At the May 7, 2026, Salem Fire Foundation Breakfast at the Willamette Heritage Center, Mary Louise VanNatta was recognized with the Salem Fire Department’s Fire Chief’s Award for Exemplary Service. The award was presented by Fire Chief David Gerboth in appreciation of VanNatta’s 11 years of service and leadership as the executive director of the…
In early April, VPR received notification from the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) that the company earned its Oregon Small Business Enterprise (OSBE) as established in OAR 123-200-1000-2300. The company already holds its ESB (Emerging Small Business) and WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) certifications. The certifications involve a vigorous vetting process that reviews…
Frederick William VanNatta December 1, 1938– March 29, 2025 Fred VanNatta, the founding father of VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, in Salem, at the age of 86, in the presence of his family. Fred was born in Portland, Oregon, to Irene (Breithaupt) VanNatta and George G. VanNatta on December…
Salem, Oregon — VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), a longstanding public relations, consulting, and event planning firm based in Salem, recently received high honors from the Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). At the annual PRSA Spotlight Awards, held on March 13, 2025, at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus, VPR walked…
We are pleased to celebrate Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE, APR, Fellow PRSA, as Corban University’s 2025 Outstanding Service Award recipient! A proud graduate of Corban’s MBA program (’18), Mary Louise has dedicated her career to serving the Salem community through her leadership, mentorship, and passion for public relations. As CEO of VanNatta Public Relations, Inc.,…
VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. has been honored with the “Triple S” (Sustainable, Smart, Solutions) award from the Marion County Environmental Services Sustainable Business Network (formerly EarthWISE). This recognition is significant as sustainability has always been a paramount focus of VPR’s personal and professional endeavors. The award was given at the recent Sustainability Summit in Keizer,…
In early March, VPR received notification from the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) that the company earned both its Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and its Emerging Small Business (ESB) certifications, as established in OAR 123-200-1000-2300. CEO Mary Louse VanNatta, CAE, APR, Fellow PRSA, said, “It was a long and detailed process to…
VanNatta PR Earns Two Top Awards from Oregon Public Relations Society VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), a PR, consulting, and event planning firm in Salem, Oregon, was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Oregon Chapter (PRSA). They received two top Spotlight Awards for their work with the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs and the…
Beaverton, ORー Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Ministries, in conjunction with Harness Media and VanNatta Public Relations, was awarded the 2023 Hermes Creative Gold Award in the Electronic Media category. The award was granted for their work on the article: “5 Unique Women, 1 Amazing Commitment, 245 Years of Excellence.” The article featured all…
Salem, OR— Mary Louise VanNatta, CEO of VanNatta Public Relations, was awarded Willamette University’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni Citation Professional Achievement Award. As a Willamette Alumni, VanNatta graduated with a triple major in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish in 1986. VanNatta received her recognition from Willamette President Steve Thorsett during Alumni Weekend on June 16,…
Salem, OR (Oct. 26, 2022)—Salem public relations professional, G. Harvey Gail, received the Ron Schmidt Community Involvement Award. He accepted the honor at the Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Annual Spotlight Awards on October 7. The statewide recognition is named for Ron Schmidt, who served as a press aide to…
By Mary Louise VanNatta We’ve all heard the phrase “Rules are meant to be broken,” an expression from 5-star Army General Douglass MacArthur. The rest of the saying goes, “and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.” At any rate, it’s a rule, not a law (which we are required to keep),…
By Mary Louise VanNatta People call it Sunday Scaries, Monday Scaries, Sunday Blues, or Sunday Night Syndrome. Regardless, if you experience stress or worry at the end of the weekend, you may be suffering from this common anxiety condition that hits before the workweek. What are Sunday Scaries? They are anticipatory anxiety about the upcoming…
By Mary Louise VanNatta Engagement, whether positive or negative, is still engagement. Any entity with exposure to the public is likely to attract its share of online fans. People love to follow celebrities, bands, and favorite brands. However, there’s always that group who engage purely to actively express dislike or disdain for a person…
What did you want to be when you grew up? Was it traditional like a doctor, lawyer, firefighter, or police officer? Maybe, but the dreams of today have changed. Young people today crave jobs that didn’t even exist a few years ago. A YouGov.com poll conducted in Dec. 2021 asked 3,670 teenagers (ages 13-17) to…
Salem, OR (Dec. 15, 2021). The Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) held its annual awards luncheon on Dec. 15. VanNatta Public Relations (VPR) received the Community Service Award. Rich Duncan, president of Rich Duncan Construction, presented the honor. He said, “We’ve seen this business step up to help with media, public relations, communication, and event…
PORTLAND, OR (Dec. 10, 2021)—The Oregon chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) recognized accomplished professionals at the 2021 Spotlight Awards on Nov. 19, 2021. Salem public relations professional Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE, APR, Fellow PRSA, was honored with the Olga M. Haley Mentorship Award. A longtime member of the PRSA Portland Metro…
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Three Billy Goat’s Gruff is a famous Norwegian folktale. A mean, hungry troll lives under a bridge, and when the little goat wants to enjoy some green grass on the other side, the troll gives him trouble. In the world of social media or “social,” there are also trolls that wait for you and live…
I’m so generous! I’m so socially conscious! I recycle! I have a diverse team! I changed my Facebook profile picture for “awareness”! Check out any business or organization’s social media or website, and you may see them expounding their “virtues.” These can include claims of environmental friendliness, anti-racism, or COVID-19 safety protocols. Some groups can…
