BOSTON, December 2024 — The Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Boston Chapter presented Adam Ritchie, APR, with its most prestigious tribute, the Diane Davis Beacon Award. The award recognizes the most accomplished public relations practitioners or academics for exhibiting the highest qualities of leadership, generous service, unimpeachable ethics and professional achievement.
Adam Ritchie
A proud graduate from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Adam is the principal of Adam Ritchie Brand Direction, an independent brand communications agency he founded in 2007. He and his agency have provided PR to clients around the world including Jacuzzi, American Ninja Warrior Adventure Parks and Goodbaby International.
Adam is an advocate for public relations to evolve from its past as an organization’s mouthpiece to its future as an organization’s creative engine. His book, “Invention in PR,” looks at breakthrough campaigns where public relations didn’t only promote a client’s product or service; it invented them. PRWeek Editorial Director Steve Barrett called Adam’s book “a jump-start to stimulating creativity” and PRovoke Senior Reporter Diana Marszalek said it “fundamentally flipped the industry’s charge.” Adam has spoken at more than 50 universities, as well as South by Southwest, Content Marketing World, the IABC World Conference, the Museum of Public Relations, the PRSA International Conference and the PRSSA National Conference – reaching thousands of members of the public relations community.
Adam’s work has yielded the world’s first album on a beer can, a team of pregnant comic book superheroes and influencer-inspired product lines. He’s brought back currencies from extinction, turned young hackers into cyber defenders and walked across the country three times using his client’s treadmill desk. His accolades span PRSA Silver Anvil Awards including Consumer Packaged Goods, PRWeek Awards including Best in Creative Excellence and PRovoke Innovation SABRE Awards including Best Agency Disruption.
“Public Relations has existed for more than 75 years, yet Adam comes up with exciting new approaches to what we do every day,” said PRSA Boston President Kelly McFalls. “Adam is a public relations pioneer who shares his knowledge with our community and commits to his clients wholeheartedly with precise execution.”
The award was conferred at the chapter’s annual meeting.
About Adam Ritchie Brand Direction
Adam Ritchie Brand Direction uses PR to invent and transform. It serves clients on four continents and brings out the best in brands by helping them grow, communicate and make the right moves. For more, visit aritchbrand.com.
