Past Presidents

2023 – Dave Racine is the co-founder and managing partner at Punch PR, a full service public relations firm in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. He previously worked at Cramer-Krasselt and Hanson Dodge Creative, advising clients across the traditional and digital media engagement spectrums, providing outreach strategies to consumer product brands, tech companies as well as B2B and non-profit organizations.


2021 & 2022 – Christine is the CEO & Founder of Commvey, LLC, where she focuses on building and executing scalable communications strategies for her various clients, including public and media relations, social media, event planning, digital marketing, and more. Christine has found success in the nonprofit, technology, and SaaS industries. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational and Professional Communication, as well as a music minor in percussion, from UW-La Crosse.


2020 – Katharine Foley is an Account Supervisor at Kane Communications Group where she works with her team to develop integrated strategic communications plans that align with her clients’ business goals. Katharine is a proud alum of Marquette University, where she also served as an adjunct professor teaching Intro to PR. Katharine has extensive experience in media relations, crisis communications, government affairs and stakeholder communications.


2019 – Ryan has worked in public relations at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino since 2006, managing the department since September of 2016. In his role, Ryan oversees the property’s media relations, public affairs and social responsibility efforts. Prior to that, he was a reporter and editor with The Freeman newspaper in Waukesha. Ryan holds a BA in print journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.


2018 – Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA, has been involved in PRSA for more than two decades and is a past president of the Southeastern Wisconsin chapter. He also twice served as president of PRSA’s North Florida chapter prior to relocating to Milwaukee in 2014. After earning a Journalism degree from The Ohio State University, he worked as a reporter, editor, producer and anchor at newspapers, radio and TV stations in Ohio and Florida before transitioning to PR. During the past 20+ years he has served as the spokesperson for a government agency in Florida and worked with well-known automotive, high tech, retail brands, vacation destinations and others.


2017 – Sara Hood
2016 – Heidi Fendos
2015 – Bill Bussler
2014 – Samantha Andrews, MBA, APR
2013 – Don Klein
2012 – Michael Pflughoeft, Fellow, APR
2011 – Laura Monagle, APR
2010 – Mary Scheibel
2009 – Crystal McNeal
2008- Dave Fantle
2007 – Jeff Bentoff
2006 – Lisa Ehlke
2005 – Carol Weber, APR
2004 – Priya Barnes
2003 – Michael Pflughoeft, Fellow, APR
2002 – Paul Daniel
2001 – Kelly Skindzelewski
2000 – Evan Zeppos
1999 – Harry Cherkinian
1998 – Linda Edmondson
1997 – John Caspari
1996 – Evan Bane
1995 – Terry Dorr
1994 – Barbara Wesener
1993 – Diane DeLaSantos
1992 – Mary Ingles
1991 – Joseph Lindner
1990 – Caroyln Bellin
1989 – Marilyn Vollrath
1988 – Nancy Schwind
1987 – John Luecke
1986 – Thomas Towers
1985 – Mary Moudry
1984 – Jacqueline Meili
1983 – S Joseph Moran
1982 – Thomas Nedwek
1981 – Thomas Traband
1980 – Thomas Altenburg
1979 – William Spevacek
1978 – John L. Black
1977 – Dorothy Thomas Black
1976 – John A Bartels
1975 – William G McMackin
1974 – Maurice Bishea
1973 – Robert Rasmussen
1972 – Santo Saliture
1971 – Edwin W Hanson
1970 – Robert J Doyle
1969 – Bert C Mulroy
1968 – Charles Prout
1967 – Harry Backer
1966 – Bernard Solochek
1965 – Lee Baker
1964 – Raymond Niemitz
1963 – Loretto J Fox
1962 – Les Pollard
1961 – John Dierbeck Jr.
1960 – William Cary
1959 – Edwin Moore
1958 – John Paige
1957 – Greta Murphy
1956 – Kenneth Willett
1955 – Lawrence Smotherman
1954 – Allen Gibbs
1953 – Allen Gibbs
1952 – MH Frank
1951 – Kenneth Haagensen