PRSA International Conference

NEW YORK (April 30, 2008) — The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the world's largest organization for public relations professionals, formally announced today its 2008 International Conference. The annual meeting, which features more than 100 sessions and 200 speakers, will take place Oct. 23–25 at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. PRSA also released information on some guest speakers who will deliver keynote addresses at the Conference.

Additional information on PRSA’s 2008 International Conference — The Point of Connection — is available at www.prsa.org/conf2008.

Guest Speakers
Among the current roster of keynote speakers is Mitch Albom, who will address the Conference’s General Session on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Albom is a best-selling author, award-winning sports columnist, popular radio show host and ESPN analyst. His writings include “For One More Day,” “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and “Tuesdays With Morrie,” his chronicle of time spent with a beloved but dying college professor, which spent four years on the New York Times bestsellers list and holds the distinction of being the most successful memoir ever published. All three books have been turned into successful films. Produced by Oprah Winfrey in 1999, "Tuesdays With Morrie" starred Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria and won four Emmy awards, including best TV film, director, actor and supporting actor. Albom also is known for his charitable works, which anchor him solidly in the Detroit community. He founded three charities that deliver food, shelter and educational services to Detroiters.

Addressing the Monday business luncheon will be Penelope Trunk, expert business advice columnist for the Boston Globe, author of “Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success,” and writer of the popular blog, Brazen Careerist: Advice at the Intersection of Work and Life. Her career reflects a dedication to defining success in the modern workplace, where the lines between work life and personal life continue to blur. Her advice speaks to a new business milieu where old rules — such as pay your dues, climb the ladder and work late — no longer apply. She began her career as a marketing executive in the software industry, founding three companies of her own. Her own career choices have been featured by TIME Magazine and the London Guardian as examples of how successful careerists can surmount a surfeit of new workplace issues. Both the New York Times and Business Week have cited Trunk's writings for their targeted insights into the new workplace.

Bob Lutz, who will address the Conference at its Monday General Session on Oct. 27, is vice chairman of global product development for General Motors. His career began at General Motors in 1963 and has led him to senior positions at BMW and the Ford Motor Company. He also spent 12 years with Chrysler, where he led all of the company’s automotive activities, including sales, marketing, product development, manufacturing, and procurement and supply. His Chrysler years are chronicled in his 1998 book, “Guts: The Seven Laws of Business That Made Chrysler the World's Hottest Car Company,” which was revised, updated and retitled in 2003 as “Guts: 8 Laws of Business From One of the Most Innovative Business Leaders of Our Time.” Today, the automotive legend and former Marine fighter pilot is also at the forefront of social media as one of the nation’s top corporate bloggers. GM’s Fastlane Blog, where he is chief blogger, engages customers, car enthusiasts and GM executives and receives voluminous visitor comments and feedback.