How PRGN was created

December 23 2019

As a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network, I’m often asked how the network came about, what was behind the important first step and who are the people who made the bold move. For your records, here’s now the beginning of a 27-year journey now called the PRGN.

In 1992, a small group of independent public relations agency owners met in Phoenix to discuss how to better network and partner with industry peers.   They were trying to pick up the pieces of what was the Edelman Public Relations Network, which had been abruptly disbanded by Edelman.

Those at that initial meeting were Anne Buchanan, LevLane, Philadelphia; Scott Hanson, HMA Public Relations, Phoenix; Ed Stevens, Dix & Eaton, Cleveland; Pat Fearey, The Fearey Group, Seattle; John Van Mol, Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence, Nashville; Robert Deen and Christi Black, Deen & Black, Sacramento; Melissa Sturges, Sturges +Word, Kansas City; Dale Zabriskie, Zabriskie & Associates, Salt Lake City; Charles Pizzo, PRPR, New Orleans; Mary Ann Miller, DDF&M, Pittsburgh; Sally Jackson, Jackson & Co., Boston; Ed Neuger, Ed Neuger & Associates, Minneapolis; and Janet Maizner, Maizner PR, Miami.

The group decided on the name, “The Phoenix Network.” Little did they know, the informal organization they were starting would one day grow to become the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the world’s top five international networks of leading independent public relations agencies.

Rising from the ashes of the shuttered group, The Phoenix Network quickly looked to new markets to grow its membership base.

The Phoenix Network marked its 10th anniversary in 2002 by expanding its geographic reach to include international markets and by changing its name to reflect its growing worldwide presence.  The network adopted its current name: Public Relations Global Network.

Today the PRGN is one of the top global public relations networks .  With 50 members across six continents, the agencies post revenue of more than $87 million (U.S.) and employ 1,000 communications professionals.

Four of the original founding member agencies – HMA Public Relations (Phoenix), Stevens Strategic Communications, Inc. (Cleveland), Buchanan Public Relations (Philadelphia) and The Fearey Group (Seattle) – still remain active in the organization.

Although the size and reach of the organization has changed through the years, its original purpose remains constant, to be an organization comprised of independent agency owners committed to openly sharing knowledge, contacts and resources to fellow members and to serve and promote global clients successfully.

For further information, take a look around on this website and get to know the people now behind PRGN.

Scott Hanson
President, HMA Public Relations
Scott Hanson, APR, Fellow PRSA, is president of HMA Public Relations in Phoenix, Arizona, and a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network. He has been with HMA since 1986. Recognized as an industry leader, he is among only 450 PR practitioners to be admitted to the Public Relations Society of America’s distinguished College of Fellows and among only 20 percent of public relations practitioners in the United States to have earned his Accredited in Public Relations certificate from the PRSA. Hanson has earned several PRSA Copper Anvil Awards, numerous writing awards from Associated Press, as well as a prestigious Gold Award for media relations from Bulldog Reporter Magazine. He has also been recognized for his communications expertise by numerous client-related industries, including a President’s Award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development for his efforts to improve Arizona. Hanson is a member of Valley Leadership Class XX and is active in Entrepreneurs’ Organization. He is chairman of the Northern Arizona University School of Communications’ Advisory Council, a member of the N.A.U. College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ Advisory Council and is also the professional advisor for N.A.U.’s PRSSA chapter. He is on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Arizona and served for more than a decade on the board for The Arthritis Foundation’s Greater Southwest Chapter, as well as representing the chapter on the foundation’s National Awareness and Planning committees. He has also served on the board for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Phoenix Chapter. Additionally, Hanson has hosted Protecting The Public, an award-winning monthly news and information program for Phoenix Channel 11, and has done freelance work for other news organizations, including KPHO-TV (CBS), KSAZ-TV (FOX) and KNXV-TV (ABC). A Phoenix native and graduate of N.A.U., Hanson is also a certified high school baseball umpire for the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Specialties: Getting clients noticed.

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