James Lukaszewski
James E. Lukaszewski is an author, speaker, crisis management consultant and president of The Lukaszewski Group Division, Risdall Marketing Group. He is a recipient of the Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to the Public Relations Society of America and PR News’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early life
James E. Lukaszewski was born on August 27, 1942, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.In 1960, he graduated from Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota, and enrolled at Macalester College, leaving the school in 1961, and returning in 1962. Later, he pursued a pharmacy degree at the University of Minnesota, before eventually enrolling at the Minnesota Metropolitan State College. In 1974, he earned his B.A. degree in political public relations from MMSC. He is currently in graduate school at MMSC.
Career
In 1974–1976, Lukaszewski served as an adult intern in the Press Office of former Minnesota Governor Wendell R. Anderson. Following his internship, Lukaszewski became the Director of Publicity and Publications for the Minnesota Department of Economic Development. He later became the agency's Deputy Commissioner in 1976–1978.In 1978–1983, with his wife, Barbara, Lukaszewski founded the Minnesota-based Media Information Systems Corporation, a public relations firm that specialized in crisis management and media training. He also served as President of the ExecuCom Division of Brum and Anderson Public Relations.
In 1986, he moved to New York City, where he became a partner at Chester Burger Company, the nation's first communications management firm. He also served as senior vice president and director of executive communication programs at Georgeson & Company. He founded The Lukaszewski Group Inc. in 1989, in White Plains, New York.
Lukaszewski became an adjunct associate professor of communications at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies in 1987–2009.
In 2010, he dissolved The Lukaszewski Group Inc. and returned to Minnesota to become the founding president of The Lukaszewski Group division of Risdall McKinney Public Relations.
Awards
Honored a multitude of times by business leaders, companies, colleges, and universities for his work in the field and as a Public Relations Educator, Mr. Lukaszewski received many honors from the PRSA, including President's Citation Award in 2000 and every year since, the Donald G. Padilla Distinguished Practitioner Award, a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013, and the John W. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.He is a member of the Rowan University Public Relations Hall of Fame and the PRSA Lloyd B. Dennis Distinguished Leadership Award.
Trust Across America has conferred its Lifetime Achievement Award and nationally recognized his thought leadership in trustworthy business for many years.
He was a Ben Bronstein Lecturer at Pennsylvania State University in 2013 and received the Drew Middleton Award for Distinguished Service in support of the U.S. Marine Corps E. Coast Command.
He is a member of the PRSA's College of Fellows and the PRSA's Board of Ethics & Professional Standards Emeritus Member.