Global public relations leader Porter Novelli announced today that Sonia Sroka, senior vice president, director of Hispanic marketing, has been named a top corporate social responsibility (CSR) executive for 2012 by PR News, a leading public relations industry publication.
“I am extremely honored to be named a CSR professional of the year by PR News, as this award recognizes the important work that companies are doing to serve their businesses, their communities and the world at large,” said Sroka. “It is particularly meaningful to me because the award honors Porter Novelli’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe very strongly that to truly make an impact and influence the audiences most important to our clients, it’s critical for our teams to be representative of our extraordinarily diverse world. And I am delighted to help develop and nurture that next generation of communications professionals,” Sroka added.
In addition to leading the agency’s Hispanic marketing practice, Sroka serves as the chair of Porter Novelli’s National Diversity Council, which has chapters in seven U.S. offices and is populated by approximately 50 mid- and junior-level executives who are responsible for executing diversity initiatives in their local markets. She is a member of the Omnicom Diversity Development Advisory Committee and has served two terms as the national chair of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Diversity Committee. Porter Novelli’s diversity efforts are sponsored by Anthony Viceroy, global president and CFO of the agency.
Earlier this year, Sroka was named one of the top five 2011 LATINA Corporate Executives of the Year by LATINA Style magazine. LATINA Style is the premier magazine addressing the needs of professional Latinas in the U.S.
In December 2011, Porter Novelli won the “Best PR Firm Community Initiative” award in the first annual “Diversity Distinction in PR Awards” sponsored by the Council of PR Firms in association with PRWeek. Porter Novelli won for its work with the TORCH Program, which Sroka spearheads. TORCH, which stands for Together Our Resources Can Help, provides underserved New York City public high school students with intensive exposure to career training and opportunities in communications and the arts, all while facilitating a meaningful way of increasing the diversity of the workforce in those industries. The agency’s work with TORCH also was honored with a Certificate of Excellence for PR Agency Citizenship in the 2012 Silver SABRE Awards, sponsored by The Holmes Group.
“Sonia’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is absolutely unwavering and truly inspiring,” said Viceroy. “She believes deeply in doing the right thing, not only for our business but for the community at large. And to me, that’s the definition of what a CSR professional should be.”
“Sonia is setting a terrific example for her colleagues in New York, our network and the industry at large,” added Karen van Bergen, senior partner and managing director of Porter Novelli’s New York office. “She is leading the way in changing the face of the marketing communications industry and we couldn’t be more delighted by the recognition she is receiving for her hard work in this area.”