Press Room

ACE Corporate Communications Director Earns Accreditation in Public Relations

Posted: May 02, 2006 in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – May 2, 2006 – The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s nonprofit fitness advocate, is pleased to announce that Kristie Spalding, ACE Corporate Communications Director, has earned Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Universal Accreditation Board (UAB).

Accreditation in Public Relations is the largest and most prestigious certification program for the public relations profession. The designation signifies a high level of experience and knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment.

To achieve Accreditation, the candidate must have several years of experience in the profession, must advance through Readiness Review (a comprehensive interview) and successfully complete a computer-based exam that tests 16 competency areas, including research, strategic planning, campaign execution, ethics, law, communication theory, technology and business literacy.

The UAB administers the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations and coordinates all activities related to the APR designation.

Spalding joined ACE in August of 2001 as Public Relations Manager. She is responsible for the management and execution of all public relations functions on behalf of ACE. Her background includes diverse experience in program development, crisis communication, nonprofit organizational strategy and brand management. She has organized, coordinated and led strategic management efforts in high-tech public and media relations at Nadel Phelan Inc. as well as in the entertainment industry at Paramount’s Great America and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Menlo College in Atherton, CA and is a former All-American Candidate, NCAA collegiate volleyball player.

Today, there is an accomplished group of more than 4,300 active Accredited practioners.

The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations including 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.

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s Authority on Fitness, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation’s “workout watchdog,” ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world’s largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org.