Ah, Women’s History Month. It is once again that beautiful time to proudly celebrate the accomplishments of women. While I like to treat every month like Women’s History Month, this time of year creates the perfect opportunity to write an entire blog about my favorite thing: influential (and badass) women.This blog will highlight some of the most significant PR professionals in the West Michigan area. The achievements, leadership, and strength of these women resulted in establishing successful PR firms and strengthening relationships within the community in and out of the office.

Kim Bode

Bode has been a business owner for 17 years and is the founder of 8THIRTYFOUR, which was recently mentioned in Forbes’ America’s Best PR Agencies 2021. She supports small businesses and women by advocating for them through the Small Business Association of Michigan and serving on the Inforum Regional Council. She has also held positions for the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA), Women in Defense, Cascade Community Foundation, American Marketing Association, and more.

Allison Clark

Clark has been the co-owner of Clark Communications for 17 years. She has 27 years of professional experience in the corporate and non-profit world and currently works as a Communications Specialist/Public Information Officer for the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. Clark has also been heavily involved with her community, serving as a Sunday school coach and the leader of an after school bible club. She has held leadership positions for the Grand Rapids Jaycees, Heartside Ministry, and various animal rescue organizations.

Emily Richett

Richett is a former TV news reporter and founder of HAPPY PR. With nearly two decades of experience working in the media, her work has been featured in top business and lifestyle publications. She has a passion for sharing inspiring stories with the public and does this through her podcast, The AMPLIFY Show. She has also held positions for the American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Broadway Grand Rapids.

MaryAnn Sabo

Sabo was an assistant professor and business reporter for the Grand Rapids Press before entering the public relations field and launching her own firm, Sabo PR, where she has served as president for 19 years. She has volunteered her time with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, the Legacy Trust Award Collection, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, and more. She has also won several awards including the PR Professional of the Year issued by WMPRSA in 2015 and had Sabo PR recognized as a top owned women business by the Grand Rapids Business Journal in 2015 and 2017.

Ginny Seyferth

Seyferth is the founder of SeyferthPR and has served as its president for 38 years. Before launching her own firm, she previously held positions at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Amoco, and Amway. Seyferth remains an active volunteer on more than 15 boards and committees, is a nationally accredited PR counselor (APR), and was recognized in 2020 as one of the Grand Rapids Business Journals “Grand Rapids 200," which is a comprehensive list of the most powerful executives.

Kelly Rossman-McKinney

The late Kelly Rossman-McKinney left a significant mark on the world of communications. Within her 45-year career, she managed to shatter the glass ceiling for women in Lansing and encourage others to follow in her footsteps. Starting her career in Lansing as a legislative secretary, she worked as an aide for the state House and Senate and helped run the Michigan Youth Corps. She founded the firm, Truscott Rossman, in 2011, and became the communications director for the Michigan Department of Attorney General in 2019. Highly involved in the PR field, she was a nationally accredited public relations counselor (APR), and a member of PRSA’s distinguished College of Fellows. She stayed heavily involved within the community and served on several boards before passing away due to cancer in 2021. Rossman will forever be remembered as one of Michigan's best-known communications experts.To ensure that Kelly’s legacy lives on, The GVPRSSA Kelly Rossman-McKinney Leadership Award was established shortly after her passing. This award seeks to recognize GVPRSSA members who exemplify leadership, empathy, allyship, grit, and resilience, encapsulating the spirit of Kelly Rossman-McKinney. The first iteration of this honor will be awarded at the WMPRSA PRoof Awards in June. If there is one thing to never forget, it is that women have made an incredible impact on the public relations field. I am honored to follow in their footsteps and to continue to learn from them as I begin my own adventure in PR.

About the Author:

Amberly is a Junior studying Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Management. She currently serves as the Vice President of Chapter Development on the GVPRSSA Executive Board. Amberly is currently working as a Communications Assistant for Grand Valley’s Alumni Relations Office and hopes to work for a Chicago-based PR firm after she graduates. For fun, Amberly loves writing, going thrifting, and watching cringey reality TV.

Grand Rapids’ Influential Women in PR: Women’s History Month