FLORIDA PR EXECUTIVE HONORED AS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR - Award Given at NYC Event Saluting National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 22, 2004, New York City, NY

The United States Business Leadership Network and the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, in conjunction with the United States Chamber of Commerce, has given its CEO Leadership 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Boca Raton, FL., public relations executive Jay Van Vechten.  The award was presented in recognition of Van Vechten's efforts to raise awareness about the special needs of people with disabilities. The awards ceremony was held at a gala hosted at Bear Stearns & Company's new corporate headquarters in Manhattan.  Bear Stearns Chairman Ace Greenberg served as the event's host.

Twenty Fifth Anniversary Coincides with Award

Van Vechten's public relations agency, Van Vechten & Company, relocated from Manhattan to Boca Raton, Florida in 1996. The company is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary in business. Since its founding the agency has captured numerous public relations industry awards, including a Presidential Citation for its national AIDS prevention education program. "This latest recognition is the pinnacle of celebrating two and a half decades of working for myself, for great clients and on projects that I love and believe in,” said Van Vechten, “"I'm both honored and humbled to receive this award.”"

The firm specializes in consumer goods, medical products, tourism development, healthcare issues and crisis management. It has handled public relations for clients like McNeil Consumer Products, Welch's Foods, Oral-B, the New York State Department of Economic Development, Pfizer, ACUVUE Contact Lenses and Hearst Magazines.  Johnson & Johnson, through its various companies, has been a steady agency client all 25 years the company has been in business.

Van Vechten, who was partially disabled in an accident in 2001, also helped create Avis Access for client Avis Rent A Car.  The program introduced by the agency in 2003 is helping Avis meet the needs of the nation's estimated 56 million people with disabilities, by making its cars fully accessible at many of its national locations.  Additionally the firm has provided all national PR for the Achilles Track Club and its members with disabilities. Over 300 Achilles participants from throughout the world annually race in the New York Marathon, most in wheelchairs and on crutches. Nationally, Van Vechten also serves on the board of directors of National Art Exhibitions by the Mentally Ill (NAEMI), a group that showcases the ways self-expression through creating artwork helps heal the troubled mind. In his hometown, Van Vechten serves on the City of Boca Raton's Advisory Board for the Physically and Mentally Challenged, and sits on the board of directors of Boca Raton Educational Television (BRET).

Agency Offers Services in 50 Countries through Public Relations Global Network

Van Vechten & Company, which has represented clients in 34 countries, is the Florida representative of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN).  A past president of the Network, Van Vechten says that through PRGN he is able to offer clients direct access to marketing communications support throughout the United States and in more than 50 nations at leading independent public relations firms in Canada, the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, Central Asia and Russia.

Helping Disabled Travelers Find their Wings in 2005

"Our new offices overlooking the city of Boca Raton, twenty five years in business, my community work and this amazing award have teamed to make this the most satisfying time in my career," says Van Vechten.  “"Next year we plan to focus on making air travel easier and more accommodating for people with special needs as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence nationally and internationally.  If we can improve accessibility and assistance at airports and in the skies, along with what we're already doing on the ground, then I'll be truly gratified that I have made a difference for people with special needs."