Presidents Award 2026

Congratulations to FC Cincinnati's Jeff Berding on being named the PRSA Cincinnati Presidents Award recipient for 2026!

The Presidents Award is the highest honor PRSA Cincinnati Chapter can bestow on a non-public relations professional. The award honors a Cincinnatian who doesn't work in the public relations profession, but who uses PR essentials - strategy, storytelling and brand building - to bring positive awareness and build the positive reputation of the City of Cincinnati.

Jeff Berding helped transform soccer from a niche sport into a source of civic pride and identity in Cincinnati, building FC Cincinnati from an idea in 2015 into an established MLS club with a passionate local following. His vision has always extended beyond the field, to build a brand Cincinnatians could be proud of and a club that could “lead, inspire and unite” the community.

In 2026, with the World Cup bringing global attention to soccer in the U.S. and FC Cincinnati actively working to broaden its fan base, Berding’s decade-long effort to put Cincinnati on the soccer map feels especially timely.

Please join us in celebrating Jeff at the 2026 Blacksmith Awards and Chapter Banquet at The Woodward Theater on November 19, 2026. Tickets are available.