Jackson Spalding Professional Earns Public Relations Accreditation

England First in Firm to Receive Designation

Atlanta, October 15, 2008 - Carrie England, an account lead with Jackson Spalding, Atlanta, has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program. England, a native of Chapin, SC, currently lives in DeKalb County and has been with Jackson Spalding since 2003.

The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The Examination is designed for public relations professionals with five to seven years of job experience and/or a bachelor's degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting his/her portfolio to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based Examination, are granted the APR.

"Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession," said Marisa Vallbona, APR, 2007 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. "Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients."

The computer-based portion of the Examination is administered throughout the year at more than 300 Prometric Testing Centers. The Readiness Review is conducted prior to the computer-based portion of the Examination by a panel of three accredited members of one or more of the nine organizations participating in the UAB. Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities.

"We are proud that Carrie has achieved this accreditation," says Jackson Spalding co-founder Glen Jackson. "She brings value to all her clients at Jackson Spalding and we applaud her for her hard work and dedication."

About the Universal Accreditation Board
The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations that today includes the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America, Religion Communicators Council, Southern Public Relations Federation and Texas Public Relations Association. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession.

For more information about the UAB and the APR designation, visit www.praccreditation.org.

About Jackson Spalding

Jackson Spalding is one of the largest independent public relations and marketing firms in the country. The company has three offices (Athens and Atlanta, Ga. and Dallas, Texas), more than 75 team members and numerous clients, including Orkin, LLC, Delta Air Lines, Chick-fil-A, Cousins Properties, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Primrose Schools. The firm was named "Best Small Agency to Work For in the U.S." by The Holmes Report in 2011. More information about Jackson Spalding is available at www.jacksonspalding.com.

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