SMPS is pleased to announce that Pearl-Grace Pantaleone, CPSM, Assoc. DBIA, 2022-2023 SMPS Alaska president, has been recognized as the 2024 Chapter President of the Year. Pearl-Grace was honored at Amplify A|E|C, the Society’s annual conference, during an awards ceremony on July 25, 2024, in Salt Lake City, UT.
The Chapter President of the Year Award recognizes an SMPS chapter president who has demonstrated excellence in leadership while serving the chapter and its members. The nomination process includes both self and peer nominations and must be submitted by a current SMPS member.
Pearl-Grace Pantaleone holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications and is senior communication strategist at HDR. In 2024, she received a national Gold Pathfinder Award from HDR for Excellence in Community Service for the work she has done within Alaska. Recently, Pearl-Grace served as the University of Alaska Anchorage Spring 2024 Alumni commencement speaker where she shared her journey about showing up for those you care about.
In 2022 at SMPS Alaska, she assumed the role of chapter president with a clear vision: to become the type of leader she would want to follow—one who uplifts others and empowers them to be their best selves. Throughout her ten-year tenure on the SMPS Alaska board, she prioritized stability and consistent messaging among volunteers and members. As a community connector, Pearl-Grace played a pivotal role in the growth and advocacy of the chapter.
During her presidency, Pearl-Grace re-imagined, redefined, and pushed the boundaries of programming and events, setting new records in attendance, engagement, awareness, and collaboration. The overall programming and events were carefully curated to support the Society’s mission and vision as well as align with SMPS Alaska’s three-year strategic plan.
“Pearl-Grace is the type of leader jumps in with both feet, sets up a plan for success, corrals the team for input/execution and always exceeds expectations,” states Cynthia Oistad, CPSM SMPS Alaska past-president for 2021-2022.
“She is also never afraid to try something new. Pearl-Grace leaned in to try new things. She took a different approach to organizing the board and assigning leadership and volunteer opportunities, and she learned from other chapter and Society to bring new ideas to the chapter,” adds Leah Boltz, FSMPS, CPSM, who’s a co-founder and past-president of SMPS Alaska.
Congratulations, again, to Pearl-Grace Pantaleone, CPSM, Assoc. DBIA!
