West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

What West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America does

The West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA) is a nonprofit professional membership association and the chartered West Michigan chapter of the national Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). It serves approximately 100-150 PR and communications practitioners across the western half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, spanning Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Holland, Benton Harbor, Muskegon, Manistee, and Traverse City. The chapter is governed by a volunteer board of 14-15 elected PR professionals and operates without paid staff.

WMPRSA's core products are membership, the annual PRoof Awards (a 40-year-old regional PR recognition program), the Mentor Match mentorship program, experience-based peer cohorts segmented by career stage, APR accreditation preparation, a job board, and a monthly newsletter. Student chapters at Grand Valley State University (GVPRSSA) and Ferris State University provide a pipeline of future members. The organization also operates a DEIA Fund Grant for senior-year PRSSA students.

The business model is membership-fee driven, supplemented by per-event registration fees and corporate sponsorships (e.g., Platinum sponsor SeyferthPR). Membership requires both national PRSA and local chapter dues. Programs are delivered through in-person events at regional venues, virtual programming, and university partnerships. WMPRSA has no proprietary technology platform beyond a Squarespace-hosted website and Constant Contact email distribution; it is a community-led professional association rather than a software or data business.

Name

West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Legal name

West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Website

https://wmprsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WMPRSA is a nonprofit PRSA chapter providing professional development, networking, mentorship, and the annual PRoof Awards for approximately 100-150 public relations practitioners across West Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: WMPRSA generates revenue through chapter membership dues. Both national PRSA dues and local chapter dues are required for membership. The revenue supports chapter programming, events, professional development resources, awards, and mentorship operations.
2. Event Registration Fees: WMPRSA charges registration fees for various programs and events. Fees vary by event type: some programs are free for members, while non-members and students pay nominal fees. The PRoof Awards ceremony has separate ticket pricing.
3. Sponsorships: WMPRSA offers sponsorship opportunities at varying price points for businesses to support monthly programs, signature events, or the annual PRoof Awards. Sponsorships provide brands visibility to communications decision-makers in West Michigan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WMPRSA is a regional nonprofit professional association chapter that provides PR practitioners in West Michigan with a membership program offering networking, discounted event access, professional development, mentorship, an annual awards competition (PRoof Awards), and APR accreditation preparation. The chapter operates through educational programs, signature events, cohorts organized by career stage, and student engagement through affiliated university chapters.

Product overview

WMPRSA is a professional membership organization (not a software company) providing public relations professionals with membership benefits, educational programs, awards competitions, mentorship, and career development services across western lower Michigan. The core offering is membership, which bundles networking, professional development, awards recognition (PRoof Awards), mentorship (Mentor Match Program), peer cohorts, APR accreditation preparation, job listings, and a monthly newsletter into a single membership tier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WMPRSA Chapter Membership Recurring membership program for public relations practitioners in West Michigan, providing networking with 100+ members, discounted programming rates, professional development resources, awards access, leadership development, APR accreditation support, media networking, career leads, access to the national PRSA resource library, and a professional directory.
• PRoof Awards Annual awards competition celebrating the best public relations campaigns, tactics, and professionals in West Michigan. Includes campaign awards, tactic awards, professional awards categories, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and a PR Professional of the Year Award. The 40th anniversary gala was held in 2026.
• Mentor Match Program Four-month mentorship matching program connecting PR professionals and students with mentors based on area of interest, experience, and industry. Enrollment follows semester-based cycles.
• Experience-Based Cohorts Three peer groups organized by career stage — Getting Started (0-9 years), Ladder Climbers (10-20 years), and Wisdom in Spades (21+ years) — that meet monthly for discussion and best-practice sharing. Free for chapter members; $5 for non-members.
• APR Accreditation Preparation Program Preparation program for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) administered through the PRSA Universal Accreditation Board. Includes Readiness Review by APR-credentialed members, exam preparation resources, and study materials for professional certification.
• DEIA Fund Grant Professional development grant of up to $1,000 for DEI-related experiences for PRSSA student members entering their senior year, accompanied by free first-year chapter membership upon graduation.
• West Michigan PR Job Board Job board listing public relations, communications, and marketing job opportunities in West Michigan, accessible to members and the broader local PR community.
• Morning Meet-Up Series Monthly virtual informal networking events for PR professionals to discuss industry topics, share successes, and connect with colleagues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 Prominent Chapter designation by PRSA East Central District

