Puget Sound PRSA Announces Annual Award Winners; Seattle's Harold Carr Honored for Lifetime Achievement.

SEATTLE -- Harold Carr, former vice president of public relations and advertising for Boeing since 1986, leads the list of honorees announced this week at the annual awards gala organized by the Puget Sound chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Carr, who received the Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award, joined five other PRSA award recipients at the Dec. 1 holiday gala at the Seattle Tennis Club. Lou Cancelmi of Alaska Airlines was named PR Professional of the Year; Kathryn Reith, APR, of Even Keel Consulting, was named PRSA New Member of the Year; Cheri Brennan, APR, of Alliance Communications received the Hugh Smith Community Service award; Erik Elvejord of Holland America Line, and Publicis Dialog each received the PRSA President's Award for Volunteerism.

"These award winners have served their profession and the community by clearly showing the value of effective communications," said Candy Young, APR, president of Puget Sound PRSA. "They have demonstrated leadership and dedication to upholding the high standards of the Public Relations Society of America."

Several of Carr's well-known associates participated in the award ceremonies, including Doug Beighle, retired senior vice president of Boeing; Craig Martin, director of communications, airplanes, services & suppliers at The Boeing Company; and Neil McReynolds, president of McReynolds Associates, Inc.

More than 100 PRSA members and their guests attended the awards banquet, which raises scholarship funds for Washington state college students who are pursuing careers in public relations and communications fields.

Background on 2004 PRSA Award Winners

Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award -- Harold E. Carr, has been vice president of public relations and advertising for Boeing since May 1986, after having served as director since 1984. He joined Boeing in 1962 in the public relations news bureau. In addition to directing the company's communications and advertising functions, Carr was responsible for Boeing's historical archives and the companywide weekly newspaper. He serves on the company's corporate contributions committee. Currently, Carr is a member of the Public Relations Seminar. He is also active in several Seattle organizations, serving on the boards of the Museum of Flight, 5th Avenue Theater, Seattle-King County Sports Council, and Henry Art Gallery.

PR Professional of the Year -- As the vice president of corporate communications for Alaska Airlines, Lou Cancelmi has successfully led the company through numerous challenges since 2000 when the company lost an aircraft off the coast of California with the loss of 88 lives. This past year he was at the forefront of the airline's recovery efforts by planning all communications strategies as the airline cut millions from its operating expenses, dealt with union personnel, and reduced the work force by more than 900 jobs. Cancelmi is involved in several community service activities, including serving on the Seattle Repertory Theater Board.

PRSA Outstanding New Member of the Year -- Kathryn Reith, APR, is a new member to the PRSA Puget Sound chapter who moved here from Oregon in the past year. Shortly after joining the chapter, she took the position of chair of the organization's annual Nonprofit Seminar. As a result of her tenacity and leadership, the committee secured a $2,500 sponsorship from Washington Mutual and created one of the most profitable and popular events offered by the chapter this year.

Hugh Smith Community Service award -- Cheri Brennan, APR, is the founder of Alliance Communications and one of four principals of Golf Marketing Team, an alliance of marketing professionals who have extensive experience serving golf industry clients. Her marketing communications/public relations background spans more than 25 years. Brennan served as president of the PRSA Puget Sound Chapter in 1991. She has also served as president of the Puget Sound Chapter of American Marketing Association and president of Marketing Communications Executives International/Seattle Chapter.

Two President's Awards for Volunteerism were presented at the event. Erik Elvejord, director of public relations for Holland America Line, and Publicis Dialog, one of the top 20 public relations firms in the nation, were acknowledged for exceptional support and contributions to PRSA.

About PRSA:

The Puget Sound chapter of PRSA is the region's largest professional organization for public relations professionals, with nearly 400 members from throughout Western Washington. Members of this non-profit association represent corporations, agencies, sole practitioners, military, government, health care and other service organizations. The Puget Sound group is one of 116 chapters affiliated with the national PRSA organization, which serves 20,000 members. For more information: www.prsapugetsound.org.

Editor's note:

APR is a mark of accreditation for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. The designation is earned based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. Nationwide, approximately 6,000 public relations professionals have achieved accreditation since the program began in 1964.