Dorothy Thomas Black Award
The Dorothy Thomas Black Award recognizes sustained, superior performance in public relations, typically rewarding the lifetime achievement of a public relations professional who is a member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of PRSA. The award was established by PRSA in 1983 in memory of Dorothy Thomas Black, who died a year earlier. Black was the former director of public relations at St. Luke’s Medical Center and a PRSA chapter president.
Dorothy Thomas Black Candidate Criteria:
- At least 15 years of full-time experience in public relations.
- An active chapter member, meaning the candidate has been very supportive and has contributed significantly to the chapter in meaningful ways.
- Has provided public relations service to the local community (volunteer or pro-bono work outside of normal work assignments).
- Has demonstrated sustained superior professional public relations capabilities (e.g. creating greater public understanding of issues through sound application of public relations).
- Has demonstrated sustained leadership in public relations.
Please note that in order to qualify for the Dorothy Thomas Black Award, the candidate cannot be nominated by a co-worker or a family member.
2025 Recipient:
Laura Glawe, APR
Dorothy Thomas Black Award Winners:
2025: Laura Glawe, APR
2024: Karren Jeske, APR
2023: Michael Pflughoeft, APR, Fellow PRSA, Public Relations Director, BVK
2022: H. Carl Mueller, Founder and Chairman, Mueller Communications
2021: W. Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA, Strategic Communications & Reputation Management, McSweeney Public Relations LLC
2020: Jeff Bentoff, Bentoff Communications
2019: Heidi Fendos, Fendos PR
2018: Debra Miller, Ed.D., APR, Fellow PRSA President and Senior Counsel, Global Communication Strategists, LLC
2017: Marilyn and Phill Vollrath, APR
2016: Jerry Topczewski, APR
2015: Carol Seeger Weber, APR, Wisconsin Dental Association
2014: Colleen Smith, Principal at Emerald Isle Marketing/PR (presented posthumously)
2013: Dale Brown, APR, (Retired) Brown & Martin, Inc.
2012: David Fantle, APR, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Tourism
2011: Ann Peru Knabe, APR+M, UW-Whitewater Public Relations Faculty and Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve
2009: Carolyn Bellin, APR, Chief Public Relations Officer, Froedtert Hospital
2006: Steve Johnstone, APR – Director of PR, Blue Horse
2004: Harry Cherkinian, APR
2002: Ray Scroggins, APR
2001: Gary Myers, APR
2000: Alan Gaudynski, APR
1999: Linda Stephenson, APR
1997: Tom Towers, APR
1996: Bill Spevacek, APR
1995: John Luecke, APR
