Job Openings

Published on June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 by johnlydayLeave a comment

As a courtesy, PRSA-CI will list public relations job openings submitted to the chapter by Central Illinois companies and organizations with more than 200 employees who employ at least one person who is a dues-paying member of the chapter.

The posting date listed is the date the position(s) were posted on the chapter website. It is the responsibility of the company or organization that requests a job listing to notify PRSA-CI when a job post on the chapter website should be removed.

Carle Health is hiring in Marketing and Communications. As the need for care grows among those in our region, our need to communicate and educate is also expanding.

We’re seeking individuals who have experience in communications, who can write, and who can carry work forward through production whether for online, video, advertising, collateral materials. Those joining will work directly with designers, writers, and internal and external comms pros. Comp and benefits are very competitive, and there will likely be opportunity for future growth.

Details and online applications are linked below. Please share with those who may be interested.

Corporate Communications Partner

Marketing Account Executive

Posted June 1, 2021

Carle Health

Published on June 1, 2021 by johnlydayLeave a comment

New PRSA-Central Illinois Board Begins

Published on January 19, 2017April 13, 2017 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Nonprofit to Focus on National Speaker Recruitment, Membership Benefits, Engagement and Professional Development in 2017

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 19, 2017 – The Public Relations Society of America – Central Illinois chapter (PRSA-CI) announced its 2017 Board of Directors and strategic vision this month. The board is comprised of experienced public relations professionals from the central Illinois region, including communities such as Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Charleston, Pekin, and more. The board plans professional development, programming, educational and networking opportunities.

“We’re excited to welcome new board members from OSF Healthcare and Carle Health System, and look forward to expanding the organization’s influence and reach from south of Chicago to north of St. Louis,” said Josh Kauffman, APR, PRSA-CI president and chief executive officer at KraftComm Consulting Group, LLC. “Our strategic vision for 2017 includes an aggressive focus on programming, professional development, digital engagement, outreach, and member benefits. With the value of public relations at an all-time high in organizations, today’s the best time for communication professionals and students to join PRSA-CI.”

The new 2017 PRSA-CI Board of Directors consists of:

Josh Kauffman, APR, president (KraftComm Consulting Group, Springfield);
John Lyday, APR, president-elect (Lyday Communications, Pekin);
Brian Sowa, Ph.D., secretary (Eastern Illinois University, Charleston);
Ernie Slottag, APR, treasurer (Slottag Communications, Springfield);
Pete Smudde, Ph.D., APR, accreditation chair (Illinois State University, Normal);
Stefanie McLeese, membership chair (Santos McLeese Public Relations, Champaign);
Ruth Slottag, APR, immediate past-president (Slottag Communications, Springfield);
John Wirtz, Ph.D., board member (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign);
Karen Brodbeck, board member (OSF HealthCare, Peoria); and
Jennifer Hendricks-Kaufmann, board member (Carle Health System, Urbana).

“For more than 35 years, the PRSA-CI chapter has provided a one-stop shop for industry insight, networking, and support for public relations students and professionals in all fields,” said Ruth Slottag, APR, nominating committee chair and partner at Slottag Communications. “The new officers and board members are dedicated to enhancing the member experience and bringing the most important topics, knowledge, and tools to PR practitioners.”

In 2016, the PRSA-CI chapter brought highly prominent speakers to central Illinois, including:

Johnny Smith, sr. director for PR at Ascension – the nation’s largest health care system.
Rebekah Iliff, chief strategy officer at AirPR – a global PR technology company from Silicon Valley – and columnist for Mashable, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Forbes. Iliff was named by Onalytica as a top 100 PR influencer in the world.
Jack Modzelewski, global president, business development, and partnerships and senior partner at FleishmanHillard – a top global communications firm.
Joe Yun, leader of social media analytics and crisis communications for Technology Services at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Nate Hartmann, higher education consultant and chief creative strategist for Yellow Box.

For more information about PRSA, visit https://www.prsa.org/index.html. To access PRSA-CI’s chapter website, log onto https://centralillinoisprsa.wordpress.com/.

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Central Illinois PRSA – Summer 2016

Published on July 6, 2016July 12, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Our summer season is often associated with barbeques, family outings, vacations, watching the kids at home, finalizing the budget for a new fiscal year, or starting the first chapter of the book you’ve wanted to read for some time. But, often, we could use the warm season to learn a new technical skill, perfect graphic design or video production, enhance our social media proficiency or analytics, blogging, or to set aside time to volunteer at your favorite nonprofit organization. As we consider the plethora of options for the season, let’s recap the many popular events that already took place in our Public Relations Society of America – Central Illinois chapter and highlight new opportunities for our members and guests to become more involved.

