November President’s Message

As my term as the president of PRSA Richmond ends, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and express my sincere gratitude to our board and our members.

During our board retreat in December 2022, I charged the board to approach each position with “Curious Innovation.” I wanted us to think outside the box and not be afraid to bring new ideas. With that charge, our board has worked tirelessly to advance the field of public relations and crystalize PRSA Richmond’s value-add. This year we:

• Wrote articles and were published in Strategies & Tactics, “5 Steps to Create Educational Heritage-Observance Content,” and PRSay “How Barbie’s Marketing Campaign Could Have Made a More Socially Responsible Impact,”
• Brought members face-to-face with a regional recruiter (as a luncheon presenter and for free 1:1 consultations),
• Offered free headshots during lunch,
• Hosted morning and lunch networking events,
• Partnered with our peers at the Advertising Club of Richmond and AMA Richmond to host the One Party. As a result, we donated $500 to NextUp RVA – a local organization helping youth discover their talents and build positive relationships,
• Recognized 133 organizations in front of 200 peers during our annual awards program at the stunning Dominion Arts Center,
• Awarded Jeff Wilson, APR, the first Black recipient of the Excellence in Public Relations Award,
• Spoke at the Virginia Commonwealth University PRSSA chapter’s first meeting about the industry and PRSA,
• Created a government special section. The group organized events at the Library of Virginia (Networking at Nine) and the Science Museum of Virginia (Morning at the Museum),
• Featured a thought leadership piece on ethical photo use,
• Hosted a private tour of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s new exhibit Apollo: When We Went to the Moon, for the nonprofit section.
• Were featured in Richmond BizSense, Richmond Free Press, and Capitol Communicators,
• Provided in-person community service. This spring, the chapter assembled and donated 120 nourishment kits to benefit the Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation. The kits included items such as applesauce, pretzels, granola bars, and handmade notes for the recipients. This fall, the chapter put together 180 boxes of fruit and vegetables to help feed 180 families,
• Organized three professional development sessions and raised $2,000,
• Gave money to support the PRSA Foundation. The Foundation will award four $1,500 scholarships ($6,000 total) at our November luncheon.

PRSA Richmond’s commitment to fostering a thriving community of professionals is evident. Through these events, we have fostered meaningful connections, shared invaluable insights, and nurtured a supportive network that will continue to propel our profession forward.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as president of one of the best PRSA chapters in the country.

With great pride + pleasure,

Taya M. Jarman, APR
PRSA Richmond President