DAVE RICKEY, APR, RECEIVES NATIONAL PATRICK JACKSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
At PRSA ICON 2020, PRSA awarded Dave Rickey, APR, the national 2020 Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service. The award recognizes a member who has significantly advanced PRSA, supporting chapters, districts and national, and inspiring practitioners professionally and personally with distinction.
Rickey has served as secretary on the national PRSA board, chair of the PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS), chair of the Corporate Communications Section, and co-chair with John Deveney, APR, Fellow PRSA, of the 2003 international conference (ICON) in New Orleans.
“Dave is a leader whose innovative contributions impact incredibly far into the future,” said Garland Stansell, APR, 2020 national chair PRSA, 2006 president Alabama PRSA, and Chief Communications Officer, Children’s of Alabama (Children’s Hospital).
“Dave has worked with executive management as an unwavering independent counsel, activist for fairness, and steadfast advocate of ethical PR principles in working with stakeholders and impacted audiences,” said Brandon Wilson, APR, CEO, Wilbron, Inc., and 2011 president, Alabama PRSA.
“Dave's outsized impact on PR casts a long shadow, and sets benchmarks for ethical, long-thinking PR success. Within that shadow is a league of professionals who find comfort and benefit in the wisdom of his mentorship, and the transformative impact of his work,” said Stacy Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, PRSA BEPS board secretary 2021, and independent practitioner.
Across key corporate sectors in the Southeast -- construction, public utilities, agriculture, banking, economic development -- Dave has elevated the practice of PR. At the same time, his volunteerism has been immense helping run media operations and serving on host committees for the Regions Charity PGA Champions Tour and the SEC Baseball Tournament. “More than once, you could have heard Dave as a WBHM on-air fund drive corporate challenge spokesperson inspiring listeners to support public radio,” said Audrey Atkins, past Alabama PRSA board member and marketing manager, WBHM 90.3 FM.
“A pioneering force, Dave Rickey built the foundations for corporate communications departments in almost every industry in Alabama. It is profound how he erected PR departments that flourish to this day. As a trailblazer, his career journey is transcending,” said Rachel Olis, APR, president, Alabama PRSA and marketing director, Hare Wynn Newell & Newton, LLP. Please find some career highlights below.
Mentoring reporters in career moves to become PR professionals at a higher level of PR ethical professionalism and strategic thought. In 1985, he transitioned as a TV reporter for WSFA-NBC-Montgomery, to serve as director of corporate communications for Blount International, Inc., where he established global communications for the international construction company.
At Alabama Power Company (1992-1998), first as corporate information manager and lastly as PR VP, his leadership included recruiting a diverse PR staff, and he helped create and endow the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Rob Rookis Memorial PR student scholarship.
For AmSouth Bank (2000-2004), he built the bank’s PR and Corporate Communications function as the bank completed a merger that more than doubled its size, acquiring hundreds of branches in four states. He assembled PR agencies in key markets to include reversing negative perceptions in Nashville. As a tireless advocate for the bank, he won previously largely unknown recognition for the company as the largest private employer in the metro Birmingham area, and as a significant funder of charitable causes.
For Alabama Farmers Federations and ALFA Insurance (2005-2009), Dave bolstered Alabama’s vital agriculture sector as VP-PR. He led communications for the privatization of the company following more than 20 years on NASDAQ, for the acquisition of Virginia Mutual Insurance Company, and for rebranding to include the “Let’s Talk About Tomorrow” campaign. Following the largest catastrophic event in the company’s 80-year history, Hurricane Katrina (2005), he managed communications and contributions to farmers and to the American Red Cross of more than $350,000.
Following the merger of the more than 100-year old Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce with the 39-year old Metropolitan Development Board, Dave served as Senior VP-Communications (2009-2015) of the newly created Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). He oversaw the creation of the BBA brand, and led marketing for Blueprint Birmingham, a four-year regional strategic plan. Under his leadership, the BBA established prominence and influence to help redefine economic development in Alabama.
The award submission was led by past PRSA national presidents: Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA based in Gig Harbor, Washington, Anthony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA based in Syracuse, New York, and Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Congratulations, Dave!