April 28 Event in Peoria on Organizational Change Management

In the Embassy Suites in Peoria, our chapter learned from keynote speaker Jack Modzelewski, global president, business development and partnerships, and senior partner of FleishmanHillard. Without a doubt, we were inspired by his perspective and insightful stories on organization change management throughout Fortune 500 companies. With a packed room, our attendees had the unique opportunity to obtain hundreds of takeaways, and answers to their most pressing questions. We are grateful for Jack’s wisdom, and the invaluable experiences he graciously shared with us that evening.

Free Chapter Membership Through Summer

Have you considered joining our PRSA-CI and were waiting for a membership promotion to help lower your annual costs? Now is the time! I want to personally extend an invitation for you to seriously consider becoming a member, as our free chapter promotion runs through the summer months after individuals become a national member and access hundreds of benefits and a network of more than 21,000 PR professionals across the world. To learn more about this promotion and to join today, please click here.

Chapter Progress & Opportunities

As we progress further into the summer, our chapter has experienced continual growth in membership, programming, and value added opportunities. Our chapter launched a new comprehensive website, which expands new features and information for members, and also introduced a new mentorship program to help PRSA-CI members and professionals excel in their chosen industries. To access and bookmark our new PRSA-CI website, please click here.

New PRSA-CI Mentorship Program

We have recently initiated a value-added program for PRSA-CI members to either serve as a mentor or mentee. Mentees are matched with experienced mentors who are available to coach, guide and assist other PRSA-CI members through calendar year 2016. If you are a PRSA-CI member and are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, please complete the brief form on https://centralillinoisprsa.org/contact-us/ and describe what you are looking for in a mentor or mentee.

Communications and Social Media

Our chapter continues to offer publishing opportunities, in our newsletter, for members to summarize our events, describe what they learned and how they plan to apply it in their career. Our chapter also unveiled our new PRSA-CI LinkedIn Group page for members to share best practices, learn about new career and development opportunities, and ask questions in a forum style or share contacts.

As a chapter, our membership numbers and influence continue to rise, and we continue to partner with communication and marketing groups throughout the Midwest. In addition, I’m very pleased to report that we have reached more than 110 followers on our PRSA-CI Facebook page! If you haven’t done so yet, please “like” our Facebook page to learn more about industry news and upcoming events, and members can also join our PRSA-CI LinkedIn Group page to share best practices, contacts and opportunities. Our next chapter event is anticipated to occur in September with planning already underway. More details will be posted to our Facebook page in the weeks ahead.

Thanks again for your continual support and involvement in our chapter, and we look forward to seeing you at our event in September!

Warmest regards,

Josh Kauffman, MBA, APR

PRSA-CI President

System Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Hospital Sisters Health System

My Transition to Central Illinois, and Passion for PRSA

In June 2015 our family of five made the move from Dallas, Texas to Central Illinois. I had become a mother for the third time and “Big Vic” – who was a ten-pound newborn – was only four months old when we boarded our one-way flight from DFW to CMI.

We can joke about this now because things have worked out and life is good. We made the choice to relocate from the bustling city to a more rural environment where our kids could run wild and free. My husband is from Monticello, just outside of Champaign, and is a U of I grad. His family is dispersed within a small radius of our home and as they say, “it takes a village to raise children.” We met in Dallas when we both worked at Southern Methodist University, he as an athletic trainer and I as a media relations specialist in the athletic department.

I’m a small-town Texas girl, so farmers and wide open spaces are familiar to me. That said, I spent my entire professional life in Dallas, home to many world-class PR firms and global companies. As one might imagine, the business landscape in Central Illinois, particularly Champaign-Urbana, looks quite a bit different. While the transition has been relatively easy for my husband (who continues to home-office for his employer) and my resilient young children, I am still figuring out where I fit into the professional mix within this market.

For the last five years, I worked as a freelance PR/communications advisor. I have retained some of my Texas-based clients and am excited to be working with some really fantastic Illinois-based companies and brands as well. Prior to life as a consultant, I grew up professionally in a variety of corporate communications roles with national and global companies.

