GKC-PRSA Honors Individuals at PRISM Awards
The Greater Kansas City chapter of PRSA (GKCPRSA) has awarded special individual awards at the PRISM Awards ceremony at 28 Event Space, Kansas City, MO. More than 90 public relations professionals attended the first inperson event in three years.
"We were thrilled to be back in person to honor the best of the best. Both the Roger Yarrington Public Relations Professional of the Year and the Bill DeLay Award for Distinguished Service recognize individual initiatives to help the chapter. We look forward to naming the Agency of the Year Award in December," said Bridget Koan, GKC-PRSA chapter president.
Germinder Named 2022 Roger Yarrington Public Relations Professional of the Year
Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA, was named the 2022 Roger Yarrington Public Relations Professional of the Year. Germinder is president and founder of Germinder & Associates, Inc., an agency based in Kansas City and New York. Germinder is Chair of the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Fund Advisory Committee, GKC-PRSA Vice President of Mentoring, and the GKC-PRSA 1999 Past-president. She served on the GKC-PRSA board from 1992-2001, ending as Midwest District Chair before returning to serve again as past president during the pandemic. In addition, she has served on the national board of directors and as the 2013 president of the PRSA-NY chapter. Before launching her own company in Kansas City, she worked at area agencies Harmon Smith and Barkley.
“Lea-Ann’s commitment to public relations has no bounds,” Koan said. “She demonstrates her passion for the profession in many ways, draws on endless energy to get work done and is one of the biggest advocates for students, who are the public relations leaders of tomorrow.”
Germinder was awarded the honor for demonstrating superior professional character, exhibiting exemplary professional achievement, and creating a positive impact on the communications profession, the lives of professionals, and organizations. In addition, she contributes her time and talents to the community and has earned the respect of peers, co-workers and clients.
"I am deeply humbled to be given this exceptional award by my hometown GKC-PRSA chapter, where I began my journey in PRSA. Returning to the chapter during the pandemic and cofounding the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA scholarship has a significance that is not lost on me,”
Germinder said. “Roger Yarrington, for whom this award was named, was deeply committed to the Kansas City community and the public relations profession. I am thrilled to join the group of past recipients and hope to continue to honor his legacy.”
For a complete listing of Roger Yarrington Public Relations Professional of the Year recipients, click here.
Taylor Named 2022 Bill DeLay Award for Distinguished Service
Norita Taylor, APR, was honored with the 2022 Bill DeLay Award for Distinguished Service.
Taylor is the Director of Public Relations for OOIDA. Before joining OOIDA in 2007, she worked at BMA and area agencies Germinder + Associates and Bernstein-Rein. Taylor currently serves the GKC-PRSA chapter as Vice President, Programming, is the Accreditation Mentor and Facilitator, and is a past president of the chapter. She served as president for two years, leading a team to put the chapter on financially solid footing. In addition, she was instrumental in the launch of the Inez Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Her financial work led to the fund's establishment. In addition, it provided her exceptional media relations acumen and broad talents for the launch.
“GKC-PRSA relies on members’ participation and volunteerism to achieve its goals, and for years, Norita has been the first to volunteer,” Koan said. “Norita embodies all the attributes of an ethical and professional public relations executive and is a role model for our future chapter leaders.”
Taylor was awarded the honor as a GKC-PRSA chapter member in good standing for exhibiting exemplary volunteer efforts on behalf of the chapter, demonstrating participation exceeding the status quo, and displaying a strong presence in the public relations profession and marketing community.
“I am humbled and greatly appreciate the honor but want to also thank my colleagues on the board for everything they do to promote and support the chapter," said Taylor.
For a complete listing of the Bill Delay Award for Distinguished Service recipients, click here.
The Greater Kansas City PRSA relies on members' participation and volunteerism to achieve its goals. Therefore, the chapter created the GKC-PRSA Service Award to recognize individuals for their efforts. If you are interested in joining the chapter, click here.
