Wantagh, NY April 16, 2024 – Hilary JM Topper, MPA of Merrick, NY, was named by the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island (PRPLI) with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award ceremony is set for Wednesday, May 15, at 11 am at the Westbury Manor on Long Island.
Hilary JM Topper
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” said Topper. “I’ve had an amazing career and am grateful for all the people who have helped me along the way.”
Hilary JM Topper, MPA, started her career in public relations in 1983 when she worked for Ogilvy & Mather PR and Clairol in the PR department. After graduating from Hunter College in 1984, Ogilvy & Mather PR hired her full-time. After that, she worked at Hill, Holliday/PR, and Ruder Finn/PR. In addition to that, she worked at two large non-profit organizations in the city as the director of PR and Fund Development. In 1991, Hilary received her master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College in NYC.
In March 1992, a few months after graduation and pregnant with her first child, Hilary started HJMT Public Relations Inc. out of her one-bedroom apartment. The firm grew, and eventually, she rented office space in Long Beach, Westbury, and Melville. The firm grew to nearly 25 staff members, and client revenues exceeded $1.5M.
Throughout its 33-year history, HJMT Public Relations Inc., under Hilary’s leadership, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, weathering numerous ups and downs while sustaining its operations.
In 2006, Hilary’s visionary foresight led her to recognize the future integration of social media into the public relations field. She was an early adopter and a trailblazer, authoring the book “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Social Media,” published in 2009. That same year, she founded the Social Media Association, a testament to her pioneering spirit that remains active today.
That same year, she started her NY Lifestyle Blog and her podcast, Hilary Topper on Air.
Then, in 2011, Hilary noticed a trend in wearable technology and became an original Google Glass Explorer, creating the popular YouTube series “Glasslandia,” the first Google Glass reality show on YouTube. That same year, she started writing her blog A Triathletes Diary. She formed a company, HJMT Media Co., LLC, that housed her blogs and podcasts. A Triathletes Diary
In 2014, she began teaching digital marketing and public relations at Hofstra University and, at the end of 2019, wrote her second book, “Branding in a Digital World.” The book was revised and republished in 2023 with new information, including AI and public relations, among other topics.
Today, her blogs have more than 50,000 unique visitors, and her podcast has more than 200,000 listeners. She has also written numerous articles for public relations trade journals and mainstream media on public relations and social media marketing.
In 2022, Hilary Topper wrote a memoir/self-help book titled “From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete—a Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete.” She has been around the country talking about her book and trying to motivate people to get off the couch and do something outside their wheelhouse.
She is working on her fourth book to be published this year. Hilary is a social media fitness influencer who works for various clients in the health and fitness realm. In addition, Hilary is a USA Triathlon Coach, a USMS Swim Coach, and a RRCA Running Coach. She has a swim team, a run team, and a triathlon team.
PRPLI is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the careers of its members. For more information, tickets, or sponsorships, visit PRPLI.org.