I’ve experienced quite a bit of personal and professional change over the last few years. Through it all, the constant has always been PRSA. I served as the Membership Chair for Dallas PRSA in 2012 and am now very happy to serve as the Central Illinois PRSA Membership Chair. If we haven’t already been touch, let’s do that soon. My CI PRSA colleagues have provided an overwhelming amount of hospitality and genuine interest my professional development. Being the “new kid on the block” is not always easy, but this group has certainly made my transition as smooth as possible by providing a comfortable atmosphere where I can network and ask questions. As your Membership Chair, and as a newbie to Illinois, I would welcome the opportunity to get together for a casual lunch or cup of coffee. Let me answer any questions you may have about PRSA and let’s help each other figure out ways to solve business challenges by providing smart, strategic PR and communications solutions.

Stefanie Santos McLeese

Owner and CEO

Central Illinois – PRSA

Membership Chair

“UnSelling” author Scott Stratten to share customer engagement expertise at PRSA International Conference in Indianapolis

Marketing and social media expert Scott Stratten will deliver the closing keynote presentation at the Public Relations Society of America’s 2016 International Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Indianapolis. Named one of the “Top 5 Social Media Influencers in the World” by Forbes Magazine, Stratten has authored four best-selling business books, including “UnSelling: The New Customer Experience,” and his clients’ marketing videos have been viewed over 60 million times. Stratten joins Astronaut Scott Kelly and cyber security expert Theresa Payton on the conference’s keynote speaker list.

Attendees can save $200 by registering for the conference by Aug. 26. Discounted hotel and travel rates are also available.

1). Media Relations Specialist

Location: US-IL-Bloomington

https://ccservices.taleo.net/careersection/jobdetail.ftl?job=160212&lang=en

At COUNTRY Financial, our Media Relations Specialist builds, enhances and maintains the reputation and brand of COUNTRY Financial ® by ensuring the support of our corporate mission, objectives and vision through external communications.

2). Communications Creative Services Producer/Videographer Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. in Springfield, Illinois

Location: IL – Springfield

Make your mark in Broadcasting and Digital Media. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Sinclair Digital Solutions are dedicated to making Sinclair…

3). Digital Content Producer Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. in Springfield, Illinois

Location:IL – Springfield

Make your mark in Broadcasting and Digital Media. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Sinclair Digital Solutions are dedicated to making Sinclair…

4). Manager, Special Events (Quincy, IL)

Location: Illinois

Responsible for planning, managing, and executing special events in the field office area. Successful outcomes are defined in part by dollars raised, teams…

5). Communications Specialist

Illinois Senate Democrats

Location: Springfield, IL

$30,000 a year

Communications / Public Relations:. The Communications Department at the Office of the Illinois Senate President is always on the lookout for talented…

6). Provider Outreach Specialist

Cognizant

Location: Springfield, IL

Communications center, website) including maintaining the communication. Communication Manager and outlined in the Communication Plan….

7). Director, Corporate Marketing, Brand & PR

Sitel – United States

Strong leadership style and ability to prioritize and work under pressure to tight deadlines. As caring for customers becomes the differentiator that drives…

8). Program Associate

Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln

Location: Springfield, IL

Proactively identifying ways to advance the work of the Foundation in the area of public a0nd community relations….

9). Community Relations Coordinator

Heritage Enterprises

Location: Springfield, IL

Candidates must possess a strong understanding of census development, sales, marketing, networking, public speaking, community events, and building and…

10). Visual Communications Coordinator – Marketing

Springfield Clinic

Location: Springfield, IL

Under the direct supervision of the Marketing Manager, the Visual Communications Coordinator is responsible for working collaboratively with other Visual…

11). Marketing Assistant & Social Media Manager (Internship)

Interactive Media Inc.

Location: Springfield, IL

Know about social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat. We are looking for Marketing Assistants & Social Media Managers …

12). Marketing and Advertising Associate

Springfield Plastics, Inc

Location: Auburn, IL

Springfield Plastics, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of drainage pipe in the Midwest. We offer the highest quality pipe and fittings in the industry.

13). Event Coordinator

WHOlives – Springfield, IL

The Race Against Time events are a fun and grassroots way to raise money and awareness to help save and improve the lives of nearly 1 Billion people that suffer…

14). Senior Photographer

University of Illinois at Springfield

Location: Springfield, IL

$20.40 an hour

Takes digital photographs of a wide variety of subjects and special events on campus for the purpose of public relations and internal communication , including…

15). Marketing Director/Admissions

Aperion Care

Location: Bloomington, IL

This individual would be responsible for public relations, event planning, and processing admissions.

