2011 PR People Awards – Agency Account Manager of the Year

Winner: Mark Martin

Senior Vice President, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

As the leader of WE’s client team for Microsoft Windows, Mark Martin helped launch Internet Explorer 9 with a yearlong campaign that turned critics into advocates. His creative perspective, relationships with key global influencers and a deep understanding of how to meld digital/social media and traditional outreach into PR activities have helped make him a driving force behind Microsoft’s success. He is both a manager and a mentor, cultivating a team of dedicated staff that he empowers to be leaders in their own right. —BM

PR TD You're Most Proud Of:
"I was fortunate to be a part of the great Waggener Edstrom and Microsoft team that launched the competitive-focused Get the Facts campaign—driving perception and ultimately share from Linux to Windows. It was a perception-changing team that delivered amazing bottom-line business results and shaped how I think about competitive communications."

In 2012, PR will:
“Blur the marketing and communications lines as organizations turn to a discipline that prioritizes relationships vs. transactional exchanges. PR will—and must—be a bellwether of balance and perspective in a bombarded marketplace, helping translate innovation into impact.”

Hometown: "The budding metropolis of Salem, Oregon."
College: Willamette University for undergraduate and Wharton for an MBA
Number of Years in PR: 15
Favorite Sports Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Most Inspiring Athlete: Magic Johnson; "He turned personal challenge into a platform for not only education and awareness but also business growth."
Favorite TV Show: Pan Am
Favorite Movie: "Everything you need to know about communications and marketing you can learn from Jerry Maguire. The Godfather Trilogy is immensely helpful, too."
What's On Your iPad? "What iPad? I’m loving the sample applications on my Windows 8 Developer Preview tablet by Samsung.”
Starbucks or Dunkin'? “With much respect to my former colleagues and clients driving great communications for Starbucks— I have to go with the green mermaid."

 

Honorable Mentions:

Emily Schwartz, Account Supervisor, GolinHarris: Schwartz helped execute winning campaigns for client Kaiser Permanente, including the launch of its interactive Center for Total Health.

Jody Sunna, VP, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR: Sunna led a team in executing a nearly yearlong effort to roll out the federal government’s national rebate program with client Sears Home Appliances in 56 U.S. states and territories.

Emilie Valle. Account Supervisor, Cone Inc: Valle’s work for Yoplait included tapping the host of The Biggest Loser to encourage women to swap a meal with a Yoplait Light.

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