Spokane Public Relations Society
Honors Achievement
Excellence in Public Relations, Education and Business Recognized
The Greater Spokane Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is pleased to announce the 2007 award recipients for the Degerness Award for Excellence in Public Relations, Educator of the Year and Communication of the Year. The highest honors bestowed by the Greater Spokane Chapter of PRSA, these awards recognize excellence by a public relations practitioner, educator and business leader in our community. These awards will be presented at the joint PRSA/MarCom breakfast meeting on January 4, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. at Gonzaga University Cataldo Hall.
Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated, is this year’s recipient of the Communicator of the Year award. This award recognizes excellence in communications leadership by a business leader in the Inland Northwest whose achievements include the effective use of communications to reach business objectives. As recipient of this award, Rich demonstrates that mutually beneficial relationships between Greater Spokane Incorporated and its publics play a critical role in maintaining long-term reputations. Throughout the creation of Greater Spokane Incorporated, and prior, Rich’s role in championing open communications with key stakeholders has served the organizations he leads well.
Jennifer West, COO of Rockey Hill & Knowlton is this year’s recipient of the Degerness Award. Named for PRSA Spokane founder Ken Degerness, this award honors a local PRSA member who has delivered outstanding service in support of chapter activities and who has contributed in important ways to the improvement of the public relations profession. Throughout her career, Jennifer has distinguished herself as an effective public relations strategist, champion of young people entering the profession of public relations and a leader who demonstrates through action and earned reputation the value of public relations in today’s society. Jennifer is accredited in public relations from PRSA, and a member of PRSA since 1988.
Bruce Pinkleton, professor and public relations degree program head for Washington State University, is this year’s recipient of the Educator of the Year award. This award recognizes an educator who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of public relations through a college or university setting through teaching, research, community service and involvement with students. Bruce’s continuing involvement with his students by providing them with wise counsel, as well as his ongoing research and professional involvement throughout the region, has set a standard that his students will look up to throughout their professional careers.
The Greater Spokane Chapter is the local affiliate of PRSA, the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. With more than 28,000 professional and student members, PRSA is organized into more than 100 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections, along with Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 255 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.