The Institute for Public Relations, dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations, today announced its 2005 leadership slate.
The Board of Trustees has re-elected co-chairs Peter D. Debreceny, vice president-corporate relations for Allstate Insurance Company, and W. Ward White, vice president-corporate relations for Northwestern Mutual. Serving again as treasurer is Margery Kraus, chief executive officer, APCO Worldwide.
Frank Ovaitt has been elected president and chief executive officer of the Institute, replacing John W. Felton, who is retiring at the end of 2004.
The Board also has appointed the leadership of its standing committees. Matthew P. Gonring, vice president-global marketing and communications for Rockwell Automation, will chair the Governance and Audit Committee. Louis C. Williams Jr., chairman and CEO of L.C. Williams & Associates, will chair the Research Committee.
Dr. Donald K. Wright, professor of communication at the University of South Alabama, will chair the Educational Programs Committee. Dr. Don W. Stacks, professor and director of the program in advertising and public relations at the University of Miami, will chair the Education-Industry Affairs Committee. Kenneth D. Makovsky, president of Makovsky & Company, will chair the Marketing Committee.
Michelle Hinson will continue as director of development and administration for the Institute, and Dr. Wright will serve as director of the Institute for Public Relations Forums.
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent foundation that exists to build and document the intellectual foundations of public relations, and to mainstream this knowledge by making it available and useful to practitioners, educators, researchers and the clients they serve. For more information, please visit instituteforpr.org.
