New York, NY, (March 8, 2017) – Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE of VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. (VPR) has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communications organizations that directs this competency certification program. VanNatta has been a public relations consultant with VPR since 1987 and also holds a Certified Associate Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives.
The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting a portfolio to a panel of three Accredited peers and sitting for a computer-based examination, are granted the APR.
“Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession,” said Elizabeth S. McMillan, APR, 2016 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. “Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organization and clients.”
VanNatta is a specialist in the field of community relations. She says, “I love sharing good news and telling stories about great people who are changing lives in our community. PR is an amazing career and I’m so proud to be recognized by the UAB.”
About VanNatta Public Relations, Inc.: Founded in 1967 by Fred VanNatta, VanNatta Public Relations is public relations, association management and event planning company based in Salem, Oregon. They have been listed in the Oregon Business Magazine Powerbook as one of the top Advertising/Marketing/PR firms in the state. For more information about VPR visit PRSalem.com or call 503-585-8254.
About the Universal Accreditation Board: The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations that today includes the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations society of America, Religion Communicators Council and the Southern Public Relations Federation. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession.
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