Local firm Mekky Media presents to worldwide PR leaders at IPRN Annual Congress in Lisbon

Mekky Media Relations Inc., a boutique PR agency based in Chicago and started by Mount Prospect native Michelle Mekky, participated in the Annual Congress of the prestigious International Public Relations Network (IPRN) in Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 22-26.

Mekky and Carleigh Rinefierd, senior account manager, traveled to Lisbon to present the agency's successful client work, including an innovative cannabis-industry campaign, to peers from all over the world. Mekky Media was one of a few American agencies taking part in the Annual Congress, which celebrated IPRN's 25th anniversary and attracted more than 40 top PR firms from the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.

"It was an enormous honor to be invited to join IPRN in 2020, and I was thrilled to finally travel to Lisbon for this global gathering, which was delayed for two years due to the pandemic," says Mekky, Mekky Media founder and president. "We were eager to share our agency's successes with international heads of PR firms, and we learned a lot from them as well - lessons and ideas we plan to apply to our strategies and campaigns for our existing and future clients.

Rinefierd says fellow IPRN members presented on global business trends, changing political climates, opportunities that will exist after the pandemic and more. "I was honored to represent Mekky Media and meet and learn from amazing colleagues. We are separated geographically but share the same opportunities and challenges, so it was invaluable to discuss our experiences and how we can help each other maximize business opportunities in our industry."

Mekky and Rinefierd, along with the other participants, had the opportunity to meet and converse with the president of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, when he joined an informal IPRN celebration. They also heard from keynote speaker Pedro Vante da Silva, director of the representation of the European Parliament in Portugal, who called this time "a particularly important moment for Europe and the world."

With more than 40 members representing all continents, IPRN is the world's largest organization of independent PR agencies. Members come from 100 cities and 40 countries worldwide. The organization celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

"IPRN has such a rich history, and I'm thankful we were able to be part of this conference of people who excel in the PR industry," Mekky says. "I also feel fortunate that we were able to explore the beautiful city of Lisbon, which was so welcoming and incredible to experience."

Mekky Media Relations, Inc., is a boutique public relations agency dedicated to delivering powerful publicity for a diverse roster of business and nonprofit clients in Chicago and beyond. Michelle Mekky, a veteran, award-winning broadcast journalist and PR executive, launched the agency five years ago, to provide clients with PR strategy, media relations, media training, event promotion, social media strategy and influencer outreach. The agency has grown extensively in its first five years and has been widely recognized for its success. To learn more, visit www.MekkyMedia.com.