Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas communications manager to speak at Journalism Alumni Seminar Oct. 24

October 19, 2009 -- Rob Roedel, the manager of corporate communications for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, is the featured speaker at the College of Communications Alumni Seminar, Saturday, Oct. 24.  The seminar, part of Arkansas State University’s Homecoming weekend activities, is 10 a.m. in the first-floor studio, Room 155, Radio-TV, and is open to the public. A luncheon will follow.

A native of Jonesboro, specifically the Valley View community, Roedel has worked in the communications and marketing field for approximately 20 years.

After graduating from Arkansas State with a degree in journalism in December 1989, Roedel spent the majority of his career in the high-tech industry sector, where he designed and implemented marketing and communications plans for both publicly traded and privately held companies. His work included both domestic and international marketing and communications programs. He has also worked for the Walnut Ridge Times Dispatch and the Forrest City Times-Herald before becoming public relations director for the Forrest City School District.

He worked at Arkansas Systems, later Arksys and Euronet, for more than five years.  He served as communications manager for Alltel Information Services from 1998 to 2002.

In 2002, Roedel began working for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. During his tenure with the cooperatives, he has led many comprehensive projects designed to help the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas communicate with approximately 500,000 members. He works extensively on web-based communications and assists with the production of Rural Magazine, the largest circulation publication in Arkansas.

He has served on the board of directors for the Arkansas Broadcasters Association and regularly maintains contacts with its members, as well as with the Arkansas Press Association.  While at Arkansas State, he worked for The Herald as campus editor and news editor and was a member of the student chapters of the Public Relations Society of America and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Roedel and his wife, Carrie, have two children, Torrie and Jake. The family resides in Bryant, where he serves on the Bryant Planning Commission. Roedel is very involved in youth athletic programs, as well as serves on the board of the Bryant Athletic Association.

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