NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leaders in the public relations industry will gather at Manhatta in New York City on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, to celebrate the 2024 PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards. This year’s event, themed “Collaboration and Innovation,” will attract CEOs of leading PR firms and other prominent industry figures. The Big Apple Awards luncheon is the premier networking event for the public relations industry, where influential figures in communications mingle with attendees and honorees of prestigious awards.
In addition to recognizing the 2024 15 Under 35 recipients, the event will announce the winners from the shortlist of Big Apple Award nominees. Maryam Banikarim, managing director of Fortune Live Media, will emcee the luncheon.
Coveted individual awards will be presented to the following esteemed dignitaries:
The 2024 John W. Hill Award will be presented to Margery Kraus, APCO.
Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman of APCO, will receive the 2024 John W. Hill Award, the PRSA-NY’s top and longest-conferred honor, which recognizes lifetime professional achievement in the practice of public relations. Kraus founded APCO in 1984 and has grown it into one of the world’s largest privately owned, majority women-owned consulting firms. She specializes in strategic communication, crisis management, and corporate reputation. Kraus has received numerous awards, including recognition on PRWeek’s U.S. Power List. She is also the author of Roots and Wings: Ten Lessons of Motherhood That Helped Me Create and Run a Company.
Jonathan Adashek will be presented with the Harold Burson Award.
Jonathan Adashek, senior vice president of marketing and communications at IBM, will receive the 2024 Harold Burson Award. The Harold Burson Award recognizes excellence in communications leadership by a non-agency practitioner encapsulating the values that BCW brings to its client engagements and those which comport with the industry’s leading practices, including an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Adashek oversees IBM’s global marketing, communications, corporate social responsibility, and federal client business development efforts. Appointed in 2022, he unified IBM’s brand under the “Let’s Create” initiative, supporting the company’s hybrid cloud and AI mission. Adashek has held leadership positions at Renault Nissan Mitsubishi, Microsoft, and Edelman.
Cathy Renna to receive the 2024 Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award.
Cathy Renna, principal of Target Cue and communications director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, will receive the 2024 Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award. The Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award recognizes the impact of female leadership and the individuals who have broken down barriers, earned the trust and respect of their clients, staff and peers, and helped pave the way for future generations of women to excel in their careers in the communications industry. A veteran in communications, Renna has been instrumental in shaping public discourse on major LGBTQ+ issues, such as the Matthew Shepard case, marriage equality, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” She coordinated media coverage for WorldPride/Stonewall 50 and Global Pride, a virtual event viewed by 57 million people. With more than 25 years of media relations experience, her work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times and USA Today. Renna also teaches at Montclair State University and was featured in Forbes Women as a “Queer PR Icon.
The 2024 Daniel J. Edelman Award will be presented to George Stephanopoulos, ABC News.
George Stephanopoulos, chief anchor at ABC News, will receive the 2024 Daniel J. Edelman Award. The Daniel J. Edelman Award for Social Impact recognizes a public relations or media industry leader whose work embodies Edelman’s commitment to improve society and commemorates the many contributions that Daniel J. Edelman made to the global communications industry. Stephanopoulos has interviewed world leaders including Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama, as well as high-profile figures like George Clooney and Mark Zuckerberg. He has led ABC’s coverage of four presidential elections and has moderated town halls with Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Stephanopoulos has earned three Emmys, a DuPont, three Murrows, and two Cronkite Awards during his two decades at the network. Before his journalism career, he served as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and authored the New York Times bestseller All Too Human. He holds a master’s degree from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
Lynne Scott Jackson, City College of NY, to receive PRSA-NY Big Apple Excellence in Mentoring Award.
Lynne Scott Jackson, distinguished lecturer and deputy chair of Media and Communication Arts at the City College of New York (CUNY), will receive the 2024 PRSA-NY Big Apple Excellence in Mentoring Award. The PRSA-NY Excellence in Mentoring Award honors individuals who continuously lead, guide and selflessly counsel and stimulate the careers of communications professionals at all career stages. With more than 20 years of experience in communications, Jackson has worked in consumer advertising, healthcare marketing, and social entrepreneurship. She is the principal of Millynneum Inc., a marketing and public affairs practice. Her clients have included South African Tourism and Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures™ global CSR program. Jackson is actively involved in PRSA’s Diversity Central Committee and the Black Public Relations Society-NY.
