PROTOS: A Race to the Finish

The Winners of the Evening

They say it’s not about the destination but the journey we experience along the way.  While this is true, it sure is exciting to reach monumental milestones after traveling down a long and treacherous road to get there. This past weekend was a culmination of hard work, endurance, perseverance, commitment, discipline and dedication to my role as a PR professional and my own personal landmark.  

Spending long hours sifting through e-mails and gathering evidence of all my work to get Farmers & Merchants Bank into the spotlight this past year was like running a marathon.  It started out slow but then required a faster pace as the deadline to submit entries for the annual OC-PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) PROTOS Awards approached, honoring outstanding PR work in Orange County. As a first time applicant, I was unprepared for the rocky road ahead that required hours of compiling information, articulating the value of our hard work and sweating up hills to complete a nomination worthy of submission. The race was a series of peaks and valleys that culminated in tears once I crossed the finish line.

This was not an individual endeavor, as my colleagues here at HKA were an instrumental part of the process. The tedious tasks of typing, stapling, writing, hole-punching and copying were completed by my co-workers, Mari, Anika, and Linda to ensure my entry would receive recognition (Nicole was supporting us in spirit, although she had not quite yet joined our team!) It was a team effort with Hilary, Inez, Martha, Emily and myself actually running in the race.

Although Inez was struggling to forge ahead with her submissions, she served as a cheerleader, providing constant encouragement and support at the wee hours of the morning and at night.  The road was familiar territory for her since she had entered the race last year and was hard at work to complete her nominations at the same time. Hilary dedicated countless hours to writing, refining and revising the final outlines to confirm they were worthy of winning. After the final revisions were instituted, we did our annual “blessing of the nominations,” hoping they would lead to victory.

The Blessing of the PROTOS

This past Friday night was the countdown to the outcome of the race announcing the recipients of the awards at the PRSA awards dinner at Rancho Las Lomas. As we sat underneath the stars hearing Steve Churm announce the categories I had entered, my heart started beating and my palms started sweating.  As he presented the media relations category, I jumped up and screamed when he announced the Award of Excellence goes to…Robyn Williams! It felt like a drum roll when he started to announce the Award of Excellence for Total Program goes to…Robyn Williams!

It was unbelievable night with Inez winning an Award of Excellence for Media Relations on behalf of Komen for the Cure OC along with a PROTOS statue for ethnic media outreach. Martha and Emily were victorious in receiving an Award of Excellence for an article pitched to the Orange County Register on behalf of O’Connor Mortuary. At the end of the night, HKA walked away with 5 prestigious awards, claiming the PRSA marathon a victory!

We are all winners with HKA!

 

Proud to be Pink

 

 Some of us at HKA recently had a pink-filled week that included two prominent events with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Orange County Affiliate. The Pink Tie Ball on Saturday, June 6, brought out both men and women in their best pink formalwear to celebrate the hope brought to the fight against breast cancer by Komen for the Cure.

The atmosphere of the austere Noguchi Garden was transformed into an enclave of blue sky and butterflies—handcrafted “Wings of Hope” that were created by local breast cancer survivors and featured a message of inspiration on the back. The gala offered guests gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a live and silent auction, an opportunity drawing for a necklace valued at $20,000, and dinner and dancing under the stars.

The generosity of the sponsors, guests and volunteers was inspiring, and by the end of the night, $250,000 had been raised for local breast health research and care for underserved women. In difficult economic times such as these, the work done by Komen is even more vital as fewer and fewer women can afford adequate health care. We at HKA are proud to be a part of the Komen Promise to end breast cancer forever.

Later that week, the passion behind that promise was reignited as Nancy Brinker, the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, came to speak to the Orange County Affiliate – the first time in more then a decade. Nancy was a vibrant presence whose energy permeated the intimate room filled with Komen supporters and volunteers.

“I promised my sister I would fight for a cure for breast cancer if it took the rest of my life — I just didn’t realize it would take the rest of my life, and what a journey it has been!” Brinker told the group. She noted that in 1982, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients was 74 percent. Today, the five-year survival rate has risen to 98 percent.

It was a moving experience to realize that, out of the tremendous pain of her sister Susan’s death, Nancy has brought so much life, enlightenment and good into the world. Many, many women have survived breast cancer because of advances in research funded by Komen for the Cure, some of whom were able to express their stories to Nancy that evening.

