PRNEWS Honors PRSA CEO Linda Thomas Brooks
June-July 2024
PRSA CEO Linda Thomas Brooks was named to PRNEWS’ 2024 Class of Top Women.
During a ceremony on June 4 in New York, PRNEWS recognized her in the Industry Champions category, which honors women “who’ve had an exceptional impact on the direction and advancement of the PR and communications industry beyond the impact at their own companies.”
As PRSA CEO, she is responsible for all program, financial, and operational aspects of the organization. Reporting to and collaborating closely with PRSA’s Board of Directors, she guides the development and implementation of PRSA’s strategic vision and plan and the programs and policy positions necessary to support the membership.
Before joining PRSA in January 2021, she served as president/CEO of the Association of Magazine Media. Her other roles included president of Ingenuity Media at The Martin Agency and EVP, managing director of General Motors Mediaworks.
The following PRSA members also earned Top Women honors:
• Ronica Cleary
• Leah Dergachev
• Pamela Greenwalt
• Sarah Gorvitz
• Toni Harrison
• Brandy Jones
• Sophia Marshall
• Lauren Taylor Meckstroth, APR
• Jessica Merz, APR
• Amanda Corby Noguchi
• Eloisa Orozco
• Teresa Valerio Parrot, Ed.D., APR – 2024 PRSA Board member
• Dawn Ray
• Sarah Manley Robertson
• Brenda Springer, APR
• Kristen Stippich
• Knight Stivender
Atlas Award Renamed for Longtime PRSA Leader John L. Paluszek
PRSA has renamed its Atlas Award to The John L. Paluszek Atlas Award for Lifetime Achievement in International Public Relations to honor the longtime PRSA member and celebrated PR practitioner.
The Atlas Award recognizes a PR practitioner who has made extraordinary contributions to the practice and profession of public relations in an international environment throughout their career.
“I am greatly honored and grateful to PRSA for associating my name with its annual Atlas Award for lifetime achievement in international public relations,” said Paluszek, APR, Fellow PRSA. “I hope that this will be a repeated reminder that public relations is now a global profession serving many in our vastly interconnected global society.”
Currently executive editor of Business in Society, Paluszek served as PRSA’s president in 1989 and chair of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management in 2009.
He has been a member of PRSA for more than 50 years and has received numerous honors, including the Atlas Award in 2010, the Patrick Jackson Award in 2002, and the Gold Anvil in 1994. His counseling career includes three decades as an executive at Ketchum.
University of Florida Wins PRSSA’s Bateman Case Study Competition
The University of Florida took top honors in the 2024 Bateman Case Study Competition.
PRSSA teamed up with Culturs, the global multicultural magazine, for this year's edition. Students were tasked with creating awareness of the publication on college campuses and its mission to enhance community and foster human connection of culturally fluid communities of multiethnic, multicultural, mixed-race, and geographically mobile people.
Through its “Embrace the Hyphen” campaign, the University of Florida’s CommuniGATORS reached the homes of more than 65,000 residents, inspired 44 ambassadors, and partnered with 56 organizations to embrace Culturs and its mission.
Montclair State University earned second place, with Brigham Young University taking third place. The finalists were among 45 entries from colleges and universities across the nation.
The Bateman Competition allows PRSSA members to showcase the analytical skills required for PR problem-solving. It is named to honor the memory of the late J. Carroll Bateman, APR, a past president of PRSA who was instrumental in founding the student organization.
PRSA Unveils Enhanced Learning System
PRSA recently launched a new and improved Learning Management System that offers many user-friendly features. Anyone who purchased on-demand PRSA Professional Development programs since January 2023 will receive an email with additional information.
Members can save $100 when they register for a certificate program by June 30 and use promo code CERT100. Details at this link.
