Gary McKillips APR Receives PRSA Georgia September Chapter Champion Award

Gary McKillips APR is the recipient of the September 2016 Chapter Champion Award from the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) (prsageorgia.org). This award recognizes his dedicated volunteer work for the Georgia chapter.

McKillips’ dedicated volunteerism for the Chapter includes serving as president in 2003 and as the Chapter’s Ethics Officer since 2011. He has coordinated and moderated the “Public Relations in the World of Sports” session for our Real World Collegiate Conference for many years, as well as several similar sessions for professionals. Each year, he steps into his broadcaster role as the “Voice behind the Curtain,” at the Chapter’s Awards Celebration gala. Additionally, McKillips helped develop the Leader Board, the Chapter's organization dedicated to professional development and networking for senior level public relations professionals. He has mentored young professionals on a one-on-one basis as well as at various special events.

“I decided to become involved with the Georgia Chapter because I believe in the power of the organization to grow the reputation of the profession,” McKillips said. “Thanks in large part to the efforts of local chapters such as PRSA Georgia, we have made it. In my opinion, public relations has never been stronger and never been more respected.”

McKillips is a writer, broadcaster and public relations consultant. He provides PR counsel to the International University of Grand Bassam (IUGB) Foundation in its efforts to gain exposure and provide support for IUGB's efforts to train students for leadership positions with the many U.S. companies located in West Africa.

McKillips also covers Atlanta sports for Associated Press Radio and is a contributor to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, writing on such subjects as sports business, general management topics, the auto industry and more. He received his APR in 1998 and was selected for the PRSA College of Fellows in 2002 and the Order of the Phoenix in 2006.

His career development includes serving as vice president PR for Contel Corporation and Turner Broadcasting (vice president of corporate and sports PR) and he also served as head of public relations for the University of Tennessee System and Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. While at GA State, McKillips orchestrated numerous international PR initiatives with Georgia State partners in Cairo, Dubai, Johannesburg/Pretoria, China, South America, Russia and Azerbaijan. He is a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and studied sports management at the University of Tennessee.

“Of course advancing the profession was not the only reason for my joining PRSA,” McKillips added. “The networking opportunities (which led directly to two of the jobs), the educational opportunities and the chance to meet some of the brightest, most talented people in any aspect of business were also reasons for my becoming a proud and now long-time member of the best PRSA chapter in the country."

PRSA Georgia (prsageorgia.org), the second-largest local chapter in the national society, consists of more than 900 professionals throughout Georgia. Its mission is to enhance the profession, provide continuing education and offer networking opportunities for its members. The Chapter hosts regular monthly meetings and seminars, an Annual Conference for professionals and an annual Real World PR collegiate conference day.

The Chapter includes eight Special Interest Groups (Corporate and Employee Communications, Healthcare, Independent Counselors, Leader Board, Nonprofit, Technology, Travel and Tourism, and Young Professionals) that meet at various times.

It also supports eight PRSSA (student society) groups at the following colleges: Berry College (Rome), Columbus State University (Columbus), Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville), Georgia State University (Atlanta), Georgia Southern University (Statesboro), Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw), University of Georgia (Athens), and University of West Georgia (Carrollton).

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