PRSA Midwest District The Platinum Award

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The Midwest District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has named Jacqueline Clark, APR, Fellow PRSA and James Lukaszewski, ABC, Fellow IABC; APR, Fellow PRSA; PRSA BEPS Emeritus 2015 as the recipients of its Platinum Award. The Platinum Award celebrates achievements in furthering the practice of public relations, demonstrating outstanding leadership and contributions to the profession and PRSA. 

“Jackie and Jim each leave their own distinctive, indelible mark on everything they do,” said Erin Van Zee, APR, PRSA Midwest District 2024 Chair. “Jackie's spirited, kind approach to leadership and mentorship has positively impacted both stakeholders and colleagues, and her honesty and transparency have proven instrumental in PRSA's success at the chapter, district and national levels. Jim is truly a professional like no other. Throughout his years as a practitioner, he has changed the landscape of the profession and shared his knowledge and experience in a way that encourages others to enact change as well.”

Clark was nominated by the leadership of the PRSA Greater Kansas City chapter. Clark currently serves as the West Regional Government Relations and Public Affairs leader for HolcimUS, where she directs the company’s public and government affairs as well as political action, community relations and crisis management programs. Before joining HolcimUS, Clark’s career included stints in communications and government relations at privately held enterprises and positions in the Missouri state government. She has led the boards of directors for public relations, business, civic, arts, education, health and human services organizations. She has served as president of the Greater Kansas City chapter of PRSA and has served two terms as the Midwest Director on the PRSA board. In 2010, she was named PR Professional of the Year by the chapter and was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows. She was honored as the Colorado PRSA PR Professional of the Year in 2022. Clark will be presented the award at the chapter’sannual PRISM Awards gala on Oct. 24 at The Vox Theatre in Kansas City, Kan.

Lukaszewski was nominated by the leadership of the PRSA Minnesota chapter. He is a well-known writer, author, teacher, scholar, ethicist, and lecturer often referred to as America's Crisis Guru®. The Minnesota native began his PR career in 1974 as a deputy press secretary for the office of former Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson. Throughout his 50-year career, he has made a lasting mark on the field of crisis communication. With decades of experience advising top executives and organizations through complex crises, Lukaszewski has always worked at senior levels, generally on the most challenging ethical problems organizations and their leaders face. He is the author of 14 books, e-books and manuals, and hundreds of articles (“Influencing Leaders,” his 15thbook co-authored with Helio Fred Garcia will be published later this year). He was an adjunct assistant professor of communication at New York University and a civilian advisor to the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 20 years. Lukaszewski will be presented the award at the chapter’s “Bridging the Ethics Skills Divide” on Sept. 20 at the Padilla office in Minneapolis.

In addition to the award, the district contributed $250 to a charitable organization of the recipient’s choice. Donations were made on behalf of Clark to the Greater Kansas City chapter’s Inez Y. Kaiser Scholarship and on behalf of Lukaszewski to the Metropolitan State University Foundation.

Previous Platinum Award honorees include Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA of the Minnesota chapter (2023), Debra Peterson, APR, Fellow PRSA of the Greater Kansas City chapter (2022), David Hakensen, APR, Fellow PRSA of the Minnesota Chapter (2013), Debbie Harvey, APR of the Chicago Chapter (2014) and David Schoeneck, APR of the Minnesota Chapter (2015).

About PRSA Midwest District 

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of professional development, networking and leadership opportunities. PRSA’s Midwest District is one of 10 PRSA Districts and includes 12 Chapters: Central Illinois, Chicago, Greater Kansas City, Iowa, Madison, Mid-Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northeastern Wisconsin, Southeastern Wisconsin, Southwest Missouri and St. Louis. The Midwest District’s goal is to support Chapters and their members by offering professional and leadership development at a regional level that complements national and local programs. For more information, visit www.prsamdc.org.