Nancy Wiser wins inaugural Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award

Wiser Strategies President Nancy Wiser received the first Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award from PRSA’s Thoroughbred Chapter on Sept. 24 in Lexington. The new annual honor recognizes a career with lasting impact on the public relations profession and Kentucky’s communications community.

Why it matters: - The inaugural award spotlights a Kentucky PR leader whose work has shaped both the profession and the local business community. - The honor also establishes a new annual benchmark for public relations leadership in the region.

What happened: - The PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter presented the first Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award to Wiser Strategies President Nancy Wiser, APR, Fellow PRSA, on Sept. 24, 2026, in Lexington. - The chapter created the award this year as its first named honor. - The award recognizes a career that reflects high professional standards and has made a measurable, lasting community impact. - More information about all 2026 honorees is available at 2026 award honorees.

The details: - Wiser has worked as a strategic counselor, communicator, entrepreneur, educator and leader across organizations ranging from small businesses and nonprofits to major corporations and universities. - Her client and issue experience includes government, public agencies, engineering, construction, transportation, B2B companies, higher education and nonprofits. - Wiser has developed communication training programs, taught future communicators, mentored colleagues and served PRSA at the local, district and national levels. - Wiser holds the APR credential. - Wiser is a member of the PRSA College of Fellows and the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Hall of Fame. - Wiser also received the PRSA East Central District Platinum Award. - Wiser serves on the Lexington Center Corporation board and chaired the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board. - Wiser founded Wiser Strategies in 2011. - Wiser co-founded Wiser, Hemlepp & Associates in 2000. - Wiser began her PR career in 1982 in healthcare. - From 1992 to 2000, Wiser was vice president of The Preston Group, the Lexington-based firm founded by Tom L. Preston. - The chapter’s 2026 awards also honored Amy Preske, APR; Brandi Doss; Jordan Strickler; Delaney Wolfe; and Fr. Jim Sichko.

Between the lines: - The award ties Wiser’s career to Preston’s legacy, signaling how much influence Preston had on Kentucky public relations leaders. - Chapter leaders framed Wiser as a natural first recipient because of her professional impact and her connection to Preston. - Preston’s comments position Wiser as part of a broader pipeline of mentorship, firm-building and professional development in Kentucky PR. - Preston began his career in 1956 as Kentucky’s youngest newspaper editor at the Carrollton News-Democrat. - Preston founded The Preston Group in 1968, and the firm later served clients in 42 states and Washington, D.C. - Preston later served as senior adviser to Gov. and U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford and Gov. Steve Beshear, and as executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. - Preston was the first Kentuckian elected to the PRSA College of Fellows. - Preston recognized early that terrorism could affect business and that communications could help prevent, mitigate and respond to threats. - Preston established one of the nation’s earliest formal counterterrorism and workplace-violence consulting practices focused on corporate preparedness.

What’s next: - The Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented annually. - Wiser Strategies will continue operating as a Lexington-based communication firm focused on custom strategies for organizations and their leaders. - The company says it serves transportation, healthcare, energy and utilities, education and nonprofit clients. - Wiser Strategies is a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise and a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

The bottom line: - The new award cements Nancy Wiser’s standing as one of Kentucky’s most influential public relations professionals while formalizing a legacy honor for future PRSA leaders.