Contact O'Dwyer's: 271 Madison Ave., #600, New York, NY 10016; Tel: 212/679-2471; Fax: 212/683-2750
 
ODWYERPR.COM > News return to main page

Jan. 27, 2004
PRD JOB AT PRSA TURNS OVER
 

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

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.

 
E-mail to a friend
Tell O'Dwyer's what you think
(Responses should include your name and affiliation, which will be withheld at the writer's request. Personal attacks will not be tolerated and all responses are subject to editing.)

Responses:
 
 

 

Editorial Contacts | Order O'Dwyer Publications | Site Map

Copyright © 1998-2020 J.R. O'Dwyer Company, Inc.
271 Madison Ave., #600, New York, NY 10016; Tel: 212/679-2471