Evergreen Awards proudly announces Samara Beth Hurley as the Best Public Relations Strategist in Arizona for 2026, recognizing her more than three decades of experience across public relations, experiential branding, event production, marketing, destination management, and business transformation. Through Samara Beth & Co., she has developed a distinctive approach to helping entrepreneurs and organizations strengthen their visibility, communicate their value, and build brands people remember. 

Public Relations Built on Trust

For Samara Beth, effective public relations begins with something more meaningful than attention: trust. Her philosophy centers on the belief that credibility, confidence, and congruence must work together for a personal or business brand to have lasting impact.

“People don’t buy what you do. They buy whether they trust who you are. Trust equals Credibility plus Confidence plus Congruence. Remove any one of those, and the whole thing collapses.”

That philosophy shapes the way she approaches visibility. Rather than treating publicity as an isolated tactic, Samara Beth connects public relations with storytelling, strategic positioning, events, media opportunities, speaking engagements, and broader brand development.

A Career Spanning Major Brands and Experiences

Samara Beth’s professional background includes working with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, global iconic venues, household name brands, and executives. Her experience in event production and strategic communications has earned notable industry recognition throughout her career.

Her accomplishments include NACE’s Best Team Event Over $100,000, the International Live Events Association Crystal Icon Award for Best Social Event Under $50,000, and an ILEA Best Team Event award. She was also named one of Houston’s Top Event Planners by the Houston Business Journal in consecutive years and recognized among the Top 20 in the 10X Great American Speak Off.

These achievements demonstrate the breadth of expertise she brings to public relations strategy. Her work sits at the intersection of communication, experience, marketing, reputation, and relationship building.

Turning Visibility Into a Brand Experience

One of Samara Beth’s distinguishing strengths is her ability to view public relations through the lens of the entire brand experience. A well positioned message can become more powerful when it is supported by an event, a book, a speaking opportunity, media exposure, or an intentional visibility strategy.

Her W.I.N.N.I.N.G. Framework™ reflects this broader philosophy and is designed around building brands that sell, scale, and stay remembered.

For Samara Beth, being visible is only part of the equation. The larger objective is to become recognizable for something that matters.

“You don’t need a million followers. You need the right hundred people to trust you completely.”

Author, Speaker, and Visibility Strategist

Samara Beth is an international best selling author of 10 books, including WIN YOUR BRAND: The Unapologetic Playbook for Becoming Iconic. The book combines memoir and practical brand strategy, drawing on experiences from her work with clients, including book launches, visibility breakthroughs, and brand transformations.

WIN YOUR BRAND received Top Talent’s Heart of Humanity Best Book Award and The Four Season Best Business Book Award.

Her expertise has also been featured through ABC13 Morning Blend Las Vegas, Ciao Bella! Magazine, Modern Luxury Magazines, ESPN Radio, The LA Tribune Leadership Week, She Wins Magazine, Atlanta Post, Houston Chronicle, Houston Herald Voice, podcasts, and streaming television programs.

Resilience at the Heart of Her Story

The personal story behind Samara Beth’s professional philosophy is equally distinctive. Her journey has included living in 13 cities across the United States and Canada, 31 homes, military family life, expatriate experiences, raising a son with autism, profound loss, divorce, rebuilding businesses, and creating communities wherever she lived.

The experience led to her bamboo analogy and the evolution of her nickname from Lil’ Bamboo to Badass Bamboo. Bamboo represents resilience, strength, flexibility, and growth, qualities that have become central themes in her speaking and brand philosophy.

“I didn’t go from invisible to iconic by having everything go right. I got here by refusing to stay down when everything went wrong. That’s the Badass Bamboo way.”

Her story reinforces a central principle of her work: a strong reputation does not require a perfect journey. Authenticity can come from acknowledging the experiences that shaped the person behind the brand.

A Strategic and Client Centered Approach

Samara Beth also distinguishes her work through a strong focus on helping clients make thoughtful decisions about their resources. Her approach is to meet clients where they are and help them determine what should be addressed first, allowing them to spend strategically rather than pursuing every visibility opportunity simultaneously.

She emphasizes relationships as much as transactions. Many of her clients remain friends and continue to refer her to others, reflecting the relationship driven philosophy behind her work.

As a 10X Certified Business Coach and Licensee with Grant Cardone Enterprises, Samara Beth also teaches entrepreneurs sales, marketing, business growth, and 10X life strategies. Her coaching and speaking incorporate storytelling, visibility stacking, omnipresence, and high ticket sales strategy.

Building for the Long Game

Samara Beth’s philosophy is ultimately about intentionality. She does not view an iconic brand as something created overnight. Instead, she believes meaningful visibility develops through consistent choices, strategic positioning, and a willingness to build for the future.

“I build brands the way I plant bamboo. Slowly, intentionally, and with the long game in mind. Because iconic doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen on purpose.”

That long term perspective is one of the qualities Evergreen Awards recognizes through this 2026 honor.

Best Public Relations Strategist in Arizona for 2026

Evergreen Awards recognizes Samara Beth Hurley as the Best Public Relations Strategist in Arizona for 2026 for her extensive professional experience, strategic approach to visibility, public relations expertise, storytelling ability, industry accomplishments, and commitment to helping leaders build brands grounded in trust and authenticity.

Her career demonstrates how public relations can extend far beyond traditional publicity. When communication, experiences, storytelling, relationships, and strategic visibility work together, a brand can become more than recognizable. It can become memorable.

Samara Beth’s own journey reflects the philosophy she teaches. Her career has evolved through change, challenge, reinvention, and growth, yet the underlying mission has remained consistent: help people become visible for who they truly are and give them the strategy to build something that lasts.

For Evergreen Awards, that combination of experience, resilience, strategic thinking, and genuine care makes Samara Beth Hurley a fitting recipient of the Best Public Relations Strategist in Arizona for 2026 recognition.

Learn more about Samara Beth & Co. at SamaraBethandCo.com.