Celebrating
10 Years... 2005-2015
Mission Vision Values
Nurturing the Eternal Truths, Shaping the Future of Our Profession
Who We Are The Plank Center is the leading international resource for practitioners, educators and students who are passionate about advancing their careers and the public relations profession.
What We Do
The Plank Center’s mission is to help develop and recognize outstanding diverse public relations leaders, role models and mentors to advance ethical public relations in an evolving, global society.
What We Believe
In engaging others, we foster and advocate these professional ideals: Courage Truth
How We Deliver
Led by a national advisory board of leading educators and practitioners, the Center works to achieve its mission by: •
Advancing knowledge of leadership values and skills in the profession
Caring
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Supporting research, teaching, service and professional educational efforts that help develop diverse, responsible and trustworthy leaders
Judgment
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Bridging the interests and vision of the practice and education
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Collaborating with other groups and associations to nurture the ethical and effective practice of public relations.
Leadership Integrity Imagination
The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations develops and supports leadership in public relations education and practice. It was established at The University of Alabama in 2005. Named after the “First Lady” of public relations and UA alumna Betsy Plank, The Plank Center offers leadership programs and opportunities to PR students, educators and practitioners. The Center uses a variety of approaches and activities to support its mission.
in Mentoring Gala About Milestones The Milestones in Mentoring Awards, established in 2010, seek to honor those who lead by The Plank example, modeling the way through two-way communication and exemplary behaviors. Center “Mentoring is one of the strongest ways to spell
These Activities Include: Milestones in Mentoring Dinner, honoring those who lead by example, modeling the way through two-way communication and exemplary behaviors. Educator Fellowships, for educators and professionals to exchange information and ideas. To date, 41 educators from more than 100 applicants have been placed with host organizations. Cross-Cultural Study of Leadership in PR, to expand our understanding of communication leadership globally. Nearly 4,500 professionals in 23 countries and 9 languages participated in the study, funded by the Center, Heyman Associates and IBM. Webinars for professionals, educators and students, to help advance leadership values and skills. Since the series’ inception in 2009, 8 free webinars have been sponsored by the Center on a range of topics such as CSR, ethics and the agency of the future. Video Interviews with PR Leaders, for their views on leadership qualities, practices and experiences. To date, 23 interviews have been conducted and uploaded to the Center’s website.
success in public relations.”
- Betsy Plank
Each fall, the Awards banquet features a reception, dinner and awards ceremony in Chicago. Honorees are selected in six categories by their peers and The Plank Center Advisory Board: Legacy: recognizes those who have touched the lives of countless public relations professionals over the course of their exceptional careers. Agency: recognizes those who have been outstanding mentors in an agency. Young Professional: honors young professionals who are up-and-coming leaders who are already paying it forward. Educator: goes to educators who have been instrumental in mentoring students and future educators. This award is named in honor of Dr. Bruce K. Berger, an exceptional public relations leader and educator. Corporate: recognizes corporate communication professionals for mentorship. This award is named in honor of John “Jack” Koten, an influential corporate public relations leader. Executive: honors executives who exemplify the concept of mentorship.
