Company: Caliber Corporate Advisers, New York, NY
Company Description: Caliber drives innovation in financial services and fintech, insurance and insurtech, real estate and proptech, and related professional services by being a marketing and communications go-to trusted partner.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications Professional of the Year
 Nomination Title: Maddie Hirsch
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated individual since January 1 2023, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated individual: their history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 192 words used.
Senior Manager and Media Strategist Maddie Hirsch is a media relations guru, a dedicated public relations (PR) professional and an invaluable team member at Caliber Corporate Advisers (Caliber), a leading PR and marketing agency providing counsel to fintech and financial services organizations. Since joining Caliber in February 2022, Maddie has continuously elevated the agency’s media strategy, becoming the agency’s first-ever Media Specialist in February 2024 and advancing to Senior Manager in January 2025.
Beyond her exceptional client work, Maddie plays a pivotal role in Caliber’s operations, driving innovation in how the agency leverages technology and refines its processes. She is the go-to problem solver for tools and reports, helping team members overcome challenges, vet new platforms and implement efficiencies. As a key member of Caliber’s technology and media committees, as well as the metrics/reporting task force, she ensures the agency stays ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
Maddie embodies Caliber’s core values — passion, proactivity, dedication and collaboration — while making a tangible impact on client success and company growth. Her ability to blend strategic media expertise with technological innovation has strengthened Caliber’s capabilities and directly contributed to client retention and satisfaction.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the nominated individual's achievements since the beginning of 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 241 words used.
Maddie has played an increasingly pivotal role in advancing Caliber’s media strategy, technology and client onboarding processes.
In 2023, she led the research and implementation of Releasd, the company’s primary reporting tool, improving how Caliber communicates its value to its [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] clients. She also oversees Caliber’s relationship with MuckRack, an essential platform the team relies on daily for research and outreach.
[REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] Additionally, she plays a key role in Caliber’s Graduate Associate Program, helping to recruit and mentor early-career professionals.
[REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] Between 2023 and 2024, one of Maddie’s key accounts saw a 137% increase in earned media coverage — a testament to her exceptional account management and media relations skills.
Beyond her work on committees and leading media relations strategies [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION], Maddie consistently steps up to support agency-wide media relations efforts. She recently led media outreach for two major industry conferences, coordinating interviews for Caliber clients. Between the two events, her efforts resulted in 50 media interviews across several Caliber clients.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the individual's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 197 words used.
As a process-oriented self-starter, Maddie consistently has gone above and beyond what is expected since joining Caliber. She is skilled at developing impactful media relations strategies for clients, including media pitches, press releases and content outlines that secure coverage in top-tier and trade publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Yahoo! Finance and Axios. She is equally adept at building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists while proactively identifying new outlets and media opportunities — both for her accounts and Caliber’s clients at large.
Maddie has cultivated deep relationships with key contacts and spokespeople across her accounts, earning the trust and respect of clients who value her opinions and guidance. Her expertise and dedication have played an integral role in the success and retention of her accounts year after year.
Going above and beyond for more than just client work, Maddie plays a vital role in Caliber’s operations, constantly exceeding expectations. She maintains a holistic view of the agency, proactively identifying ways to improve processes and achieve greater efficiencies. As a dedicated team player and supervisor, she takes an active role in shaping internal initiatives and strengthening Caliber’s operations while mentoring and supporting her colleagues.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 240 words used.
Each year, Caliber distributes internal agency awards to individuals with a proven track record of going above and beyond for their clients. In 2023, Maddie was recognized for Process Improvement Excellence, Newsjacking Excellence, Client Retention and Most Impressive Client Feedback. In 2024, she was honored for Media Relations Excellence, Client Retention, Most Innovative Team, Best Earned Headline, and Client Satisfaction and Feedback.
[REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
A full list of stand-out and top-tier earned coverage Madde helped secure between 2023–2024 includes (attached in the supporting files):
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