Congratulations are in order.

When I first met Steve Johnstone, I couldn’t help but notice some of the very interesting photographs on his office wall. One showed some Brewers answering questions in the locker room after a game and if you looked hard enough, there was a young Steve Johnstone looking on.

And over there a picture of Jimmy Carter and with him – Steve Johnstone.

And over there was a wall full of Kentucky Derby photos – pictures of the winners’ circle and in all of them, a smiling Steve Johnstone.
Wait a minute. I didn’t know Steve owned horses. And that they all won the Kentucky Derby!

Little did I know that standing there in Steve’s office, I was standing in the shadow of greatness. No, Steve wasn’t a horse owner (who would be dumb enough to do that?).

Steve was a party crasher.

A four-star, big-time, your-face-goes-in-the-guest-photo-here uninvited interloper, able to appear and disappear at will. Never caught, never shown the door. And never having paid an entry fee. (Here he is pictured at the Blue Horse holiday party -- which he was invited to. He's second from the left.)

Steve was obviously a man of wit, charm and looks. And these talents serve him well in his current above-board occupation, that of Executive Vice President and Director of Public Relations here at Blue Horse. His job is to get his clients up front and he does an even better job with them than he has done with himself.

In fact, Steve’s done so well, there’s now a party being held that he won’t have to crash. Because he’s the guest of honor.

Steve has been named recipient of the 2007 Dorothy Thomas Black Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America – Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter. This wonderful award will be presented during PRSA’s Paragon Awards dinner on May 17th.

The Dorothy Thomas Black Memorial Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated sustained superior performance in creating public relations understanding of issues through sound application of public relations.

In a career that spans more than 38 years, Steve has fostered exceptional PR practices on behalf of a wide variety of businesses, ranging from modest start-ups to the world’s largest corporations. He holds an APR from the Public Relations Society of America. He’s a member of the counselors Academy and has been a delegate to several national PRSA conventions. What’s more, Steve has been a founding member of the SE Wisconsin Cultural Diversity Committee, a program organized to help promote public relations careers for minorities.

Today, Steve serves as a director of the Black Public Relations Society of America’s local chapter. A fellow director, Jacqueline Crymes, said this about Steve: “…Steve has been quietly leading a diversity initiative for public relations as long as I have known him. He is genuine in his desire and concern to help young (and not so young) multi-cultural prospects pursue a career in public relations. The richness of talent our local public relations community enjoys today was made possible in part by leaders such as Steve.”

Kathy Gaillard of Mosaic Communications, Inc. puts it this way: “With Steve, diversity within the industry is not an afterthought; it’s good business and makes good business sense. I believe that Steve has undoubtedly had the most influence on the increased number of individuals of color who working within the PR industry in Milwaukee.”

Steve is much loved by his clients. He is also much loved here at Blue Horse. And not just for his snappy ties. For who he is, what he’s done and what he continues to do. We’re very proud of him and happy for him. He is smart, savvy, genuine and works his tail off.

And while it may sound strange for a party-crasher, he’s one of the most ethical people you’ll ever meet.

So please join us in offering him congratulations. Oh, and ask to see his latest Derby picture – the one from Sports Illustrated no less. Steve, being the mentor that he is, showed his niece how to crash the winner’s circle. That’s her just off to the left in her beautiful Derby bonnet.