Republished from PRSA-NCC
PR Industry Leaders David Fuscus and Sharon Reis to Be Inducted Into the National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame
WASHINGTON, (November 30, 2023) — The Public Relations Society of America – National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC) announces the induction of David Fuscus and Sharon Reis into the National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame. Fuscus and Reis will be honored at the National Capital Hall of Fame and Holiday Party Reception on Tuesday, December 12. Tickets are available until Monday, December 4, 2023, midnight EST.
PRSA NCC started the National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame in 1999 by inducting 50 leaders with significant accomplishments in the public relations field as part of the chapter’s 50th anniversary celebration. The Hall of Fame members hold more than a thousand awards, distinctions, honorary degrees, advisory positions, charity board seats, and who’s who citations among them.
“The PRSA NCC Board of Directors joins me in congratulating David Fuscus and Sharon Reis for this important distinction of lifelong achievements,” said PRSA NCC President Leah Dergachev, MBA. “Not only have they made influential contributions to the profession and demonstrated exemplary leadership but have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to service through community engagement and mentorship of the next generation of PR leaders.”
David Fuscus Named to Public Relations Hall of Fame
Inductee David Fuscus has practiced public relations in the greater Washington area for nearly 40 years and is the CEO/Founder of Xenophon Strategies, Inc., a thriving agency representing clients from the U.S., Europe and Asia. As the recent President of the Public Relations Global Network, he led a network expansion including the first-ever members from Africa and mainland China. In 2022, he founded Précis AI, which builds industry-specific AI platforms that are trained and customized to the unique needs of various industries and companies. Précis Public Relations, the company’s first product, will launch in January 2024. This launch reflects Fuscus’ commitment to advancing the field of public relations through cutting-edge technology.
Fuscus currently serves on the communications board of Food & Friends and he was an eight-year board member of the Royal Aeronautical Society where he developed a program to create a traveling flight simulator for D.C. area schools. Fuscus also served three terms on the board of the PR Council where he led the establishment of the first agency Code of Ethics & Principles and established the first PR industry-wide diversity initiative, which was instrumental for the Council and its member firms. Fuscus is committed to the development of rising PR professionals and has taught at Indiana, George Mason, and George Washington universities as well as mentored countless students and PR professionals.
Fuscus has won numerous awards including the Crisis Executive of the Year by a panel of leading journalists in the Best in Biz Awards, two PRSA Silver Anvil Awards, and The National Capital Excellence in Communication Awards from PRSA NCC, to name a few.
“I wrote my first press release for my parents’ restaurant in Jamestown, NY when I was 17 years old and it has been a fascinating ride since then,” said Fuscus. “PRSA has long driven the train of excellence in the public relations profession and this award is especially meaningful because it comes from the distinguished PRSA National Capital Chapter.”
Sharon Reis Named to Public Relations Hall of Fame
Inductee Sharon Reis, Principal of The Reis Group, has used her 30+ year career to tackling the most pressing healthcare issues our nation has ever faced. She founded and led not one, but two nationally ranked healthcare PR agencies in Washington, D.C. and her powerful communications campaigns have helped shape national policies and touched countless lives. Her work with major clients and the federal government have spearheaded campaigns to fight COVID-19, prevent Alzheimer’s disease, raise awareness of colorectal cancer, and promote health equity. In the process, her wisdom and mentoring have helped shape the careers of the next generation of PR professionals.
Reis’ lifelong commitment to improve health and well-being is best illustrated by her work serving the underserved, particularly through her pro bono contributions to nonprofits such as House of Ruth and So Others Might Eat. Her pro bono work also includes serving on the University of Massachusetts Communications Advisory Board and helping the university’s scientists reach wider audiences through intensive media training for more than a decade. She also partners with D.C.-area universities to mentor recent college graduates.
Reis has authored numerous white papers, is a sought-after speaker, and has been recognized as PRNEWS’ Top Women in PR and as a finalist for the Washington Women in PR Award. Her work has received multiple awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, PRNEWS, PR Week, the Sabre Awards, and The National Capital Excellence in Communication Awards from PRSA NCC, to name a few.
“I am honored to be inducted into the PRSA NCC Hall of Fame alongside some of the finest PR professionals in the country. In the world of health care PR, where my heart and passions lie, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible power of communication to positively impact lives,” said Reis. “This recognition signifies an important milestone in my journey, and I am grateful to continue to develop communications programs to help improve health and well-being for so many.”
Criteria for induction in the PRSA NCC Public Relations Hall of Fame includes 30 or more years of distinguished accomplishments, visionary leadership, mentoring, commitment to the profession, positive and significant impacts on the industry, and contributions to the local public relations community. Inductees must have worked in the Washington, D.C., area for at least 10 years. To view the list of Hall of Fame members, visit www.prsancc.org/about-us/leadership/hall-fame-members.
Don’t miss the opportunity to honor these inspiring PR industry leaders at the National Capital Excellence in Communication Awards. Tickets are available now.
Thank you to our PR Hall of Fame sponsor, AARP, and our Event Sponsor, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.
About PRSA’s National Capital Chapter
The PRSA National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC) is an association of communications professionals in the Metropolitan Washington region. As the largest PRSA chapter in the country, NCC advances the local communications profession by fostering collaboration, enhancing knowledge and skills and creating connections through robust, up-to-date, and inclusive educational, networking, and professional growth opportunities. For more information, please visit prsancc.org, or connect with us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. Join in the conversation by using the hashtag, #PRSANCC and the event hashtag, #HallofFame23
PRSA-NCC Media Contact:
Lauren Lawson-Zilai, PRSA NCC Past President and Hall of Fame Chair
info@prsancc.org