16). Coordinator, Communications

Illinois State University

Location: Normal, IL

Ability to comfortably interact with individuals in the campus community and the general public. As a key member of the University’s editorial and design team,…

17). Outreach & Communications Specialist

Heartland Head Start

Location: Bloomington, IL

Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications or related field. Engage in public outreach and networking as directed….

18). Communications & Outreach Coordinator

OSF Healthcare – Peoria

Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills to coordinate cross facility relationships and interactions…

19). Director of Marketing

Petersen Health Care

Location: Peoria, IL 61614

Assist with corporate and local public relations. Successful candidate will be an energetic, creative, self starter with efficient multi-tasking ability, strong;

20). Community Relations Director

Bickford Senior Living

Location: Peoria, IL

Planning is underway for our next event this September 2016 in Urbana-Champaign. Stay tuned for more details!

My Transition from Texas to Illinois, and Consistent Passion for PRSA.

Published on July 6, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Last June our family of five made the move from Dallas, Texas to Central Illinois. I had become a mother for the third time and “Big Vic” – who was a ten-pound newborn – was only four months old when we boarded our one-way flight from DFW to CMI.

Stefanie Santos McLeese

Owner and CEO

Central Illinois – PRSA

Membership Chair

Registration for December 1 Event Begins: Top PR Leader at Nation’s Largest Nonprofit Health Care System to Speak on Driving Thought Leadership

Published on March 29, 2016March 1, 2017 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Central Illinois PRSA would like to invite you to join us on Thursday, December 1, 2016 in Springfield, IL for an unforgettable event with guest speaker, Johnny A. Smith, Senior Director for Public Relations at Ascension- the largest health system in the U.S. with more than 160,000 employees and 35,000 affiliated providers serving in 141 hospitals. Smith has thought leadership responsibility for reputation management, media relations, and executive positioning for the $30 billion organization and its for-profit subsidiaries.

Event Details: Johnny Smith will highlight best practices, challenges, and opportunities with thought leadership in today’s PR and media landscape. Interested central Illinois residents are invited to register online by November 28, 2016. The event and dinner are only $30 for PRSA-CI members, and $35 for non-members.

Speaker: Johnny A. Smith, Jr., Senior Director of Public Relations for Ascension, has thought leadership responsibility for reputation management, media relations, and executive positioning for the $30 billion organization and its for-profit-subsidiaries. He spearheads change management communications inclusive of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and transformational initiatives; and maintains mutually-beneficial relationships with top-tier media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, CNN, Washington Post, Reuters, Bloomberg, and POLITICO.

Meal: Guests are requested to specify their meal choice of Chicken Cordon Bleu, Pork Medallions, or Vegetarian, with salad, vegetables, and dessert.

Cost: $30 for PRSA members, Partner Organizations & students; $35 for non-members.

Reservations: Email Stefanie McLeese at Stefanie@santosmcleese.com or dial 214-548-1393. Please specify meal choice when registering and include “PRSA/RSVP” in the subject line, or register online at https://centralillinoisprsa.org. Deadline to register: November 28, 2016. No shows will be invoiced.

Evening Schedule: Attendees are welcome to check in and begin networking at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m. and our guest speaker will begin his program at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Northfield Inn and Suites

3280 Northfield Dr.

Springfield, Ill.62702

(217) 523-7900

Directions: Take I-55 to Sangamon Avenue (Exit 100 A), turn right onto N. Dirksen Parkway, and then right onto Northfield Drive. The hotel is on your right.

President’s Message: Calendar Year 2016 Brings Inspiration, Change and Growth

Published on March 29, 2016November 23, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

With spring 2016 among us, our chapter has experienced continual growth – both in membership, programming, and on our board -and via new value added opportunities. It’s an affable time for communicators –all the way from the south suburbs of Chicago to the St. Louis Metro East area (in Illinois) to join our PRSA- Central Illinois (PRSA-CI) chapter to learn, network, and volunteer.

In February 2016, PRSA-CI had the opportunity to expand our knowledge of social media analytics and crisis communications through speakers Joe Yun, leader of social media analytics for Technology Services at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and Nate Hartmann, chief creative strategist for Yellow Box. Yun leads the team that collects and analyzes social media content that involves UIUC and social media content produced by university employees. Hartmann worked as a consultant for the university, and has extensive expertise in combining earned, social and paid media in campaigns. Our chapter continues to recruit speakers in the digital arena, and we look forward to maximizing professional development opportunities for our event attendees.

