PRSA Phoenix Presents Scott Hanson and Phil Pangrazio with Annual Awards at State of Industry Luncheon

Hanson Receives Percy Award; Pangrazio Honored for Executive Communication Leadership

February 08, 2012 - The Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has announced EO member Scott Hanson, APR, Fellow PRSA, and Phil Pangrazio as winners of the Percy Award and Phoenix Award, respectively, at its annual state of the industry luncheon. Hanson, a member of EO in Arizona, is the president of HMA Public Relations and Pangrazio is the president and chief executive officer of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL).

“The PRSA Phoenix Board is pleased to honor Scott and Phil for their leadership and commitment to delivering high-quality communications in their organizations,” said PRSA Phoenix President Christie Silverstein, the director of marketing and public relations for Valley Forward Association. “Their best practices and expertise are appreciated by our members who attended the event to learn about their experiences and how they execute the objectives of their employees for customers and clients.”

The Percy Award is earned by a professional who has demonstrated excellence in public relations and has made positive contributions to the community. It is only given when a panel of past recipients agrees on a deserving practitioner. The Phoenix Award recognizes a CEO, business or community leader for practicing exemplary public relations practices within his or her business operations while being active in the community and supporting the industry. The chapter issued a call for business executives and community leader nominations in November. The Percy Award was first presented in 1960 and Hanson is the first male recipient since 2001. The Phoenix Award was initiated in 1982. For a list of past winners, visit phoenixprsa.org and click on “Professional Development.”

A PRSA Phoenix member since 1988, Hanson is one of only 450 practitioners in the prestigious PRSA College of Fellows. He has served on chapter committees and in leadership roles for membership, accreditation and award judging, and has received many local and national awards for HMA Public Relations over the last 25 years. He has served as the chairman of the Northern Arizona University School of Communication Professional Advisory Council since 2004. An NAU alumnus and former sportscaster, he also serves as the professional advisor to the university’s PRSSA Chapter (Public Relations Student Society of America).

As a board member prior to becoming the CEO, Pangrazio was among the first to support the concept of hiring a public relations firm to assist ABIL in its communications efforts. Under his leadership, the nonprofit organization embraces the integral role that public relations plays in positioning its mission and services with consumers, elected officials, community leaders and the media. ABIL is a major service provider regarding the independent living philosophy related to disabilities.

The luncheon featured a panel of practitioners from several sectors discussing best practices, trends and challenges facing the industry and commenced the 2012 slate of continuing education programs for members from many different Valley industries.

About PRSA Phoenix:
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA; prsa.org) is the world’s largest and most prominent organization dedicated to the professional development and advocacy of public relations practitioners. The PRSA Phoenix Chapter, dating back to 1961, is one of the largest in the nation, serving more than 250 public relations and communications professionals in a variety of industries. Its members include counseling firms and agencies, educational and governmental institutions, service organizations, corporate entities and independent practitioners. PRSA Phoenix offers members opportunities to advance their careers through events, awards programs, accreditation and a variety of skill-building resources. A 15-member board of directors, each serving a three-year term, governs the chapter and the membership elects all leaders.