PRSA Chicago Chapter Leads Conference, Offering More Than 30
                         Industry Experts

CHICAGO, July 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chicago chapter of the
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Chicago) is teaming up with
15 Midwest PRSA chapters to host the first ever PRSA Midwest District
Conference July 19-20 at Loyola University in downtown Chicago. The
two-day event will offer invaluable, educational sessions that deliver
on a recent PRSA Midwest District regional survey. That survey revealed
the leading topics in which today's PR professionals have the most
interest are branding, digital and social media, and crisis management.
The Conference will deliver on this need by offering two full days of
engaging sessions on these topics and others designed to inspire,
challenge and educate.

"Our Chapter is excited to be hosting the first-ever PRSA Midwest
District Conference, which provides significant value to the
communications community," said Debbie Harvey, APR, PRSA Chicago
president and executive director at GolinHarris. "We have a tremendous
speaker line-up, exciting networking events and at a great location for
a great price: it is the trifecta of success for PR practitioners
across the Midwest."

More than two dozen of the top public relations professionals will lead
keynote and breakout discussions during the two packed days. Senior
communications professionals at top organizations including Motorola,
Allstate and Boeing, as well as respected Chicago media, solo PR
practitioners and crisis communication experts are teed up to
participate.

Speaker highlights include:


  --  Al Golin, founder and chairman, GolinHarris
  --  Antonio Hernandez, corporate communications manager, ComEd
      Communications
  --  Melissa Barnes, Agency and Brand Advocate, Twitter
  --  Tyler Hellinge, Agency Development Lead, Facebook
  --  Amy Ravit Korin, Chicago Community Manager, Google Places, Google
  --  Andy Shaw, president and chief executive officer, Better Government
      Association




In addition to the wide variety of educational sessions, there will be
a number of interactive networking activities. Attendees will also
enjoy an evening cocktail hour to mix and mingle with speakers and
guests.

The conference is open to members and non-members. For more information
on registration and conference schedule, visit the PRSA Midwest
District conference website:
http://www.prsachicago.com/prsa-midwest-conference/

About PRSA Midwest District

PRSA Midwest District is one of the regional districts of the Public
Relations Society of America. It includes 15 chapters, including Cedar
Valley, Central Illinois, Central Iowa, Chicago, Greater Kansas City,
Madison, Mid-Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northeast Wisconsin, Quad
Cities, Southeastern Wisconsin, Southwest Missouri, Suburban Chicago
and St. Louis.

About PRSA Chicago

PRSA Chicago is the fourth largest chapter in the country. The chapter
was founded in 1948 to provide professionals with programs and
activities designed to meet their needs for professional development
and networking. Today, its nearly 500 members represent a cross-section
of industries, with a diverse mix of Fortune 100 corporations, public
relations agencies, associations and non-profit organizations. The goal
of PRSA Chicago is to advance the profession of public relations,
promote high professional and ethical standards and build the
reputation of the profession in the Chicago area.

As part of PRSA Chicago, members have access to the national Public
Relations Society of America, the world's largest organization for
public relations professionals. The Society has nearly 32,000
professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100
Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections and Affinity
Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms,
independent practitioners, military, government, associations,
hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit
organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
has nearly 300 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the
United States.

The PRSA Chicago logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13178


CONTACT: Andrea Cordts
         (312) 857-9945
         andrea.cordts@bairdwarner.com