Scott Hanson, APR, Fellow PRSA, is president of HMA Public Relations. He has been with the firm since 1986.
Recognized as an industry leader, he is among only 550 PR practitioners to be admitted to the Public Relations Society of America’s distinguished College of Fellows and among only 20 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. Hanson has earned several Copper Anvil Awards for public relations programming from the PRSA, numerous writing awards from Associated Press, as well as a prestigious Gold Award for media relations from Bulldog Reporter Magazine. 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.
He is also the author of “Who Is Gym?” an Arizona history book that captures the fascinating stories about the names behind high schools and their sports venues, and “What’s Your Number?” a book about the stories behind the retired numbers at Arizona’s high schools.
Hanson is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class XX and was active in 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).
Hanson is also a certified high school baseball umpire and football official for the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He has umpired three state championship baseball games and dozens of regional and state playoff games in both baseball and football.
A telecommunications graduate of Northern Arizona University, Hanson was awarded both an Arizona Broadcasters Association and an Arizona Republic scholarship. He is a Phoenix native.
Publisher
Abbie S. Fink
Abbie S. Fink is vice president/general manager of HMA Public Relations and has been with the firm since 1993. Her varied marketing communications background includes skills in media relations, digital communications/social media strategies, special event management, community relations, issues management and marketing promotions for both the private and public sectors, including such industries as healthcare, financial services, professional services, government affairs and tribal affairs, as well as not-for-profit organizations.
Fink serves as HMA’s primary media and digital communications trainer. She has conducted training sessions for such organizations as: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Partnership for a Drug Free America, Subway Restaurants, AeroMexico Airlines, Arthritis Foundation, Carrington College, Einstein Bros Bagels, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort, KY-KO Roofing Systems, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, Inlign Wealth Management, and Central Garden and Pet Company, Arizona Firefighters Association, Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, Arizona Small Business Association, Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants, DMB, to name a few.
Fink is often called upon to present to a wide variety of business and civic organizations on such topics as media relations, social media and digital communications strategies, issues/crisis communications and special events management.
Prior to joining HMA Public Relations, she owned and operated an independent marketing communications and event management firm and for five seasons served as the assistant director of public relations for the Fiesta Bowl, where she was responsible for public relations and promotions for the bowl’s 60-event festival. She was also an account executive with Evans/Artigue Public Relations.
She is a past president of the Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and is a member and past board member of the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselors Academy. 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, 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 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.
She was the recipient of the Junior League’s Valley Impact Award, recognizing her volunteer efforts in the community. She was a finalist for the Golden Heart of Business Award, presented by Arizona Woman magazine, and the YWCA of Metropolitan Phoenix awarded her their Philanthropy Leader of the Year Award in February 2010. Scottsdale Leadership honored her in December 2010 with its Hodges Alumni Achievement Award and she was named one of the top 25 businesswomen of the year in 2013 by the Phoenix Business Journal. In 2015, the Valley of the Sun 20-30 Club awarded her the first-ever Past Active Service Award for her ongoing commitment to the youth of the community. In 2016, she received an Amazing Women/Amazing Rewards recognition from the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona.
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. She is an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University.
She resides in Scottsdale with her dog, Hildy.
Editor
Alison Bailin
Alison Bailin Batz is a senior account executive with HMA Public Relations. Her responsibilities include client management, digital communications, business development, online content management, strategic media relations, client relations, promotional marketing, creative writing, crisis communications, event planning and issues management. She has been with the firm since 2004.
Bailin Batz’s diverse clients at HMA encompass the retail, professional services, event, restaurant, healthcare, government, tourism and non-profit fields. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, where she has volunteered her time in leadership roles with the local chapter’s professional development events, its annual awards program and even the Western District Conference. She also participates on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Rocky Mountain Chapter, currently serving as the organization’s secretary and committee leader of the Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards.
Active in the community, Bailin Batz currently serves as a founding member of Suns Charities 88, on the board of directors for Subway Kids & Sports of Arizona and on the Weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic to benefit Elevate Phoenix. Past service includes work with the Arizona Institute for Breast Health, March of Dimes, American Diabetes Association, United Way and MS Society. She has also assisted clients in developing community relations programs and outreach campaigns based on their own passions for volunteerism.
While at HMA, Bailin Batz has been honored for her work by the Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communicators, American Marketing Association and more. In 2013, she was named one of the six “Women to Watch” in Arizona business as well as inducted into her high school hall of fame. In 2012, Bailin Batz was named by Az Business Magazine as one of the “Five Most Influential Women in Business Under 35.” She was also lucky enough to be a part of the HMA’s 30th anniversary celebration in 2010, which included an office-wide effort to complete 30 or more volunteer tasks in the community with organizations including Save the Family Foundation, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Junior Achievement of Arizona, Central Arizona Shelter Services, the American Cancer Society and many more.
A passionate writer, Bailin Batz has been published in the Arizona Republic, 202 Magazine, Arizona Business Magazine, Arizona Republic, Arizona Vines & Wines Magazine, Go Gilbert Magazine, In Business Magazine, Scottsdale Airpark Magazine, Scottsdale Business + Life Magazine, Scottsdale Health Magazine, Scottsdale Living Magazine, and So Scottsdale Magazine as well as dozens of local and national blogs including AZNow, Associated Content and Examiner.
Bailin Batz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University in 2003. Today, she is a frequent speaker at the school on the topics of creative writing, journalism, event planning and public relations.
Bailin Batz moved to Arizona from Indiana at age two. Passionate about sports, she is an avid fan of the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Grace Flemer
Grace Flemer is an account coordinator at HMA Public Relations. Her responsibilities include assisting with digital communications, media relations, social media management, event planning and providing support for HMA’s account executive team.
Prior to joining HMA, Flemer was the public relations coordinator for Southern Maine Audiology in Falmouth, Maine where she managed social media calendars, created social media graphics and content, planned events and controlled the flow of patient intake and the front office of the practice. Her interest in public relations sparked during her internship with the Valdosta City School System’s director of public relations in Valdosta, Georgia in the spring of 2014.
Flemer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She majored in public relations with two minors in political science and communications studies.
Flemer has lived in six states and nine cities all over the United States. She moved to the Phoenix area after graduation in May of 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, spending time with family and friends, and watching the Crimson Tide football team every Saturday in the fall.
Kelsey Makings
Kelsey Makings is an account executive at HMA Public Relations. Her responsibilities include client management, social and digital media strategies, content creation, media relations, print and digital communications, advertising, promotional marketing and event coordination.
Prior to joining HMA, Makings held several positions around the Valley, emphasizing her strengths in copywriting, social media management, PR, web and graphic design, online sales, advertising, media relations, and live entertainment.
Makings graduated Cum Laude from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism with an emphasis in Print Journalism and a minor in Communications in May of 2011. She was awarded the 1st place National Headliner Award for Innovation for a short documentary she both shot and edited herself.
As an Arizona native, Makings currently resides in Scottsdale with her husband Jason, and two daughters, Parker and Riley. However, on the weekends you will find them on the deck of their family cabin in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Passionate about sports, and a former athlete herself, she is an avid fan of the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and the Sun Devils. She has strong ties to country music radio and is a contributor for Thought Catalog.
