Toshiba America Business Solutions' communications leader Rick Havacko has secured the Gold Stevie Award in The 2024 International Business Awards (IBAs) for Communications Professional of the Year.  

The International Business Awards are the world's premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small — are eligible to submit nominations. The 2024 IBAs received entries from organizations in 62 nations and territories. More than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration.  
"We've long considered The International Business Awards to be the ‘Olympics for the workplace,' and this year's competition is the best-ever proof of that," said Maggie Miller, president, Stevie Awards. "Toshiba's Rick Havacko has demonstrated that he and his organization have set and achieved lofty goals. For that, the Stevie Awards organization congratulates, recognizes and celebrates Rick and Toshiba's impressive achievements."

Under Havacko's leadership, Toshiba has notched a noteworthy amount of positive editorial coverage across the United States and Brazil while outperforming industry heavyweights. Toshiba's coverage numbers 32.16 billion total readers since Jan. 1, 2022. Moreover, Toshiba's ad equivalency — the amount it would pay in corresponding ad space — relating to editorial coverage equals $110.2 million during that time frame.  

At the beginning of 2022, Havacko's efforts further enabled Toshiba to dominate its counterparts in Brazilian editorial coverage and ad equivalency as the company netted a 98% editorial share of voice in Brazil. This equates to $49.42 million if Toshiba were to advertise in outlets that wrote about the company. He is also responsible for publicizing 12 awards Toshiba people and products won since 2022.  

Judges were effusive in commenting about their award selection: "Rick Havacko's achievements as the sole corporate communications professional at Toshiba America Business Solutions are impressive and demonstrate his significant impact on the company's media presence and brand reputation. His ability to secure favorable editorial coverage and maintain strong media and analyst relationships is commendable," stated one judge.    

Another judge said, "Brilliant strategic thinking, great media infiltration and management. A solo player of corp comm effectively managing both internal and external communication — amazing."  

"Team Toshiba is proud of Rick for earning the 2024 International Gold Stevie for Communications Professional of the Year," said Kerstin Woods, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Business Solutions. "By consistently elevating our organization's presence to an elite level day in and day out, he is truly deserving of this significant honor."