Debra Peterson, PR head of CenturyLink, which faces fraud charges from eight states that could cost it up to $12 billion, has been nominated as chair-elect of PRSA for 2018.

Minnesota on July 12 joined seven other states in filing a class-action consumer suit against the company.

Debra PetersonDebra Peterson

The state says CenturyLink, which has $17.9 billion in revenues, has “an incredibly complicated pricing scheme” that involves more than 1,500 different scenarios of what would be charged.

Negative comments about CL abound on the web. Consumer Affairs shows 713 comments, 689 giving the company one star out of five.

Facebook displays numerous complaints of poor customer service, over-charging, complicated bills and technical failures.

Charges against CL have been likened to those against Wells Fargo that resulted in $185 million in fines and 5,300 staffers being fired. CenturyLink fines could total $12 billion, complainants say.

“Clink” Renews Seattle Stadium to 2033

CenturyLink, known as “Clink” by Seattle residents (a nickname the company likes) is renewing to 2033 its $5 million yearly sponsorship of CenturyLink Field, home to the Seahawks football team and Sounders soccer team.

CenturyLink Field in Seattle

The 15-year-old stadium usually sells out for games by both teams. Average attendance is 43,000.

Other Candidates Must File by Sept. 7

Other candidates can file for PRSA officer and board posts up to Sept. 7, 2017, which is 30 days before the election of the candidates Oct. 7 at the national conference in Boston which follows in the next three days.

One CenturyLink customer said the quoted rate of $14.95 monthly turned out to be $29.95. Another said service was offered for $19.95 but the bill was $367.33 including monthly net service for $71. CenturyLink, based in Monroe, La., is the third largest landline wireline provider after AT&T and Verizon. Glen Post is CEO.

The suits say damages could range from $600M to $12B. Also filing are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Fired Employee Touched off Suits

Touching off the suits was a complaint in June by former employee Heidi Heiser who says she was fired after telling Post about the over-billing.

Company spokesman Mark Molzen said CenturyLink is cooperating with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson by providing all requested information. He said the company takes the allegations “seriously” and they are “completely inconsistent with company policies, culture and Unifying Principles.”

Peterson is VP-external communications and community relations for CenturyLink.

She was on the national board from 2011-2013 and under the original rules that governed PRSA could not return to the board as a director or officer. That rule was meant to prevent a group of insiders from perpetuating their control of the Society.

Anthony D’Angelo, slated to be chair in 2018, would not have been allowed back on the board since he served on it from 2004-07.

16 of 17 PRSA Directors Are APR

Sixteen of the 17 national directors in 2017 are accredited when only 18% of members are APR. The board several years ago tightened the grip of the APRs on leadership by restricting office posts to those who had already served on the board.

Should Peterson become chair-elect, CenturyLink would be the biggest company represented on the Society’s board since 1994 when Joseph Vecchione of Prudential Insurance was president. Prudential revenues are $50B+.

About half of the Society’s elected presidents or chairs since then have been solo practitioners or in small PR firms including Sam Waltz, Stephen Pisinkski, Reed Byrum, Del Galloway, Joann Killeen, Cheryl Procter-Rogers, Judith Phair, Rhoda Weiss, Gerry Corbett and Jane Dvorak.

Peterson has held executive posts with CenturyLink since 2009. She has an MS in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University and a BS in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College.

Previously she was manager of PR and field communications, Embarq Corp. and VP of organizational development of Acsys Interactive Inc. She also headed her own firm as a consultant in human resources and employee relations.