from staff
The North Florida Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) recently announced the winners of its annual PRism Awards for outstanding achievement and services in public relations and PRSA. Five chapter members were honored for their professional and personal contributions to the public relations profession and community. The awards ceremony was held at River City Brewing Company.
Each of the five PRism Awards highlights and honors different stages of a public relations professional’s career.
“We recognize our 2009 PRism honorees not only as excellent public relations professionals, but also generous stewards of their time and talent,” said Jay Magee, North Florida PRSA chapter president. “Their ‘donations’ help advance PRSA, our profession and all of us who are honored to call them our colleagues.”
This year’s winners are:
• Kathy Barbour, APR, internal communications manager at Mayo Clinic Florida, received the Ray Bullard Award for outstanding contributions to the public relations profession through service and accomplishments.
• Amy Lyn D’Alesio, co-founder of PR and design consultancy Creative Types, received the Building Bridges Award for her significant community involvement and brand initiatives for nonprofit groups.
• Rebecca Hart, APR, president at Hart & Partners, received the President’s Award for her outstanding contributions to the North Florida Chapter and excellent representation of the profession.
• Judith Brown, volunteer and development coordinator at The Bridge of Northeast Florida Inc., received the Rising Star Award. This award recognizes a PR professional with less than five years in the industry who has achieved excellence and positively influenced the industry.
• Matthew Pagan, a University of North Florida student and president of its Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, received the Student Promise Award for his commitment to PRSSA and his professional potential.