2014 Honorees
Legacy: Patrick Ford, worldwide vice chair, chief client officer, chairman, Burson-Marsteller Executive: Aylwin Lewis, CEO, Potbelly Sandwich Works Corporate: Wendi Strong, executive vice president, enterprise affairs, USAA Agency: Andy Polansky, chief executive officer, Weber Shandwick Educator: Dr. Lynne Sallot, professor, University of Georgia Young Professional: Jose Rivera, lecturer, Cal State San Bernardino
2013 Honorees
Legacy: Don Kirchoffner, senior communications consultant, Don Kirchoffner & Associates (posthumously) Executive: Shelly Lazarus, chairman emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather Corporate: Mike Fernandez, corporate vice president, corporate affairs, Cargill Agency: John Deveney, president, Deveney Communication Educator: Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, professor, Virginia Commonwealth University Young Professional: Nick Lucido, senior account executive, Edelman Digital
2011 Honorees
Legacy: Ann Barkelew, former senior counselor, Fleishman-Hillard Executive: Peter Hirshberg, CEO, The Re:imagine Group Corporate: John Onoda, member, advisory board, Fleishman-Hillard Agency: Howard Paster, former chairman, CEO, Hill & Knowlton (posthumously) Educator: Dr. Rochelle Ford, associate dean for research & academic affairs, John H. Johnson School of Communications, Howard University Young Professional: Joseph Tateoka, associate, Burson-Marsteller
Educator Previous Fellowship Honorees Program
The fellowship program is designed to:
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2012 Honorees
Legacy: Steve Harris, former VP, global communications, General Motors Executive: Jon Iwata, senior VP, marketing & communications, IBM Corporate: Nick Ashooh, global VP, corporate affairs, Alcoa Agency: Margery Kraus, founder and CEO, APCO Worldwide Educator: Dr. Elizabeth Toth, professor and chair, department of communication, University of Maryland Young Professional: Ryan McShane, account executive, Taylor
2010 Honorees
Legacy: Harold Burson, founding chairman, Burson-Marsteller; Dan Edelman, founder and chairman, Daniel J. Edelman, Inc.; Al Golin, chairman, GolinHarris Executive: Billy Shore, founder & executive director, Share Our Strength Corporate: Marilyn Laurie, former executive VP, public relations & management, AT&T (posthumously) Educator: Dr. Cully Clark, dean, Henry W. Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Georgia Young Professional: Kevin Saghy, public relations & marketing specialist, Chicago Cubs
An important initiative in furthering our mission of helping bridge the gap between the practice and education is our Fellowship for Educators program that brings practitioners and educators together for two to four weeks each summer.
Expose professors to the current day-to-day operations of the public relations function. Create an exchange of information and ideas that will enhance the professional development of both the educators and the practitioner-sponsors.
“Public relations people must be eternal students.” - Betsy Plank Previous Educators and Host Organizations include:
2014 Dr. Alisa Agozzino, Ohio Northern University, hosted by NextEra Energy/Florida Power & Light Dr. Michael Cacciatore, University of Georgia, hosted by Edelman (Chicago) Rebecca Cooney, Washington State University, hosted by Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Aerial Ellis, Lipscomb University, hosted by Johnson & Johnson Dr. Flora Hung-Baesecke, Hong Kong Baptist University, hosted by Edelman (Chicago)
Dr. Rajul Jain, DePaul University, hosted by USAA Dr. Hua Jiang, Syracuse University, hosted by Sprint Nextel Dr. Roxana Maiorescu, Emerson College, hosted by General Motors Jeffrey Ranta, University of South Carolina, hosted by ESPN Dr. Hongmei Shen, San Diego State University, hosted by Deveney Communications
2013 Dr. Cathy Rogers, Loyola University, hosted by General Motors Dr. Dana Janbek, Lasell College, hosted by Johnson & Johnson Prisca Ngondo, California State University- Chico, hosted by McDonald’s Corporation Dr. Lois Foreman-Wernet, Capital University, hosted by Northwestern Mutual Dr. David Remund, Drake University, Regions Financial Corporation Dr. Ming (Bryan) Wang, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, hosted by Tesoro Companies Dr. Brigitta Brunner-Johnson, Auburn University, hosted by USAA
Previous Research Educators & Hosts
