[5] While in school he worked for the Washington Bureau of the New York Daily News, then later for Dave Herman public relations firm.

Awad went to work with Reynolds Metals Company in 1957, from which he retired in 1993 as executive vice president for public relations.

Over the years, Awad held many local board memberships including, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Friends of the Richmond Library, and The New Virginia Review.

Awad was appointed national president of the Public Relations Society of America in 1982 and chaired their prestigious College of Fellows.

He was a member and eventual president of the Poetry Society of Virginia and awarded their Edgar Allan Poe Prize.