As a native Washingtonian, 25-year veteran of its largest agencies and former association executive on Capitol Hill, let me be among the first to welcome PRSA International to Washington, D.C.
There was once a sign at Reagan National Airport that said: “Welcome to the Most Powerful City in the World.” So access to power becomes the currency of many of our clients!
PRSA-NCC is among the largest Chapters. Public relations practitioners really network here and try to help one another in the profession. We become friends and friendly competitors. I hope PRSA attendees can feel the vibe and maybe absorb what makes our city so great. We’re all political junkies, many are service oriented at associations and nonprofits, some are K Street killers.
I’ve been fortunate to attend and speak at recent PRSA International events in San Diego and Detroit, and attended for years going back to Boston and St. Louis. It is fun to bring the International Conference here.
Sunday’s general session with Jim VandeHei, editor of Politico, should give attendees a sense of what it’s all about. Welcome to the most powerful media market in the world.
Mike Smith, executive vice president, Gibraltar Associates, LLC, has worked for three of the top ten PR firms including Burson-Marsteller, Edelman PR Worldwide and Euro RSCG. He takes a strong lead in client management, media relations and new business initiatives. Mike also served as public affairs director of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Follow Mike Smith Public Affairs on Twitter at @PRYouReady.
For more coverage on the PRSA 2010 International Conference: Powering PRogress, visit PRSA Intelligence, follow #prsa_ic and the Conference blog.
