PRSA Maryland Professional Awards

Do you know a long-time PR professional who has exhibited extraordinary achievements and demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of public relations? What about a new professional who has proven to be a rising star? Are you aware of a Maryland educator who has demonstrated a commitment to public relations/communications programs and its students? Is there a vendor that has shown outstanding support of our profession?  We are looking for nominations for the following awards:

Lifetime Achievement
Paul E. Welsh
Rising Star
PR Team Award
Educator of the Year

*Nominations are accepted throughout the year and are presented at Best In Maryland in April. No fees apply.

Lifetime Achievement

PRSA Maryland’s top award recognizes professional achievement in the practice of public relations. Recipients are industry leaders, with a minimum of 20 years of experience, who have exhibited extraordinary achievements and demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of public relations. The award recognizes an individual based on the following:

• Effective use of public relations concepts and techniques and counsel to employers, employees, clients and employers
• A history of participation in PRSA and/or other organizations dedicated to the advancement of the communications profession (five year minimum active participation with PRSA; not required to be a current member at time of nomination)
• Demonstrated ethical behavior in accordance with the PRSA Code of Ethics

Past Lifetime Achievement Honorees

2024 – Tracy Imm, APR 
2022 – Dave Imre, imre
2021 – Anita Brightman, APR, PRSA Fellow, A. Bright Idea Advertising and PR
2020 – Kenneth R. Smith, APR
2019 – Barb Clapp, Clapp Advertising & Marketing, LLC
2018 – Pattie Yu, The Yu Crew
2017 – Daniel Dunne, APR, Erickson Living
2016 – Louise Lake Hayman, APR, Fellow PRSA
2015 – Ralph Crosby, Crosby Marketing Communications
2014 – Bonnie K. Heneson, President, Bonnie Heneson Communications, Inc.
2013 – Helen Szablya
2012 – Jody Aud, APR, Associate Director, Internal Communications, MedImmune
2011 – Jacqueline Lampell, Deputy Director of Communications and Marketing, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
2010 – Gene Bracken, Director of Communications, Greater Baltimore Committee
2009 – Harry Bosk, Bosk Communications
2008 – Charles J. Fitzgibbon, APR, Executive Vice President, Weber Shandwick Worldwide

Submit Your Nomination

Rising Star

The Rising Star (formerly New Professional of the Year) Award is like a jump start to those just starting out in PR or communications. The Award recognizes a rising star in public relations who meets the following criteria:

• Employed full-time in the practice of public relations for five or fewer years
• Demonstrated an understanding of the principles of public relations
• Effectively supports his/her clients’ or company’s communications objectives
• Demonstrated ethical behavior in accordance with the PRSA Code of Ethics
• Exhibits conduct consistent with the highest standards of professionalism when dealing with clients and colleagues at all levels of their organization.

Nominees are not required to be current PRSA members.

Past Rising Star of the Year Winners

2024 – Katherine Bishop, Devaney & Associates
2022 – Staff Sergeant Sarah McClanahan, Maryland National Guard
2021 – Jamie A. Abell, A. Bright Idea Advertising and PR
2019 – Lorianne Walker, Abel Communications
2018 – Catherine Gordon, Weber Shandwick
2017 – Molly Dressel, Abel Communications
2016 – Lauren Michelotti, AECOM
2015 – Josie Hankey, Communications Strategist, Fallston Group, LLC
2014 – Kylie, Muratore, PR Coordinator, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
2013 – Jessica McKay, Erickson Living
2012 – Garrett Berberich, Himmelrich PR
2011 – Eleni Polites, Weber Shandwick
2010 – Bridget Forney, Junior Account Executive, Profiles, Inc.

Submit Your Nomination

Paul E. Welsh Award

This award recognizes the individual who represented the best in public relations as an outstanding example of the management function that establishes mutually beneficial relationship between an organization and the public upon whom it success or failure depends.  Named for Paul Welsh, APR, a long-time PRSA Maryland member and past president of the chapter, who created our state’s nickname “America in Miniature,” this award debuted in 2017.

Recipients are public relations practitioners who, like Paul, effectively use public relations to fuel solutions. This award is presented to a PRSA member with a minimum of 10 years of experience. The award recognizes an individual based on the following:

• Employed full-time in the practice of public relations for at least 10 years
• Effectively supports his/her clients’ or company’s communications objectives
• Demonstrated ethical behavior in accordance with the PRSA Code of Ethics
• Exhibits conduct consistent with the highest standards of professionalism when dealing with clients and colleagues at all levels of their organization.

Past Paul E. Welsh Honorees


2022 – Jessica Fast, Abel Communications
2020 – Courtney Benhoff, Erickson Living
2019 – Emily McDermott, Van Eperen
2017 – Nancy Sherman, Caroline Center

Submit Your Nomination

PR Team Award

This award underscores the truth that most great PR programs are a team effort. The PR Team Award recognizes a high-performing communications team that effectively supports its clients’ and its organization’s communications objectives.  In-house communications teams within an agency, corporate, non-profit or government organization are eligible for nomination. Nominated teams do not need to be PRSA members but must demonstrate ethical behavior in accordance with the PRSA Code of Ethics.

Past PR Team Winners

2022 – Planit
2020 – Abel Communications
2019 – Planit: Ashlene Larson, Jennifer Donahoe, Christina Perry, Nikki Bracy, Harry Hammel, and Kendall Dougherty
2018 – Lisa Brusio Coster, Coster Communications, and Dorothy Fuchs-Yeager, Purple Dot PR
2017 – Maryland Auto Insurance Marketing and Communications Team
2016 – Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company: Donna Wilson, Jim Taylor, Claudia Ciolfi, Carolyn Gutermuth, Dianna Fornaro, Archie Johnson and Meaghan Yurek

Submit Your Nomination

Educator of the Year

The PRSA Maryland Educator of the Year Program recognizes and honors exemplary undergraduate and graduate public relations/communications professors that are excellent instructors and education leaders in their schools and communities. Nominees do not need to be a PRSA-MD member to be nominated, however PRSSA Chapter involvement is highly regarded. The award recognizes an educator based on the following:

• An educator in a public relations/communications program in a Maryland College or University
• A history of participation in PRSSA and/or other organizations dedicated to the advancement of the communications profession
• A dedication to the advancement of students within public relations/communications.
• Conduct consistent with the PRSA Code of Ethics.

Past Educator of the Year Winners

2020 – Melanie Formentin, Towson University
2019 – Dr. David Marshall, Morgan State University
2018 – Tania Rosas-Moreno, Ph.D., Loyola University
2017 – Dana Vickers Shelley, MPA, Morgan State University
2016 – Veronica Gunnerson, Loyola University Maryland
2015 – Cylor Spaulding, Ph.D., Towson University
2014 – Dr. Leeanne Bell McManus, Stevenson University
2013 – Lester R Potter, Towson University
2012 – Karen Smedley, Loyola University

Submit Your Nomination

Partner of Distinction

This award celebrates the profession’s partners. The recipient of this award is a vendor or supplier recognized for outstanding support of a public relations/communications program or the profession as a whole.

Past Partner of Distinction Winners

2020 – Beyond Definition
2018 – Mariner Management & Marketing
2017 – Coyle Studios
2015 – Erickson Living
2014 – Hack|Stone Film Group
2012 – Business Wire