DENVER, January 18, 2009- Linhart Public Relations, a Denver-based national public relations and corporate communications counseling firm, today announced it has been selected as a finalist in two award categories, including Boutique Agency of the Year and Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year, by industry publication PRWeek. The winners will be announced on March 11 at the PRWeek Awards dinner in New York City.

“We are honored to have our firm and work recognized by our peers in this respected award program,” said Sharon Linhart, managing partner and founder of Linhart PR. “Being named a finalist in two high-profile categories demonstrates our ability to create and implement smart, effective communication strategies that achieve results for our clients.”

For the third consecutive year, Linhart PR is competing for PR Week’s Boutique Agency of the Year, along with four other U.S. firms. Finalists were selected based on financial results, client retention and growth, human resources programs and community service. In 2009, despite the economic downturn, Linhart PR remained profitable while investing in talent and new technology to meet client needs. Linhart PR maintained long-standing relationships with clients such as Chipotle, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Johns Manville while also adding six new clients to its roster in the past year.

Linhart PR is also a finalist for Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year for supporting the launch of Allonhill, a Denver-based mortgage due diligence and credit risk management firm, and positioning the firm as a thought leader in the mortgage securities industry. Linhart PR established Sue Allon, the company’s CEO and founder, as go-to expert for influential media including CBS Evening News, American Public Media’s “Marketplace,” USA Today, Forbes and FOX Business News, among others.

In addition to these honors for Linhart PR, one of the firm’s clients, Will Shanley of United Healthcare, also was named a finalist, in PRWeek’s Young PR Professional of the Year category. Shanley, director of public relations for United Healthcare’s Western Region, is a former Linhart PR team member.

Tags: Allonhill, Boutique Agency of the Year, Linhart PR, Linhart Public Relations, PRWeek, PRWeek 2010 Awards, United Healthcare