PR Club of New England Announces Expanded Leadership and Strategic Vision for 2025-2026

The PR Club of New England, the region's leading communications trade organization, has announced its new and expanded board of directors and strategic vision for the 2025-2026 term. Led by returning president Kaitlynn Cooney, the organization is committed to honoring its 77-year historic legacy while setting up for long-term success through educational programming, professional networking events, and membership growth. This revitalization comes at a critical time when the communications industry faces significant transformation from technological advances and changing media landscapes.

Founded in 1948, the PR Club has long served as the premier community for public relations practitioners in New England, but like many industry organizations, it faced a decline in membership and participation following the pandemic. Through the dedication of its volunteer board and an aggressive commitment to rebuilding, the organization has now emerged with a strong foundation, renewed leadership, and clear focus on driving growth across the region. The timing of this expansion is particularly important as communications professionals navigate an industry undergoing rapid change.

"For more than 75 years, the PR Club has been a cornerstone of New England's communications community, evolving alongside an industry in constant flux," said Kaitlynn Cooney, President of the PR Club and PR Director at Walker Sands. "As newsrooms contract and new technologies reshape how we tell and listen to stories, the Club's revitalization mirrors the need for communications professionals to come together, share expertise, and navigate change with confidence. The PR Club is here to help our members learn, grow, and build meaningful connections for the future."

The expanded board features new members and additional support for key functions including content, programming, social media, and membership. The programming team includes Allison Logano from Tier One Partners and Angelica English from TEAM LEWIS, while content leadership falls to Abbey Clark from Health+Commerce. Social media will be managed by Abby O'Malley from Revenue Analytics, and membership efforts will be led by Caitlin Kahle from Duffy & Shanley. The Bell Ringer Awards committee includes Lana Tkachenko from Bob's Red Mill and Jessica Ann Morris from jam:pr.

Membership in the PR Club continues to provide strong value for individuals and organizations. Benefits include free monthly passes to educational programming designed for professionals at all levels, discounted member-only pricing for events, and unrestricted access to exclusive Club content and resources. Corporate memberships also include free Bell Ringer Awards entries, complimentary tickets to monthly programs, and sponsored blog posts spotlighting member companies. The organization offers individual memberships and three levels of corporate membership designed to fit organizations of all sizes.

The PR Club has also begun preparing for the 58th annual Bell Ringer Awards, which will take place in June 2026. The awards celebrate excellence in PR and communications across events, content, and campaigns, as well as professional achievement awards. To stay updated on events and awards information, members can visit https://www.PRClub.org and follow the organization on social media platforms including https://www.linkedin.com.

"The New England PR industry is a small world, and we want to make it even smaller," says Cooney. "We want to bring practitioners together to learn from one another, share ideas, and build a social and professional circle where fresh ideas thrive for collective growth at a challenging time in our industry." This expansion represents a significant commitment to strengthening the communications community in New England during a period of industry-wide transformation.