Anita Brightman, APR, PRSA Fellow, will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Relations Society of America Maryland Chapter during a virtual ceremony at the 2021 Best in Maryland Gala on December 9.

The award recognizes industry leaders, with a minimum of 20 years of experience, who have exhibited extraordinary achievements and demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of public relations.

“It is such an incredible honor to be recognized for my achievements as a public relations practitioner,” said Brightman, founder and CEO of A. Bright Idea Advertising and PR. “Much of this honor belongs to friends, colleagues and family whose support I counted on for nearly three decades. I will continue to learn, adapt and serve as a committed public relations professional.”

Brightman started her decades-long journey in the public relations field as public affairs contractor for the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, after earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Towson University. Brightman committed herself to life-long learning and promotes it as a value to colleagues and A. Bright Idea employees.

Brightman achieved her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2003 and earned the ultimate distinction for public relations in 2014 with an induction into the Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows. Today, Brightman passionately mentors seasoned as well as emerging public relations stars through employment, networking, college visits and as part of the PRSA Maryland Chapter Mentorship Program.

In 1996, Brightman founded A. Bright Idea to support government, local businesses and nonprofits. In those early days of the business, PRSA provided the guiding principles for consulting clients as a sole public relations practitioner. Brightman led by example with her focus on serving as what she dubbed a “consultant contractor.” Working in concert with clients, she and her team offer strategic consultation in addition to implementing required tasks, with the proven PRSA four-step process of research, planning, implementation and evaluation.

Over the last 25 years, Brightman grew A. Bright Idea from a sole practitioner home-based business to a creative campus with locations on both coasts, including its headquarters in Bel Air, Maryland, and two offices in Burbank and Sonoma, California. Brightman built the company to nearly 40 employees, earning recognition as one of the Top 100 Minority and Women Business Entrepreneurs in Maryland.

Brightman’s focus for A. Bright Idea from day one was to create a team passionate about doing good work for clients who, in turn, do good work for others. Brightman instilled a culture of “selfless service” at her agency, mentoring or creating career opportunities for aspiring creatives, prioritizing volunteerism support, donating work and sponsorship for organizations providing services for our youth and our military.

Visit the chapter’s website for more information and to purchase tickets to the virtual ceremony.