COLUMBIA -- S. Hunter Howard Jr., president and chief executive officer of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, received the 2006 Executive Excellence Award from the S.C. Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award was handed out at the Mercury Awards April 19 at the Columbia Museum of Art.

In nominating Howard for the Executive Excellence Award, Harris DeLoach, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Sonoco Products Co. and chairman of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, wrote, “Hunter’s value of public relations transcends to the Chamber’s annual Competitiveness Agenda, a compilation of businesses priorities for the upcoming legislative session. I cannot think of a more deserving executive that has done such extensive work in shaping a strong communications program at an organization that is driven by superior public relations practices.”

Howard has been with the chamber for 15 years.