48 Hours in Chicago: GVPRSSA's Journey Through PR Palooza
GVPRSSA had the incredible opportunity to attend the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Midwest District Conference, PR-Palooza, hosted by DePaul PRSSA. PR-Palooza is designed to give students exclusive access to agency and corporate site visits while connecting them with professionals and alumni across Chicago’s vibrant PR community. From networking opportunities to career advice from industry leaders, every moment of the conference is intentionally crafted to equip students with the tools, inspiration, and connections to launch their careers with confidence.
GVPRSSA kicked off the trip bright and early Thursday morning with a 6 a.m. train from Grand Rapids. This may have been the most stressful experience of my life. Working with 5 hours of sleep, I felt like an overworked mom wrangling my 11 children on the train ride. Making sure that everyone was exactly where we needed to be exactly when we needed to be there was overwhelming to say the least. After arriving in Chicago with some time to spare before the conference began, we embraced our inner tourists and made a quick stop to see the Bean. It was the perfect way to start an exciting weekend in the city, after our stressful morning.
After our sightseeing stop, we checked into the conference and headed to our first round of site visits. I had the opportunity to visit United Airlines with two other GVPRSSA members, Victoria Biadala and Britlynn Veliz. We heard from a panel of five professionals representing different communications roles within the company. In addition to touring their office space, we were able to ask thoughtful questions about their career paths, daily responsibilities, and advice for breaking into the industry. Their office is covered in airplane memorabilia which was a really exciting aspect that made the space feel very personalized. I love to travel, so seeing the marketing behind what goes into making sure people actually chose your airline was so interesting to me. The day concluded with a panel and pizza hosted by Edelman, offering even more insight into agency life.
Friday began with the Chapter Leadership Assembly, which Lauren Wayburn and I attended as members of the GVPRSSA leadership team, Lauren as Chief Experience Officer of GrandPR, and I as Chapter President. We connected with PRSSA chapter leaders from across the country and gained valuable ideas for strengthening our own organization. The first panel of the day, BEDI Shining a Spotlight: Doing More with Less, featured three speakers who discussed how business equity, diversity, and inclusion (BEDI) intersect with the PR industry and why these principles are essential in our field.
Later, I attended a site visit at the Chicago Cubs’ home, Wrigley Field (Go Cubs!). As a lifelong Cubs fan, it was a dream come true to see behind the scenes and learn how communications supports one of the most historic franchises in Major League Baseball.
When we returned to DePaul, we attended the PRSA & Friends luncheon, where I had the pleasure of speaking with Acasia Gibson, Programming Director for DCASE, and other professionals. The afternoon featured panels covering live events, recruitment, and leadership. My personal favorite was the live events panel moderated by Neal Heitz, Director of Event Production for the City of Chicago, which perfectly combined my passion for event planning with strategic public relations in an engaging and informative discussion.
After a full and energizing day, we wrapped up the conference and headed back to the train station for our trip home. The 48-hour experience was packed with networking and professional development opportunities. While exhausting, it was incredibly rewarding to connect with students and professionals who are navigating similar early career stages. We often hear that your network is your greatest resource, and having the chance to grow mine in such a meaningful way is something I will never take for granted.
About Sophie
Sophie is a junior majoring in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Psychology and an emphasis in Public Relations. She is also a student in the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Sophie currently serves as the GVPRSSA President and Programming Director, along with working as an Account Executive for her third semester at GrandPR. Her favorite part of her job is seeing how all the new members discover a love for PR through the guest speakers. After graduation, Sophie hopes to pursue a career in sports media or work at an agency.