NEW YORK -- The Worldcom Public Relations Group, the largest global network of independent public relations firms, elected a record 10 new partner firms at autumn region meetings held in Mallorca, Miami and Macao.

Equally significantly, Worldcom:

• Completed initial peer reviews of all member firms according to a common Management Standard
• Elected new Boards of Directors for each region
• Enjoyed record fall meeting attendance

The Americas Region elected five new partners: Deveney Communication, New Orleans; Roberts Communications, Rochester, NY; Carreńo Group Public Relations & Government Affairs, Houston; Linhart Public Relations, Denver; and Pace Group Communications, Vancouver.

The Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Region elected four new partners: LF Channel, Barcelona; Gellis Communications, Brussels; Coxit Public Relations, Oslo; and Majlis PR & Communications, Dubai. In addition, the region welcomed the Dubai satellite office of U.S.-based Catevo Group.

The Asia Pacific Region added Shanghai Global Strategic Public Relations Consulting in Shanghai.

Tom Van Blarcom of TPQR Thailand, Chairman of Worldcom’s Group Board, said: “This has been an incredible two months for Worldcom. More than 200 PR professionals attended our region meetings. The addition of 10 new partner firms would be a landmark by itself, but the fact that we have completed initial peer reviews for almost 100 member firms is equally significant. No other PR network approaches our efforts at quality control, and we wonder how many offices of multinational firms could perform to our management standard.”

In Board elections, John Bliss of Bliss, Gouverneur & Associates, New York, became Chair of the Americas Region, succeeding Melissa Sturges of Sturges Word Communications in Kansas City, Mo. Hal Dash of Cerrell Associates in Los Angeles was named Chair-Elect. Other Americas Region board members are Rick Miller of Northlich, Cincinnati; Laura Hall of Off Madison Avenue, Phoenix; Virginia Sheridan of M.Silver, New York; Neil McGlone of Michael Burns & Associates, Dallas; Angelica Consiglio of Planin, Sao Paulo; Marie Josee Gagnon of CASACOM, Montreal; Lore MCManus Solo of Strategic America, Des Moines, Iowa; Drew Kramer of Intermountain Corporate Affairs, Denver; Todd Lynch of St. John & Partners, Jacksonville, FL; Matt Kucharski of Padilla Spear Beardsley, Minneapolis; and Stefan Pollack of The Pollack PR & Marketing Group.

Diego Biasi of Business Press, Milan, continues as Chair of the EMEA Board, where he is joined by Chair-Elect Crispin Manners of Kaizo, London; Evelyne Martin of Yucatan, Paris; John Dresser of Kestrel Worldcom UK, London; Hubert Wisse of Wisse Kommunikatie/Worldcom The Netherlands; Arnheim; and Corinna Voss of HBI, Munich.

Douglas Wright of Wrights in Melbourne and Sydney continues as Chair of the Asia Pacific Region Board, where he is joined by Mr. Van Blarcom, Jay Ahn of HPR & Company, Seoul; Linda Fulford of Fulford Public Relations, Singapore; Matt Underwood of TPQR Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City; and Nikki Kemp of PR Plus, Hong Kong.

About the Worldcom Public Relations Group

Worldcom Public Relations Group is the world’s leading network of independently owned public relations counseling firms, with some 112 offices in 93 cities worldwide. Established in 1988, it was formed so that the strongest, most capable independent public relations firms could serve national, international and multi-national clients while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent agencies. Through The Worldcom Group, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic arenas in which they operate. Visit www.worldcomgroup.com for more information.