Big Apple Awards 2025 Will Showcase a New Era of PR Leadership
The communications industry is preparing for one of its most anticipated nights as the PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards return on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Sony Hall. The event will bring together executives, agency leaders, and rising talent to celebrate excellence in public relations.
Ken Kerrigan, president of PRSA-NY, will open the evening and later present the President’s Award. “The Big Apple Awards reflect the strength and creativity of our community,” Kerrigan said in a previous conversation with CommPRO. “It is more than recognition, it is a commitment to the highest standards of our profession.”
The program will feature presenters including Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman; Corey duBrowa, global CEO of Burson; Grace Leong, CEO of Hunter; John Croll, CEO of Truescope; Jeanne M. Salvatore, president of JMS Consulting; and Bill Imada, co-founder of IW Group. Making their debut as emcees will be Brian and Jamie Stelter, bringing their signature mix of energy and insight to the Sony Hall stage.
New categories will highlight innovation across integrated communications, influencer campaigns, and social impact work. Rising leaders will also be recognized through the 15 Under 35 program, with Jade Faugno-Maria of PRSA-NY and Dukas Linden Public Relations leading the segment.
CommPRO has covered the awards extensively in past years, noting how the event reflects broader industry conversations, from ESG and corporate reputation to emerging CommsTech trends . Earlier this year, CommPRO highlighted the role of sponsors like PRophet, Notified, Burson, Edelman, HUNTER, and Truescope in supporting the awards, underscoring the ecosystem of companies that elevate communications leadership .
Fay Shapiro, publisher of CommPRO, said, “The Big Apple Awards are where excellence meets accountability. Each year, the winners set new benchmarks for creativity, integrity, and impact, showing the next generation of communicators what leadership looks like.”
For communicators, the 2025 Big Apple Awards are not only a celebration but also a measure of where the industry is headed: more integrated, more global, and more focused on purpose-driven work.
