From Ben Saukko, Minnesota Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) President

I was sorry to learn that Theresa Skillrud, APR, passed away last week. It’s always sad to hear  about the passing of a fellow member, especially when they have been such a visible, influential and impactful member of our professional community. 

Theresa was a friend and colleague to many and a longtime supporter of our organization. She was an accredited member, served on the Minnesota PRSA Board of Directors from 2012-2015, chaired committees and remained active with the chapter even as she fought health issues these past several years.

She had a long, successful career in marketing communications and was widely known as a creative, strategic professional in our local market. During her illustrious tenure in the profession, she worked for Padilla, Children’s Hospital, and most recently at the American Academy of Neurology.

Here’s what some of her past colleagues and friends had to say about her:

“Theresa was one of the few individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with that embodied the characteristics of poise, persistence and perspective. She had a focused work ethic combined with a sense of humor.” – Eva Keiser, APR, Minnesota PRSA Past President

“Those who were fortunate enough to serve with Theresa are better for it. We have lost a great friend and leader. My favorite memory of her is her enormous smile whenever she walked into a meeting or event. She made a significant impact on our chapter in so many ways from sharing her experiences, providing strategic guidance on the board and encouraging members to attend events or pursue accreditation. Her caring, positive and dedicated spirit touched so many members.” – Tracy Carlson, APR, Minnesota PRSA Past President

"Theresa was an invaluable Minnesota PRSA board member who brought smart strategy with a smile. She had an optimistic, can-do attitude and will be dearly missed by the Twin Cities public relations community." – Brant Skogrand, APR, Minnesota PRSA Past President

We will miss Theresa and the positive energy she carried with her wherever she went. Our organization, profession and community will be a little less bright without her.

Ben Saukko

Minnesota PRSA President