John Hightower, APR

John S. Hightower, APR, is currently the senior development officer at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Prior to joining the Law Center, he provided public affairs consulting and lobbying services to a variety of clients, ranging from large, multinational corporations to small, non-profit organizations. Hightower has been active in public affairs since 1973, having served as government affairs manager for Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma; regional director for The Tobacco Institute; executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association and communications director and lobbyist for AARP.

His community involvement includes leadership positions with the Adult Literacy Advocates of Greater Baton Rouge, the March of Dimes, the Press Club of Baton Rouge and numerous other organizations.

An accredited public relations practitioner, he is a past president of the Southern Public Relations Federation, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Baton Rouge chapters of both PRAL and the Public Relations Society of America. Hightower has been recognized for his contributions to the profession with many awards, including being named PRAL’s 1994 Practitioner of the Year and a SPRF Senior Practitioner.

He is an alumnus of Louisiana State University, married with three grown children and six grandchildren and