 

With all we experienced, it was a week to remember, one that reminded us why even though HKA’s logo is famously blue, we will always be proud to be pink.

The Crystal Cove Alliance is Keepin’ it Covey

*Note: This post has been updated as of June 16, 2009.

From the live band in the corner strumming laid-back melodies to the gourmet buffet table and its surfboard center-piece, the Crystal Cove Alliance isn’t kidding when they say they’re “keepin’ it Covey.”

On Thursday June 4, more than 50 guests gathered for the Sponsors and Underwriters Cocktail Party on the bluff-top deck at Crystal Cove. While it was easy to get distracted by the incredible sunset, it was hard to forget why we were there in the first place, to get a sneak peek at plans for the 7th Annual Crystal Cove Alliance Beach Gala: Prohibition Party and Jazz on the Beach on September 26.

As if a party on the beach isn’t reason enough to be there, the Crystal Cove Alliance has tied in the prohibition theme to recreate the Covey vibe of the 1930s. The gala promises live jazz music, a rum runner boat, vintage cars, prohibition cocktails and the best food around – literally! The party is being catered by local CCA supporters: The Beachcomber Café, Montage Laguna Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill and The St. Regis Monarch Beach.

These big names aren’t the only proponents of the gala, the Sponsors and Underwriters party raised over $200,000 from a variety of contributors (see complete list below). Regardless of the size of the donations being made, it was clear that people genuinely care about the CCA mission.

The 2009 Annual Gala will provide funds for new educational programs – including Arts in the Park, Science and Nature in the Park (SNAP) and Living History, as well as providing continued preservation of the cove.

Official sponsors of the 7th Annual Crystal Cove Alliance Beach Gala: Cox Conserves, Crystal Cove Beach Cottages, Dan & Louise Brigham, HKA, Inc. Public Relations, Miller Environmental, Inc., Orange Coast magazine, Fostering Executive Leadership—Dr. Tammy Wong, Southern California Edison, Montage Laguna Beach, Vice Chancellors at UCI, Young’s Market Company, First Foundation Bank—Dave & Lynn Rahn, Fritzler Design, Jackson Lewis LLP, Northern Trust, Pam & Jim Young, Roger’s Gardens, Soka University of America and UCI—School of Biological Sciences. Culinary sponsors The Beachcomber Café, Montage Laguna Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill and The St. Regis Monarch Beach.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2009

I had the pleasure of attending the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Orange County/Desert Cities last night along with Robyn and Hilary. This was my first time attending the event after hearing so much about it, and exceeded my expectations with the gorgeous venue, the great presenters and emcee and of course, the fabulous company. Each of the finalists were recognized with a video that played before the announcement of the winners in each category. This year’s finalists were especially impressive with their growth and success in the face of the current economic recession, and it was moving to see that the “American dream” (in which we can often lose faith because of dismal headlines and depressing stories) remained alive and well.

Another Happy New Girl

It’s hard to believe that I’m finishing up my fourth week at HKA; even harder to believe that I’m actually contributing to the blog that I’ve followed religiously since applying for the coordinator position back in January. I am so lucky to be here.

When I graduated from California State University, Fullerton last May with my bachelor’s degree in communications, I was naïve enough to think that because someone gave me a diploma, someone else would give me my dream job. It wasn’t long before I was shaken from my reverie due to a highly competitive job market and a perpetually plummeting economy. After months of searching, the hunt started to feel more like internet dating. I found myself apprehensive about every job posting thinking, “Could I really be into you? Would you be interested in me?” Not to mention the rejection (Oh, the rejection!). Until one day, I stumbled upon my soul mate, HKA.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this office and the public relations industry. My co-workers have welcomed me so warmly into an incredible company culture that I am grateful to be a part of. I would be lost without their patience and thoughtful instruction. It is a privilege to be among such an eclectic bunch whose talents and abilities extend far beyond public relations.

From learning the ins and outs of PR to discovering the infamous dessert man (who drops by annually to deliver goodies to the staff), everyday is new and exciting. I can honestly say that I am exactly where I want to be and so thankful that Hilary and the entire HKA staff have given me the opportunity to be a part of this amazing team.