(Jan. 8, 2025) – To welcome in the new year, more than 100 local Public Relations professionals were honored at the annual Public Relations Society of America San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter’s Edward L. Bernays Awards on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.
The event, held at Encore Events Center located in the historic XETV Channel 6 News Studios in Kearny Mesa, celebrated the region’s outstanding public relations, communications and marketing professionals for their campaigns managed in 2025. Recognized work included campaigns and tactics that incorporated research, planning, creativity, technical excellence and evaluation, to reach target audiences and inspire behavior change. A total of 39 awards were announced.
“It was such an inspiring night having the county’s leading public relations professionals together in one room as we recognized their incredible campaigns for our first event of the new year,” said Jenny Mehlow, 2025 PRSA SD/IC Chapter President. “We are truly fortunate to have such a wonderful network of professionals that celebrates each other, and one that serves as a safety net to catch us and lift us up when needed.”
The chapter also celebrated its annual Special Awards, naming Michelle Brubaker, director of media relations and communications at UC San Diego Health, as the 2025 Deborah L. Baker Public Relations Professional of the Year.
“This recognition is truly a career highlight for me and means so much both professionally and personally. As a mom who had her two children at UC San Diego Health and later all of my breast cancer treatment, I have a unique perspective in promoting the life-saving care provided to patients that I received first-hand,” said Brubaker. “My team has the privilege of sharing new treatments, surgeries, groundbreaking research and inspiring patient stories so the community can make informed health care decisions, and we do not take that responsibility lightly. For me, it’s the human connection we form as a team that helps us become so successful in the work we do.”
Student Bernays Awards were also presented to current students within the San Diego and Imperial Counties for demonstrating outstanding strategic thought and planning. Those recognized this year included:
- Mark of Merit Student Award: SDSU 2025 and MKR Media for their work with the 7th Annual Military Heroes Event at Liberty Station Rock Church
- Mark of Excellence Student Award: SDSU Spring 2025 JMS Capstone Project Team for their work with the Eric Paredes Save-a-Life Foundation
The San Diego/Imperial Counties PRSA chapter is one of 100 across the United States. It was founded in San Diego in 1959 and later expanded to include Imperial County.
This year’s award entries were judged by the PRSA Sunshine District, representing more than 1,000 public relations professionals from seven chapters throughout Florida. Submissions were also judged by PRSA Western District, the nation’s largest professional public relations association with more than 30,000 members and 10 regions nationwide.
The awards themselves are named after Edward L. Bernays, referred to as the “father of public relations.” Entries for the Bernays Awards must meet the highest performance standards, and winning entries demonstrate creative vision and capture the best of our profession.
The Bernays include a Best of Show Award in both the Silver and Bronze categories.
- Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence Best of Show: InnoVision Marketing Group for their event, The Amerigo Vespucci Docks in Los Angeles
- Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence Best in Show: Intesa and San Diego Workforce Partnership for their media relations campaign, SDWP Hiring Blitz Nabs $12M in Media for Gaylord Resort
The evening concluded with closing remarks from incoming PRSA SD/IC Chapter President for 2026, Elena Gomez.
“We were so thankful for all who attended and supported our awards ceremony, which serves as the chapter’s biggest event of the year,” said Gomez. “I’m looking forward to working with many in our industry this year as we grow our chapter. We are currently building out our 2026 Board Slate and I’m excited to see the work we accomplish together in 2026.”
Event sponsors include Intesa Communications Group, Ardurra, and in-kind event sponsor, J. Walcher Communications. Photography was provided by Yadira Whitney with Vänner Photo and Design.
For a full list of winners please see below and for more information on volunteering for the board, visit the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties website.
