PRAL State One-Day Conference

A Perfect Roux – Back to Basics

Friday, June 10

10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria - Brumfield Caffey Ballroom

9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Registration

10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Speaker: Stafford Wood, APR

“How to Thrive in a 24-Hour News Cycle”

11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Speaker: Ginger Guttner, APR

“Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire: Tips for Crisis Communications”

Noon – 1 p.m. Torchѐ Awards Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. Speaker: Johnnie “Fils” Prejean, II

“A Plan Without Action Is Not a Plan. It’s a Speech”

About Our Speakers:

Stafford Wood, APR: As the Founder and President of Covalent Logic since 2005, Stafford leads a team of twenty corporate communications experts in internal and external communications, investor relations, graphic design, web development and public relations from her home in Austin, Texas. She's comfortable in every business environment from high heels in a New York Boardroom to steel-toed boots in a refinery. Covalent currently serves global and regional clients like Shell Chemical, Cleco Power, Hilton Worldwide, Setpoint Integrated Solutions and the Office of the Governor of Louisiana. As an Accredited Senior Practitioner of Public Relations, she's received two lifetime achievement awards from the American Advertising Federation and the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (Baton Rouge Chapter) and has been inducted into the Southern Public Relations Federation Hall of Fame. She is also a Public Relations Instructor at the Manship School of Communications at LSU.

Ginger Guttner, APR: Ginger Guttner is the communications manager for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, where she is responsible for publications, media relations, marketing, and website and social media management. She is also the spokesperson for Mike VII, LSU’s live tiger mascot, and is responsible for media relations and social media for the mascot and LSU’s mascot program. She joined the staff of LSU Vet Med in 2004. Ginger received her BA in English (College Honors) from LSU in 1992 and her Master’s of Mass Communication from LSU in 1997, after an adventurous one-year attempt at law school. Ginger received her APR (Accreditation in Public Relations) in 2010 and her veterinary school publications have received Awards of Excellence from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). She is on the board of SPRF and the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (both state and the Baton Rouge chapter). She received the 2013 Member of the Year Award and the 2016 Practitioner of the Year Award, both from PRAL Baton Rouge.

Johnnie “Fils” Prejean, II: Johnnie “Fils” Prejean, II is a Digital Sales Manager for Nexstar Media Group and has been in a professional sales role in digital & print since 2003. Fils was one of the first of Nexstar stations to launch Live Stream News content online. His knowledge and background of advertising in a diverse media which include newspaper, yellow pages, websites, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), SEO, social media, CTV/OTT and email marketing. Fils diverse marketing background has allowed him to help hundreds of businesses.