New York, NY – The Institute for Public Relations (IPR) is thrilled to announce the winner of the 2024 IPR Lifetime Achievement Award is Bill Imada, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, Inc. The award will be presented at the 62nd Annual IPR Distinguished Lecture and Awards Gala on Dec. 4, 2024, at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. 

The IPR Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor IPR bestows to an individual who has made major contributions to the practice of public relations, including effective use of research. It honors the person whose character exemplifies leadership through demonstrating the power of effective use of public relations and research while living the values of integrity, humility, and stewardship.

“Bill Imada always strikes me as the quintessential role model for communication leadership in our times,” said Pat Ford, professional-in-residence at the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. “His extraordinary success in building a powerful marketing and PR agency is even more impressive when seen in the context of his tireless advocacy for millennial and Gen-Z professionals and students and his inspirational leadership among AAPI leaders and advocates.” 

Imada co-founded IW Group in 1990 and has worked alongside top companies, including AARP, Lexus, McDonald’s, Nielsen, Southern California Edison, Walmart, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Wells Fargo, and many others. As a specialist in multicultural and generational marketing, Bill is one of the leading experts in reaching diverse consumer and B2B markets. He’s active in civic and community affairs and serves on more than seven boards and advisory councils, including the Institute for Public Relations Board of Trustees. Bill is also the founder of the National Millennial and GenZ Community. 

“Bill Imada is a dedicated advocate for progress, always taking the lead and inspiring others to take action,” said Dr. Marcia DiStaso, Associate Dean of Research at the University of Florida. “His achievements and the number of people he has impacted through his career speaks volumes. He has surpassed his goal of connecting others to what truly matters in life.”

Reserve your Seat(s) to the 62nd Annual IPR Distinguished Lecture & Awards Dinner
Tables of 10 are available for $6,000 and individual tickets are $600 for the awards dinner. The price includes a networking cocktail, the awards dinner, and Distinguished Lecture. Visit the IPR website to learn more about the 62nd IPR Annual Distinguished Lecture & Awards Gala.

About the Institute for Public Relations
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent, non-profit research foundation dedicated to fostering greater use of research and research-based knowledge in corporate communication and the public relations practice. IPR is dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations. IPR provides timely insights and applied intelligence that professionals can put to immediate use. All research, including a weekly research letter, is available for free at instituteforpr.org.

Media Contact
Brittany Higginbotham 
Communications & Outreach Manager
Institute for Public Relations
brittany@instituteforpr.org
352-392-0280

Heidy Modarelli handles Growth & Marketing for IPR. She has previously written for Entrepreneur, TechCrunch, The Next Web, and VentureBeat.
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