2023 Aaron Norris Spirit of PR Awards Go to Marisa Kutansky and Cal Baptist University PRSSA
Posted by SEC2021 on Nov. 10, 2023 / Subscribe 0
The Inland Empire Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America presented two 2023 Aaron Norris Spirit of PR Awards at its Polaris Awards dinner Nov. 2 at the Jesse Turner Community Center in Fontana.
Food industry executive Marisa Cruz Kutansky was honored for her "dedication to the PRSA-IE chapter and the public relations profession." In remarks to those attending the chapter's Polaris Awards and Dinner, Kutansky said, "I was so fortunate to have served alongside Aaron on the PRSA-IE board and witness firsthand how tirelessly he worked to advance our chapter. Receiving this award is not only an honor and humbling, but truly inspires me to work as tirelessly as he did to advance this profession and our chapter.”
Kutansky serves as senior communications director for Cardenas Markets, one of the largest Hispanic grocery chains in the U.S. She oversees all social and digital efforts, internal and external communications and customer service. She joined Cardenas Markets as communications director in 2020, bringing more than 25 years of food industry and PR/communications experience to her role. She honed her PR and marketing skills at Stater Bros. Markets—where she advanced from courtesy clerk to management roles—before joining Cardenas Markets. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Riverside and an MBA (marketing) from the University of Redlands. She serves as secretary for the Cardenas Markets Foundation and has served the PRSA-IE chapter as immediate past president and Assembly delegate. She was recognized as a Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Grocer and served as the chair of the 2023 Inland Empire American Heart Association Go Red for Women.
Another Aaron Norris Spirit of PR Award went to California Baptist University and its Public Relations Student Society Association (PRSSA). Cal Baptist is a Christian university in Riverside, ranked highly for student experience and career preparedness. Its exceptional public relations program includes a PRSSA chapter, whose student members actively volunteer and intern at Inland Empire businesses. The PRSSA chapter is advised by current PRSA-IE board member Mary Ann Pearson, Ed.D., APR, and department chair Victoria Brodie, Ed.D., Cal Baptist professors and advisors to CBU’s Lancer Media Group, an award-winning collegiate media group that develops PR and communications professionals.
The award was named for Aaron Michael Norris, APR, who passed away on July 1, 2022. Norris was an inspirational leader and beloved friend to many and was a past president of PRSA-IE, as well as past chair of the PRSA Western District. He had a passion for philanthropy and giving back to organizations and causes that help make life better for others. The Aaron Norris Creative Fund helps support arts programs in the Inland Empire. In a tribute to Norris, Perez wrote, “Aaron accomplished in 45 years what would take several lifetimes for most, and he has inspired and was loved by more people than he ever acknowledged.”
0 Comments