GMG Public Relations and Founder Risa Hoag Honored at 2025 Pinnacle Awards for Outstanding Achievement by a Small Business

(NYACK, NY) June 9, 2025 – GMG Public Relations and its founder, Risa B. Hoag, were recognized at this year’s Rockland Business Association (RBA) Pinnacle Awards for their extraordinary commitment to excellence, innovation, and service in the local and regional business community. The awards ceremony, held June 1 at the Hilton Pearl River, marked the return of the prestigious event after a five-year hiatus and brought together leaders from across the region to celebrate outstanding contributions to business and community leadership.

GMG Public Relations was selected as the winner in the Outstanding Achievement by a Small Business category, one of the evening’s most competitive honors recognizing a business with fewer than 15 employees that has made a significant impact through economic contribution, client service, and community engagement. It was the only category to be announced in an ‘Oscar-like’ reveal adding to the excitement during the event.

Founded in 1991, GMG Public Relations is celebrating its 34th year of providing award-winning public relations and advertising services under the leadership of Risa Hoag, a respected force in the fields of public relations and marketing for nearly four decades. Over the years, Hoag has built GMG into a powerhouse boutique agency known for its strategic counsel, innovative campaigns, and unwavering dedication to client success, retaining many clients for decades and working across industries including healthcare, real estate, higher education, utilities, retail, nonprofit, government, and more.

“This recognition means the world to me,” said Risa Hoag. “Running GMG Public Relations for over 30 years has been an incredible journey—one made possible by the trust of our clients, the support of our talented team, and my deep commitment to helping businesses and nonprofits succeed. This award is a celebration of everything GMG stands for: creativity, integrity, and service.”

Other award recipients included Orange & Rockland Utilities, Optimum, Manhattan Beer Distributors, Sabrina Hosang Jordan of Caribbean Food Delights, and United Hospice.

A Legacy of Leadership, Creativity, and Impact

Hoag’s resume of success is expansive. She’s launched national campaigns, landed major national media coverage, including CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show, the Associated Press, The New York Times, and NBC National News, and spearheaded community campaigns like the creation of Bailey the Beaver, a mascot for Veolia’s conservation efforts, that turned into a beloved character and marketing sensation.

Beyond her client work, Hoag has consistently prioritized mentorship and service. She has helped launch the careers of dozens of interns and freelancers, advocated for small businesses through her role on the National Small Business Association Leadership Council, and served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards. She has been a vital contributor to county-wide initiatives, including her efforts to pass a "Best Value" procurement law in Rockland County to benefit M/WBEs and save taxpayer dollars.

GMG Public Relations also holds certification as a New York State Women’s Business Enterprise and a federally registered contractor, further expanding its reach and impact on both regional and national levels.

About GMG Public Relations

GMG Public Relations is a full-service public relations and marketing agency based in Rockland County, NY, serving clients nationwide across a range of sectors. With a personalized, strategic approach to storytelling and brand-building, GMG has a proven track record of success in media placement, campaign execution, and nonprofit promotion. Learn more at www.gmgpr.com .

About Risa B. Hoag

Risa Hoag has been a tireless advocate for small businesses, nonprofits, and women in business throughout her career. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the NYS Empire Award, the Rockland County Distinguished Service Award, and The Lillian Vernon Award for Community Service. She is also the editor of Hudson Valley News & Events, a daily newsletter reaching thousands, where she provides free exposure for local nonprofits.

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Risa B. Hoag Named to National Small Business Association Leadership Council

[NYACK, NY] October 13, 2023 -- Risa B. Hoag, President of GMG Public Relations in Nyack, was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. Hoag, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins the NSBA Leadership Council alongside other small-business advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

“As a small-business owner, I see daily the importance of being engaged and proactive when it comes to laws and regulation,” stated Hoag. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message to the people who need to hear it most: Congress. I look forward to working with small business owners across the region and ensuring their concerns are heard by decision-makers.”

Hoag founded GMG Public Relations in 1991 and has more than 35 years of experience in public relations and marketing. Prior to founding GMG, she was a Director of Public Relations and Marketing with Ernst & Young in White Plains. She is a past president of the Westchester Association of Women Business Owners and the Rockland Business Women’s Network. She is a co-founder of the Nanuet Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Rockland Community Foundation, a former board member of Meals on Wheels in Rockland and has served on the board of the Orange & Rockland Community Investment Committee. She recently chaired the Marketing and Communications subcommittee of the Clarkstown Business and Economic Development Advisory Council.

Hoag is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and a recognized seminar leader, presenting numerous public relations, marketing and social media workshops across the tri-state area. She is a member of the 2018 Class of Leadership Rockland and was the recipient of the RBWN Service Woman of the Year Award in 2017. She has served as a mentor to Rockland Community College students and to female students through The Gerald P. Buccino Center for Leadership Development at Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business. She was honored with the 2019 Lillian Vernon Award for Community Service from the Women’s Enterprise Development Center and received a 2019 Distinguished Service Award from the County of Rockland for her dedication and community service. In 2022 she received the New York State Empire Award for her decades of support for small businesses and non-profits.

Hoag joined the NSBA Leadership Council as part of her efforts to tackle the critical issues facing small business, including tax reform, regulatory restraint, health care costs and how access to capital will impact small business. The NSBA Leadership Council is focused on providing valuable networking between small-business advocates from across the country while ensuring small business a seat at the table as Congress and regulators take up key small-business proposals.

“I am proud to welcome Risa to the Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “She came to us highly recommended, and I look forward to our coordinated efforts for years to come.”

For more on the NSBA Leadership Council, please visit www.nsba.biz

GMG Public Relations, a NYS Certified WBE and registered agency with sam.gov, is a multiple award-winning public relations and advertising agency and one of the most respected marketing firms serving the tri-state area. Services include marketing consultation, public relations, advertising services, graphic design, video and photography services, and social media support. Representative clients include Rockland Community College, PXG in New Rochelle, Wallauer Paint & Design Centers, Christmas in America in Mt. Vernon, Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, Westchester Children’s Association, world-renowned violinist Judy Kang, Roost Restaurant and Union Arts Center in Sparkill, Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, Statewide Abstract in White Plains, and Veolia. GMG is known for creativity, tenacity, integrity, and extreme hands-on support. To learn more about GMGPR visit www.gmgpr.com

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