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2025 Bernays Awards — Complete Winners List:
Deborah L. Baker Public Relations Professional of the Year
- Michelle Brubaker, Director of Communications and Media Relations, UC San Diego Health
Silver Bernays Awards
Silver Bernays Award — Best in Show
- InnoVision Marketing Group
The Amerigo Vespucci Docks in Los Angeles
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Community Relations: Business
- InnoVision Marketing Group
Herman Law Amplifies Polinsky’s Survivor Voices
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Community Relations: Government
- County of San Diego
Cents and (Public) Sensibility: Shaping the County’s Budget
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Community Relations: Government (Tie)
- City of San Diego with Cook + Schmid
Ocean Beach Pier Renewal Project - City of Carlsbad
Citizens Academy
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Events and Observances (More Than Seven Days)
- University of San Diego
Lighting the Way Forward: USD Celebrates 75 Years
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Events and Observances (Less Than Seven Days), Nonprofit/Government/Association
- Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Foundation
$15M “Ready to Learn” Initiative Press Conference
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Events and Observances (Less Than Seven Days), Nonprofit/Government/Association
- InnoVision Marketing Group
The Amerigo Vespucci Docks in Los Angeles
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Integrated Communications
- University of San Diego
Lighting the Way Forward: USD Celebrates 75 Years
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Integrated Communications
- UC San Diego
UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Issues Management
- Intesa Communications Group
Tension into Trust: Supporting Interfaith in Escondido
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Public Affairs
- UC San Diego
UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Public Affairs
- Intesa Communications Group
Tension into Trust: Supporting Interfaith in Escondido
Silver Bernays Mark of Merit — Reputation and Brand Management
- UC San Diego
UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough
Silver Bernays Mark of Excellence — Social/Digital Media
- UC San Diego Health Marketing and Communications
San Diego Police Officer’s Heroic Discharge
Bronze Bernays Awards
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Collateral
- Daniel Howe and Amplified Impact Partners
New Marketing Collateral Bridges the Gap to Greater Impact
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Editorials/Op-Ed Columns
- City of Carlsbad
Carlsbad Magazine: City Matters Column
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Media Relations: Associations and Government
- Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Workforce Partnership
SDWP Hiring Blitz Nabs $12M in Media for Gaylord Resort
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Media Relations: Business-to-Business
- Clearpoint Agency
Clearpoint Drives Awareness for OptionMetrics in the U.S. and Europe - Nuffer, Smith, Tucker and WD-40 Brand
WD-40 Specialist Food-Grade Media Relations Campaign
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services
- Crowe PR and Razer
Razer Goes Beyond Gaming — AI, Sustainability & Leadership
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services
- Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
McDonald’s of San Diego County — Día de las Madres 2025
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Media Relations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Intesa Communications Group
“No Pride in Exclusion”: A Voice for Marginalized Groups
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Media Relations: Nonprofit
- Daniel Howe and Amplified Impact Partners
Earned Media Focus Pays Dividends for Partner Recruiting
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Media Relations: Nonprofit
- UC San Diego Health
Bionic Hand Sparks Resilience in Patient Campaign
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Media Relations: Press Conferences
- Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Foundation
$15M “Ready to Learn” Initiative Press Conference - Reveille, Inc. and Olive Crest
San Diego PROMiSE Launch Press Conference
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Podcasts
- DeGrave Communications and RMG Communications
PRessing On in Public Relations Podcast
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Public Service Announcements
- County of San Diego
Make Your Voice Heard: Speaking at the Board of Supervisors
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Public Service Announcements
- City of Carlsbad
Traffic Safety Video Series
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Social/Digital Media
- UC San Diego Athletics
Redefining Sports Culture at UC San Diego
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Video
- Intesa Communications Group and Uptown 11 Studios
Documentary-Style Video Helped Raise $300K for San Diego’s Unhoused - County of San Diego
A Day in the Life of a Mail-In Ballot — Voting by Mail
Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence — Video
- City of Carlsbad
New Security Checks at TGIF Concerts
Bronze Bernays Mark of Merit — Website
- UC San Diego
Behind Every Breakthrough Website
Bronze Bernays Award — Best in Show
- Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Workforce Partnership
SDWP Hiring Blitz Nabs $12M in Media for Gaylord Resort
Student Bernays Awards
Student Bernays Mark of Excellence
- San Diego State University Spring 2025 JMS Capstone Project Team
Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation
Student Bernays Mark of Merit
- San Diego State University 2025 and MKR Media
7th Annual Military Heroes Event, Liberty Station Rock Church
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