Cary, N.C. (May 5, 2009) — Ron Smith, founder and president of S&A Cherokee, has announced that Executive Vice President Chuck Norman has diligently worked towards and successfully completed requirements for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The Examination is designed for public relations professionals with at least five years of job experience and/or bachelor's degree in a communications field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting his or her portfolio to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based Examination, are granted the APR.

"S&A Cherokee has been privileged to support Chuck in the hard work he has put into developing his professional growth," said Smith. "This accreditation will only better the expertise we can offer our clients, and we are honored to have Chuck as a leader of our company and in the community."

Norman will continue to focus on S&A Cherokee's public relations, marketing and event planning initiatives. Since joining the company in 2003, he has helped build a thriving public relations department that serves a variety of local, statewide and national clients.

For more information on S&A Cherokee, please contact us.