PRSSA at Miami University

Fall 2009 Speakers

Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, APR Date: Monday, October 5, 2009 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Psychology Building, room 125

Dr. Kruckeberg is a professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Center for Global Public Relations, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has taught, lectured and performed research worldwide. He has authored a PR theory textbook and has co-authored numerous chapters and journal articles dealing with global public relations and international PR ethics. Dr. Kruckeberg is the co-chair for the Commission on Public Relations Education; a charter member of the Institute for Public Relations' Commission on Global Public Relations Research; and a US council representative to the IPRA board. He was a PRSA National Outstanding Educator in 1995.

In 1997, he won the Institute's Pathfinder Award for Public Relations Research. He was also awarded the Jackson Jackson & Wagner Behavioral Research Prize in 2006. He is a PRSA Fellow and serves on the National Board in addition to his position as PRSA's Midwest District Chair. He also serves on PRSA's national nominating committee, is the co-chair of their Educational Affairs Committee and is the chair of their Educators Academy. He has worked with PRSSA as a former National Faculty Advisor and advisor to FORUM. Dr. Kruckeberg is a member of the Research and Educational Advisory Committee and the Institute for PR Research and Education. He is the former chair of the Public Relations Divisions of AEJMC, NCA and ICA. In 2003, Dr. Kruckeberg was a co-researcher of a two-year study examining bribery among reporters.

Dr. Kruckeberg received his B.A. from Wartburg College, his M.A. from Northern Illinois University and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

Todd Bailey Date: Monday, October 19, 2009 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Psychology Building, room 125

Todd Bailey is the Assistant Vice President, State Government Relations Manager for Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. Government Relations is dedicated to promoting the business interests of Huntington shareholders, customers and associates in the legislative and regulatory processes that impact the financial services industry at the federal, state and municipal levels. Through the Huntington Associate Good Government Fund, a non-partisan political action committee, Government Relations supports pro-business policy makers committed to fiscally responsible government and the free enterprise system.

Bailey is from Columbus and is a member of the Central Ohio PRSA Chapter.

Judy Phair, APR Date: Monday, October 26, 2009 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Psychology Building, room 125

Judy Phair is the Vice President of Communications at the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The Council is an association of 154 top graduate business schools around the world and the owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test. Phair leads the Council's worldwide strategic communications planning and oversees all marketing, advertising, media relations and publications activities.

Phair is a veteran public relations executive and the immediate past president and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America. Prior to taking the newly created position at GMAC, Phair spent four years running her own communications firm, Phair Advantage Communications. She advised clients such as the National Association of College Admission Counseling, College Savings Plan of Maryland and several colleges and universities on strategic planning, organizational audits, crisis communications, government relations, and media relations.

Before striking out on her own, Phair held numerous leadership positions with a variety of organizations. She served as vice president of public affairs at the Council on Competitiveness in Washington, D.C.; vice president for institutional advancement at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute; assistant dean for external relations at The Johns Hopkins University; and vice president for public relations at Goucher College. As vice president at Goucher, Phair implemented a highly successful communications and marketing plan as the institution transitioned from a women-only student body to coed. She was also highly involved in legislative relations on the state and federal level at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.

As chief executive of the 21,000-member Public Relations Society of America, Phair traveled extensively and spoke out about the importance of public relations and on ethical issues in the profession to groups in the U.S. as well as China, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Croatia. Phair was the recipient of the 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland chapter of PRSA and has won several awards for her excellence in marketing and publications from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Phair earned a B.A. in communications from Simmons College in Boston and an M.A. in American studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Spring 2010 Speakers

Kevin Saghy Date: Monday, February 8, 2010 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Psychology Building, room 125

Kevin Saghy is an account executive with Ketchum Midwest's corporate practice in Chicago. His work focuses on media relations, financial communications, writing and influencer programs. His client list includes Best Buy's Geek Squad, Kellogg Company, ConAgra Foods, State Street Corp. and Ketchum's visibility teams. Saghy has secured client and agency coverage in major print, online and broadcast outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, CNN, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, MSNBC and others. He is frequently responsible for local and trade media relations on both brand and corporate accounts.

Saghy has won several awards during his time with the agency, including PRSA Chicago's Young Professional of the Year Award in 2009. He has also been recognized with Ketchum's Passion and Precision Award, given for exceptional client service; Headliner Award, which recognizes outstanding media placements; and the Midwest's Bright Idea Award, which rewards creative thinking that benefits clients or the agency. Saghy has supported several nationally-recognized account teams as well. He is an active member of PRSA in both the Chicago chapter and at the national level. As a past national president of PRSSA, he remains committed to initiatives that advance students in the public relations industry. He is currently co-chair of Champions for PRSSA and serves on PRSA's student-to-professional task force. Saghy served on PRSA's 2008 International Conference Committee in Detroit and 2009 Chicago Skyline Awards Committee.

Prior to joining Ketchum in 2007, Saghy completed internships with University Hospitals, a U.S. News & World Report Top 50 Hospital in Cleveland, OH; Buchanan & associates, a full-service brand communications firm in Columbus, OH; and the Ohio Northern University Sports Information Department. He also founded a contracting company, KJS Contracting, which was hired by The Sherwin-Williams Company to install and relocate stores in the Midwest region for two summers.

Chris Lukach Date: Monday, March 22, 2010 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Psychology Building, room 125

Chris Lukach is vice president and co-owner of Anne Klein Communications Group, LLC. Here, Lukach brings his strategic planning, writing, issues counseling and media relations skills to the table, supervising and supporting key accounts in healthcare, education, information services and chemical industries. He has developed relationships with reporters from many top-tier media outlets including The Associated Press, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Good Morning America. Chris received the 2007 Fast-Track Award from the Philadelphia Public Relations Association. As a student, Chris served as president of the AJF/Rowan University chapter of PRSSA, where he led the group to be named "Outstanding Chapter in the Nation."