Communicator Award
The Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of PRSA annually presents a special Communicator Award to a businessperson, educator, politician or other community leader who effectively uses public relations and/or communications skills in the performance of their responsibilities.
Communicator Award Candidate Criteria:
- Business person, educator, politician or other community leader.
- Has more than 15 years public relations and/or communications and/or significant community involvement experience.
- Has demonstrated effective application of sound public relations principles and practices in furthering a greater understanding of a business, community or other issue in the performance of their responsibilities.
- Has made a meaningful, positive impact in Southeastern Wisconsin.
- Must be present at the Paragon Awards Ceremony to accept the award.
* NOTE: In order to qualify for the Paragon Communicator Award, the candidate cannot be nominated by a co-worker and/or agency or a family member.
2025 recipient:
Peggy Williams-Smith
Communicator of the Year Award Winners:
2025: Peggy Williams Smith
2024: Meagan Johnson, Executive Director and Mariah Antetokounmpo, Board Member of Milwaukee Diaper Mission
2023: Sarah Maio, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Wisconsin Center District
2022: Jodie Tabak, Assistant Director of Reputation Management, Northwestern Mutual
2021: Dr. John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, President & CEO, Medical College of Wisconsin
2020: Mayor Tom Barrett, City of Milwaukee
2019: Mark Maley, longtime editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and most recently public affairs and communications director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) (presented posthumously)
2018: Steve Costello, President and CEO of Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation
2017: Bob Babisch, Vice President of Entertainment for Summerfest
2016: Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks
2015: Stephanie Klett, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism
2014: Michael Lovell, former UW-Milwaukee chancellor and Marquette University President
2013: Jeff Sherman, OnMilwaukee.com
2012: Tom Still, President of Wisconsin Technology Council
2011: Wayne Larrivee, Voice of the Green Bay Packers
2009: Rich Meeusen, President & CEO of Badger Meter, Inc
2008: Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn
2007: Tim Hoeksema, President and CEO of Midwest Airlines
2006: Carlos Santiago, Chancellor of UW-Milwaukee
2005: Gary Grunau, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Gilbane
2004: Beth Nicols, Executive Director of Milwaukee Downtown
2003: Daniel Steininger, President and CEO of Catholic Knights
2002: Scott Walker, Executive of Milwaukee County
2001: Tim Sheey, President of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
2000: Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor of UW-Milwaukee
1999: James Cameron, Founder of the Black Holocaust Museum
1998: Bill Hanbury, President and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau
1997: Sr. Joel Read, President of Alverno College
1996: Tommy Thompson Governor of Wisconsin
