2024 Sixth Annual PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors
August 2nd, 2024 • Art Share L.A. in the Arts District Los Angeles
PRSA-LA’s 6TH ANNUAL SUNRISE HONORS: A Celebration of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion was held on Friday, August 2nd, 2024 at Art Share L.A. in the Arts District Los Angeles, 801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Thank you to all attendees who joined us in celebrating our 2024 Honorees and recognizing their remarkable efforts who have each ignited positive change and illuminated the path toward a more diverse and inclusive PR landscape.
Sunrise Honors is part of PRSA-LA’s mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. This prestigious award recognizes trailblazer individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusivity within their organization or industry. The event is a fireside chat with a moderator where the honorees share their journey and answer questions from the audience.
Our sixth annual Sunrise Honors reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a society where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every opportunity is accessible. Our champions of diversity and inclusion inspire us all to break barriers and create a world that thrives on the strength of its differences.
2024 HONOREES:
GLENN OSAKI
Senior Advisor to the President, International Communications and Marketing
University of Southern California
Glenn Osaki is senior advisor to the President, International Communications and Marketing, at the University of Southern California, where he is focused on USC’s global strategy, branding and thought leadership. Working with a robust team in Los Angeles and nine international USC offices around the world, Osaki is tasked with elevating the university’s reputation and standing among international constituencies.
Osaki returned to the university in 2019, bringing than 30 years of experience in strategic communications, most recently serving as president of Asia-Pacific for MSL, an international public relations firm.
During his 32-year career with MSL, the public relations network of Publicis Groupe, Osaki managed issues and strategic communications for a wide range of clients across industries and geographies. He has been a key adviser to major international clients such as Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen Group, Netflix, Mondelez, Nike and Nestle, among many others. While leading MSL’s Asia-Pacific operations, he oversaw a development strategy that grew a 15-member team into a regional powerhouse with more than 40 offices and 1,500 consultants.
Osaki has been recognized for his achievements with numerous honors, including being named Asia-Pacific PR Agency Head of the Year by Campaign Asia, being honored for Outstanding Individual Achievement by The Holmes Report and guiding MSL to six selections as Asia-Pacific PR Consultancy of the Year.
Prior to relocating to Shanghai in 2005, he was managing director of MSL’s Los Angeles office, which he helped develop into a leading public relations firm in the region.
Osaki has strong connections to USC, having earned his master’s degree in public relations from USC Annenberg. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the USC Center for Public Relations at USC Annenberg.
GWENDOLYN YOUNG
President & CEO of Young Communications Group
Gwendolyn Young is a media and strategic communications expert with more than two decades of experience developing and implementing public education campaigns that reach the emerging majority populations. As a social change agent, in 1995 Gwendolyn shifted the focus of her full-service communications agency to creating, developing and implementing multicultural campaigns that combine the principles of journalism, research and marketing with proactive community engagement to reach diverse markets where they live, work, play and worship.
Gwendolyn combines her journalism experience with passion for social justice and equity to develop authentic messages that help change behavior, educate and raise awareness about complex cultural and societal issues, while laying the foundation for shaping policy. She has substantial experience leading campaigns on issues ranging from AIDS, economic development, COVID and homelessness.
JOSÉ VILLA
President/Chief Strategy Officer
Sensis Agency
José Villa is the founder and President / Chief Strategy Officer of Sensis, a national integrated cross-cultural marketing agency. Jose founded Sensis as a Web development firm in 1998, and one of the first agencies focused on the multicultural digital market. Under José’s direction, Sensis has grown into an award-winning advertising agency that has been listed on the prestigious Inc. 5000 ranking of America’s fastest growing private companies 11 years in a row. As of 2023, Sensis has grown to over $61 million in revenue and a national footprint including offices in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Austin, Tepic, Mexico, and Bogota, Colombia. Sensis clients include Voya Financial, ChenMed, U.S. Army, University of Texas, Covered California, Match.com, CDC, Sempra, Heaven Hill Brands, Los Angeles Community College District, Georgia Lottery, AltaMed, Coca-Cola, and U.S. Census Bureau.
José has a unique professional background that combines digital technology and advertising with economics, market research and strategy consulting. Prior to founding Sensis, he started his professional career as a management consultant with Mitchell Madison Group (a spin-off of McKinsey).
José has more than 28 years of experience in advertising, digital technology, and multicultural marketing across a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, higher education, CPG, technology, media, government, and recruitment advertising. Jose has run the overall operations of Sensis for 25 years, as well as leading the Research and Strategic Planning departments that develops research-driven digital marketing strategies and consumer insights.
He has pioneered a new “cross-cultural” approach to reaching the diverse American marketplace. Jose is a regular industry speaker and contributor to MediaPost, AdAge, Mashable, and other industry publications– providing his unique insights on the future of advertising at the intersection of digital and cultural transformation. A thought leader in marketing, advertising and cultural trends, José has co-authored innovative research studies including the “Hispanic Millennial Project,” the “We are Gen Z” Report, the Boomers Culture Report, and the upcoming “New Immigrant Project.”
José serves on the national board of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and is the Board Chair of TEACH.org. José has an Economics degree from Harvard University and an MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Sponsorship registration is now open and we invite you to become a valued supporter as we recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of deserving individuals. By lending your support, you will play a pivotal role in acknowledging the dedication, expertise, and impact of our outstanding honorees.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SUNRISE HONORS GOLD EVENT SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SUNRISE HONORS BRONZE EVENT SPONSORS
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The PRSA-LA 2023 Sunrise Honors, the fifth annual celebration, is part of the PRSA-Los Angeles Chapter’s mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. The honorees are trailblazers on the front lines in and out of the board room. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusivity within their organization or industry.
2023 Fifth Annual PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors
August 4th • LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Los Angeles
2023 Honorees:
Gabriel Reyes is a Communications and Hispanic Marketing expert founder of Reyes Entertainment, an award-winning communications agency based in Los Angeles. The agency offers multicultural and bilingual media relations, marketing and mobile solutions to a diverse roster of film, TV, celebrities and other entertainment client as well as Lifestyle Brands across the U.S. and Mexico.
Reyes also lectured at The University of Texas at Austin where he created the first Latino entertainment marketing course in the Department of Advertising. He is a public speaker and Latino community leader with a unique combination of artistic creativity and business acumen.
Reyes began his career as an actor and a model in New York City. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and joined Nely Galán’s Galan Entertainment beginning a career in entertainment marketing and public relations with the aim of educating American consumers on the contributions of Latinos to American culture, business and society as a whole.
Soon after, Reyes joined The Lee Solters Co. as VP of Latino Division. There, he helped to launch Latina Magazine, securing Jennifer Lopez’ first magazine cover. He also began working with PBS promoting such documentaries as the groundbreaking series Chicano! In 1997, Reyes struck out on his own forming Reyes Entertainment, one of the first entertainment communications agencies in Hollywood dedicated to the under-served Latino market.
Throughout his tenure as President and Founder of Reyes Entertainment, Reyes has built a sterling reputation as an excellent communicator, creative marketer, and project manager, simultaneously overseeing several campaigns and delivering excellent results. Among his past and current clients are: Hulu, HBO, PBS Primetime, Disney-ABC Television Group, Columbia Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Fiesta Broadway, Monster Energy Tour, WWE Wrestlemania, ALMA Awards, Imagen Awards, Telemundo, among many others.
Reyes was one of the original founders of the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival (LALIFF) and also served as Communications Director and Managing Director of the New York Latino International Film Festival (NYLIFF).
Reyes was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Powerful Latinos in Hollywood and won awards including HPRA’s PRemio Award for Best Digital PR Campaign, two PRSA PRism Awards for Excellence in Multicultural PR Campaigns Reyes also won five MarCom Creative Awards.
Reyes has served on the Boards of OUTFEST, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). He belongs to the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences and SAGAFTRA.
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Michelle O’Grady is a communications expert and strategist with experience in philanthropy, research, advocacy, campaigns, and partnerships. Using creative solutions to solve complex problems, Michelle advises foundations, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, and businesses on developing strategies to shift culture and connect communities.
Her unique background in policy, media, tech, and business allows her to dot-connect issue areas, gather diverse people, and thread together solutions seamlessly. Michelle is the CEO and Founder of Team Friday, an impact advertising agency, and serves various boards and collaboratives, including the Washington Center for Technology Policy Inclusion, Support Latino Biz, #CASA, and Building Belonging.
Michelle is a Google Next Gen Policy Leader, a graduate of Woodbury University, and has a Master’s in Media Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate, and her research centers on media narratives and marketing practices and their links between belonging, behavior, and economics within BIPOC communities.
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Ellene V. Miles is Senior Vice President of Intersectional Marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment/Motion Picture Group, focused on engaging the core audience, inclusive of LGBTQ+, AAPI, U.S. Hispanic, and Black moviegoers. Prior to joining Sony in 2018, Miles worked for nearly two decades as an agency partner with virtually every major studio in Hollywood, executing comprehensive campaigns for several television series, films, lifestyle brands and corporate entities. She is widely regarded in the industry as a strategic specialist, and her passion for increasing and maintaining visibility for multicultural press and brands has been a constant throughout her career.
Miles held lead roles at Liquid Soul Media, Terry Hines & Associates’ MRKT and her own boutique firm, EV Miles Media, and is the recipient of the Pat Tobin Award from the Black Public Relations Society, and the Media and Arts Award from Better Brothers Los Angeles.
In her roles as VP of the Multicultural marketing agency The MRKT, she oversaw the strategic implementation of publicity and marketing initiatives for a variety of clients, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions, NBC Universal Television and CBS Television.
She began her career in 2000 with the famed boutique marketing and publicity firm The DuVernay Agency (DVA), owned by Ava DuVernay. She was afforded the unique opportunity to learn the core of the business, and dived into a diverse roster of film, television, theater, home video, lifestyle and event campaigns. Each year, she positively matriculated through the company, ultimately holding the position of Director of Publicity and Programming.
From 2010 – 2014, Miles served as Publicity Director for key projects on behalf of the award-winning lifestyle-marketing agency, Liquid Soul Media. Clients included Walmart, General Mills, the WNBA, Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO.
Her experience launching television series, from “Girlfriends” to “Underground,” to her work on countless film campaigns as varied as Dreamgirls and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has established her as a key team member, consultant, and leader in the field.
Miles holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations and Advertising from California State University, Dominguez Hills and resides in the Los Angeles area.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION!
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2022 Fourth Sunrise Honors
August 5 • 8:30 am – 10:00 am • The City Club Los Angeles
The PRSA-LA 2022 Sunrise Honors, the fourth annual celebration, is part of the PRSA-Los Angeles Chapter’s mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. The honorees are trailblazers on the front lines in and out of the board room. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusivity within their organization or industry.
The 2022 Sunrise Honors recognize these remarkable leaders:
AMY GRINDROD, PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR of Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD)
Amy Grindrod is the Director of Public Relations for Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), responsible for communication, public relations and marketing strategy, brand management, stakeholder and media relations. As an experienced professional with over a decade of management, marketing and public relations experience, Amy is known for driving brand growth, maximizing market reach through exceptional strategy, management and operational performance. In her previous roles, she served as Marketing Director, Regional Director and Director of Media/PR at various nonprofit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge and an MBA from Western Governors University.
PATRICIA PÉREZ, CEO of VPE Communications
Patricia Pérez is CEO of VPE Communications, one of the nation’s leading independent, Latina-owned and managed public relations agencies specializing in reaching multicultural markets. VPE combines traditional and digital strategies to serve clients seeking to reach ethnic markets through culturally sensitive relationship-building techniques. Personally committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, Patricia’s expertise is in creating social impact initiatives that advance environmental and racial equity.
Her community engagement includes advocating for parks and open spaces and confronting age discrimination. She helped found and currently serves of the board of directors of the Los Angeles River State Park Partners and is the AARP California State President Emeritus, empowering people to choose how they live as they age.
DAVID C. MAGDAEL, PRESIDENT/CEO of David Magdael & Associates, Inc
David Magdael has more than 17 years of experience in public relations, strategic planning, development, marketing, community outreach and entertainment and media relations in North America, Europe and Asia. As founder and president of DAVID MADGAEL & ASSOCIATES, INC, Magdael continues to specialize in documentaries, indie films, directors, and public affairs. From developing Oscar® campaigns to festival strategies to theatrical and broadcast press unit publicity, his company has emerged as an important entertainment communications firm boasting a client roster including numerous Oscar® winning and nominated documentary, animated and short films and festival standouts. Magdael’s firm works with all distributors, content creators and broadcast networks along with representing award winning directors including Morgan Spurlock, Justin Lin, Brian Knappenberger and Lucy Walker, Jehane Noujaim, Kief Davidson, and others.
Magdael is also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and is the Co-Director for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival since 1997. He serves as a mentor at the Sundance Institute Documentary Producers Lab and continues to share his expertise in panels and workshops at Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest (SXSW), Full Frame Film Festival, Silver Docs, Hawaii International Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, AFI Festival Los Angeles, Ashland International Film Festival, Film Independent Forum, Visual Communications, Center for Asian American Media, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Film Festival, San Francisco Asian Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), the International Documentary Association, Temple University Division of Film, The Documentary Summit at Columbia College of Film and others.
PHYLICIA FANT, FOUNDER and CEO of The Purple Agency
Throughout the entertainment industry, Phylicia Fant remains renowned as not only a trusted leader, esteemed executive, and public relations and marketing magnate, but also—most importantly—as a conduit of culture. She consistently connects artists and entertainers to brands, media, film and television opportunities, and philanthropic causes. While serving as Head of Urban Music at Columbia Records, Fant architected the introduction of 21st century superstars such as Lil Nas X, The Kid LAROI, Polo G, Lil TJay, and Chloe X Halle in addition to expanding the brands of icons, including Pharrell and Raphael Saadiq. As a cultural influencer who connects artists in her role as Head of Music Industry Partnerships – Amazon Music, she transforms global synergy into meaningful cultural moments felt worldwide.
Expanding into the world of film and television, she was instrumental in the production and launch of the OWN Spotlight Documentary Eggs Over Easy. A Lady Lock production, Phylicia served as an executive producer alongside Chiquita Lockley, Keshia Knight Pullman, and D’Angelo Proctor.
Along the way, she’s garnered several honors such as the Culture Creators “Innovators Award,” inclusion in the Billboard 2019/2020/2021 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players List, and the Billboard 2019/2020 Women in Music Top Executives List, recognition as the Bounce Trumpet Awards 2020 Corporate Executive of the Year, and was named as an XXL Hip-Hop Heavyweight. She was recently honored on Variety’s Hitmaker List as well as featured in Variety: Power of Women. Fant also was honored by the ASCAP in 2021 as part of their Women Behind The Music Campaign.
Her diverse experience includes 13 years with The Purple Agency, which she founded as C.E.O. Phylicia is a member of the Recording Academy and continues to serve in leadership roles as a Governor – Recording Academy LA Chapter Board, Board of Directors – MusiCares Foundation, Leadership Council Member – Black Music Collective – Recording Academy, Board of Directors – Black Women Film Network, Advisory Board – Culture Creators, Executive Board – Harvard Diversity Project, and is active in a number of thought leadership communities. In 2018, she achieved an Executive Education Certificate from the prestigious Harvard Business School.
Our keynote speaker this year: PRSA National Board Chair Felicia Blow, Ph.D., APR.
Felicia Blow, Ph.D., APR, has kicked off her 2022 term as Chair of PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. Dr. Blow is an award-winning leader with extensive organizational, fundraising, strategic planning, leadership and management experience. She currently serves as Associate Vice President for Development at the renowned historically black institution Hampton University. At Hampton, Dr. Blow led the university’s $150 Million Dream No Small Dreams II Campaign as its campaign director, helping the University to exceed its campaign goal by more than 10 percent. Dr. Blow has taken on several leadership roles within PRSA over the years. Prior to serving as Chair, she served as Chair-elect in 2021 and senior counsel to the 2018 and 2019 PRSA Board of Directors. From 2013-2014, Dr. Blow served as a PRSA Board of Directors member representing the Mid-Atlantic District. We are honored to have her here in Los Angeles as the keynote speaker for our Sunrise Honors event.
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2021 Third Sunrise Honors
Dec. 10, 2021 • The City Club of Los Angeles
The 2021 Sunrise Honors event was an in-person breakfast at The City Club of Los Angeles celebrating four remarkable honorees. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is more than just a tagline next to a company logo. These remarkable leaders have done it all–mentorship, recruitment, and pioneering communications campaigns reaching LGBTQ+ and people of color.
2021 Honorees:
Valarie De La Garza, Fenton CEO
Kim Hunter, KLH & Associates Managing Partner, LAGRANT Communications CEO. and The LAGRANT Foundation Chairman & CEO
Debra Nakatomi, Nakatomi & Associates President
Steve Roth, Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration Executive Director
Click here for more 2021 Sunrise Honors photos.
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The 2020 Second Annual Sunrise Honors
Via Zoom
The 2020 Sunrise Event, given the heightened awareness around systemic racism after the death of George Floyd, PRSA-LA honored two worthy organizations that were on the front lines fighting for social justice, Color Of Change and UnidosUS were the 2020 Sunrise Honors honorees.
2020 Honorees:
Zandra Zuno Baermann
Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing for UnidosUS (formerly NCLR)
www.linkedin.com
Rashad Robinson
President for Color Of Change
www.linkedin.com
Rashid Shabazz
Chief Marketing and Storytelling Officer for Color Of Change
www.linkedin.com
Amity Paye
Director of Communications for Color Of Change
www.linkedin.com
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PRSA-LA’s 2019 First Sunrise Honors
Aug. 15 at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens
PRSA-LA’s first Sunrise Honors: A New Day in Cultural Awakening was held in 2019 honoring 4 individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusivity within their organization or industry.
2019 Honorees:
Tiffany Smith-Anoa’l, EVP, Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion & Communications, CBS Entertainment
Bill Imada, Founder, Chairman, CCO, IW Group
Gilbert Davila, Founder & CEO, Davila Multicultural Insights
Alan Acosta, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Los Angeles LGBT Center