Last month our chapter also introduced a new mentorship program among PRSA-CI members to help students, graduates or new Central Illinois residents better understand their chosen industries, to serve as a sounding board to navigate our career path and unanticipated challenges. We’re excited that several experienced and seasoned PRSA-CI members, including many of our board members, volunteered to support chapter members and become mentors. Furthermore, our chapter introduced publishing opportunities, in our newsletter, for members to summarize our events and describe what they learned and how they plan to apply it in their career. Our chapter also unveiled our new LinkedIn Group page for members to share best practices, learn about new career and development opportunities, and ask questions or share contacts.

Our chapter board has also grown in size and geographic reach. The PRSA-CI board has added three new members this year, including Stefanie Santos McLeese, CEO of Santos McLeese, L.L.C. as our chapter’s new membership chair, Elizabeth Kerns, assistant professor of communications and public relations at Olivet Nazarene University as our new communication chair, and John Wirtz, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign as a new board member.

As a chapter, our membership numbers and regional influence continue to rise. In fact, I’m very pleased to report that we have reached more than 100 followers on our PRSA-CI Facebook page! If you haven’t done so yet, please “like” our Facebook page, and learn more about industry news and upcoming events. I’m also very proud to announce our next chapter event on April 28 in Peoria will feature Jack Modzelewski, global president, business development and partnerships, and senior partner of Fleishman Hillard. You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity.

Thanks again for your continual support and involvement in our chapter, and we look forward to bringing you the best programming, speakers, venues, networking environment, and professional development opportunities throughout 2016.

Warmest regards,

Josh Kauffman, MBA, APR
PRSA-CI President
System Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Hospital Sisters Health System

Job Alert: Assistant Director, University Relations, Washburn University

Published on February 19, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Position Announcement

Assistant Director, University Relations

Recruitment No. 6570216

Human Resources seeks candidates for the Assistant Director, University Relations position in University Relations. The employee reports to the Director, University Relations (Director).

RESPONSIBILITIES

Media relations:
According to assigned area(s) of responsibility and in a timely manner, manage, solicit, coordinate, prepare and disseminate information in the form of news releases to appropriate media outlets at the local, regional, state and national levels to provide information about Washburn University (WU) to the public. Issue in timely fashion news releases to hometowns of students to publicize individual and/or group achievements, such as scholarship awards, organization officers, academic competitions, leadership achievements.

Continue reading “Job Alert: Assistant Director, University Relations, Washburn University” →

NEWS: 2016 PRSA Central Illinois Board Announced

Published on February 19, 2016November 23, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Josh Kauffman
Chapter President, Central Illinois PRSA
815/263-3035
JoshuaKauffman3@gmail.com

Local Professionals Named to Regional Board of Directors
Central Illinois PRSA Poised for Stronger Service to Communication Professionals

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jan. 28, 2016 – The Central Illinois Public Relations Society of America (CI PRSA) chapter announced its 2016 Board of Directors slate this month. The board is comprised of highly experienced public relations professionals who practice the craft throughout the central Illinois region, including communities such as Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Charleston, and many more. The board is tasked with providing strong programming, educational opportunities, networking, and enriching the member experience.

Continue reading “NEWS: 2016 PRSA Central Illinois Board Announced” →

Social Media Strategies Dinner on March 2

Published on February 19, 2016April 18, 2016 by KraftComm Consulting Group LLCLeave a comment

Central Illinois PRSA Chapter presents… There are good days and bad days: How social media and web analytics are used by a public university to inform reputation management strategies and tactics.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 6:00 p.m., PR professionals from throughout Central Illinois will come together in Bloomington, IL to hear from social media experts. The cost for the program is $30 for members of PRSA and students or $35 for non-members. A buffet dinner will be provided during the event and parking will be free. The event will be held at the ISU Alumni Center (1101 N. Main St., Normal, IL 61761).

If you are interested in attending, email Chris Stroisch at Christopher.stroisch@countryfinancial.com by February 26. You can also learn more on the Facebook event page or by downloading the event flyer: PRSA March 2016 Meeting

More details about the event: Social media has played an important role, creating both good days and bad days for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this past year. The March Central Illinois PRSA chapter meeting will feature a panel to discuss many ways social media and web analytics have been used to shape the university’s response to crises and to engage external publics.

The panel will feature Joe Yun, leader of social media analytics for Technology Services at the university, and Nate Hartmann, chief creative strategist for Yellow Box. Yun leads the team that collects and analyzes social media content that mentions the university and social media content produced by university employees. Hartmann worked as a consultant for the university, and has extensive expertise in combining earned, social and paid media in campaigns.

The panel will be moderated by John G. Wirtz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Public Relations in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising at the University of Illinois.