Francis Onofrio selected as one of fourteen nationally for prestigious honor;
College recognizes senior practitioners for contribution to profession

BETHANY, Conn. (Oct. 19, 2010) – The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has inducted Francis L. Onofrio, APR, Fellow PRSA, president, Mason, Inc. into the PRSA College of Fellows. Onofrio, as well as thirteen other accredited PRSA members, was inducted October 16, 2010 at the PRSA 2010 International Conference in Washington, D.C. Onofrio is the sole inductee from New England in 2010.

The College of Fellows was founded in 1990 to honor professionals in the Public Relations field who have contributed significantly to the public relations profession. Candidates must have at least 20 years of experience as a public relations practitioner or educator and must demonstrate incomparable qualities while advancing the profession.

With more than 25 years of experience, Onofrio was recently named President of Mason, Inc. where he offers clients strategic brand planning. Onofrio is a former PRSA national board director and currently serves on the University of Connecticut Alumni Association board of directors. Prior to joining Mason, Onofrio was Public Relations and Marketing Director at Travelers Insurance.

"The College of Fellows represents the brightest and most dedicated members of PRSA," said Judy Phair, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2010 College of Fellows Chair. "This induction is one of the highest honors in our profession, and we are very proud to welcome these individuals. The men and women chosen have left a mark in their organization, their communities, and PRSA."

PRSA is the largest organization for professionals and students in Public Relations. With more than 31,000 members, PRSA is broken up into 111 local chapters that focus on different issues, trends, and specialized areas, such as technology, health care, entertainment, and more. Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has more than 300 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad. Just four percent of PRSA members have been inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows.