Local PR leader recognized with Paul M. Lund Service Award
Media Contact: Ayme Zemke
azemke@beehivepr.biz
651-789-2235
Minneapolis, Nov. 5, 2019 – David R. Hakensen, APR, Fellow PRSA, has been awarded the Paul M. Lund Public Service Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the nation’s leading organization for communication professionals. The award was presented at the PRSA 2019 International Conference.
Each year, the Paul M. Lund Public Service Award honors a PRSA member whose participation as a volunteer in important public activities has increased the common good and reflected credit on the organization. It was created in honor of the late Paul M. Lund, who was an accomplished public relations and community leader.
Hakensen is a seasoned practitioner with more than 35 years of agency and corporate public relations experience in the Twin Cities. He is known for being a skilled media relations strategist and storyteller and was recognized with this award for his longstanding commitment to providing council and service to numerous nonprofits. Organizations Hakensen has supported include the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce (MRCC), Minnesota Historical Society, Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota, Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest and the Advertising Federation of Minnesota (Ad Fed). In 2009, he received the Donald G. Padilla Community Service Award from Minnesota PRSA.
“I am excited and thrilled for David to receive this honor,” said Gregory J. Zimprich, APR, Fellow PRSA, and Minnesota PRSA President. “His long history and many hours of community service and volunteering makes him so deserving of this award. David is the third member of our Chapter to be honored with this significant award since its inception.”
Hakensen owns H Company, a Minnetonka-based consulting firm. Over his career, he has held leadership positions in the Minneapolis/St. Paul office of FleishmanHillard, Pearson Education and the Minneapolis firm Padilla Speer Beardsley (now Padilla). Hakensen is currently the board president for the Minnesota Historical Society and serves on the board of Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, St. Paul. He recently completed board service on behalf of Norway House, Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Hakensen has been active in PRSA his entire career, previously serving as president of the Minnesota Chapter and Midwest District Chair. He was elected to PRSA’s College of Fellows in 2017.
About PRSA
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. PRSA is the principal advocate for industry excellence and ethical conduct and provides members lifelong learning opportunities and leading-edge resources to enhance professional connections and support them at every stage of their career. With more than 30,000 members, PRSA is collectively represented in all 50 states by more than 110 Chapters and 14 Professional Interest Sections, and on nearly 375 college and university campuses through its student organization, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). For more information, please visit www.prsa.org.
About Minnesota PRSA Minnesota PRSA is the ninth largest chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. Minnesota PRSA’s membership is comprised of more than 300 corporate, agency, independent, non-profit and government public relations professionals from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Wisconsin.