Natalie Ghidotti, APR, founder and CEO of Ghidotti Communications, has been named the 2025 Chair of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Counselors Academy, an international group focused on the business and leadership of public relations agencies.
Ghidotti has served on the Executive Committee of Counselors Academy since 2017 and most recently served as Chair-Elect after fulfilling the Secretary/Treasurer role.
“I’m honored to lead this exceptional group of agency owners and leaders,” Ghidotti said. “Public relations is experiencing a dynamic period of growth and transformation, and I look forward to collaborating with our incredible board and members to bring fresh ideas, creativity and energy to our community. Together, we’ll continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the industry and help each other build successful and lasting agencies.”
In addition, the group announced its 2025 officers and named two new members to its Executive Committee.
The 2025 officers for Counselors Academy are:
- Chair: Natalie Ghidotti, APR, founder and CEO of Ghidotti Communications in Little Rock, Ark.
- Chair-Elect: LaTricia Woods, APR, president of Mahogany Xan Communications in Chandler, Ariz.
- Secretary/Treasurer: Ben Finzel, president of RENEWPR in Washington, D.C.
- Immediate Past Chair: John Walker, managing partner at Chirp in Atlanta, Ga.
CAPRSA Executive Committee’s new members include Emily Hartzog, president of Chartwell Agency in Rockford, Ill., and Ann Smith, president and founder of A.wordsmith in Tigard, Ore.
Serving as Members-at-Large on the 2025 Executive Committee for Counselors Academy are:
- Dan Farkas, founder of Dan Farkas Interactive in Powell, Ohio
- Emily Hartzog, president of Chartwell Agency in Rockford, Ill.
- Ann Smith, president and founder of A.wordsmith in Portland, Ore.
- Sarah Erkmann Ward, APR, president and CEO of Blueprint Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska
- Hinda Mitchell, founder and president of Inspire PR Group in Columbus, Ohio
- Sharon Wright, owner of Loud and Clear Marketing LLC in Leesburg, Va.
- Kelly Brockman, partner at McNeely Brockman Public Relations in Nashville, Tenn.
- Kristelle Siarza, APR, owner and CEO of Siarza in Albuquerque, N.M.
- Missy Hurley, APR, CEO of B2 Communications in St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Nicole Morgan, APR, CEO of Resolute PR in Tulsa, Okla.
- Tammy Belton-Davis, founder and president of Athena Communications LLC in Milwaukee, Wis.
CAPRSA offers a variety of programming and resources for its members, including webinars, a private Facebook group, and an annual three-day conference of learning for agency owners and leaders. This year’s conference will be held March 31 – April 2 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, S.C. To learn more and register for the conference, visit https://www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections/counselors-academy/prsa-counselors-academy-2025-section-conference.
PRSA Counselors Academy was founded in 1960 and is dedicated to helping public relations agency owners and leaders succeed through access to collaborative peer relationships, meaningful professional development and education programs. Counselors Academy focuses on the business of agency PR. Its entrepreneurial members are owners or senior managers of leading independent firms in the U.S. and Canada. Counselors Academy’s programs foster networking, mentoring and learning, and the Executive Committee consists of 15 agency owners, leaders and senior-level public relations professionals from across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit the PRSA Counselors Academy’s website at https://www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections/counselors-academy, or follow it on X at @caprsa or Instagram at @counselorsacademy.