Crystal (Smith) DeStefano, APR, will lead a group discussion of current and potential candidates from Central New York for the Accreditation in Public Relations at this year’s Public Relations Society of America Northeast District Conference.

As president and accreditation chair for the Central New York Chapter of PRSA, DeStefano has launched several local initiatives to help mid- to senior level professionals earn accreditation.

Following a half-day training seminar for all Northeast public relations professionals interested in earning their APR, DeStefano will meet with candidates from the CNY region to provide an overview of resources available at the local and national levels, answer questions in one-on-one discussions, and help candidates get started or get to the next step in the APR process – whether submitting an application, applying for a scholarship, responding to a “Readiness” questionnaire, or preparing for the exam.

DeStefano earned Accreditation in Public Relations in 2012, and is often enlisted by PRSA Chapters and individual professionals for guidance on accreditation.