Covering Your PR Bases
"There's No Crying in PR"
2018 Annual Workshop
Pikes Peak PRSA's 2018 full-day workshop is over.Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. View agenda and speakers below. Location: Security Service Field (formerly Sky Sox Stadium), 4385 Tutt Blvd. Sponsored in part by the PRSA Western District. Introducing The Speakers On DeckKeynote Speaker/Head Coach Jim Knutsen
"How to Hit a Corporate Social Responsibility Grand Slam" (corporate social responsibility - over lunch) ![]() Jim Knutsen is the principal at CAST Consulting, founded in 1999 to help senior leaders align teams and systems around shared vision, strategic direction, and values.
Jim is an experienced management consultant with expertise in strategic planning, organizational design, team development, employee engagement, change management, and corporate social responsibility. Jim has worked with the corporate social responsibility and sustainability teams at clients including Target, Chevron, TOMS Shoes, Burton Snowboards, and the global retailer C&A. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Montana, and is currently enrolled in a master’s program in change management at Oxford University in England and HEC Paris in France. First Base Coach Laura Cameron
"Making Your Digital Marquee Work for You" (digital communications at 9 a.m.) ![]() Laura Cameron is an experienced marketing and creative strategist in the Colorado Springs area. She has led successful strategic campaigns for large clients like Wendy's and Colorado Springs Utilities, and small non-profits and local businesses. Her design background—mixed with a passion for psychographics of target audiences—gives Laura a niche in creating strategic design while focusing on high level objectives.
After working at in-house corporate marketing positions, agencies large and small, and freelancing in the Colorado Springs community, Laura finally took the leap to start her own company with two partners in 2017. As Director of Strategy, Laura oversees campaign strategies and directs creative concepts focusing on clients’ objectives. Laura also helps mold the minds of the future creative generation as an adjunct instructor of Multimedia Graphic Design at Pikes Peak Community College. An avid snowboarder and hardcore trail runner, anything "Colorado" calls to her heart. She is an insufferable Colorado Avalanche fanatic, but would be good friends with anyone over a craft brew or good wine. Laura is also a loving mother to her two puppies (Yoshi and Bowzer), and has volunteered on several Board of Advisors for organizations to make her city and industry great. Pitching Coach Renee Robinson
"When You're Thrown a Modern World PR Change-Up Pitch" (changing communication in the modern world at 1:15 p.m.) ![]() Renee Robinson, APR, is a dedicated strategist and counselor with a proven ability to develop and lead communications initiatives that deliver results. She is director of corporate communications at Ball Corporation, where she leads the company’s global internal and external communications efforts. Before joining Ball in 2013, Renee worked as PR consultant at Assurant Employee Benefits and in various PR leadership roles at Nicholson Kovac, an integrated marketing communications agency, in Kansas City. She also worked in corporate communications at Williams Energy and BKD, a CPA and advisory firm, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Renee is immediate past president of PRSA Colorado, past president of PRSA Kansas City and former chair of PRSA’s Midwest District. She was named 2012 PR Professional of the Year by PRSA Kansas City and 2002 Young Professional of the Year by PRSA Tulsa. Renee graduated from Oklahoma State University with bachelor’s degrees in English and journalism and broadcasting, as well as a master’s degree in mass communications and media management.
Infield and Outfield Instructor Andrew Mutter
"Playing Defense When the Bases are Loaded" (crisis communications at 10:15 a.m.) ![]() Andrew Mutter is the Director, Office of Communication and Public Involvement at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 office in Denver, Colorado. In his role, he oversees a team of 18 communication professionals and the Region’s communication mission across 6 states (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and 27 Tribal Nations. Andrew provides essential expertise for advocating and implementing effective communication, outreach and public involvement to advance EPA’s mission.
Andrew is also an Army combat veteran with over 27 years of service to our nation. He served in a variety of command and staff assignments around the globe as an infantry and public affairs officer, including Europe, Korea, Iraq, and Kuwait. He retired from active-duty in September 2015 as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Defense’s Defense Media Activity located at Fort Meade, Md. Prior to joining the EPA, he served as a senior program manager at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. General Manager Patrice Lehermeier
"How to Make the PR Big Leagues - Spring Training, Effective Coaching, and Base Hits" (investing in yourself as a PR practitioner at 2:30 p.m.) ![]() Patrice Lehermeier, APR is vice president of communications for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. She is responsible for developing and implementing communications and marketing programs – from strategy to tactics – designed to attract new business and workforce talent to the Colorado Springs region, help existing business grow, and support membership engagement.
Prior to the Chamber & EDC, Patrice was a senior communications specialist at Colorado Springs Utilities, where she developed a water efficiency communication program that helped the community achieve its water conservation goals in response to drought and resulted in a PRSA Silver Anvil for integrated communication and media relations. Patrice earned a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder and bachelor’s degree in English at the University of California Davis. She is accredited in public relations and is certified as a FEMA advanced public information officer. Patrice serves as chair for the PRSA Western District and as treasurer for the Pikes Peak PRSA chapter. She is also on the board of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. |
The Line-up for the Day8:30 a.m. - Breakfast, networking and check-in
9 a.m. - Laura Cameron 10:15 a.m. - Andrew Mutter 11:30 a.m. - Lunch buffet opens 12 noon - Keynote Speaker Jim Knutsen 1:15 p.m. - Renee Robinson, APR 2:30 p.m. - Patrice Lehermeier, APR 4 p.m. - Extra innings! (social time, TBD) Highlights from Last Season!A few photos from last year's workshop. We learned a lot and had a great time learning and networking with other professionals in the field.
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