Events.
Calendar At-A-Glance
Join us for a in-person or virtual event!
Hendersonville PRSA Meet-Up
Join Hendersonville- area friends and colleagues for dinner and drinks at Guidon Brewery. Contact Ben Rickert for more information.
Lunch & Learn: Leveraging project management for PR success
Discover how effective project management can drive PR success at our next Asheville regional event on Thursday, June 25. Our Lunch & Learn presenter, Emily Fackrell, is the director of project management at Interactive Strategies, a Washington, D.C. digital marketing agency. Based in Brevard, Emily works with clients from start to finish to ensure project success, applying professional project management principles. Her talk will help us better understand project management, project roles, and responsibilities. She'll also share tips and tools for effective project management – with or without a dedicated project manager. This session promises to offer something for everyone, regardless of the size or complexity of your next project. We'll be meeting at noon at the Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park Town Square, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville. Lunch will be provided. This event is at capacity. Email mjustice@ncsc.org to be added to the wait list.
Online Lunch and Learn: Leadership in Communication- A talkback with Dr. Carla White
This presentation explores how employees interpret leadership communication and how dialogic communication practices shape employee engagement, perceptions of organizational support, and psychological safety in the workplace. Attendees will gain insight into how employees interpret leadership communication behaviors, the role of dialogue in shaping workplace relationships, and the connections between communication, organizational support, and employee engagement. The presentation will also discuss practical implications for internal communication practice and leadership strategy in modern organizations.
BIO:
Carla White, Ph.D., is an incoming Assistant Professor of Public Relations at the University of Georgia and a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research examines how organizations communicate with internal and external publics across digital and contemporary organizational contexts including social media monitoring, corporate social responsibility and sustainability communication, risk communication, virtual work, and public reactions to organizational messaging. Her published work has appeared in journals including Public Relations Review, Communication Quarterly, Critical Studies in Media Communication, Management Communication Quarterly, and Public Relations Inquiry.
Moving AVL Forward: Expansion & Modernization at Asheville Regional Airport
Join us for an online information session with executives from the Asheville Regional Airport.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eswqZ3xyScqoDiXtVc4Vww
The Power of Presence: Navigating Spaces That Weren’t Built for You
Communications professionals are often expected to adapt, perform, and fit into environments that may not always value their full identities, experiences, or perspectives. This interactive session explores what it means to lead and communicate authentically while navigating spaces where you may feel overlooked, underestimated, or unwelcome. Participants will also examine how communications and public relations skillsets translate across industries, leadership roles, entrepreneurship, higher education, nonprofit work, consulting, and beyond.
Through personal reflection, practical strategies, and real-world insights, attendees will leave with tools to navigate career transitions, embrace reinvention, and show up with confidence and purpose in every room they enter.
Larry R. Hygh, Jr. is an award-winning communications professional, educator, and leadership expert with decades of experience in public relations, higher education, nonprofit leadership, religious organizations and community engagement. Dr. Hygh is currently an assistant professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he teaches an array of public relations and communications courses.
He holds an Ed.D. in Education, Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University and has taught communication and leadership courses at several universities, including California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Hygh is active in numerous civic and professional organizations, serves as an advisor to PRSSA students, and is widely recognized for his work in strategic communication, mentorship, and digital engagement.
This webinar is free for PRSA Oregon members and $20 for nonmembers.
AI webinar
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.
WCU Communication Dept. Spring Showcase
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.
Creating Connections
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.
PRSA WNC Lunch & Learn: Your PR Journey
Join PRSA WNC Accreditation Chair Becky Peeling, APR, and a local panel to learn more about accreditation and "Your PR Journey" Friday, April 17, at noon.
Hear real career stories, practical advice and insights on how professional credentials can strengthen your skills, leadership and contribution to the profession.
Whether you're just getting started in PR or thinking about pursuing your APR, this conversation will help you plan your next step. Save your spot and start mapping your PR journey today!
PRSA Webinar: Tying Communications Outputs to Business Outcomes
Learn how PG&E built a PR analytics model that connects communications data directly to business KPIs like customer satisfaction and news recall. Free for PRSA members.
Asheville Area Chapter Social
In the Asheville area? Join us for a social meet up at White Labs Brewing.
PRSA Virtual Office Hours
Remember when you were in school and could get help from the teacher on a particularly tough assignment? Our membership and programming committees are teaming up to offer a monthly Zoom call as a safe place to share questions and suggestions for the challenges we all face. A PRSA of WNC board member or senior professional within the chapter will facilitate the calls and will address a particular type of challenge each month, but all questions and topics are welcome!
