Each week, PRsay will interview one of the nominees for the 2022 PRSA Board of Directors.
Name: Angela Walters Eveillard, APR
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Current job title: Director of Marketing and Strategic Communication at Hillsborough Community College
Board nominee position: Sunshine District Director
Alma mater: the University of Florida (“GO GATORS!”)
Number of years as a PRSA member: 22
You’ve held various committee and leadership roles at the Tampa Bay Chapter, the District Council and on the PRSA Board of Directors. Why did you decide to be a volunteer leader within PRSA?
Maya Angelou once said, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” PRSA has given me so much in my career — from professional development and leadership opportunities to lifelong friendships. I felt compelled to give back to an organization that has enriched my life and those around me.
Describe your leadership style.
I’m a connector. I’m a listener. I’m a “let’s get this done, together” type of leader.
Bringing a group with differing opinions and priorities together is one of the most difficult tasks a professional can take on. As Martin Luther King once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.”
A true leader can achieve this by listening, analyzing, supporting and empowering those in the group. Finding common ground and a shared goal inspires a team to be productive. Working to make a positive impact is a passion of mine and, I strive to lead by example.
What makes PRSA’s mission powerful for you?
As a Gator, we always say, “Gator Nation is everywhere.” Well, “PRSA is everywhere.”
PRSA has been my lifesaver and “phone a friend” throughout my career. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called a PRSA colleague for advice — advice when life threw me a box of lemons when I was being laid off or how to handle a sensitive work situation or when I simply needed a shoulder to lean on during a difficult time.
The power of PRSA’s community has made me the PR professional I am today — smarter, better prepared and more connected throughout each stage of my career.
John Elsasser is PRSA’s publications director and editor-in-chief of its award-winning publication, Strategies & Tactics. He joined PRSA in 1994.