2012 Debra Johnson, Cal State University-Chico, hosted by Arizona Public Service Dr. Ann Jabro, Robert Morris University, hosted by BMW North America Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, Virginia Commonwealth University, hosted by Baltimore Gas & Electric Dr. Matt Ragas, DePaul University, hosted by Discover Financial Services Dr. Cynthia Nichols, Oklahoma State University, hosted by Edelman Dr. Astrid Sheil, Cal State-San Bernardino, hosted by Harley- Davidson Debra Carpenter, Webster University, hosted by Insidedge Dr. Dana Janbek, Lasell College, hosted by JetBlue Airways Dr. Michel Haigh, Penn State, hosted by Ketchum Dr. Katerina Tsetsura, Oklahoma University, hosted by Navistar Dr. Alex Laskin, Quinnipiac University, hosted by Praxair Dr. Simone Byrd, Alabama State University, hosted by Regions Financial Corp. Rebecca Deemer, University of Indianapolis, hosted by Sprint Nextel Dr. Amiso George, Texas Christian University, hosted by USAA Dr. Natalie Tindall, Georgia State University, hosted by Wisconsin Energy
2011 Carolyn White Bartoo, University of Delaware, hosted by Ketchum Dr. Sonya DiPalma, University of North Carolina Asheville, hosted by American Red Cross. Robin Orvino, Murray State University, hosted by Ketchum Dr. Natalie Redcross, Iona College, hosted by Ketchum Dr. Shelley Wigley, Texas Tech University, hosted by Southern Company
2010 Bojinka Bishop, Ohio University, hosted by Golin Dr. Eyun-Jung Ki, University of Alabama, hosted by Home Depot Dr. Teresa Mastin, DePaul University, hosted by Ketchum Dr. Brenda Wrigley, Syracuse University, hosted by Insidedge/Golin
The Plank Center has contributed almost $160,000 toward research in public relations leadership. More than 20 leadership studies have been carried out including the Global Leadership Study sponsored by Heyman Associates and IBM. To date, it’s the largest study of leadership in public relations. Nearly 4,500 practitioners in 23 countries completed an online survey in nine languages. The study explores key issues in the profession, how PR leaders manage them and how we can improve the preparation of communication leaders for an uncertain and complex future. Leaders exert significant influence on the success, future and image of their profession. Yet, only a few PR studies have explored this important topic. The goal of this program is to build a research-based foundation of knowledge regarding the values, qualities and dimensions of excellent leadership in PR.
Koten Distinguished Lecture
The Koten Distinguished Lecture series, established in 2000, is named for John “Jack” Koten, an inaugural member of the Board of Advisors of The Plank Center. Koten was previously the senior vice president of public relations for Ameritech. He was also a co-founder and past president of the Arthur W. Page Society and board member of the Arthur W. Page Center. Through this program, leading national public relations practitioners and scholars visit the University of Alabama for a day to meet with public relations students and faculty, teach classes and deliver a formal presentation on a significant issue in the field. The lectures are promoted across the university and typically draw more than 200 students. The lectures provide public relations students with the opportunity to hear diverse PR experts discuss timely and relevant issues in the field. Faculty benefit from the opportunity to dialogue with PR experts about education in the field, professional issues and other matters.
Previous Lecturers Ann Barkelew, senior counselor for Fleishman-Hillard and recipient of the Arthur W. Page Distinguished Service Award (2006). Topic: Dimensions of Leadership in Public Relations. Keith Burton, partner, Brunswick Group (2013). Topic: Generational Communications: Engaging Millennials, Boomers and Everyone in Between. Reed Byrum, APR, president and CEO, Public Relations Society of America (2003). Topic: Communications in a Regulatory-Hungry Environment. Ron Culp, partner/managing director, Ketchum (2008). Topic: Restoring Trust in a Cynical World. Ofield Dukes, president of Ofield Dukes Associates in Washington, DC, and founder of the Black Public Relations Society (2002). Topic: Ethics in Public Relations. Dr. Larissa Grunig, a leading public relations and feminist scholar at the University of Maryland (2001). Topic: Women and Gender Issues in Public Relations. William Heyman, CEO of Heyman Associates in New York, the country’s largest public relations executive recruiting firm (2000, 2004). Topics: Job Requirements in PR Today and Excellence in Leadership in Public Relations.
