When Darren Irby was in the 2nd grade, his family home was destroyed by a flood and the Red Cross replaced his valued Cub Scout uniform. This was the beginning of a lifelong journey with the Red Cross — first as a volunteer and then as a 21-year-old paid employee. He began as the Director of Communication and Public Policy with the Red Cross in Arkansas and then moved to various positions at Red Cross NHQ in Washington, D.C., including National Vice President of Communications. He has worked more than 105 national and international disasters with the Red Cross, including the OKC bombing, the events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. He now serves the Red Cross as a National Marketing Officer, based in Arkansas.
Darren has served in the White House Office of Visitors and Special Events and has reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The New York Times. Among other awards, in 2005, he was named by the Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Americans — something Darren is particularly proud of given his love of Elvis Presley, who won the same award in 1970. After Hurricane Katrina, the Public Relations Society of America named him PR Professional of the Year in 2006. Darren says his greatest accomplishment is that of being Dad to his son, Hart, and his daughter, Belle.
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