Next PR CEO Heather Kelly Named PRNEWS People of the Year
News related to:Next PR · 2 min read
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 7, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Next PR, an award-winning public relations firm, has seen its CEO Heather Kelly named PRNEWS People of the Year honoree in the Agency CEOs category. The firm has also earned a place on the PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120 for the seventh consecutive year. These accolades follow a year of recognition for Next PR's leadership, workplace culture, and client results.
Under Kelly's leadership, Next PR has expanded its team and services to meet clients' evolving communications needs. The agency achieved a 38% headcount growth and promoted 30% of its employees. Additionally, Next PR launched AI optimization services to help brands strengthen their visibility in AI-generated answers.
Next PR's inclusion on the PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120 adds to its recognition for agency excellence in the past year. The firm was also named to PR Daily's Top Agency list, recognizing its commitment to delivering exceptional client service and communications strategies.
Nicole Paleologus, the Managing Director at Next PR, was named to PRNEWS Top Women in PR and Communications. This recognition adds to the agency's acknowledgment of the leaders driving its growth, talent development, and client strategy.
Next PR's workplace culture has also been celebrated. The agency earned Great Place to Work® Certification for the fifth consecutive year and its 11th recognition from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces program. The company supports employees through mental health days, a five-day Winter Wellness Week, flexible work schedules, annual team retreats, and 24 hours of Volunteer Time Off each year.
In terms of client results, Next PR was named a finalist in the PR Daily Top Agency Awards' Media Relations Campaign category for its work with HelloPrenup. The campaign generated 45 earned media placements and an 82% share of voice. Additionally, the agency was named a finalist in the PR Daily Media Relations Awards for Lightcast's Beyond the Buzz data report campaign, which secured 39 media placements and 10,000 report downloads.
Founded in 1978, Next PR has evolved with footprints in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Colorado Springs. The firm's focus on results, agility, and innovation has made it a leader in the public relations industry.