From time to time, the PRSA Alaska Chapter may honor members for their lifetime achievement. The award is given based upon an individual’s achievements over his/her career based on a body of work displaying superior professional performance, demonstrating a significant impact on the profession and community, service to PRSA and the nonprofit community. Those recognized in this manner must have served as role models and mentors for others in the field.

Dr. Sylvia Broady, 2001

In 1963 Dr. Broady was hired as the first director of university relations for the University of Alaska by Dr. William Wood, and as a professor of journalism at the newly formed school. She has had a distinguished career as a teacher, public relations practitioner, author and academician in Alaska and Michigan.

Dr. Broady served as a state employee in Fairbanks and Anchorage, establishing the new Department of Journalism & Public Communications at the Anchorage campus in 1980 and oversaw the establishment of the first endowed chair, the Atwood Chair of Journalism. She provided public relations counsel to numerous Alaska clients, mentored students, and received honors from the National Federation of Press Women, Alaska Press Women, the Advertising Federation of Alaska, Michigan State Chapter of Women in Communications.

Bruce Pozzi, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2014

In 1977, Bruce Pozzi, APR, Fellow PRSA, became the founding president of the Alaska Chapter. He and others worked diligently to grow the Chapter, increase the number of APRs in Alaska and develop awareness among PRSA leadership of the capabilities of the Alaska public relations industry. Mr. Pozzi has served as a steadfast mentor, counselor and active participant in the Alaska Chapter since that time.

In addition to his work with the Alaska Chapter, Mr. Pozzi has served the Society extensively through the national board of directors, as North Pacific District Chair and numerous other assignments. He was the first Alaskan to earn his APR and first inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows.

The same year Mr. Pozzi served as Chapter president he also started Bruce Pozzi Public Relations, the oldest counseling firm in the state. Mr. Pozzi is well known and respected for his work in media relations, media training, reputation management, crisis communications and positioning organizations — their products and services — in the marketplace.  The firm is dedicated to assisting companies to effectively build their reputations by communicating with important external audiences. 

Mr. Pozzi has received many awards over the years including  “Communicator of the Year” and a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence. The Alaska Chapter honored him when they named the organization’s exemplary service award, the “Bruce Pozzi Chapter Service Award.” In 1999, the Council of Public Relations Firms selected BPPR among the nation’s top 185 public relations firms.