Member Profile: Kristin Bouchard

Kristin Bouchard is the Northeast Wisconsin PRSA Chapter's president-elect for 2009. 

1.  1.      Share a bit of your background (your education/how you got into the biz.)

My interest in public relations started in college after taking my required introductory classes. I graduated from UWGB with a degree in Communication Processes with an emphasis in Public Relations, and a minor in Business. My first position was in the newspaper business at the Green Bay News-Chronicle. I then became the Marketing and Communications Director for N.E.W. Curative Rehabilitation where I found that I really enjoyed working in the “health care” field. After six years, I became the Media Relations Coordinator for St. Mary’s Hospital and Prevea Health. Our department was split between the two organizations and I became the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Prevea.

2.      Tell us about your recent role at Prevea Health and your newest role.

Over the past five years my position at Prevea has changed. I started doing media relations, sponsorships, and special events and helped out with marketing projects as needed. After our first child was born, I started working part-time focusing on special event coordination and sponsorships. I helped to organize the grand opening of Prevea Health Center in Allouez, and worked to develop the Circle of Giving program within Prevea that allows employees to give back to the community through volunteerism or donations. In February of 2009, I start my new role as a stay-at-home mom with our now 4-year old and 10-month old. I plan to stay connected and very involved in PRSA!

3.      How did you get involved with PRSA?

I’m proud to say that I am one of the founding members of our PRSA chapter! I first became involved pre-PRSA when our group was called “ProComm,” through my position at N.E.W. Curative. At the time, the organization was the only one of its kind in the area to provide a place for communications professionals to network. The group then became part of the national PRSA chapter and has since become stronger and more viable for the PR professionals in our area.

4.      What value do you find in being a PRSA member?

Membership in this organization has proved to be invaluable on a personal and professional level. The professional opportunities offered through our regular meetings, including networking, education and the latest in PR trends has made me a more effective and valuable communicator. This in turn, has proved to benefit every organization that I’ve worked for. Personally, I have met some of the most talented people in our profession, many of whom I’m happy to call friends. I would highly recommend joining the PRSA Northeast Wisconsin Chapter!

Meet the Media at the Next PRSA Meeting

Now's your chance to turn the tables on the media and ask them questions. Our popular Meet the Media event returns Tues., Feb. 24, at the West Side YMCA in Green Bay. After lunch, PRSA members and their guests will have the chance to meet one-on-one with media representatives who will reveal the secrets to getting great coverage in Northeast Wisconsin.

Special emphasis will be placed on how traditional media is now using the Web for coverage.  Presenters will be announced soon, but it's never too early to put this one-of-a-kind event on your calendar – register today!

Mark Your Calendars! Spring '09 PRSA Meetings

A few details have yet to be ironed out, but the dates and general locations are set for the remainder of the Spring 2009 PRSA meeting schedule.  Mark your calendars for networking, professional development, lunch - or all three and more!

Feb. 24 - Meet the Media (Green Bay)
March 24 - Make Emotions Work for You (Neenah)
April 16 or 23 - Professional Development Seminar (Full-day event in Milwaukee)
May 19 - Making the Most of Your Sponsorship Dollars (Green Bay)

We take a break in June and July, but we're back in business in August with an end-of-summer social followed by more great sessions to finish out the year. If you have topic ideas for this fall, contact our Programming Chairs, Kelli Karpinski or Wendy Witczak.

January Meeting Recap: "Sway-ed" by Social Media

A record-breaking 57 communication professionals gathered together at Menasha Advantage in Neenah on Jan. 27 for the largest-attended Northeast Wisconsin Chapter PRSA event to date. Local PRSA members from Green Bay, De Pere, Appleton, Neenah, Menasha and Oshkosh were joined by fellow communication professionals from as far as Stevens Point, Ripon, Wausau and Milwaukee to be "sway-ed" by the power of social media in today's environment.

Jason Weaver, CEO of Sway, Inc. in Middleton, WI, provided attendees with an overview of how to apply social media in communications and public relations strategies.

His strategic perspective on Web 2.0, B2C and B2B communication, and the many facets of social media marketing left our group talking and thinking about our own companies. How are you using social media in your workplace? Please let us know.

Jason mentioned the best way for communication professionals to stay on top of what's happening in the social media realm is to read about it.  He suggested the following blogs as a great starting point:

• www.sparkeffect.com 
• mashable.com
• www.techcrunch.com

Check out the PowerPoint presentation in the "Member Area" in the top right portion of the Northeast Wisconsin PRSA site. Enter your user name and password.  You'll see the PowerPoint in the "Announcements" section of the member home page.

Connect with PRSA: Join Today and Save

Join PRSA in February or March 2009, and receive a one-year Chapter membership for free (a $60 value).  Hurry, though, this special only lasts through March!

Interested in becoming a PRSA member? Contact our PRSA Membership Chair Erin Elliott at 920/592-3555. She'll be happy to help guide you though the process!

Promoted? Changed Jobs?

If you've been promoted recently or have changed jobs, please let us know. This newsletter is about promoting the profession and the professional, so we want to know about you!

Welcome to Our New Member!

Katie Koeppen, Manitowoc Cranes

February Anniversaries

17 years
John Daggett

16 years
Mary Pieschek

7 years
Barbara Kretsch
Michael Milligan
Wendy Witczak

5 years
Tammie Glomstead

3 years
Melissa Sabel

2 years
Roz Barker
Abby Gutowski

1 year
Pamela Koehler-Zastrow
Kristen Paquet
Molly Vandervest