About the
PR Council

Evan Kraus is Vice Chairman, President, Board Member and Chief Operating Officer at APCO Worldwide, a leading global advisory and advocacy consultancy trusted by many of the world’s leading companies to help them understand and thrive at times of great complexity.

Evan oversees APCO’s 32 global offices, 900+ people and work for 500+ clients and directly manages its people, technology, finance, legal and marketing functions. APCO is the executive sponsor of several of APCO’s most cutting-edge service offerings, including Margy, its new AI-powered intelligence offer created in its elite AI Communications Lab, launched in 2016, Insight, its opinion research and data analytics unit, Amplify, its media buying unit, and its office of innovation. Under Evan’s leadership, APCO has consolidated its employee ownership, nearly doubled in size and profitability, completed three successful acquisitions and launched a second brand.

Over his career, Evan has served as a senior strategic counselor for many of the world’s largest and most admired businesses – helping them design communications and engagement strategies; tell their corporate stories; push their messages out to target audiences; shape and win issue and political debates; identify, attract and mobilize supporters and endorsers; manage crises and reputational challenges; manage relationships with their Boards of Directors and critical shareholders; and achieve their business objectives. He founded APCO’s digital practice and has provided leadership to the firm and its clients on evolving communications disciplines for nearly 30 years.

Evan is an expert in the emerging fields of media convergence – the blending of online and offline content into a highly integrated, dynamic and fast-moving news flow – and is a leader in movement marketing, digital targeting and application of artificial intelligence and data science to shaping communications strategy and analyzing markets.

Evan has been recognized by PR News’ as Digital Communicator of the Year, recently won the Arthur Page Society’s prestigious Top Innovators award, and is frequently asked to speak and write on the latest trends in online communication to groups like the Conference Board, the Public Affairs Council, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), Bulldog Media, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the PR Council where he served a term as vice chair of its board.

Evan is also actively engaged in his home market, the Greater Washington DC area, serving on the Boards of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the United Way of the National Capital Area.

Prior to joining APCO in 1996, Mr. Kraus worked as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds his Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia.

Craig Buchholz, Burson’s U.S. CEO, has spent nearly three decades as a business leader in agencies and in-house, with deep experience in Fortune 100 companies in the automotive, consumer goods and healthcare sectors. Before Burson he was U.S. CEO of Hill & Knowlton.

Earlier, Craig spent three years as Senior Vice President of Global Communications for General Motors, where he was responsible for the company’s overall global communications strategy. He was instrumental in helping the company execute its unprecedented transformation to become a leader in electric vehicles, autonomous technology, and software services.

Buchholz was previously Chief Communications Officer for Procter & Gamble, where he served as a key advisor to the CEO and other C-suite leaders. He oversaw all elements of communications and led global teams across five business units, setting communications strategy and framing the company’s narrative.

Buchholz also spent nearly a decade at Merck, where he led the team responsible for strategic communications on behalf of the company’s prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, consumer care, and animal health products. He was deeply involved in the company’s $41 billion acquisition of Schering-Plough.

Earlier in his career, Buchholz held a variety of positions at Johnson & Johnson, Pharmacia (now Pfizer), and several public relations agencies.

Buchholz is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a Trustee of the Arthur W. Page Society, and a member of the Drexel University Kline School of Law Board, where he established the Buchholz Law Technology Lab. He received his J.D. from Drexel University Kline School of Law, and his B.A. from Temple University.

Matt leads Padilla, one of the most respected mid-sized agencies in the US, with 7 offices across the country. He has planned and implemented strategic communications, brand building and reputation management programs and projects for a wide range of Padilla clients, from global Fortune 500 enterprises to promising category challengers in a range of sectors.  Some of the clients benefiting from Matt’s experience include Abbott, Cargill, Mayo Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, NMDP/Be the Match, Medtronic, Belden, 3M and numerous others.

