PRAM

April Lollar, communications specialist with Coast Electric Power Association, recently earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation. She joins 10 other members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) who are Accredited.

To receive the APR credential, Lollar completed a comprehensive program that included a portfolio presentation before three Accredited public relations professionals and a computer-based examination—both assessing the knowledge, skills and abilities of the public relations profession.

APR, administered nationally by the Universal Accreditation Board, is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. The designation is earned based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. Nationwide, approximately 6,000 public relations professionals have achieved Accreditation since the program began in 1964. Among the membership of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, there are approximately 35 Accredited professionals statewide.

“April is an exemplary professional who has demonstrated a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities required for Accreditation,” said Susan Lepoma Perkins, APR, 2008 Accreditation Chair, PRAM-Mississippi Beach Chapter. “As the 2009 Accreditation chair of the PRAM Mississippi Beach Chapter, April will take the lead in mentoring others through the Accreditation process.”

April Lollar has served Coast Electric Power Association and its members as a Communications Specialist since 2005. Prior to her career at Coast Electric, April worked as an Information Services Specialist for InDyne Inc. at Stennis Space Center and was the Associate Editor of Coast Magazine and Coast Business Journal. April received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi in 2000 where she majored in journalism with an emphasis in magazine service.

The Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program, has announced that Ron Barnes and Mary Anne Caldwell are the two newest Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) members to successfully complete the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

In order to complete the accreditation program, which assesses competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession, each had to complete a rigorous process that included presenting a portfolio to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based exam.

Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities. SPRF counts more than 100 Accreditated professionals in its membership and another 15 candidates are currently in the pipeline to test for APR.

Barnes is the 2007 president of the MS Beach chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and has served for two years on the PRAM state board of directors. Barnes has received numerous awards for his work in public relations, and was recognized as one of Sun Herald’s “Top 10 Business Leaders Under 40” and the Home Builders Association MS Coast Chapter named him its “Associate of the Year” and “Presidential Leadership award winner.”

“I was fortunate to have a great mentor in the APR process and two other candidates in my study group that were a great support,” Barnes said. “I believe all PR practitioners would benefit from experience of preparing for Accreditation. Earning Accreditation in public relations has been one of the most educational and rewarding achievements in my career.”

Since its inception 11 years ago,  Caldwell has been the public relations and marketing director for the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Mississippi’s only children’s museum. Caldwell’s education degree from Ole Miss and her extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry have been important assets in her chosen profession. Working with a non-profit, she understands how vital volunteers are for such groups to succeed and thus, she is a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Biloxi-Ocean Springs, has been active with the Boy Scouts in Biloxi and is passionate about literacy initiatives.

Founded in 1972, SPRF is a regional network of nearly 1,400 public relations professionals from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession.

SPRF exists to further the professional and networking interests of today’s public relations and communication professionals in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations. Along with networking, SPRF serves to advocate on behalf of and assist its members through ongoing professional development and defining ethical behavior. SPRF is the umbrella organization for the Public Relations Council of Alabama, Public Relations Association of Mississippi, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization.

SPRF, along with eight other regional and national public relations organizations, is a participating member of the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), the national body which administers the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) mark. Members certified as APRs have successfully demonstrated competency in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice public relations effectively in today’s business arena.