HPRA to Honor Etienne Hernandez-Medina with 2026 ¡BRAVO! DEI Champion Award

The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) has announced that Etienne Hernandez-Medina, founder and CEO of H+M Communications, will receive the 2026 ¡BRAVO! DEI Champion of the Year Award. The honor recognizes a trailblazing career dedicated to cultural understanding, representation, and expanding opportunity within the communications industry. Hernandez-Medina will be celebrated at the 12th annual HPRA ¡BRAVO! Awards on November 19, 2026, at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens. This year’s event, themed “Legacy in Motion,” marks HPRA’s return to Los Angeles, the city where the organization was founded in 1984, and underscores the importance of turning professional achievement into lasting opportunities for future generations.

For HPRA, Hernandez-Medina’s recognition carries particular significance. Beyond his accomplishments as an agency founder and industry leader, he has been an extraordinary advocate for the organization’s mission, providing meaningful support to its National Scholarship Program during a period when securing funding for emerging talent has become increasingly challenging. His generosity has strengthened the program, and his willingness to step forward reflects an outstanding commitment to community that extends well beyond professional recognition. Additionally, Hernandez-Medina has helped shape programming for HPRA events, ensuring members are well-informed about current and emerging trends. Recently, he led an H+M Communications team in creating a thought leadership event on the new influence playbook, setting a strong tone for HPRA in its key market of Los Angeles.

“There are people who talk about the importance of investing in the next generation, and then there are people who consistently show up to make that investment possible,” said HPRA National President Sonia V. Diaz. “Etienne is someone who shows up. During a time when organizations like ours have had to work harder to secure the resources that sustain opportunity, he has never waited for an invitation to help us forge our path forward.” Born in Cuba, Hernandez-Medina arrived in the United States during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, an experience that shaped his understanding of identity, belonging, and the power of representation. Before founding H+M Communications in 2004, he held senior leadership roles at Ketchum, Golin, Edelman, and Weber Shandwick, and served as Executive Vice President of Publicity and Corporate Communications at Universal Pictures. Under his leadership, H+M has grown into one of the nation’s leading independent public relations and integrated communications consultancies, with more than 40 professionals and a presence across major U.S. markets and Mexico City. The agency has partnered with major entertainment, technology, and consumer brands, including Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video, Comcast Xfinity, Telemundo, GALLO, Pinterest, and Apple. H+M has earned HPRA’s ¡BRAVO! Agency of the Year award four times, and in 2026, Hernandez-Medina was recognized as an Industry Legend by the Diversity Action Alliance. The ¡BRAVO! Awards serve as HPRA’s primary scholarship fundraiser, bringing together communications leaders, agencies, brands, media organizations, and community advocates to celebrate excellence while investing in the industry’s future. For event information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://bravo.hprausa.org/.