Treasurer/Secretary

Ben has provided communications and public relations counsel and leadership to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies for more than 22 years. He’s been an active member of Minnesota PRSA since 1997, achieved his APR designation, served on the Board of Directors, chaired several committees and won three Classics Awards. He currently serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
 
He is a creative, results-driven business leader with proven success building positive, mutually beneficial relationships and meaningful connections with key stakeholders. As an agency executive, Ben led the planning and implementation of PR campaigns for many high-profile organizations, including MasterCard, Microsoft, H&R Block, Deluxe and Merrill Corp. He’s also worked at several national and international enterprise organizations where he directed internal teams and outside agencies to ensure the successful completion of communications projects and programs.
 
Ben has a bachelors’ degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He volunteers and serves on the boards of several local nonprofits and has taught communications classes at the University of Minnesota. He's married with three young children and enjoys golf, curling, skiing and running.

Marsha Pitts-Phillips is president and founder of MRPP & Associates Communications, LLC. Her experience includes leading the public relations function at a large nonprofit, as a former broadcast journalist with several television stations including KSTP-TV, as an associate professor of communications, and a volunteer guest lecturer in college public relations courses. In 2018, she moderated the Gubernatorial Candidate Town Hall Forums for then-DFL candidate Tim Walz and GOP candidate Jeff Johnson. She has spearheaded and collaborated on several large-scale public relations initiatives including the 2018 National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.’s “The Sound of Gospel Musical” and the NFL Sanctioned Super Bowl LVII Gospel Celebration broadcast on Black Entertainment Television.

In addition to PRSA membership, she’s a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Media-Related Members Task Force; and its local affiliate, the Twin Cities Black Journalists, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She serves on the board of directors for Prepare + Prosper; the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Leadership Advisory Council; and as an Associate Minister at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. 

Pitts-Phillips earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Communications from Northeastern University in Boston; attended Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn. and United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minn.

Ethics Officer

Candee Wolf, APR

Candee Wolf, APR, is principal of Wolf Olson Communications, which she founded to meet the growing need for strategic integrated communications to enhance audience experiences, build positive reputation and achieve business goals. She has more than 20 years of experience working for and with global and national organizations and agencies including UnitedHealth Group, Cargill, Affinity Plus Credit Union, American Dental Partners, North Memorial Health and CentraCare.

She holds a master’s degree in Communications from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Stout and is Accredited in Public Relations (APR). Candee is an active member of PRSA and hopes to rejoin the Minnesota PRSA Board as Chapter Ethics Officer after previously serving as Chapter President in 2010. She is also an active member of the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST.

Carolyn Will, APR, is the principal/owner of CW Marketing & Communications, a boutique public relations agency specializing in strategic communications, media relations and events. Our strength lies in defining the issues, identifying the target publics and connecting the dots between the two with creativity and strategy. Speaking of two, we are a two-member team that can expand like an accordion to a full roster with a reliable support network of contractors to call upon as needed. Our full list of clients and project highlights are listed on our website at www.cwcommunications.info.

Carolyn Will is a former award-winning health and medical broadcast journalist for a national show on PBS and Discovery Health. She also produced locally for KSTP-TV and as a Midwest stringer for FOX 24 hours news. She has remained strongly interested in community health, civic engagement, global citizenship, travel and tourism. Before advancing to health reporting, Carolyn traveled around the world with two teachers setting up an international curriculum and classroom-sharing program in 15 countries to promote a global-citizen mindset for students in northern Minnesota.

Carolyn Will is a Rotarian and has traveled to villages in Honduras with Rotarians to help residents install clean water irrigation systems and upgrade medical technology in local hospitals. Carolyn also supports a school in Red Lake, Minnesota, serving on the St. Mary’s Mission board and helping bring resources to this northern Minnesota Ojibwe reservation.

Director

Ayme Zemke, APR

Ayme Zemke, APR, is senior vice president, client service, for Beehive Strategic Communication. In this role, she is part of the agency’s executive leadership team, is responsible for delivering Beehive’s client service promise and leads a client portfolio that includes financial service and health care brands. 

Ayme loves to move an idea from good to great. Her innate curiosity leads her to ask the questions that hone a strategy to a sharp edge. And her belief in what is possible quickly earns the trust needed to lead teams through thick and thin. Ayme guides client organizations in solving complex business challenges, internally and externally, including crisis and issues management. 

Ayme is a leader in PR Council’s SHEquality Minnesota project and has been recognized by PR News as a Top PR Professional and PR Team Leader. She is an accredited member of PRSA and earned her bachelor’s degree from Hamline University.