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 local chapter members were honored for their professional and personal contributions to the public relations profession and community. The awards ceremony doubled as a 35th anniversary celebration for the North Florida PRSA chapter.
Each of the five awards is designed to highlight and honor different stages of a public relations professional’s career.
“We are proud to recognize this outstanding group of public relations professionals,” said Jay Magee, North Florida PRSA chapter president. “Each of these award winners exhibits high levels of leadership, professional values and talent, and we look forward to their continued successes and achievements.”
The winners are:
• Susan B. Towler, APR, executive director for The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Inc. and vice president, Community Affairs, for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, received the Ray Bullard Award for outstanding contributions to the public relations profession through service and accomplishments.
• Bonnie Upright, APR, founder and president of Upright Public Relations, received the Building Bridges Award for her significant contributions to the community, specifically through volunteerism.
• Janet Sneden, APR, communications and public relations director at ICS, received the President’s Award for exceptional contributions to both North Florida PRSA as well as the public relations field in general.
• Jennifer Ragsdale, marketing manager for Duval Asphalt, 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.
• Tu-Anh Pham, a Valdosta State University student and president of its Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, received the Student Promise Award for her commitment to PRSSA and her professional potential.