The 2024 PRSA-NY President's Award goes to Jason Abrams, Amtrak.
Jason Abrams, senior public relations manager at Amtrak, will receive the 2024 PRSA-NY President’s Award. The PRSA-NY President’s Award honors a current or former member of the PRSA-NY chapter who exemplifies the highest standards of ethical conduct and outstanding service within the public relations profession and to PRSA and the New York Chapter. Abrams is being honored for his visionary leadership and transformative contributions that have reshaped the industry, aligning with this year's luncheon theme, Collaboration and Innovation. He manages media relations for the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New England, and Montreal regions. Based in New York City, he serves as the primary media contact and spokesperson for these areas. Prior to joining Amtrak, Abrams held key communications roles at MWWPR and North 6th Agency, collaborating with Fortune 500 clients. His expertise spans media relations, data-driven communication strategies, and social media.
Upon receiving the President’s Award, an honor bestowed since 2003, Abrams said: “Winning the PRSA-NY President’s Award is the culmination of years of hard work, the power of relationships, and a steadfast commitment to doing the right thing. I want to thank Matt and everyone at PRSA-NY for this honor, as well as those I’ve worked with throughout my career who have contributed to my success or inspired me along the way.”
PRSA-NY Chapter Individual Awards – Full List:
- John W. Hill Award (sponsored by Hill+Knowlton): Margery Kraus, founder and CEO, APCO
- Harold Burson Award (sponsored by Burson): Jonathan Adashek, senior vice president, marketing and communications, IBM
- Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award (sponsored by HUNTER): Cathy Renna, communications director, National LGBTQ Task Force
- Daniel J. Edelman Award (sponsored by Edelman): George Stephanopoulos, chief anchor, ABC News
- PRSA-NY Excellence in Mentoring Award: Lynne Scott Jackson, distinguished lecturer and deputy chair, Media and Communication Arts, City College of New York
- PRSA-NY President’s Award: Jason Abrams, senior PR manager, Amtrak
- PRSA-NY Art Stevens CCNY Scholar. This year's winner is CCNY PRSSA President Layla Ayoub. She and her team are hard at work on their upcoming Building Bridges Career Fair & Networking Mixer
This year's honorees reflect the diverse talents and dedication that drive our industry forward, and their accomplishments are a testament to the impact of thoughtful, strategic communication.
As PRSA-NY Chapter President Matt Rizzetta remarked, “The individuals being honored at this year's Big Apple Awards truly exemplify the highest caliber of talent and innovation across the public relations industry. Their dedication, creativity, and leadership continue to shape and elevate the profession, making them admirable and deserving of recognition. We are incredibly proud to celebrate these visionaries whose work reflects the power of collaboration and the impact of thoughtful, strategic communication."
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors—Edelman, PRophet, HUNTER, Coyne PR, Burson, Hill+Knowlton, Media.com, Notified, The Stevens Group, and 360PR+—for their invaluable support in making the PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards a success, celebrating excellence in public relations. Your contributions help us honor the best in the industry and inspire the future of PR.
ABOUT THE BIG APPLE AWARDS
The New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America established the Big Apple Awards program in 1988 to encourage excellence in public relations. The program has evolved to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry and continues to celebrate the exciting and innovative successes of talented professionals working in the heart of the communications universe. Today, a Big Apple Award is known as one of the highest honors bestowed in public relations, and in recognition, submissions will be open to the work of PR practitioners across the US from this year forward.
ABOUT PRSA-NY
The New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is the best-established, most substantial and most influential group of public relations professionals in the country. Located in the media capital of the world, PRSA-NY offers to its members top-level career development and education, networking, mentoring and award programs. PRSA-NY serves communications decision-makers at agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations and public and private institutions. For more information about PRSA-NY’s upcoming events, mentorship program, jobs boards, volunteer opportunities and membership details, go to prsany.org.
