The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) has named Etienne Hernandez-Medina, founder and CEO of H+M Communications, as the recipient of its 2026 ¡BRAVO! DEI Champion of the Year Award. The honor recognizes a 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, under the theme Legacy in Motion. The event 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 the communications industry, the award highlights a leader whose influence extends beyond agency success. HPRA National President Sonia V. Diaz praised Hernandez-Medina for consistently supporting the organization’s National Scholarship Program during a period when securing funding for emerging talent has become increasingly challenging. “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,” Diaz said. “Etienne is someone who shows up.” His generosity has helped strengthen the scholarship program, which provides aspiring communications professionals with financial assistance, mentorship, and professional development. This year, six scholarship recipients will be recognized at the ¡BRAVO! Awards, where they can connect with established leaders and build relationships that can shape their careers.
Hernandez-Medina has also helped shape programming for HPRA events, ensuring members are informed about emerging trends and innovations affecting the industry. 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 Los Angeles market. His involvement reflects a commitment to strengthening the institutions that serve the industry, not just his own firm.
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 representation. He studied political science and communications at the University of Miami, where he was recognized as a collegiate debate All-American. 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. Over two decades, he has built H+M 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. Under his leadership, H+M has earned HPRA’s ¡BRAVO! Agency of the Year award four times.
Hernandez-Medina joins previously announced 2026 ¡BRAVO! honorees Snow Tha Product, recipient of the President’s Award, and Jesus “Malverde” Gonzalez, Vice President, Creative, Latin at BMI, who will receive the Pioneer of the Year Award. 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/. The announcement was distributed through NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE. For the communications field, Hernandez-Medina’s recognition signals that cultural intelligence and investment in diverse talent are increasingly viewed as business imperatives, not optional extras—a message with implications for agencies and brands seeking to connect with multicultural audiences.
