Media, Law & Policy

Newhouse School to celebrate ‘PR Day’ Nov. 9 with alumni guest speakers

Tuesday, November 6, 2012, By Wendy S. Loughlin

Event will include a special announcement from W20 Group’s Jim Weiss ’87

ϲ’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications will celebrate “PR Day” during a special, day-long event on Friday, Nov. 9, in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. The event, which features several PR alumni guest speakers, is sponsored by the Newhouse Department of Public Relations and the William P. Ehling Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Follow on Twitter at #NHPRDay.

At 10 a.m., James Olson ’91, vice president of global public relations for Starbucks Coffee Company, will present “Enlightened Leadership: How to Turn a Company into a Movement.”

At 11:15 a.m., Jim Weiss ’87, founder and CEO of W2O Group, will speak on “The Future of Social Commerce and Its Impact on Public Relations.” Weiss’ presentation will also include a special announcement.

At 2:15 p.m., Scott Kronick ’85, president of Ogilvy/China, will present “Changing China: A Career in International Public Relations.”

At 3:45 p.m., a panel discussion will examine “Life After Newhouse: Career Advancement and the Power of Networking.” The session will include informal presentations and a Q&A with Newhouse alumni. Panelists include Joseph Cohen ’99, senior vice president of MWW and chair-elect of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA); Mark McClennan ’95, senior vice president of Schwartz MSL and a member of the PRSA Board of Directors and PRSA Foundation Board of Trustees; Juan Carlos Pedreira ’97, partner with Social Business Hub Consultants; and Cheryll O. Forsatz ’94, director of communications with McDonald’s Corporation.

Olson, Weiss, Kronick and Pedreira are among 40 alumni who will be inducted into the Newhouse School Professional Gallery on Nov. 10.

From 5 to 6 p.m., a wine and cheese reception will be held in the lobby outside the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the founding of the ϲ PRSSA chapter.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Maria Russell at mprussel@syr.edu or Betsy Feeley at (315) 443-7401 or eefeeley@syr.edu.