Pierce Receives Presidential Citation from PRSA
Jonathan M. Pierce, APR, vice president of Sawchuck, Brown Associates, Albany, N.Y., received the Presidential Citation from the Public Relations Society of America. He was given the honor for revitalizing the Capital Region Chapter of PRSA and for spearheading the APR accreditation process in Albany.
Among Pierce's accounts for Sawchuck, Brown Associates, are the New York State Tax Amnesty program and Sprint PCS. (Sawhuck, 518/462-0318)
Two Awardees Honored for International Efforts
Jose Rolim Valenca of Brazil and Taiji Kohara of Japan - who was awarded posthumously - were presented with Atlas awards at the Public Relations Society of America's International Section dinner during the national conference in St. Louis. Both awardees were singled out for lifetime accomplishments in international practice.
Valenca, who spent his early career with General Motors and Ford in Brazil, later founded AAB Public Relations, which became the largest PR agency in Latin America. The business was later acquired by Ogilvy and Mather in 1980.
Kohara started Japan's first PR agency, the International Public Relations Company, in 1959; and then went on to create one of the world's first global PR networks, the International Public Relations Group of Companies. He also was a founding member of the Public Relations Society of Japan. (PRSA, 703/883-2535)
New Hires
Jeffrey A. Dixon joins Kemper Lesnik Communications, Chicago, as senior VP, public affairs. He was senior VP, corporate affairs for Eller Media Company, an outdoor-advertising company. (312/755-3589)
The National Gas Vehicle Coalition, Arlington, Va., has appointed Roger A. King director of communications and membership. He was chief of the Washington, D.C., bureau of Crain Communications' Plastic News. (703/527-3022)
Alexandra Foley has joined Robert Marston Corporate Communications as director of the New York firm. She was press officer for RMS Titanic, Inc. (212/371-2200)
Thompson & Co., Memphis, has named Troy Simmons, account executive; Tarvis Thompson, public relations account coordinator; Jeff Price, information services specialist; and Cliff Watson, associate copywriter. (901/527-8000)
Huey Cook & Partners, Birmingham, Ala., has hired Bob Bartels as PR director; George Ralls as account executive; and Maggie Tindill as media director. (205/969-3200)
General Motors Powertrain Group named Robert Herta, formerly manager, PR, for Michigan's Visiting Nurse Association, to the position of employee communication coordinator last month. (GM Powertrain, 810/857-4154)
Promotions
The Marcus Group has promoted Thomas Kilkenny from account executive to assistant vice president; and Sheri Glenn from PR assistant to account executive of the Secaucus, N.J.-based PR and government affairs counseling firm. (201/902-9000)
Golin/Harris Communications, Chicago, has promoted Paula Wheeler to account supervisor. (312/836-7100)
Morgan & Myers, Waterloo, Iowa, has promoted Carrie L. Jorgensen to senior associate in the Waterloo office. (319/233-0502)
On Board
Kathryn Metcalfe joins the board of directors of Noonan/Russo Communications, New York, a PR firm specializing in pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare industries. Metcalfe is senior VP of the PR firm. (212/696-4455)
Obituary
Oddo/Coke-Kerr Partner Dies
On Dec. 10, Andy Coke-Kerr, a partner at San Marcos, Calif.-based Oddo/Coke-Kerr, died after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage, just one day after his 52nd birthday.
Mr. Coke-Kerr joined Oddo/Coke-Kerr, a PR, advertising and marketing agency, in 1990 as an account executive and was later named executive vice president of PR. In 1992, he became a full partner.
In addition to his career with Oddo/Coke-Kerr, Mr. Coke-Kerr worked for IBM; Saatchi & Saatchi/RPG, England; Tallant LaPointe, Denver; and Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, San Diego. He also served for several years as managing editor of Plastics Forum Design magazine.
Mr. Coke Keer graduated magna cum laude from the University of Denver with a bachelor of arts in mass communications in 1973 and went on to become a certified business communicator.
He later joined the U.S. Air Force as a public information specialist and served in Germany. (Oddo/Coke-Kerr, 619/471-2330)