The Rotary Club of Cincinnati today announced three finalists for the 2013 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service. Cincinnati public relations executive and small business owner Rodger Roeser, CEO of The Eisen Agency, is one of the finalists. Roeser is joined by Robby Wellington of The Karen Wellington Memorial Foundation and Joseph Jones and Steve Frisch of the Spirit of Cincinnatus Foundation.

The Jefferson Award, which is recognized as the Nobel Prize for public service, recognizes “ordinary volunteers who do extraordinary things” to help their community. Roeser was nominated by Rotarian Brad Thiery, who based his nomination on the years of service Roeser and his firm have put behind their “Operation Outreach” program. The program, started in 2006, provides non profit organizations throughout Greater Cincinnati in kind pro bono public relations and marketing communications services totaling more than $100,000 each year.

“It is humbling to be recognized for work that you truly love doing, and doing that work for groups and leaders that genuinely inspire you,” Roeser said. “We are honored that our clients have put us in a position where we are then able to give of our time and talents in helping those that help others. I believe a non profit should invest its dollars in helping those it serves, not in marketing and PR services. We are in a unique position where I can use the talents of my exceptional team to help spread the word of some truly amazing non profit leaders and organizations.”

The Jefferson Awards were created in 1972 by Cincinnati’s own U.S. Senator Robert Taft and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and is presented annually by the American Institute of Public Service.

The winner of the 2013 Jefferson Award will be announced at noon on Thursday, March 14th at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza’s Pavilion.