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President's Report

PRSA Southeast District

USC AI Conference

CONNECT Conference

Professional Development

Calendar of Events

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August Newsletter

President's Report

When Plans Change, Will You Be Ready?

Dear SCPRSA Members,

One of the realities of life is that no project ever goes exactly as planned. A quick weekend project turns into four trips to two different home improvement stores and a much longer timeline. A simple client request quickly grows with scope creep, changing deadlines and conflicting stakeholder feedback.

While planning is essential for all of the items you know that need to be done, it's just as important to plan for the unknowns that inevitably pop up along the way. Building in flexibility helps reduce stress and allows you and your team to respond effectively when priorities shift.

Cross training and documentation not only strengthen your team but also help preserve institutional knowledge. When team members understand each other's responsibilities and can step in when needed, projects keep moving even when someone is out of the office or juggling competing priorities.

Finally, crisis planning should happen long before a crisis occurs. The time to establish communication protocols, identify spokespersons and develop response strategies is well before they're needed. This established plan gives you, your client or your team the stability to respond effectively during a crisis that is continually developing and needs are ever changing.

While calendars are full and deadlines are tight, taking time to plan for the unknowns is just as important as planning for the projects and tasks at hand. A little preparation today can save frustration and uncertainty tomorrow.

Cheering you on,

Meredith Houck

President, SCPRSA

PRSA Southeast District

The PRSA Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Districts, in partnership with the PRSA Volunteer Chapter, will co-host the PRSA Joint District Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The event will feature engaging keynotes and interactive breakout sessions on Microsoft Teams. Invest in your professional growth with a day of learning, connection and advancement.

USC AI Conference

The University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications is bringing together industry leaders for the inaugural AI in Media, Advertising & Public Relations Conference on Friday, Oct. 9.

The conference will feature an impressive lineup of media, advertising, and public relations professionals, including leaders from BBDO Worldwide, AT&T, Fox News Media, Cookerly PR, and Nebo Agency.

For communication professionals, this is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders about how agencies and organizations are adapting to AI—and what these changes could mean for the future of the industry.

Don’t miss the early bird special, available through Sept. 10. Tickets are currently just $25.

CONNECT Conference

Join SCPRSA, AAF Midlands and IABC/SC in Columbia on Thursday, Nov. 12, for CONNECT 2026, a one-day statewide conference exploring the latest trends in advertising, communications, marketing and public relations.

This year’s keynote speaker is Chakisse Newton, the new CEO of Cyerbwoven, a full-service digital agency based in Columbia.

Registration for CONNECT 2026 is expected to open soon. Stay tuned for registration details, the full agenda and more information about this year’s event!