IPR Expands Internationally, Names New Trustees and 2014 Leaders

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Public Relations (IPR) announced its 2014 leadership and newly elected trustees, with one out of five Board members now located outside the U.S.

New trustees include Tim Baxter, head of corporate communications, Standard Chartered Bank; Tina McCorkindale, associate professor, Appalachian State University; Juan-Carlos Molleda, professor and interim chair, department of public relations, University of Florida; Linda Rutherford, vice president, communication and outreach, Southwest Airlines; Pat Stortz, vice president, corporate communications, AT&T; and Stephen Thomas, group head, corporate communications, AIA Group.

"The science beneath the art of public relations is a worldwide phenomenon," said Pat Ford, worldwide vice chair, Burson-Marsteller, and IPR nominating co-chair. Wendi Strong, executive vice president, corporate communications, USAA, and also IPR nominating co-chair, added, "Global companies, universities and public relations agencies are looking to IPR to continue its core research directions including behavioral and neuroscience in public relations, employee communications, social media, and public relations research standards."

Trustees re-elected for another three-year term include Amy Binder, CEO, RF|Binder Partners; Mike Fernandez, corporate vice president, corporate affairs, Cargill; Rob Flaherty, senior partner and CEO, Ketchum;   Jack Modzelewski, president, the Americas, FleishmanHillard; Doug Pinkham, president, Public Affairs Council; and Strong.

Elected co-chairs are Ken Makovsky, president, Makovsky; and Oscar Suris, executive vice president, corporate communications, Wells Fargo.  Gary Sheffer, vice president, corporate communications and public affairs, General Electric, will serve again as treasurer.  Frank Ovaitt has been reelected as president and CEO.

The Institute for Public Relations is an independent foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations™ and focused on research that is applicable in communications practice.  Its research is available free at www.instituteforpr.org and provides the basis for the organization's professional conferences and events.

Video with caption: "New Institute for Public Relations Trustee Stephen Thomas tells why he has joined this Board." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg7wJcNwakM

SOURCE Institute for Public Relations