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PRSA (Public Relations Society of America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMPRSA is the West Michigan local chapter of PRSA, the nation's leading professional organization serving the communications community. PRSA provides national programming, accreditation (APR), conferences (ICON), award competitions (Anvil awards), resource libraries, webinars, and a national job center with over 2,000 listings. WMPRSA pays chapter dues and operates under PRSA's bylaws, code of ethics, and organizational framework.
• Grand Valley State University (GVSU) PRSSA ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGVPRSSA is WMPRSA's student chapter at Grand Valley State University. The student chapter provides a pipeline of future WMPRSA members, participates in chapter events, competes in the PRoof Awards, and provides student volunteers for programs. GrandPR, GVSU's student-powered integrated communications firm, co-hosts events like the Holiday Mixer with WMPRSA.
• Ferris State University PRSSA ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerris State University maintains a PRSSA student chapter affiliated with WMPRSA, providing a student membership pipeline and engagement opportunity for the chapter.
• PRSA East Central DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMPRSA is a member of the PRSA East Central District, which also includes Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The District offers additional leadership forums, blogs, award competitions (Diamond Awards), and professional development opportunities.
• American Marketing Association West Michigan (WMAMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMPRSA co-hosts the AI Issues for Proactive Communicators workshop with WMAMA, providing cross-professional networking and joint programming between PR and marketing professionals.
• Warner Norcross + Judd LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner Norcross + Judd, a Michigan-based law firm, partnered with WMPRSA for the DEI webinar Exploring the Legal Landscape of DEI. Abby Coté, Labor and Employment attorney at the firm, served as speaker. The firm is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture.
• The Right Place, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Right Place, a regional economic development organization, partners with WMPRSA on DEI programming. Dr. TaRita Johnson, SVP of Talent & Diversity at The Right Place, has spoken at WMPRSA events on mentorship and DEI topics.
• Disability Advocates of Kent CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMPRSA partnered with Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) and Special Olympics Michigan to host the Accessibility in the Workplace: Going Beyond Compliance event in October 2023.
• Special Olympics MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMPRSA partnered with Special Olympics Michigan and Disability Advocates of Kent County to host the Accessibility in the Workplace event at the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports Inclusion Center.
• Calvin University School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalvin University School of Business sponsored the Professional Growth Lab event and provides career coaching resources. Calvin University also offers the Master of Media and Strategic Communication program for PR professionals.
• SeyferthPRcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeyferthPR is a Platinum Sponsor of the PRoof Awards and the endowed sponsor of the Karen Kirchenbaur APR Advancement Scholarship. CEO Jason Manshum serves as WMPRSA President. SeyferthPR is a consistent sponsor and award winner across multiple PRoof Awards cycles.
• Holland HospitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHolland Hospital sponsors the Meet the Media: Speed Pitch event and is represented on the WMPRSA board. Jessica Meldrum of Holland Hospital served as WMPRSA President in 2025.
• MSU College of Human MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMSU College of Human Medicine (Secchia Center) serves as a venue sponsor for the Meet the Media: Speed Pitch event.
• Burson (formerly Burson-Marsteller)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSara Ring, SVP at Burson (Burson Insights, Data & Intelligence practice), served as speaker for the How to Measure Reputation virtual program, bringing corporate reputation management expertise from a global firm.
• GentexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoe Matthews, VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Gentex, served as a speaker at the Work Continues DEI Signature Event, sharing strategies for building inclusive cultures in manufacturing settings.
• Bimbo Bakeries USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTanya Ross and Ericka Bradd from Bimbo Bakeries USA's Human Relations team served as speakers at the Work Continues DEI Signature Event, discussing HR strategies and DEI in manufacturing.
• TechSmithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Lambert, CTO at TechSmith (developer of Snagit, Camtasia, and Audiate), led the AI for Effective PR and Communication workshop, demonstrating AI tools for content creation, social media management, crisis communication, and media relations.
• GCI HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMegan Angelastro (SVP) and Rachel Wherry (Account Director) from GCI Health served as speakers for the Social in 2025: Expect the Unexpected event, covering social media landscape changes, emerging platforms, and AI impacts on PR.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wmprsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/wmprsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wmprsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America