Palm Trees + Professional Development

As a proud San Diego-based PR practitioner, I’m excited that PRSA has chosen America’s Finest City as the destination for its 2009 International Conference. Like most attendees, I’m hopeful this year’s program will offer informative sessions to help us grow in what might be the most volatile yet exciting period for PR pros in decades. I’ve asked PRSA San Diego Chapter President Chris Wahl to provide some insight into what this year’s event will hold.

In addition to serving as our chapter president, Wahl is also president of Southwest Strategies, a top public affairs and public relations firm in San Diego. Wahl specializes in helping clients secure complex land-use and regulatory approvals for controversial projects and issues. Wahl and Southwest Strategies have won numerous awards, including three prestigious silver anvils.

The way public relations professionals work, think and plan for their futures is in flux. No matter how many years of experience are under your belt, the industry is turning the page on an exciting new chapter in its evolution and, as such, I’d personally like to invite you to attend the 2009 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference. This is your best chance this year to network with the best and brightest industry thought leaders, gain important insights, and learn fresh ideas that you can apply to your work.

This year’s event will be held November 7-10 at the Marriott Hotel & Marina in the heart of San Diego. In addition to sunshine and warm temperatures, the forecast for this event is exclusive access to the top minds in the field and engaging discussions of the major issues impacting our industry. Participants can choose from more than 80 professional development sessions that focus on innovative strategies, effective tactics and techniques, specialization and practice areas or business/management for public relations.

Knowing how much effort goes into planning this event, I can attest that it will be worth your while. Guests will have the chance to hear from media personalities who are helping to shape our industry and world, including: Arianna Huffington, founder and driving force behind TheHuffington Post, one of the most successful and powerful news and opinion sites; Wendell Potter, health insurance whistleblower and former VP of communications at Cigna; Bob Garfield, columnist, critic, essayist, international lecturer and broadcast personality; and, Todd Buchholz, former White House director of economic policy and commentator on American Public Media’s “Marketplace.”

In addition, our new “Meet the Experts” session is your opportunity to speak one-on-one with industry leaders. It’s a full hour of face-to-face networking with those who have

the inside track on social media, brand building and other hot topics. Career counselors will also be on hand to answer questions and offer job search tips.

Nowhere else in the world will you find perfect weather, unbeatable networking opportunities and high-caliber seminars — plus a red carpet kick-off event on the historic U.S.S. Midway. And with the San Diego Chapter of PRSA celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, you can expect an extra dose of hospitality and excitement. Everything you need to know to accelerate your career in public relations is happening all in one place, over just four days.

I guarantee that each person who makes the trip to this year’s conference will leave with a fresh outlook on the public relations industry. There’s no better time or place to join thousands of communications professionals from across the country. So… sign up online, book a flight, pack your bags and make your way to the “can’t miss” public relations event of the year. For more details on event costs and registration information, visit the PRSA Conference Web site. Questions? I invite you to contact me personally by email, cwahl@swspr.com or 858-541-7800.