Join Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) on April 14, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce for an engaging Lunch & Learn titled Accreditation in Public Relations: Learn from Those Who’ve Earned It.
Join featured speaker Susan Poole, APR, Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Director for The Westervelt Company in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as she shares her journey to earning the prestigious APR credential. Susan will offer practical insights into the Accreditation process, explain how the APR can elevate your strategic communication skills, and discuss how it has enhanced her career and leadership in the field. Whether you’re actively considering Accreditation or simply curious about what it takes, this informative and encouraging session will give you a firsthand look at the value of the APR and the steps to achieve it.
Connect with fellow communications professionals and leave inspired to take the next step in your PR career.
Get Tickets
Advance ticket sales end on April 8, 2026, at 11:55 p.m., but you can still attend the Lunch & Learn as a walk-in! Please note that lunch is not guaranteed, and payment will be collected at the door.
About Susan Poole, APR
Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Director
The Westervelt Company
Born and raised in Vernon, Ala, Susan is the Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Director for The Westervelt Company, based in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She has an M.S. in Marketing Management from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Human Environmental Science from the University of Alabama. Susan is accredited in Public Relations.
As the Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Director, she is responsible for public and community relations, internal communications and overseeing corporate marketing efforts. She is the President of the Westervelt Foundation, which implements the Company’s charitable giving strategy. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, having focused on projects that improve communication within organizations and that demonstrate project and program effectiveness.
Susan has almost 30 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations. Prior to joining Westervelt in 2017, she was the global manufacturing communications manager for International Paper. Her experience also includes roles as a public affairs director, marketing manager and positions with embassies in Croatia and Chile with the U.S. Department of State.
During her career, Susan has been involved in many organizations, including the United Way, Leadership Tuscaloosa and Leadership Autauga County, the Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition, YMCA, Rotary, and United Way of West Alabama and the Family Support Center of Prattville. She is a former Board member for the Southern Public Relations Federation and the Public Relations Council of Alabama.
Susan is married to Jeff, who she followed around the world during his U.S. Marine Corps career, and they have three children and one grandchild.