Uplift Your Colleagues with a PRSANE Chapter Service Award Nomination
Time sure flies and this year many professionals have been elevating the professional practices of public relations. We are ready for liftoff to celebrate the fantastic work of our colleagues and you can uplift individuals by nominating them for the 2021 PRSANE Chapter Service Awards. This group of awards recognizes individuals and organizations in Nebraska who have risen to the top and represent the highest PR standards. We were proud to present service awards at the Paper Anvil Awards in January 2020 to Bill O’Neill, Angie Hempel, Nebraska Medicine, Erin Van Zee, and Mike Hogan.
Professional of the Year: Bill O’Neill, Executive Director of the UNMC Department of Strategic Communications
The PRSA Professional of the Year Award honors an individual who represents the best in public relations; a PR practitioner who has made significant contributions to the profession for years and has used public relations and communications techniques in a highly professional manner to accomplish significant objectives. This award is the highest honor bestowed on a PRSA member.
Bill O’Neill stands out as an outstanding example of the management function that establishes mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the public, especially during the pandemic. It was a trying time for health care and O’Neill led his team through the year of crisis management with a need to adapt communications and ensuring the highest level of public relations for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Prior to his current role, O’Neill was director of public relations for nine years and senior associate director, advancement, public relations for five years.
Nebraska Chapter Service Award: Angie Hempel, Director of Strategic Services at Emspace + Lovgren – Past PRSANE Monthly Program Chair
The Nebraska Chapter Service Award recognizes a PRSA member, who through his or her service to the organization, has provided leadership, exceeded the expectations of his or her responsibility, or in some way assisted in strengthening the chapter.
Angie Hempel served on the PRSA Nebraska board for three years in her role of Programming Co-Chair and provided unique education, professional development and networking opportunities for the chapter. Programming changed from in-person to virtual in 2020 and Zoom programs increased in some months. She is a superb leader for PRSA Nebraska and at Emspace + Lovgren as she is involved in community projects such as Food Bank for the Heartland and supports marketing campaigns for non-profits around Omaha.
Community Service Award: Nebraska Medicine – Accepted by Taylor Wilson, Media Relations Sr. Coordinator
The Community Service Award recognizes an organization or business that has made significant contributions to the common good of the community through participation in important activities and elevation of the professional practices of public relations.
The communication team at Nebraska Medicine has done a phenomenal job communicating important guidance and information throughout the pandemic. From stories of survivors and doctors, infographics and overall information and facts, they have clearly communicated the need for proactive measures to avoid COVID-19. Taylor Wilson shared, “We want to serve the city of Omaha, the state, the region. We believe so much in our experts and do what we do and make sure we’re informing the public to the best of our ability.”
Newcomer of the Year: Erin Van Zee, Communications Director, RDG Planning & Design – PRSANE Monthly Program Co-Chair.
The Newcomer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has been a member of PRSA for one to three years and has made a significant contribution to PRSA Nebraska through leadership and/or committee membership.
Erin Van Zee joined the board in 2020 as Programming Co-Chair and worked to bring PRSA Nebraska’s events to a new, virtual format. She is an active contributor to the PRSA Nebraska board, working alongside board members to elevate PRSA Nebraska’s diversity and inclusion efforts. She was also in the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Leadership Class 43.
Media Partner of the Year: Mike Hogan with KIOS Radio
The Media Partner of the Year Award is the newest service award category. The award recognizes a media professional in Nebraska who has made a significant effort to foster connection and community in his or her market. This includes, but is not limited to, a focus on truth, accuracy and fair representation.
Mike Hogan fosters connection and community. He joined the staff at KIOS as the local “Morning Edition” host in November 2017. He also took on the station’s popular “Live & Local” feature at that time. In August 2019, Mike was named Digital Media Coordinator and local host of the show All Things Considered. Since then, “Live & Local” has become a critical community information source. Hogan has invested his time, talents and curiosity to learn more about the good happening in our community. He truly cares about the people and the work they do to make Omaha a better place.
Know an individual chapter member who uplifts those around them? Be sure to nominate them for one of the following Chapter Service Awards by October 1, 2021. To learn more about how to nominate a colleague or organization, visit the Paper Anvil Awards page.
- Professional of the Year
- Special Achievement in Public Relations
- Nebraska Chapter Service Award
- Community Service Award
- Newcomer of the Year
- Media Partner of the Year (Nominees do not need to be PRSA Nebraska members to be considered for this award)
The sky is the limit! Mark the date on your calendar as we unveil the 2021 Paper Anvil Awards and Chapter Service Award winners on December 2, 2021. View the 2020 PRSANE Gala and a brief presentation from the Service Award winners on the PRSANE YouTube channel.
