About Our Chapter
The Mid-Columbia Chapter covers southeastern Washington state and northeastern Oregon.
This includes the area spanning from Walla Walla to Yakima (east-west) and Ritzville to Pendleton (north-south).
Our chapter formed in 2018 in response to the significant concentration of marketing, communications and public relations professionals in the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities who were interested in more local networking and learning opportunities.
Members of PRSA Mid-Columbia are committed to enhancing the industry through our work, service, mentoring, and leadership throughout the region.
The chapter is affiliated with the North Pacific District of PRSA.
PRSA is the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community.
The PRSA national organization has members in all 50 states, represented by more than 100 chapters, several professional interest sections, and on hundreds of college and university campuses through its student organization, the Public Relations Student Society of America.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is made up of volunteers passionate about advancing the communications and public relations industry and its practitioners in our region. The board meets every other month. Board members serve two-year terms.
Executive Board
- Savannah Tranchell, Energy Northwest – President
- Emily Volland, Kadlec Regional Medical Center – Secretary
- Angela Smith, Energy Northwest – Treasurer
- Vacant – President-elect
- Vacant – Past president
Directors-at-Large
- Hanna Goss, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Andrea McMakin, Grace Clinic
- Margaret Mitchell-Jones – Professional Development Committee chair
- Rochelle Olson, Prominence Public Relations
- Mandy Wallner, City of Richland – Membership & Outreach Committee chair
- Kelly Rae, Energy Northwest – Communications Committee chair
Committees
Our volunteer committees support the chapter and our members. All dues-paying members are welcome to join our committees. To learn more about getting involved, email info@prsamidcolumbia.org
Membership & Outreach Committee
The Membership & Outreach Committee works to recruit and retain chapter members.
- Mandy Wallner, City of Richland – Chair
- Rochelle Olson, Prominence Public Relations
Nominations Subcommittee
Works to recruit and nominate board members for two-year terms.
- Vacant
Professional Development Committee
The Professional Development Committee organizes and executes programming to support development and networking for our members.
- Margaret Mitchell-Jones – Chair
- Andrea McMakin, Grace Clinic
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee oversees our chapter website, email and social media.
- Kelly Rae, Energy Northwest- Chair
- Andrea McMakin, Grace Clinic
- Maegan Murray, Pacific Northwest National Lab
- Sindi Madrigal