Pum Lefebure, co-founder of Design Army, was honored in "People to Watch 2008" by Graphic Design USA Magazine. Each year GDUSA chooses a group of people to watch — creative, talented, successful, newsworthy and influential — who embody the spirit of the creative community.
Michael Petruzzello, founding and managing partner of Qorvis Communications will receive the Excellence in Business Award from the Sons of Italy Foundation at a May 22 black-tie dinner in DC. Before establishing Qorvis, Petruzzello was the CEO of Shandwick North America and, before that, was president of Shandwick Public Affairs in Washington.
Tony Keller, VP at SS PR, has been named the 2008 Tech PR Idol, reports O’Keeffe & Company. Keller won the agency’s “Tech PR Idol Challenge” – and $5,000.00 - in a contest that asked participants to develop a PR plan for a fictitious software company looking to position itself as a thought leader in information security.
Richard S, Levick, president and CEO of Lecik Strategic Communications, and Larry Smith, senior VP with Levick, have released the second edition of “Stop The Presses: The Crisis and Litigation PR Desk Reference.” The 233-age book by Watershed Press deals with “Bullet-proofing Brands and Protecting Reputations in an Age of Peril.”
Andy Williams retired after 39 years with Williams Whittle. Rob Whittle, president, hosted a surprise gathering with current staff and some alumni - including the founder of the original agency, Ham Morrison. Williams plans to travel, which includes wine tasting in France; and skiing, mountain climbing, and hunting in Colorado; and will also spend time involved in philanthropic endeavors. From what he calls his home-based philanthropic headquarters, Williams plans to use his marketing expertise to benefit the many historic preservation organizations he is aligned with.
Carolyn Belefski, a graphic designer and illustrator working professionally in the DC area, has embarked on the Curls Studio 2008 Carnival Tour. She will by traveling the East Coast promoting her comic creations published by Curls Studio. Belefski writes and draws the weekly comic strip "Curls" and works on the comic books "Kid Roxy" and "Black Magic Tales." Highlights of her 2008 tour include New York Comic Con in April and Small Press Expo in October.
Supon Phornirunlit, an award-winning creative director, has been keeping busy since he left his firm, Supon Design Group, several years ago, and has branched out recently into home accessories and product design. This winter, he launched the 2008 spring collection of his new home accessories company, Naked Decor. His line of decorative pillows is being featured in upcoming issues of "Architectural Digest," "Metropolitan Home" and industry publication, "Home Decor Buyer."
Charlie Brotman, a living legend in the local communications community, turned 80 and had a blow-out party to celebrate the milestone. 
We asked Brotman to send us a warp-up on his own party and here’s what the publicist told us: “Without question, it was the best and most exciting birthday party I’ve ever enjoyed! Friends I adore – friends galore! Friends from TV, newspaper, radio, show biz, politics -- Tony Kornheiser, Lindsey Czarniack, Mark Russell, Maureen Bunyan, Andy Ockershausen, Jim Bohannon, Christine Brennan, Bob Madigan, Bret Haber, Tom Boswell, Frank Herzog, Johnny Holliday, Tom Sherwood, Mark Lerner, Harry Jaffe, and about a thousand others. And to make it a really “HAPPY BIRTHDAY,” Council Member Jack Evans and Council Chairman Vincent Gray, presented me with a Resolution, resolved by the Council of the District of Columbia, declaring my 80th birthday as “Charlie Brotman Day in the District of Columbia.” WOW! As a native Washingtonian, I could not have been happier or prouder! (If I had known how much fun it was to get older, I would have done it long ago!)