Presidents Award 2025

Each year, the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognizes an outstanding individual who uses public relations essentials to build positive awareness and reputation for the City of Cincinnati. We are thrilled to announce that Richard Graeter, President and CEO of Graeter’s Ice Cream, is the recipient of the 2025 Cincinnati PRSA Presidents Award.

For four generations, the Graeter Family has remained dedicated to the tradition of handcrafting artisanal ice cream that has become an iconic staple of the Cincinnati food landscape.

Since becoming CEO in 2007, Richard has worked with his cousins and a fantastic team to expand Graeter’s to cities throughout the Midwest, as well as expanding distribution to grocery stories across the US.

Cincinnati PRSA is not the first organization to notice Richard’s work. He was inducted into the Specialty Food Association hall of fame in 2020, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association hall of fame in 2021 and was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014. In 2015, the University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center for Family and Private Business also inducted the Graeter Family into its Family Business Hall of Fame.

Through his daily work, Richard uses PR essentials, including strategy, storytelling and brand building to elevate Graeter’s, making it a household name and brand synonymous with the city of Cincinnati. We probably don’t need to remind you that Graeter’s also has the distinct honor of being named to the coveted Oprah’s Favorite Things list!

Richard lives downtown with his wife, Nancy. Their children, Will and Kate, look forward to joining their cousins to be the fifth generation of the Graeter family continuing the legacy that began in 1870.