PRSA Tulsa - APR Members

About Us

The PRSA Tulsa chapter boasts one of the highest percentages of accredited members nationwide.

Many of our chapter's APRs were asked to provide some comments on "what being an APR has meant to them."

Ashley Antle: "I believe Accreditation adds another level of credibility to your skill as a PR professional. In an often misunderstood and wrongly labeled profession, accreditation gives PR professionals a strong foundation where ethical conduct, competency and professionalism are the cornerstones. Having APR behind my name gives me a competitive edge in the industry as potential clients know that I am held to a certain professional standard and skill level."

Jeremy Burton: "Attaining my Accreditation in Public Relations was a defining moment in my career. This mark quantifies my knowledge and abilities as a practitioner. I am proud to be associated with the many great colleagues who share this accreditation."

Lauren Brookey: "Studying for and attaining the APR status is easily the best thing I have done for myself in my professional career. In the beginning, I was unclear as to the value attaining APR could offer me after several years of working in public relations. However, I knew people who were around me and whom I respected were APR, and that influenced my decision to study for the APR I soon came to realize that public relations has a 'body of knowledge' that is essential to truly serve the profession, our employers or clients well ... I relished the opportunity to learn communication theories and models that inform our public relations activities and I was impressed by public relations professionals who had come before me and their impact on our profession. As a result of studying and taking the APR exam, I developed a sense of pride and confidence in the profession of public relations and the ability to articulate its value to others."

Melissa Clark: "The Accreditation process taught me to approach my work strategically. And, I’ve relied on the Code many times over the years to do the right thing. While being recognized as a seasoned professional has been a great result of the process, the most valuable benefit has been getting to know the phenomenal people in our local chapter. Some were mentors as I went through the APR process. Others were study buddies or colleagues I’ve called on for different perspectives through the years. I am continually amazed at the knowledge, professionalism, camaraderie and mutual support within the Tulsa chapter. Our accredited members are the best examples of how we should practice our profession. I am proud to know them and continually learn from them."

Lori McKinnon: "The APR designation indicates an understanding of both Public Relations history and modern day practice. It signals that an individual has gone above and beyond the basics to achieve and maintain expertise in the field of public relations. For me, APR brings credibility with practitioners, students, and academics."

Nicole Morgan: "From the day I started my career, I knew I wanted to one day earn my APR. For me, it symbolized a major milestone in becoming what we should all strive to be – a true counselor to our clients and employers. Being in an agency has allowed me to quickly gain valuable experience in a variety of areas within the field. When I began this process, I felt like I had finally built enough of a foundation of PR knowledge to be prepared for the APR ... I expected I would learn more about the basics – research, planning, implementation and research. What I didn’t expect was a process that would stretch my knowledge to cover those gaps my career hadn’t filled. I also didn’t expect the new connections I would make with my peers and the mentors that would emerge throughout the process ... I encourage other public relations professionals who want to expand their skills and take their careers to the next level to pursue the APR."

Chris Payne: "With every passing year, I become more and more convinced of the value of APR. It has deeply impacted the way I serve my employer, clients and the many non-profits I have served. It has also made a lifelong impact on the friendships I’ve made. Teaching Accreditation for a long time in Tulsa has been one of the most rewarding activities in our chapter, and I’d hate to give it up. I will always be an advocate for Accreditation.”

Amber Remke: "Earning the APR represents a significant chapter in my professional career. Going through the accreditation process was actually as gratifying as passing the exam. I learned so much from our amazing APR leaders, Kristen Turley and Chris Payne, as well as the members of my APR class. And, the journey doesn’t stop after you’ve earned the APR—it’s a learning process that teaches you to view your job from a more strategic perspective, rather than focusing solely on tactics. I know I’ll apply these principles throughout my entire career, and that’s what makes the APR such a worthwhile endeavor."

Sam Sims: "The APR has taken me from the tactician to the counselor level. Knowledge I gain from the APR process gives me ability to conduct communication within the business model to ultimately impact organizations’ bottom lines and missions. The ability to align public relations strategies and action items to business objectives routinely garners direct influence to the decision making level within business."

Kristen Turley: "I have set personal and professional goals over the years and work hard to accomplish each. Earning my APR is one of those goals. Having worked with and for several APRs who provided me with strong examples of what a public relations professional should be, I initially thought that earning my APR would be one way I could show them how much I had learned under their tutelage. While that may be the case, I have evolved in my thinking and now see the APR as a personal achievement which helped me build confidence in my skills ... The process one goes through to earn his or her APR is difficult, and I believe I am a more solid professional because of it. I now have the strength to sit at the proverbial table and persuade senior management toward the appropriate communication strategy. Whether or not those three letters mean anything to the others at the table, I honestly don’t care. In the end, I know I worked extremely hard to earn this certification and am extremely proud of my accomplishment."