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StoryPost-it notes, the Rubik’s cube and HMA Public Relations all made their debut in 1980 with the stereo blaring ”Call Me” by Blondie as the year’s number-one song.
When Ed Moser founded HMA Public Relations, under the name Ed Moser & Associates, he had no idea the company would become the state’s longest-tenured public relations agency.
HMA Public Relations – Providing Integrated Communications Expertise Since 1980
The agency quickly became a community and industry leader, with the tenets of community involvement and giving back ingrained into the company’s culture. That mindset, coupled with providing strategic, insightful and effective public relations and communications programming for a blue-chip client list, helped propel the agency’s early years.
The agency became known for its expertise in crisis communication, media relations, issue management, community relations and employee communications.
When Scott Hanson acquired the agency from Moser in 1991, the name changed to Hanson, Moser & Associates, but the award-winning work done on behalf of clients throughout the Southwest continued. Among the agency’s notable clients in those days were Phoenix Transit System and the Arizona Department of Administration’s “Discrimination Elimination” campaign, thought to be Arizona’s first bilingual public relations campaign.
Hanson, a Phoenix native who had been a sportscaster at KNAZ-TV in Flagstaff and later at KPHO-TV in Phoenix, knew the importance of putting a great team together.
Abbie S. Fink, who had worked in the Fiesta Bowl’s PR department for five years, joined the firm in 1993. She brought her expertise in event management and nonprofit communications, adding to the agency’s areas of expertise. At that time, she also started working with the HMA team and a consortium of Native American tribes to help introduce Indian gaming to the Southwest. HMA, along with a team of tribal law experts, was instrumental in working with the tribes to get their first gaming compacts signed with the state of Arizona. Later, the agency played a key role in the establishment of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. The demonstrated commitment, expertise and trust developed between the tribes and the agency continues today as HMA is recognized across the country for its work in tribal communications.
In 2000, the agency changed its name to HMA Public Relations to better reflect the agency’s focus.
The agency’s work across a variety of industries such as professional services, real estate and finance, nonprofit, government, tribal affairs and restaurant/hospitality/retail enabled the firm to continue to grow. Alison Bailin became a part of the team in 2004. Now director of client service, she is known as one of the Southwest’s top media relations experts and communications strategists.
Seeing a need for global communications capabilities, HMA became a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), which currently has more than 50 member agencies in countries around the world. PRGN is comprised of independent, owner-operated public relations and communications agencies in order to share expertise and resources on a global level while still offering clients the attention and integrity that comes from working with a small business. PRGN gives HMA resources unmatched in Arizona – essentially with offices worldwide.
Additionally, HMA is owner of AZ Media Database, the state’s only comprehensive media directory, providing up-to-date information regarding Arizona’s print, broadcast and online media outlets. By managing this database, the agency is in constant contact with editors, reporters, producers and managers at hundreds of local media outlets.
2024 ushered in a new era for HMA Public Relations, with Hanson retiring and Fink named agency president and owner.
The agency’s business philosophy is centered on building relationships – relationships with clients, relationships with media, community leaders and civic organizations, relationships with staff, relationships with partners and vendors. The bottom line in all these relationships is a unwavering commitment to client service.
