NEW YORK (December 14, 2009) - Germinder & Associates has announced Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA, president of Germinder & Associates, Inc., has been elected to the board of directors of the Public Relations Society of America, New York City Chapter (PRSA-NY). Germinder will serve a one-year term as a director. Germinder previously had served on the Greater Kansas City PRSA chapter board for ten years including as chapter president.

"I am honored to join this prestigious group of public relations professionals. After growing up in New York and leaving it for an extended period of time, it is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to my profession here in New York City in a meaningful way," said Germinder.

Germinder was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows in 2008. She has advanced the state of the public relations profession with her early and continued advocacy for public relations professionals to embrace the Internet as an important communications channel. Today, Germinder continues to advance the notion of practicing in a niche industry through her development of traditional and social media strategies for the veterinary profession and pet product industry.

Germinder's accomplishments in creating successful campaigns and educating others regarding best public relations practices and leadership in business have resulted in several awards including the PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence; the Business Marketing Association Fountain Awards; the "Enterprising Women of the Year Honoree" Award from Enterprising Women Magazine and the "Women Who Mean Business" Award from the Kauffman Foundation/Kansas City Business Journal.

Germinder is a member of the PRSA New Jersey and Kansas City chapters and several PRSA sections including the International Section and Healthcare Academy. She is also a member of the Women President's Organization (WPO), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Business Marketing Association (BMA).

About Germinder & Associates, Inc. Germinder & Associates, Inc., is a WBENC-certified communications firm founded by Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA. The firm provides strategic counsel, Web publishing content and national campaigns for niche markets including the veterinary profession and pet product industry. The firm has created more than 125 programs in animal health and is publisher of goodnewsforpets.com and catwellness.org. For more information, please visit germinder.com.

About PRSA-NY The Public Relations Society of America, New York City Chapter, is one of the founding chapters of the Public Relations Society of America, the world’s largest professional organization for public relations practitioners. Founded in 1948, PRSA-NY is the third largest PRSA local chapter in the United States. The chapter serves the interests of public relations professionals working in business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. Chapter board and committee members are volunteer public relations professionals who work in the New York metropolitan area.