Best of San Diego and Imperial Counties

PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter 2026 Edward L. Bernays Awards Announced

More than 100 local Public Relations professionals attended and were honored at the annual Public Relations Society of America San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter’s Edward L. Bernays Awards on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.

The event, held at the KPBS Conrad Prebys Media Complex at Copley Center, celebrated the region’s outstanding public relations, communications and marketing professionals for their campaigns managed from July 2025 to July 2026. 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 44 awards were announced.

“The Edward L. Bernays Awards is an opportunity to celebrate each other as public relations professionals and honor our incredible campaigns managed over the last year,” said Elena Gomez, 2026 board president of the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter. “I’m so proud of all of our winners and honorees tonight who showcase excellence in their work and exemplify the vital role that public relations plays in our communities. I also want to thank our amazing Bernays Awards committee who dedicated countless hours to making this annual event a success.”

The chapter also celebrated its annual Special Awards, recognizing three public relations professionals for their impact and one public relations team of the year:

• Otto Bos Hall of Fame: Jean Walcher of J. Walcher Communications

• Eva Irving Community Service Award: Margie Newman Tsay of Intesa Communications Group

• New Professional of the Year: Hailey “HaiJay” White of Intesa Communications Group

• Public Relations Team of the Year: UC San Diego Health Media Relations Team

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: Fall 2025 SDSU JMS Capstone Team for Banned Books Week 2025

• Mark of Excellence Student Award: Spring 2026 SDSU JMS Capstone Team for Wildlife Madagascar International Chameleon Day

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 public relations practitioners across the country, representing PRSA Chapters in North Carolina, Iowa, Chicago, Colorado, Tennessee and the Western District.

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: J. Walcher Communications for San Diego Communications Hub: Neighbors for Neighbors

• Bronze Bernays Mark of Excellence Best in Show: Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations for WD-40 Brand x King of the Hill Media Relations Campaign

The evening concluded with closing remarks from incoming PRSA SD/IC Chapter President for 2027, Jeanna Vazquez.

“We are so thankful for all who attended and supported our Bernays awards ceremony, which serves as the chapter’s biggest event of the year,” said Vazquez. “It was so special to visit with colleagues and celebrate their incredible campaigns over the last year. Now, more than ever, we need community, peer support and learning opportunities within our industry, which has always been graciously provided by the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter and I’m excited to see what we’ll accomplish in this next year together.”

Event sponsors include Intesa Communications Group, J. Walcher Communications, UC San Diego Health, UC San Diego and Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations. Photography was provided by Yadira Whitney with Vänner Photo and Design and floral design was provided by Allie Tarolli Studio, Floral & Event Design.

For a full list of winners please see below and for more information on volunteering or becoming a member, visit the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties website.

2026 Bernays Awards — Complete Winners List:

• Otto Bos Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Walcher

• Eva Irving Community Service Award: Margie Newman Tsay of Intesa Communications

• New Professional of the Year: Hailey “HaiJay” White of Intesa Communications

• Public Relations Team of the Year: UC San Diego Health Media Relations Team

Silver Bernays Awards

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Community Relations: Nonprofit/Association

• San Diego Communications Hub: Neighbors for Neighbors

• J. Walcher Communications

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Community Relations: Government

• Portside Community Academy: An Open Door

• PRM Consulting Inc.

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Reputation/Brand Management

• Game On: Capturing Mexico’s Sports Tourism Market

• San Diego Tourism Authority

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days) Nonprofit/Government/Association

• A Taste of the San Diego Region

• San Diego Tourism Authority

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days) Nonprofit/Government/Association

• Teen Stroke Survivor Reunites with Care Team

• UC San Diego Health

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days) Nonprofit/Government/Association

• SBCS Center for Impact, Grand Opening in Chula Vista

• Intesa Communications Group

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Public Service

• San Diego Communications Hub: Neighbors for Neighbors

• J. Walcher Communications

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Public Affairs

• Changing the Night Sky: From Critics to Consensus

• Intesa Communications Group

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Marketing: Consumer Products and Services

• WD-40 x King of the Hill: Two Icons, One Limited-Edition Can

• Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Marketing: Influencer

• WD-40 Brand x King of the Hill Influencer Marketing Campaign

• Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Crisis Communications

• A Rapid-Response Fight to Defend the Neil Good Day Center

• Mixte Communications

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Crisis Communications

• SMG & PPOSBC Respond to Federal ‘Defunding’

• Scatena Media Group

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Crisis Communications

• Calm in Crisis: San Diego Food Bank Responds

• Intesa Communications Group

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Issues Management

• Managing Hunger Through the 2025 Federal Shutdown

• Intesa Communications Group

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Internal Communications

• Leading the Way: Quiet, Restful and Healing

• UC San Diego Health

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Communications

• San Diego Communications Hub: Neighbors for Neighbors

• J. Walcher Communications

Silver Award Mark of Excellence – Integrated Communications

• Double Living Organ Donor Campaign

• UC San Diego Health

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Integrated Communications

• SMG & Wakeland Housing: La Sábila Lease-Up & Grand Opening

• Scatena Media Group

Silver Award Mark of Merit – Integrated Communications

• Kids Free San Diego

• San Diego Tourism Authority

Silver Award – 2026 Best in Show

• San Diego Communications Hub: Neighbors for Neighbors

• J. Walcher Communications

Bronze Bernays Awards

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services

• WD-40 Brand x King of the Hill Media Relations Campaign

• Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Associations/Government

• Game On: Capturing Mexico’s Sports Tourism Market

• San Diego Tourism Authority

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

• Policy & Innovation Center DEI Reports & Outreach

• J. Walcher Communications

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Media Relations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

• Bringing a New Era of Holocaust Education to San Diego

• Intesa Communications Group

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Nonprofit

• Policy & Innovation Center Reports & Outreach

• J. Walcher Communications

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Media Relations: Nonprofit

• Holidays in the NICUs at UC San Diego Health

• UC San Diego Health

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Media Relations: Nonprofit

• Celebrating 10,000 Mid-City GO! Rides

• Moore Communications Group

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Press Conferences

• Unity Fund: 162 Placements, $32M+ Raised, $30M+ Granted

• Intesa Communications Group

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Media Relations: Press Conferences

• Celebrating 10,000 Mid-City GO! Rides

• Moore Communications Group

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Media Relations: Press Conferences

• Medicine on the Move: Mobile Health Press Conference

• UC San Diego Health

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Media Relations: Press Kits/Media Kits

• UCSD Health Performs West Coast’s First AI Spine Surgery

• UC San Diego Health

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Editorials/Op-Ed Columns

• Shutdown Lessons: Strengthening San Diego’s Safety Net

• Intesa Communications Group

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Editorials/Op-Ed Columns

• Carlsbad Magazine “City Matters” Column

• City of Carlsbad

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Videos

• State of the City Video

• City of Carlsbad

Bronze Award Mark of Excellence – Creative Tactics

• WD-40 Brand x King of the Hill – Hank Hill Starter Kit

• Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Public Service Announcement

• Hey San Diego! Reimagining Government Meeting Outreach

• County of San Diego

Bronze Award Mark of Merit – Newsletters

• UC San Diego Dept. of Surgery Growing Newsletter Engagement

• UC San Diego

Bronze Award – 2026 Best in Show

• WD-40 Brand x King of the Hill Media Relations Campaign

• Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Student Bernays Awards

Student Award Mark of Excellence

• Wildlife Madagascar International Chameleon Day

• Spring 2026 SDSU JMS Capstone Team

Student Award Mark of Merit

• Banned Books Week 2025

• Fall 2025 SDSU JMS Capstone Team