2026 Chapter Elections

The following PRSA Puget Sound members are candidates for election to open positions on the 2026 PRSA Puget Sound Board of Directors. Members will have an opportunity to vote on the slate through the membership portal until Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Members have been sent a link to the ballots via email. For questions contact us at [email protected]. 

Many thanks to the Nominations Committee chaired by Toby Nelson, APR. Members included Libby Catalinich, APR, Alicia Lawver, APR, and Jennifer Olegario.

Officers and Delegate Nominees

PRESIDENT-ELECT NOMINEE
Lily Gordon
Senior Marketing Communications Director at the American Heart Association

Based in Seattle, Lily Gordon is a senior marketing communications director at the American Heart Association, leading marketing communications for the organization across Washington state. Previously, she worked in various in-house communications roles, including at online learning company Coursera, snack maker KIND, international grocer Lidl US, and robotics startup Anki.

A proud Duck, she graduated with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and German from the University of Oregon. While there, she was involved in the university’s PRSSA chapter, serving in multiple leadership roles. She has since been a member of the Puget Sound, Oregon, and Silicon Valley PRSA chapters.

Lily is a returning member of the Puget Sound PRSA chapter board, and especially enjoys finding new ways to serve members and build community. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, speaking at her local Toastmasters club and playing trumpet in the North Seattle Symphonic Band. 

SECRETARY NOMINEE
Mariesa Bus 
Public Information Officer, Tacoma Public Library

Mariesa Bus (she/her) is a public relations professional living in Tacoma, Washington. She is currently the Public Information Officer for Tacoma Public Library and in the past four years her team has earned two John Cotton Dana Awards for excellence in library public relations. Mariesa’s vocational focus is community empowerment and her background includes communications, grant writing, and marketing roles in the nonprofit and public education sectors. Interests include reading, music, theater, and adventures with her husband and three children. 

TREASURER NOMINEE
Jason Hagey
Director of Communications, Association of Washington Business 

Jason Hagey joined the Association of Washington Business communications staff in 2009 following a career in journalism. In September, 2014, he became the Director of Communications.

Prior to joining AWB, he was a reporter at The News Tribune in Tacoma where he covered local government, state politics, courts and breaking news, among other assignments. Before that, he was a reporter at the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick. He began his newspaper career at the East Oregonian, in Pendleton, Ore.

Hagey is a native of Portland, Ore., and a graduate of Portland State University. He lives in Gig Harbor with his wife and two children

BOARD POSITION 
DIRECTOR CONFIRMATION (To complete 2 more of a 3-year term)
Ian Coon 
Communications Director, Alliance for Education

Ian is a born and raised Iowan, and transplant to Seattle by way of Washington, DC. Ian has over a decade of organizing, operations and communications experience in the educational justice space, both locally and nationally. When not at work, you’ll find Ian constantly in motion traveling, cycling, practicing yoga or exploring local restaurants and shops near and far. He is also a graduate of Wartburg College with a degree in Public Relations and Organizational Leadership.

BOARD POSITION
DIRECTOR NOMINEE (3-year term)
Kati Sills 
Senior Manager, Global Public and Media Relations, AGC Biologics

Kati Sills is an experienced communications professional leading global public relations for AGC Biologics.

Kati has more than 15 years of experience in corporate storytelling, public affairs, and media relations. As the senior communications aide to former U.S. Representative Denny Heck, Kati staffed hundreds of local and national media interviews, including more than 65 live television interviews. In his memoir, the Congressman identified Kati as “an outstanding speechwriter and uncanny at finding some obscure but inspiring and totally interesting story from history that would make my larger point.” Kati also held communications roles at the American Bar Association and Edelman Public Relations in Washington, D.C.
 
After more than a decade in the nation's capital, Kati returned to the Pacific Northwest, where she joined Microsoft's global public affairs division. There, she played a pivotal role championing the tech giant's dedication to data privacy and advanced the company's policy endeavors at both state and local levels, assisting numerous leaders in the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs group.

Kati earned her Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and completed the Executive Development Program at the University of Washington Foster School of Business in 2025. She stays active in her community by serving on the City of Bothell Planning Commission.

ASSEMBLY DELEGATE POSITION #1
DELEGATE NOMINEE
Jay Weisberger, APR
Communications, DPR Construction

An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Jay Weisberger, APR, LEED AP, joined DPR Construction in 2018. In his current role, he tells stories about DPR's people and projects from across its business. Using earned, owned and shared channels, he aims to deepen the way people view DPR and the construction industry. A member of DPR's communications & brand leadership team, Weisberger also supports the communications needs of a number of internal customers.

Weisberger has been an active member of PRSA for nearly 20 years, serving on the board of the Charlotte chapter before relocating to Seattle in 2010. He served in numerous roles with the Puget Sound Chapter, including President in 2016. He has remained active with PRSA through his role as an assembly delegate and chapter board member, attending PRSA conferences and annual awards program judging. He is a strong advocate for the role PRSA plays in support of the ethical practice of public relations and the organization's ability to affect perceptions of the profession. As an assembly delegate, he hopes to represent the views of the Puget Sound chapter to the national organization and continue to work to ensure a healthy and strong peer organization for our profession.

ASSEMBLY DELEGATE POSITION #2
DELEGATE NOMINEE
Jennifer Hawton, APR
Public Relations Manager, PEMCO

Jennifer is an award-winning strategic public relations and communications manager with experience positioning and promoting transportation, industrial, and biomedical products into key markets. Having worked for an agency, a long-established aerospace company, and a newer technology company, she has a broad understanding of our assembly members’ challenges. With experience teaching graduate-level PR and actively mentoring professionals in the Puget Sound and nationwide, she understands the needs of both our legacy and next-generation PR leaders. As a second-generation APR, an APR coach, and a past board member, she is committed to advancing our profession.

Leaving the Board are Immediate Past President Aubrey Abbott, Board Member Katherine Boury, Board Member Gina Maffei

2025 Bylaw Amendment

The 2025 PRSA Puget Sound Board of Directors is proposing a bylaw amendment to Article III.  These changes would go into effect for the 2026 term of the Board. 

SUMMARY: