Advertising

Robyn Frankel – 2010

Prior to establishing Frankel Public Relations in 1995, Robyn Frankel was Executive Vice President and General Manager for the St. Louis offices of Aaron Cushman & Associates and for Edelman Public Relations Worldwide. Before joining Edelman she was an independent consultant for 11 years. Earlier she had worked in public relations at Drohlich, Hughes Advertising and Stolz Advertising. She also offered pro-bono public relations services to many non-profit organizations. Robyn was elected Chairman of the Friends Organization of the Danforth Plant Science Center, and previously served for two years as Chairman of the Danforth Center’s Conversations programs. She was the first woman to serve as executive director of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she was a three-term board member of the Community College Foundation and graduated from Leadership St. Louis and Coro Women in Leadership.

Bob Peirce – 2012

A veteran reporter with the Globe-Democrat and the Louisville Courier Journal, Bob Peirce was hired by Fleishman-Hillard in 1984. His efforts with the firm showed he was a great communications strategist, but his work for numerous clients really shined, especially in what he did for Monsanto.

Bob was awarded three Silver Anvils, the public relations industry’s highest honor, including one in 1985 for his work with Monsanto and what was then a budding concept called bio-engineering.

While Peirce might have shunned the notion that he actually coined “bio-technology,” his communications work in the mid-1980s certainly popularized the phrase “bio-tech.”

He helped people understand — and accept — what bio-technology was and the promise it held, especially in medicine and food production. In October 2007, Peirce became a director of public affairs at Monsanto.

Charles “Chuck” Fruit – 2009

Charles “Chuck” Fruit was known in the national ad community for his work with two of the country’s top beverage companies, Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola. He’s also remembered for being one of the first ad execs in the country to recognize the potential of ESPN by signing a $10 million ad deal with the fledgling net giving A-B beer exclusivity. He worked in the brewery’s marketing department for 15 years Fruit is credited being the first to see the value in logo placement in televised sporting events, putting a Budweiser logo on the posts of a boxing ring, and he is credited with playing a major role in the rollout of Bud Light, making it the nation’s best-selling beer. In his work with Coke, Fruit oversaw the company’s Olympics and World Cup promotions.

Susan Gallagher – 2009

Susan Gallagher became the voice and face of AmerenUE, after she joined the company as manager of corporate communications in 1991. Prior to that, she had worked as a journalist and was involved in investor and media relations for financial institutions in other cities. When she arrived in St. Louis in 1989, she worked in Fleishman-Hillard’s investor and media relations unit. There her media relations efforts helped win the 1992 Silver Anvil from PRSA. At Ameren, she eventually became the company’s director of corporate communications, overseeing advertising, internal and external communications, as well as media relations. Susan also did community volunteer work. She was named Tutor of the Year with the YMCA’s literary organization and was a board member of EarthWays House and Grace Hill Neighborhood Services.

John Graham – 2007

John Graham joined Fleishman-Hillard in 1966 and rose through the ranks to become the agency’s CEO. He spent 30 years at the helm before restructuring the senior management team and stepping down as CEO in 2006. During his tenure, Fleishman-Hillard became the largest PR firm in the nation, based on annual revenues, with more than 80 offices around the world. He was named PR Professional of the Year by PRWeek in 2001 and received PRSA’s Gold Anvil for his contributions to the industry the following year. Graham was founder and served as chairman of the Council of Public Relations Firms.

Marty Hendin – 2008

Hendin joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 as assistant public relations director. In 1995, he was named vice president of community relations in which he became responsible for representing the Cardinals at various events in the St. Louis-area and on many civic and charitable boards and committees. He also was responsible for special events such as opening day, anniversary activities and coordinating on-field, pre-game activities. A native St. Louisan, Marty was a graduate of University City High School and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He was selected Ad Man of the Year in 1987 by the Advertising Club of Greater St. Louis and was named Good Guy by the St. Louis Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association in 2006.