The PR director post that is now open at PR Society of America
has had three occupants since 1995.
A VP-PR who was hired in 1976 quit after three and a half
months, saying PR officers and staffers gave him "no
support."
Not counted as one of the recent PR directors is Catherine
Bolton who joined PRSA as "chief PR officer" on
Sept. 5, 2000.
She was promoted to acting president and COO as of Jan. 1,
2001, after Ray Gaulke resigned as COO.
Gaulke, who had a five-year contract to Dec. 31, 2004, continues
to be paid under this contract. PRSA will not reveal the amount
of his pay although it had been $200,000+.
Bolton was named president as of Feb. 2, 2001. This title
was taken back the next year by Kathy Lewton, the highest
elected officer of PRSA, and Bolton became executive director
and COO.
Bolton's four-year contract expires at the end of this year
and reports are she is seeking another four or five-year contract.
Roberge
Was Previous PRD
Libby Roberge
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The latest PR director of PRSA was Libby Roberge, who worked
from August 2001 to late June 2003, when she went on maternity
leave. She did not return.
Cedric Bess, chapter/district relationship manager, took
over her duties.
Richard George, PRD before Roberge, worked from April 1997
to October 1999, quitting just before the 1999 annual conference.
Steve Erickson was PRD from June 1995 to October 1996. He
also quit just before the conference.
Roberge had 13 years of PR experience when she joined PRSA.
Previous post was VP of G.S. Schwartz & Co., New York
George was a PR manager at The Weightman Group, Philadelphia,
and a senior A/E at Rubenstein Assocs., New York.
Erickson, who had a 15-year background in PR, was VP, communications
of the Arthritis Foundation in Atlanta from 1986-95.
Erickson also handled the Counselors Academy and towards
the end of his term spent most of his time on the Academy.
He resigned after a dispute with Gaulke and 1996 PRSA president
Luis Morales.
Donna Peltier was PRD from 1984-94, serving under COO Betsy
Kovacs, who left the Society at the end of 1992 after 13 years.
Peltier was not allowed to go to lunch with any O'Dwyer reporters
unless Kovacs was present. There were three such lunches from
1984-92.
First
VP-PR Left After Three Months
After a succession of PR "managers" hired at less
than $20,000 in the 1970s, including Rocco Sacci, Steve Young
and Bill McDonald, PRSA hired Martin Burke as its first "VP
of PR" on June 1, 1976.
He had been PR director of the Society of Chartered Property
& Casualty Underwriters and also worked for General Electric
and the N.W. Ayer PR dept.
He began his career as a reporter for the Fayetteville, N.C.,
Observer and the New York World-Telegram.
Burke resigned after three and a half months on Sept. 15,
1976 saying "The environment at PRSA h.q. was such that
they were not ready for a VP-PR and they gave me no support
on my projects."
Rea Smith, executive VP of PRSA, said Burke "had not
worked out for either of us."
Burke was to "develop and expand a program recommended
by PRSA special task force on PR," headed by Burns Lee,
Los Angeles counselor.
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