Dr. Linda Hon, professor of Public Relations, University of Florida, and former editor, Journal of Public Relations Research (2003). Topic: Measuring the Value of Relationships and Public Relations. Thomas Martin, senior VP of Corporate Relations, ITT Industries, and president of the Arthur W. Page Society (2005). Topic: Ethics in Public Relations. Nickerson Miles, senior director of Corporate Communications for Merck-Medco in New Jersey (2002). Topic: The Importance and Value of Effective Employee Communications. Mickey Nall, managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations and national president of PRSA (2013). Topic: Storytelling, Media Relations & Reputation: Putting It All Together for Your Brand. Sue Neumann, group VP of Communication and Training, Albertson’s, a Fortune 50 foods company based in Boise, Idaho (2000). Topic: Successful Merger Communications. John Reed, CEO and founder, Consultants in Public Relations (2005). Topic: International Public Relations. Brad Shaw, VP of Corporate Communication and External Affairs, The Home Depot (2011). Topic: Home Depot and Social Media. Kirk Stewart, executive vice president and leader of APCO Worldwide’s corporate communication practice (2010). Topic: Rebuilding Company Reputation. Wendi Strong, EVP & CCO, Enterprise Affairs, for USAA (2015). Topic: Corporate Character and the PR Profession: The Power of Shared Belief. Ken Willis, VP of the Atlanta office of GCI Group, a leading U. S. public relations agency (2000). Topic: Effective Management of Public Relations.
Webinars/Interviews with Industry Leaders Webinars for public relations professionals, educators and students are available to help advance leadership values and skills. Since the series’ inception in 2009, eight free webinars have been sponsored by the Center on a range of topics such as “Building Your Brand,” “Agency for the Future,” “Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability” and “Ethics in Public Relations Education.” Video Interviews with PR leaders, for their views on leadership qualities, practices and experiences. To date 23 interviews have been conducted and uploaded to the Center’s website.
Awards, Scholarships & Platform Magazine Felton PR Scholarships
The John W. Felton Public Relations Endowed Scholarship fund was created in 2001 through a gift from Betsy Plank. Through the fund, two scholarships are given annually to promote the education of students pursuing degrees in public relations at The University of Alabama.
Top Student Paper Awards
To help support and recognize student leadership in public relations research, The Plank Center provides cash awards to the top student research papers in the PR Divisions of AEJMC, ICA and NCA.
Platform Magazine Platform Magazine, an online magazine produced by and for students and educators, provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information that encourages the ethical practice and enhancement of leadership in the field of public relations.
About
Plank
Betsy Plank, known as a PR pioneer, a champion of PR education and the First Lady of public relations, achieved expert stature in positions not reached by previous women. A 1944 graduate of the University of Alabama, Betsy attained national and international notoriety during a distinguished career in corporate and agency public relations. Betsy achieved multiple firsts for women, being the first to head a division of Illinois Bell, and as president of the Publicity Club of Chicago and PRSA (1973). She was also the first person ever to receive three of PRSA’s top individual honors: The Gold Anvil Award (1977), the Paul M. Lund Public Service Award (1989) and the Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA (2001). She was also honored with the first Arthur W. Page Society’s Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and the Public Relations Institute’s Hamilton Award in 2002. In 2005, the Trustees of the University of Alabama established The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. The Center’s mission is to develop research, scholarships and forums that advance the ethical practice of public relations. In addition to her many personal accomplishments, Plank devoted much of her time to advancing public relations education, consistently and passionately advocating for the profession’s students.
“Aspire and be inspired.” - Betsy Plank Her legacy is most visible in the countless public relations professionals, educators and students who credit her with taking the time to mentor them throughout her career. Her focus on others led her to become the most individually recognized woman in the industry, a testament to the value of selflessness in professionalism.
Betsy Day The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations honors the late public relations legend by hosting a national celebration, Betsy Day, which occurs the first Thursday of April each year. Betsy Plank Day is a celebration of Plank’s life, legacy and leadership in public relations. Her influence lives on through The Plank Center’s research and work in advancing the profession and public relations education.
DR. KARLA K. GOWER
Box 870172, College of Communication & Information Sciences The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0172 205.348.7250 • gower@apr.ua.edu • www.plankcenter.ua.edu Platform Magazine • www.platformmagazine.org Facebook: Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations Twitter: @PlankCenterPR • Instagram: @PlankCenterPR