 | Maine Public Relations Council Annual Conference and Meeting
Steady PR: Maintaining Balance and Trust in Chaotic Times
Friday, November 7, 2025 — USM McGoldrick Center, Portland, ME
This year, the Maine Public Relations Council is focused on helping PR professionals navigate uncertainty while maintaining authenticity, credibility, and composure in their work and media relationships. In an era where information overload, shifting narratives, and stakeholder expectations are intensified, we recognize the need for steady communication leadership. Our 2025 #SteadyPR programming will feature workshops, expert panels, and hands-on sessions to help PR professionals maintain balance while keeping communications grounded in truth, ethics, and trust.
Register Today: https://tinyurl.com/ubxy9mhs
Conference Program
7:30 a.m. – Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m. – MPRC President’s Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:30 a.m. – Morning Keynote, Dan Coyne, President and CEO, United Way of Southern Maine: "United is the Way: Cultivating Balance and Building Trust in Uncertain Times."
9:15 a.m. – Media Panel, Moderated by Chet Lunner: "Journalists and Trust: Why Credibility and Connection Matter More Than Ever." — Panelists: Reuben Schafir (Portland Press Herald), Sawyer Loftus (Bangor Daily News), Jennifer Rooks (Maine Public), Marissa Bodnar (CBS13/FOX23 & USM).
10:00 a.m. – Anthony Ronzio, Director of Communications, Office of Governor Janet T. Mills: "From Crisis to Clarity: Navigating High-Stakes Communication with Steady Leadership."
10:45 a.m. – Break
11:00 a.m. – Chris Grass, President, Fan Out Media: "Trust-Driven Effectiveness: Aligning Paid and Earned Media Strategies."
11:45 a.m. – Lunch, Networking, and Tabletop Discussion Topics
12:30 p.m. – MPRC Annual Meeting and Award Presentation
12:45 p.m. – Break
1:00 p.m. – Dan Cashman, Director of Public Relations, Sutherland Weston: "Sustaining Personal Trust: Balancing Transparency and Trust in a Polarized World."
1:45 p.m. – APR Panel, Moderated by Shane Perry, APR: "Certainty in Uncertain Times: APR Accreditation as a Professional Compass." — Panelists: Luka Ladan, APR (Zenica Public Relations), Cristal Steuer, APR (TVP Communications), and Benjamin Speed, M.A., APR (Northern Light Health)
2:30 p.m. – MPRC Closing Remarks and Tote Bag Raffle
The 2025 MPRC Annual Conference is made possible by sponsors flyte new media, Marshall Communications, Northeast Media Associates, Burgess Advertising & Marketing, Maine Community Foundation, Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, and Versant Power. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact info@meprcouncil.org to learn more.
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