Establishing and maintaining relationships is at the heart of public relations. But how are you building personal and/or professional relationships and connections in a remote/hybrid/post-Helene world? Join us on Thursday, April 30, at noon at Hillman Beer for the next Asheville regional event to share your ideas and listen to others. Let the PRSA Western North Carolina Chapter help you create connections with other PR professionals in the greater Asheville region. RSVP to Asheville Regional Director Molly Justice by Tuesday, April 28.

Be inspired by PR campaigns and other communications projects from students at Western Carolina University during the Communication Department's Spring showcase. 

The Communication Department Student Showcase will be held Thursday, May 7, from 8:30–11 a.m. in Apodaca. The showcase will feature highlights from PRSSA’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, PR Campaigns students’ work addressing mental health stigma on campus, and projects from students in journalism, broadcasting, and health communication. Following the showcase, attendees who are able to stay are invited to continue the conversation over lunch and networking at the Courtyard Dining Hall food court.

https://map.concept3d.com/?id=966#!ce/15111?ct/32528?s/

The entrance to the lot is the road immediately past Cullowhee Baptist Church. It is a right turn down a short decline and then up the hill to the lot. It is a short walk from the top of the parking lot down the sidewalk to Apodaca Building. Apodaca is large, modern, and distinctive. The Spring Showcase is on the ground floor. We will put out COMM DEPT EVENT signs to help direct people. 

AI in PR & Communications

Digital transformation and AI strategy leader Robert Manning will tackle one of the most important—and rapidly evolving—topics in our profession: the role of artificial intelligence in public relations and communications. Robert will use his extensive experience across global brands and innovative organizations to guide us through AI’s impact on public relations and communications.

To help us tailor the presentation to your primary interests, please respond to our one-question survey by April 30.

About Robert Manning

Robert Manning is a digital transformation executive and AI strategist with 15+ years of global leadership across Fortune 500 and high-growth companies. He specializes in helping organizations use AI to modernize brand engagement, improve operations, and drive measurable business results.

As Director of AI Transformation at Dematic, he leads enterprise initiatives embedding AI across marketing, communications, and workflows. He also advises organizations through CommonSensing AI, guiding strategy, governance, and change management to turn fragmented pilots into scalable programs.

Previously, at Cochlear, Manning led digital and AI strategy across North America, advancing generative AI adoption to boost marketing performance, customer engagement, and productivity. He developed enterprise roadmaps, led vendor selection, and launched training programs to accelerate adoption.

His earlier roles at Medtronic Diabetes, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, and Citigroup focused on large-scale digital transformation and building data-driven marketing ecosystems.

A sought-after speaker, Manning delivers practical insights on scaling AI responsibly while balancing innovation, governance, and execution.