These zoom calls will be scheduled for the third Friday of each month from noon to 1 pm. Join here
PRSA Virtual Office Hours
Remember when you were in school and could get help from the teacher on a particularly tough assignment? Our membership and programming committees are teaming up to offer a monthly Zoom call as a safe place to share questions and suggestions for the challenges we all face. A PRSA of WNC board member or senior professional within the chapter will facilitate the calls and will address a particular type of challenge each month, but all questions and topics are welcome!
These zoom calls will be scheduled for the third Friday of each month from noon to 1 pm. Join here
30th Anniversary of Western Carolina University's PRSSSA Chapter
We will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of WCU’s PRSSA Chapter on Saturday, November 8, noon to 2:30 p.m. at WCU. As part of the celebration, WCU PR students are creating Milestone Moments posters, which chronicle the development of WCU’s PRSSA chapter over the last 30 years. The WCU PRSSA relationship with PRSA WNC will be prominently featured.
Here is the link to the Eventbrite invitation: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wcu-prssa-30th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-1685044406179?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please join us!
Western NC PRSA Mixer
Mark your calendar now for a fall evening in beautiful Boone with your friends and colleagues.
October 23rd from 5-7 p.m. - Hosted by the App State and Western Carolina PRSSA chapters on App State’s campus, this will be an evening to connect, meet new faces and network with the eastern region of our chapter. Please RSVP and if you have any questions, you can reach out to Jacob Puckett at 828-268-8096.
PRSA Virtual Office Hours
Remember when you were in school and could get help from the teacher on a particularly tough assignment? Our membership and programming committees are teaming up to offer a monthly Zoom call as a safe place to share questions and suggestions for the challenges we all face. A PRSA of WNC board member or senior professional within the chapter will facilitate the calls and will address a particular type of challenge each month, but all questions and topics are welcome!
These zoom calls will be scheduled for the third Friday of each month from noon to 1 pm. Join here
Happy Hour at Innovation Station in Dillsboro
Let's connect! Join your PRSA of Western North Carolina colleagues for a happy hour at Innovation Station in Dillsboro.
Hosted by Chapter President Scott Eldredge, this is a perfect, relaxed opportunity for our members and communications pros from Asheville to Cullowhee to connect. We'll be there on Thursday, September 18, starting at 5:30 PM. See you there!
PRSA Tourist Game Social!
UPDATE: THIS GAME WAS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER- WILL BE RESCHEDULED.
Has this summer (maybe even the year) felt like a blur? You're not alone. We know how hard everyone has been hustling. So let's trade our to-do lists for scorecards for one night. Let's cap off the season with a fun, relaxed group outing and see some friendly faces outside of a video call!
Join PRSA WNC for a night at the ballpark! We're inviting members and industry pros to join us for an Asheville Tourists game. Let's connect, network, and cheer on our local team together.
⚾ When: Thursday, August 21, 5:05 p.m.
📍 Where: McCormick Field
🎟️ Tickets: Let's create our own section! Please purchase your tickets in or near Section DD, Rows A-C. Link below to grab yours.
Asheville Area Happy Hour
Meet us at Highland Brewing. We’ll the group in Hawaiian shirts.
PRSA WNC Regional Meetup and Student Showcase
We’re heading to Western Carolina University for a one-of-a-kind PRSA WNC Regional Meetup and Student Showcase, and we hope to see you there!
-Thursday, May 8
-Drop in anytime between 9–11 a.m.
-Apodaca Science Building, First Floor Commons Area
-Coffee + bagels provided!
This event isn’t just a networking opportunity. It celebrates incredible student work and rising talent in our field. From full PR campaigns for local nonprofits like R.E.A.C.H. of Macon County and the Sylva Rotary Club, to podcasts, documentaries, live concert broadcasts, and award-winning health communication research, these students have poured real-world skill into their portfolios.
Highlights include:
-Student campaigns, media productions, and website portfolios
-Scholarship and Celebrate Excellence Award recipients
-A gender and storytelling project rewriting childhood tales through a modern lens
-A documentary honoring George Masa, whose work helped preserve the Smokies
-10 a.m. student awards presentation
It’s also a chance to meet tomorrow’s communicators, cheer them on, and build connections across our region.
Need parking info? Check out the parking map in this post.
RSVP here (it’s free!): https://lnkd.in/eJkNQM6Y
Let’s show up and celebrate everything these students have accomplished — and leave with a little inspiration ourselves.