Local Achieves Best-in-Class Public Relations Accreditation

PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Public Relations Council (MPRC) announces that Meg Handlin earned the Accreditation in Public Relations. Handlin joins an elite group—about 5,000 plus PR professionals nationally—committed to practicing with exemplary best-in-class standards.

As a professional association of Maine public relations practitioners dedicated to the continuing professional development of its members, MPRC encourages all of its members to pursue accreditation and supports them through that process. “Meg is a great example of a member who understood the educational value of the APR preparation and challenged herself so that she could bring new insights to her clients”, explains Linda Varrell, APR, MPRC President. “As a result of her commitment to professional development, Meg has attained national recognition of public relations best practices.”

Handlin has over fifteen years of public relations and integrated marketing experience. She got her start organizing fundraising events and educational workshops for Gulf of Maine Aquarium, now known as Gulf of Maine Research Institute. She then improved her skills at Diversified Business Communications, (DBC) where she coordinated international conferences, before being promoted to Commercial Marine Group Marketing Manager.

Since 2003 Handlin has been a sole-proprietor Public Relations Strategist, she recently joined Broadreach Public Relations as a Senior Client Manager/PR Strategist. Handlin designs and implements multi-channel strategic communications plans for manufacturers, healthcare providers, software companies, nonprofits and small businesses. Her client base includes international, national and local companies. In addition, she has been appointed to the MPRC Board and is an Executive Team member of inABLE.org, an international nonprofit that establishes computer labs in Africa to empower blind and visually impaired students through computer assistive technology.

The APR designation signifies a public relations practitioner’s commitment to on-going professional development and ethical practices. Handlin wrote about her decision to pursue accreditation in a Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) PRsay guest blog titled Looking Back Leads to APR Future. In her article, Handlin writes about the motivation behind her APR preparation and outcome: “I truly believe that by looking back at the history of public relations and investing the study time to complete the APR, my knowledge and consulting capabilities have been enhanced and better aligned with best practices.”

To earn PR accreditation, Handlin passed an oral presentation and rigorous examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board, which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations, including MPRC. The accreditation program is designed to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in key areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession.

For more information about the MPRC organization, the APR, and upcoming professional development workshops visit www.meprcouncil.org.

About the Maine Public Relations Council

Chartered in 1975, the Maine Public Relations Council is a dynamic community of PR, Marketing, and Communication Professionals, dedicated to providing relevant professional development resources and support to generate greater awareness of the role of public relations. MPRC's membership includes individuals who have some current professional PR, Marketing, and Communication responsibility (or are retired professionals) and reside in or have business affairs in Maine, as well as students pursuing careers related to PR, Marketing, and Communication. Additional information at www.meprcouncil.org