He is a continuous trend watcher, learner, education and innovator, as well as a highly skilled facilitator with a knack for simplifying the complex. Through his career, Matt has been the driver behind many of the firm’s strategic initiatives, including its Padilla.Next strategic direction and the creation of Padilla’s Purpose to Action brand and communication planning methodology, which has been successfully executed on hundreds of client engagements. He also is a member of Padilla’s Crisis + Critical Issues team, advising clients on critical-issues communication. Matt spent more than 15 years as an adjunct instructor in undergrad and master’s programs at the University of Minnesota and is a member of the Arthur Page Society and accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.  He serves on the boards of Ehlers Corporation, 4-C Holdings and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

As Fenton’s CEO, Valarie brings energy, leadership and passion for social change to both her work in strategic marketing communications and her commitment to the community. Prior to joining Fenton, Valarie led the communications and marketing for the California Community Foundation (CCF), one of the largest and most prestigious community foundations in the country.

Valarie is a highly skilled strategist, writer and team builder. She has expertise in marketing, media relations, community outreach and public affairs. While her nonprofit and public sector experience run deep, including her representation of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Latino marketing efforts, she has also had an extensive career with major consumer brands. Valarie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA, where she was honored to serve as the first Latina editor-in-chief of The Daily Bruin.

Kim’s role is to help the PR Council’s 150 member agencies grow talent, revenue and profits and elevate the PR profession overall. Prior to joining the PRC in August 2018, Kim was the founder/CEO of Emanate, a $35 million, 100+ person international marketing communications agency. During her tenure Emanate was named PR WEEK Agency of the Year and CRAIN’S Best Places to Work in NYC, and the team’s work for clients was recognized with numerous industry awards. Kim also worked at Ketchum, Marina Maher Communications and Golin earlier in her career, and has served Fortune 500 clients across a range of industries, including financial services, travel and hospitality, CPG and consumer electronics.

Kim’s role is to help the PR Council’s 150 member agencies grow talent, revenue and profits and elevate the PR profession overall. Prior to joining the PRC in August 2018, Kim was the founder/CEO of Emanate, a $35 million, 100+ person international marketing communications agency. During her tenure Emanate was named PR WEEK Agency of the Year and CRAIN’S Best Places to Work in NYC, and the team’s work for clients was recognized with numerous industry awards. Kim also worked at Ketchum, Marina Maher Communications and Golin earlier in her career, and has served Fortune 500 clients across a range of industries, including financial services, travel and hospitality, CPG and consumer electronics.

Elena Dypiangco joined the PR Council in 2023. She leads strategic communication efforts across the Council’s digital platforms and helps curate learning and development programming for members.

Elena came to the PR Council with years of experience teaching, working in development and programming at nonprofits, and in content at the start-up Dadventures. A writer, editor, program manager, and educator, Elena received her B.A. in English Literature and Media Studies from Scripps College and her M.A. in Comparative & International Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Kristin D’Urso joined the PR Council in 2016 as the Administrative Manager before expanding her role to Director of Finance & Quality Assurance in 2024. She addresses the PRC’s needs in terms of Financials, Copy Editing, Office and Member Services, and HR and Benefits.

Kristin came to the PRC with an extensive administrative background. Most recently she was the Executive Assistant and Board Liaison for New York Restoration Project, an urban greening non-profit founded by Bette Midler. Prior to that she was the Project Coordinator/Office Manager at Eric Sheffield Architect for nearly eight and a half years.

Kristin was raised just outside New York City in Rockland County. She has a passion for running, nature, animals, and travel. She graduated from New York University with a B.S. in Sociology.

Amanda Rosser joined the PR Council in 2023. She coordinates virtual events, supports the content efforts, and conducts research on industry topics to improve the Member experience.

Prior to joining the PR Council, Amanda coordinated the social media efforts for the Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law. She also gained experience in event planning and research during her time as an undergraduate.

Amanda was born and raised in Eagan, Minnesota and received her B.A. in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communication from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.