Scott Hanson, APR, Fellow PRSA, a longtime Valley public relations practitioner and owner of HMA Public Relations, will be retiring from the agency at the end of the year, naming Abbie S. Fink as president.

Fink has been with the firm since 1993, serving as vice president/general manager since 1996. She will be only the third president in the firm’s 40-plus year history.

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Hanson, who joined the firm in 1986, then known as Ed Moser and Associates, became owner and president in 1991, changing the name to Hanson, Moser & Associates. The firm rebranded in 2000 to HMA Public Relations. Hanson will remain a member of the account team, serving as senior consultant.

“Abbie and I met nearly 35 years ago when she was working for the Fiesta Bowl and I was a part-time sportscaster at KPHO, then an independent station,” said Hanson.  “When I had the opportunity to bring on an experienced account person, I immediately thought of Abbie. We have worked together now for 30 years; it should come as no surprise that she is stepping into this expanded role. I know that our team and our clients, including the Fiesta Bowl, are in good hands under her leadership.”

“Scott and I have grown the agency over the years and have planned this transition for when he was ready to step down from the day-to-day operations,” said Fink. “I look forward to continuing the strong legacy we have in the marketplace.”

HMA Public Relations is an award-winning full-service public relations and marketing communications agency. The agency’s experience encompasses work in such marketing communications disciplines as public relations, media relations and digital communications, content marketing, issues management, crisis communications, community relations, advertising and graphic design, and special events management. In the 30 years that Hanson and Fink have led the team at HMA, their work has had an impact on the local, national, and global scale. HMA, along with a team of tribal law attorneys, was instrumental in working with Arizona’s Native American communities to get their first gaming compacts signed with the state of Arizona.  Later, the agency played a key role in the establishment of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. The demonstrated commitment, expertise and trust developed between the tribes and the agency continues today as HMA is recognized across the country for its work in tribal communications.

“We will continue to play a role in shaping our clients’ communications strategies.  As the industry continues to evolve, we remain a relevant and important part of that ongoing change,” said Fink.

Working across a variety of industries such as professional services, healthcare, restaurant/hospitality, real estate and finance, nonprofit, government, and tribal affairs, HMA Public Relations has been side-by-side for more than four decades with business and community leaders that have been instrumental in the growth of our communities.

Of particular note is the agency’s work within the disability community advocating for equal rights and equal access for individuals with disabilities. 

Recognizing a need for global communications capabilities, HMA became a founding member of the  Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), which currently has more than 50 member agencies in countries around the world. PRGN is comprised of independent, owner-operated public relations and communications agencies in order to share expertise and resources on a global level while still offering clients the attention and integrity that comes from working with a small business.  Fink currently serves on the marketing committee for PRGN, supporting global communications initiatives for the Network. 

Fink is the host of  Copper State of Mind and PRGN Presents, podcasts for executives and directors of marketing and communications who want to increase the effectiveness of their public relations and marketing campaigns.

She is a past president of the Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, is a member and past board member of the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselors Academy and is a past chair of the PRSA Western District. She has received awards from the PRSA, including the national Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA and the Phoenix chapter’s highest honor, the Percy Award, for her commitment to the industry. In addition, she has been honored by the Arizona Festivals and Events Association, International Association of Business Communicators, and the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Affairs for her work in media relations, issues management and special event management.

She is a past board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona and was a founding board member of the Arizona Festivals and Events Association and served as its president for two years.  She is a graduate and past president of Scottsdale Leadership Class XVII and is past member of the organization’s advisory board.

A Scottsdale resident, Fink has both a master’s degree in mass communications and a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism/public relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University.

Hanson has been similarly civically and community involved throughout his tenure with the agency. He is among only 700 PR practitioners to be admitted to the Public Relations Society of America’s distinguished College of Fellows and among only 25 percent of PR practitioners nationwide to have earned his Accredited in Public Relations certificate from the PRSA. He received the 2012 Percy Award from PRSA’s Phoenix Chapter, the highest honor bestowed by the chapter. 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 graduate of Valley Leadership Class XX and was active in the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization for nearly 20 years. He is past chairman of the Northern Arizona University School of Communications’ Advisory Council and is also the professional advisor for NAU’s PRSSA chapter. He sat on the board for Junior Achievement of Arizona for 10 years and served for more than a decade on the board of directors 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 of directors 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). He has also appeared regularly on KAET-TV (PBS). In 2012 he was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Rocky Mountain Chapter’s Silver Circle, honoring his 25 years of contributions to the broadcasting industry.

“Our entire business is built on relationships – relationships with our clients, relationships with media, community leaders and civic organizations, relationships with staff, relationships with partners and vendors.  The bottom line in all these relationships is our commitment to client service.  The fact that we have been in business since 1980 speaks to that commitment,” said Fink.  “The fact that we have many long-term client relationships further speaks to that commitment.  We know the value of relationships and work hard to maintain them.”

For more information, visit hmapr.com.