Celebrating the substantial contribution to the advancement of the profession, Ron Culp is the first recipient to be awarded the Arthur W. Page Society’s two prestigious honors – induction into the Page Society Hall of Fame (2017) and awarding of the Distinguished Service Award (2006).
The Page Society has selected Ron Culp, immediate past chair of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and professional director of the public relations and advertising graduate program at DePaul University, as the 2017 inductee to the Page Society Hall of Fame. Culp was formally inducted at the 34th Page Society Annual Conference in San Diego on September 17th.
Induction to the Page Society Hall of Fame recognizes the lifetime achievement of men and women with careers of distinguished leadership in corporate communications and public relations. Inductees’ accomplishments include having significant, positive influence on the enterprise, on communications and business issues, major contributions to the profession, a strong commitment to the Page Principles, and a history of recognition by their peers.
Prior to joining DePaul and becoming an independent public relations consultant, Culp held senior public relations positions at four Fortune 500 corporations and two major agencies. Culp’s career spans a broad range of communications responsibilities in government and business-to-business, consumer products, pharmaceutical and retailing industries.
Culp is active in several civic organizations including the Economic Club of Chicago where he is a former board member and vice chair. A member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Culp also serves on the board of Gilda’s Club Chicago. He is listed in Crain’s “Who’s Who in Chicago Business.”
In 2006, Culp received the Page Society’s Distinguished Service Award, and in 2011 he was honored with the prestigious John W. Hill Award by the New York Chapter of PRSA. A year later, the Chicago chapter of PRSA recognized him as its PR Professional of the Year. He also is featured in the Plank Center book, “Legacies from Legends in Public Relations” (2007) and was named to the PR News “Hall of Fame” in 2008. Culp received the prestigious David Ferguson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Relations Education by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2012 and in 2015 received PRSA’s highest individual honor, the Gold Anvil.
Culp and his DePaul colleague Matt Ragas are co-authors of a business basics book for PR professionals entitled “Business Essentials for Strategic Communicators” (Palgrave Macmillan).
About the Hall of Fame
Induction into the Arthur W. Page Society’s Hall of Fame recognizes men and women whose esteemed careers have taken them to the summit of the public relations field. Created in 1984, the annual induction honors a leading senior level practitioner for career achievement and outstanding contributions to the profession. Inductees into the Hall of Fame have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Page Principles throughout their careers, thereby contributing to the advancement of the role of the chief communications officer (CCO).
About the Arthur W. Page Society
The Arthur W. Page Society is a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives who seek to enrich and strengthen their profession. Membership consists primarily of CCOs of Fortune 500 corporations, the CEOs of the world’s largest public relations agencies, and leading academics from top business and communications schools. With more than 700 members in over 20 countries, the Page Society enables members to develop professional relationships with the most knowledgeable, influential and innovative global leaders in enterprise communications. Members also participate in producing thought leadership that is shaping the understanding of the value and role of corporate communications, and are able to take advantage of professional development opportunities for their staff. The Page Society is dedicated to strengthening the enterprise leadership role of the CCO. For more information, please visit www.awpagesociety.com.
About the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations
The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations is the leading international resource for practitioners, educators and students who are passionate about advancing their careers and the public relations profession. Led by a national advisory board of leading educators and practitioners, the Center develops and recognizes outstanding diverse public relations leaders, role models and mentors to advance ethical public relations in an evolving, global society. Founded in 2005, the Center is named after Betsy Plank, the first lady of PR. Betsy’s legacy and vision continue on in the Center’s programs and initiatives to advance the profession and public relations education. For more information, please visit www.plankcenter.ua.edu.