Pinnacle Awards Celebration

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hampton Roads Chapter celebrated the region’s top public relations and communications achievements at its 2025 Pinnacle Awards Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at the Chesapeake Conference Center.

“The Pinnacles showcase the strategy, creativity, and heart behind the communications work shaping our region,” said PRSA Hampton Roads President Jim Hoeft, APR. “This year’s winners reflect the exceptional talent and impact of PR professionals across Hampton Roads.”

The annual awards program recognizes excellence in public relations strategy, campaigns, and tactics—highlighting work that delivers measurable results, meaningful community impact, and demonstrates the profession’s commitment to ethical practice.

This year’s dinner also featured remarks from Jenny Brooks Kaluza, founder and executive director of Come As You Are (CAYA), a nonprofit supporting career development, independence, and community integration for autistic adults through comprehensive job-training initiatives.

As the chapter’s final meeting of the year, the event brought together communications professionals from agencies, corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations to celebrate standout achievements and the people who make them possible.

The 2025 Pinnacle Award recipients were honored across a broad range of categories, showcasing the diversity and depth of the public relations profession, from media relations and digital communications to community engagement, event strategy, and internal communications.

Individual awards went to the following:

• Diversity Champion Award: Rebecca Hansen – The Hermitage Museum & Gardens

• P. Lee Starkey Pinnacle in Public Relations Award: Lauren Hansen – Jefferson Lab

The following teams and organizations were celebrated as the 2025 Pinnacle Award winners: