2025 Chapter Award Winners

Each year, the Chapter Awards recognize the best of the best PRSA Georgia members who have demonstrated leadership within the Chapter and the public relations profession. Nominations are submitted by PRSA Georgia members for the Rising Star (fewer than eight years of experience), Shining Star (eight to 15 years of experience), and Luminary Star (more than 15 years of experience) awards, with winners selected by a panel of judges.

In addition, the Chapter presents two distinct honors: the Distinguished Public Relations Award and the George Goodwin Award. The Distinguished Public Relations Award recognizes a prominent Georgian outside the public relations practice who has made an outstanding contribution to Georgia’s regional, national or international reputation through public relations practices and principles. The George Goodwin Award recognizes a PRSA Georgia member for their significant contributions to the community through volunteer service.

Please join us in celebrating the 2025 Chapter Award winners.

2025 Distinguished PR Award: 
Donna W. Hyland

Donna W. Hyland has been a tireless advocate for pediatric healthcare and the children of Georgia for more than three decades. Hyland, CEO of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, has overseen monumental growth and achievement. During her time at Children's, the not-for-profit has become one of the preeminent pediatric clinical care providers in the country, with more than 14,000 employees managing approximately 1.2 million patient visits a year. Hyland has played an instrumental role in high-impact projects including the merger of Egleston and Scottish Rite Hospitals, and the additions of Hughes Spalding Hospital, Marcus Autism Center and the Center for Advanced Pediatrics. She also led the advancement of the research partnership between Emory and Children’s, which has achieved a top five ranking in federal research grant dollars from the National Institutes of Health since 2018.

Under her leadership, Children’s is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, Egleston and Scottish Rite hospitals both achieved Magnet recognition for their dedication to nursing excellence. Most recently, Hyland spearheaded the opening of Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a 19-story, 2-million-square foot facility on the North Druid Hills campus. The transformational pediatric hospital will serve as a beacon of hope for kids today and future generations of Georgia's children. Hyland’s dedication to pediatric healthcare has led to her being inducted as a Georgia Trustee, and her community-centric approach has resulted in appointments to several local and corporate boards including the Atlanta Committee for Progress, Inc., Cousins Properties Incorporated, Genuine Parts Company and Truist Atlanta Advisory Board.

Luminary Star Award:
Caroline Huston, APR

Caroline Huston, APR, has been a dedicated PRSA Georgia volunteer for more than two decades, serving in different roles on the college relations, annual conference and awards committees. In 2020, she joined the executive team, where she served consecutively as secretary, treasurer, president-elect, president and immediate past-president. Caroline shined as an outstanding leader and mentor to many Chapter members and volunteers. As Chapter president, Caroline’s hard work and professionalism brought the Chapter out of the post-COVID era. Her forward thinking helped us return to in-person events, increased membership, and brought back a sense of camaraderie and excitement among Chapter members and volunteers. 

Her work career also is marked by both excellence and dedicated service. In 2018, Caroline began working at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, where she is the Director of Strategic Communications and is responsible for all integrated communications. Prior to AMBFF, Caroline worked at Intercontinental Hotels Group in many roles during her 15-year tenure, including leading public relations for one of the most iconic hotel brands and the world's largest hotel loyalty program. Caroline has received awards from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, the International Association of Business Communicators, and PRSA Georgia Phoenix Awards, and was named to PRSA Georgia's 40 Under 40. In addition to her dedication to PRSA Georgia, she also volunteers as a dog walker at the Atlanta Humane Society. PRSA Georgia is proud to have Caroline as our guiding Luminary Star!

Shining Star Award:
Chelsea Peabody Bohannon, APR 

Chelsea Peabody Bohannon, APR, has been a dedicated volunteer with PRSA Georgia, serving as a board liaison for membership and chairing committees for the annual conference and professional development. In addition, she has been closely involved in many Chapter activities, from monthly programs and webinars to special-interest group meetings, and is a frequent panelist, sharing her expertise in internal communications and APR accreditation. She earned her APR in 2018 and actively mentors others pursuing the credential.

In her work life, Chelsea recently launched CP Bohannon, a strategic communications consultancy for lifestyle brands, destinations and events. Previously she was director of internal and corporate communications at ANDMORE, a Blackstone portfolio company, where she led strategic communications and culture-building initiatives for a nationwide team. Her career includes PR roles with Spoleto Festival USA and hospitality groups in Charleston. Chelsea has earned multiple honors, including the Chad Corzine Young Gift & Home Executive of the Year, Gift + Stationery 40 Under 40, Home Furnishings Business 40 Under 40, and Georgia Young Gamechanger. Her nominator remarked, "Chelsea is an ethical leader and has helped PRSA Georgia in countless ways through the years. She is a reliable, thoughtful volunteer who accepts a role, challenges herself and her team to make it better, then goes after it. We are a better chapter (with more members!) thanks to Chelsea’s leadership." PRSA Georgia loves seeing your Shining Star, Chelsea!

Rising Star Award:
Nicole Brown

Nicole Brown is a Senior Account Executive at KQ Communications and an active member of PRSA Georgia’s DEI committee. She also is preparing to complete her APR panel presentation this fall. In addition to her involvement with PRSA Georgia, she is member of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and, for PRSSA, moderated the “Inside the Hustle: Thriving in Agency Life” panel at the PRSSA 2025 Southeast District Conference, hosted by the Clark Atlanta University chapter (the first historically Black college to host the conference).

Since joining KQ Communications in April 2024, Nicole has impressed her supervisors and clients alike as a strategic communications leader, and was instrumental in the efforts that led to KQ securing several industry awards, including a PRSA Memphis 2024 Gold Award for a mental health awareness campaign and a PRSA Georgia 2024 Phoenix Award for integrated communications. She is a two-time winner of the KQ Champions Challenge, an internal competition that prompts staff to complete professional development training. Nicole is truly a Rising Star, and PRSA Georgia can't wait to see what she does next!

Looking for last year's winners? Read all about our 2024 Chapter Award winners here.