Ronald C. Hanser, APR
President and Principal
Ron, an international leader in the public relations profession, has been a PR professional since 1972. He co-founded Hanser & Associates in 1996 and leads the firm’s overall daily management, setting the vision for services to clients, strategic counseling, and new business development.
Prior to co-founding the firm, Ron had 25 years experience as a corporate senior executive responsible for PR, marketing, government relations and client-agency supervision. He headed these functions at international, national and regional companies, including Iowa Health System, The Principal Financial Group, Farm Credit System and National Pork Producers Council.
Ron's media relations experience includes work with The Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and other national media. His career has also included creation of worldwide PR and branding programs for corporations; global product launches; management of corporate annual meetings; and managing crisis communication for events such as national product recalls, explosions, CEO resignations, labor strikes, litigation and protest demonstrations.
In addition to his responsibilities at Hanser & Associates, Ron is active in leadership of Pinnacle Worldwide, Inc., an international corporation of independent PR firms with more than 50 offices and 1,000 employees. Hanser & Associates is an equity partner in Pinnacle; and Ron served as Pinnacle’s global Chairman 2006-2009 and member of the Executive Committee 2002-2009.
Ron is published and quoted worldwide on business communications and PR industry topics. For example, he authored the chapter “PR for People in Corner Offices” in the book “Public Relations Best Practices,” published in 2007 by Aspatore Books. Ron also speaks frequently at national and regional conferences.
He is member of Public Relations Society of America and APR accredited by PRSA.
Ron is a graduate of Kansas State University with a B.S. in Journalism.
Also of benefit to the firm's clients, Ron is a well-connected leader of Iowa’s business groups. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, central Iowa’s economic development organization, and a former chair and current member of the Partnership’s Communications Advisory Committee. Ron is also a member of the board of West Des Moines Development Corporation.
Ron is active in leading non-profit organizations, also. He is a member of the boards of directors of National Council on Youth Leadership, Marketing Committee of American Red Cross and a member in Rotary International.
His hobbies include traveling, fly fishing, reading, hiking and photography.
