The Arkansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recently announced its 2025 board of directors and officers, which includes a newly created ethics officer position. Stella Prather, communications director at Empower Healthcare Solutions, will succeed Mary Claire Imbro as president. Imbro will continue to serve as immediate past president.
“I am humbled and excited to begin this year as the president of the Arkansas chapter of PRSA,” Prather said. “I hold at the core of my goals for this year a commitment to both local and national excellence in the dynamic field of public relations.”
Allison Bermudez, communications manager at Midcontinent Independent System Operator, will serve as the first ethics officer.
Other board members include: President-elect Madeline Roberts, public relations manager at the Peacock Group; Vice President David Faggard, head of Kinetic communications at Windstream; Secretary Brooke Wilson, director of communications at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock; Treasurer Jessica Hughes Ford, chief communications officer at the Arkansas Community Foundation; and director-at-large, Prisms, Allyson Pittman Gattin, public relations director at the Peacock Group.
Officers continuing to serve their three-year terms include: director-at-large, PRSSA chapter liaison, Casey Pearce, director of external relations and marketing at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro; director-at-large, assembly delegate and accreditation in public relations, Sandra McGrew, director of external relations at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement in Little Rock; and director-at-large, membership, Libby Doss Lloyd, director of communications at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The board is responsible for serving the chapter through strategic and high-level operational oversight, in addition to identifying challenges and creating solutions. Each role has unique responsibilities related to the chapter’s needs and goals.
“My plan is to continue the great work of our past chapter presidents to bring value to our chapter membership,” Prather said. “I look forward to working with our 2025 board to stay engaged on a national, regional and local level to work for the betterment of our profession as communicators.”
The local PRSA chapter hosts monthly meetings every third Friday of the month and features several speakers and panel discussions to support the continued professional development of its more than 100 members. The guest fee is $25 and the student fee is $10. Admission for members is free.
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