right.

As you settle into your fall routine, I encourage you to remember that ethics isn't reserved for major decisions or moments of crisis. It often appears in the small choices we make every day, all of which can influence far more than we realize.

Cheers!
Phillip Nicolino, APR
President
PRSA Iowa Board of Directors

Upcoming Events

Friday FYI: Tips to Ensure Stakeholders Seek Your Ethical Counsel

When: September 11, 2026, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Where: Virtual

In today’s environment, communications professionals are increasingly expected to navigate complex stakeholder expectations, reputation risks, and rapidly evolving conversations around sustainability, social impact, and corporate responsibility. Be sure to register for this webinar event to learn how strategic communications and public relations leaders can move beyond messaging to become trusted advisors inside their organizations.

2026 OctoPRfest, PRSA Iowa's Strategic Communications Conference

When: October 1, 2026, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Where: Sammons Financial, Inc.

The can't-miss event for public relations, marketing, and communications professionals. Find out more below, and register by Sept. 11 for early-bird pricing!

PRSA Volunteer Opportunity - YMCA Supportive Housing Campus

When: October 19, 2026, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Where: YMCA Supportive Housing Campus

Spend an evening giving back with PRSA Iowa! Join us for a hands-on volunteer night at the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus. We’ll start with a quick tour, then help sort donations, stock the pantry, organize supplies, and more. Although it’s a free volunteer event, we ask that you still register so we know who’s joining. Learn more and sign up here!

November Luncheon: Using Insights to Drive Strategic Planning and Activation for PR Campaigns

When: November 10, 2026, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden; Virtual

Save the date for our November luncheon! Mike Irwin, Director of Insights at Flynn Wright, will share a look into how he uses insights to drive strategy for PR campaigns. Registration will be available soon, so watch for more details.

OctoPRfest News

PRSA Iowa OctoPRfest 2026

Have you registered for OctoPRfest 2026 yet? Join us on Thursday, Oct. 1, for the region’s must-attend, one-day conference delivering everything public relations, communications and marketing professionals of all levels and backgrounds need to strengthen their skills and expand their networks. The event will feature a dynamic blend of national and regional speakers who will share their expertise and insights on the most pressing and significant trends shaping today’s media landscape. Get early-bird pricing through Sept. 11! Learn more and get registered.

OctoPRfest Sponsors

Thank You to Our OctoPRfest Sponsors!

A big thank you to our generous PRSA Iowa OctoPRfest sponsors for supporting this year’s event! Your partnership helps make OctoPRfest possible and allows PR and communications professionals from across Iowa to connect, learn and celebrate our profession.

We’re grateful for your investment in Iowa’s communications community and for helping us make OctoPRfest 2026 a success!

Ethics Column

Celebrating Ethics Month

Happy Ethics Month! This September, we encourage you to brush up on your ethics skills by engaging with some of the varied learning opportunities available to both members and non-members (fee).

Familiarize yourself with the competencies you should hone to be an ethical practitioner
Join the virtual meeting offered by Iowa PRSA entitled Tips to Ensure Stakeholders Seek Your Ethical Counsel where you’ll learn practical approaches for communicating difficult or nuanced topics, building credibility with internal and external audiences, and translating subjective narratives into measurable outcomes.
Access several Ethics webinars offered by PRSA

Jane Keairns, APR, Ethics chair

Member Profile

This month, we’re spotlighting Jane Keairns, Director of Sustainability and Event Experience at Principal. Learn more about Jane, 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.

5 years

Ali Bolin, APR
Amy Jones, APR

1 year

Susan Cruz-Rodriguez
Ellen de Graffenreid
Sara Engelhart
Skylar Vanden Bosch

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