George McQuade will lead national entertainment publicity organization for the next two years with chapters in NY and Los Angeles.

Hollywood, CA August 1, 2006: George McQuade, vice president of LA-based public relations firm MAYO Communications, an active Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce member, has been elected president of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS. He  replaces Scott Pansky a partner at Allison PR who served in that capacity for four years. Other officers elected along with McQuade are Henri Bollinger, president of Henri Bollinger Associates, who will fill the dual posts of vice president and president elect; Sandi Padnos, president of SCOOP Seminars, as Vice President; independent publicist Bob Werden as Treasurer; and Sue Procko, president of Sue Procko Public Relations, as secretary. A new Board of Directors was also elected (see list below).

“We have a dozen new high caliber board members elected from all different entertainment industry fields joining an already powerful cast, who come aboard with fresh ideas to help take this prestigious organization to the next level, “ said McQuade. “I would love to see our fast growing membership double over the next two years. We’re working on everything from stronger media workshops, better membership benefits, excellent education seminars, and more powerful website to expanding our reach in the publicity business.”

With chapters in Los Angeles and New York, EPPS is the entertainment industry's premiere organization for public relations, promotions and marketing executives. It conducts monthly educational panels in both cities featuring top journalists and other professionals covering topics of interest to working publicists. Founded in 1991, EPPS objectives are to provide a regular forum for networking; produce programs concerning the current issues facing entertainment PR and the direction of the industry and the profession; and to encourage the highest professional standards. Membership is open to all working entertainment publicists.

The new board of directors, who take office this month along with the officers, will be composed of the following:

Kelly Bennett

Howard Brodwin

Christine M. Deerin

Karen DeMarco

Rachel H. Griffin

Marc Grossman

Madelyn Hammond

Elizabeth Hinckley

Rosalind Jarrett

Kim Koury

Maria LaMagra

Ellen Lebowitz, NY (with Meredith Tiger as alternate)

George McQuade

Julian Myers

Scott Pansky

Hanna Pantle

Andy Perez

Paul Pflug

Craig Radow

Eileen Salmas

Ron Sato

Flo Selfman

Michael Turner

Laurel Whitcomb

Lynn Weiss

Elizabeth Wolfe