Tallahassee’s Public Relations Stars Shine at Red Carpet Image Awards

| Written by: Karen Kirksey

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Some of Tallahassee’s biggest public relations stars were honored on April 21 for stellar work in their field. The Image Awards, a red carpet event, is presented annually by the Florida Public Relations Association-Capital Chapter to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in the Big Bend.

“The Stars of PR: Our time to shine!” was the theme of the Hollywood-style program held over lunch at the Capital City Country Club. It was sponsored by Awards4U, Graphateria Printing & Design, TREW Media, and The Pod. Noted broadcast journalist Frank Ranicky was emcee.

“The Image Awards ceremony is very special,” said Nanette Schimpf, APR, CPRC, FPRA-Capital Chapter president. “It’s an opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on all of the great work being done in our capital city. As the largest chapter in the state, we set the bar high and continually strive to bring excellence to our communications efforts. From legislative campaigns to inspiring collateral, the work our members do deserves recognition.”

Schimpf noted that the entry process is rigorous. Entries were judged in three categories: Division A-Public Relations Programs; Division B-Printed Tools of Public Relations; and Division C-Audio/Visual/Online Tools of Public Relations. Public relations professionals in Orlando selected winning campaigns that met the highest standards of research, execution, results and budget measurement.

The Grand All Image Award, the program’s highest honor, went to the champions of Division A (Public Relations Programs), Integrity Tallahassee, including Co-conveners Jay and Kenneth Morgan-Schleuning, Secretary Margie Watkins and Treasurer Samantha Puckett for “Integrity Tallahassee Mission of the Month.”  Integrity Tallahassee is a chapter of Integrity USA, a 41-year-old nonprofit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Episcopalians and straight friends working for the inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church. The Tallahassee chapter was officially launched during a breakfast forum at St. John’s Episcopal Church last June. Organizers developed a campaign resulting in 94 attendees at the kick-off event and $460 raised to host a community-wide forum on LGBT issues impacting people of faith.

The Grand Image Awards were presented for the best work in Divisions B (Printed Tools of Public Relations) and C (Audio Visual/Online Tools of Public Relations). The recipients were BowStern for the “Everglades Isle: FMCA Eblast Campaign,” and The Department of Financial Services and the Office of Research and Planning for “Florida’s Bottom Line Newsletter—A Publication of the Department of Financial Services,” respectively.

Thirty awards were presented today.  A complete list is as follows:

Division A: Public Relations Programs, defined as a broad-based communications endeavor using two or more public relations tools.

  • Public Service
    Sachs Media Group for “Healthy Pools Campaign”
  • Institutional, Award of Distinction
    Moore Communications Group and the Tallahassee Ballet for “Everything Dances”
  • Institutional
    Integrity Tallahassee for “Integrity Tallahassee Mission of the Month”
  • Judges’ Award
    Integrity Tallahassee for “Integrity Tallahassee Mission of the Month”
  • Public Information-Judges’ Award
    Moore Communications Group for “Florida Sheriffs Task Force”
  • Public Information-Image Award
    Moore Communications Group for “Lincoln Motor Company Public Relations Program”
  • Internal Public Relations Programs- Image Award
    Leon County Government for the “Innovator Inspirator Award Program”
  • Promotional/Marketing-Award of Distinction
    Moore Communications Group for “Ford Motor Company Public Relations Program”
  • Promotional/Marketing (a tie)- Image Award
    Sachs Media Group for “getBlue Campaign”
    BowStern for “Early Learning Coalition: Race 4 Readiness Campaign”
  • Judges’ Award
    BowStern for “Early Learning Coalition: Race 4 Readiness Campaign”
  • Public Affairs- Image Award
    Sachs Media Group for “Walton Beach Nourishment”
  • Special Event- Judges’ Award
    BowStern for “Florida Professional Firefighters Groundbreaking”
  • Special Event- Award of Distinction
    Florida Department of Financial Services, Office of Communications for  “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Monument to Florida’s Fallen Firefighters”
  • Special Event- Award of Distinction
    City of Tallahassee for “FAMU Way and Capital Cascades Trail Grand Opening – Celebrating Community and Collaboration”
  • Special Event- Image Award
    Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ Office of Communications for “25th Anniversary of the ADA”
  • Other-Image Award
    City of Tallahassee for “#Tally4AAC, A Social Media Campaign”

Division B: Printed Tools of Public Relations, includes written materials, photographs, artwork and specialty items used for a public relations purpose.  These pieces may stand alone or can be part of a larger program.

  • Brochure-Image Award
    Sachs Media Group and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for  “Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide”
  • Brochure-Judges’ Award
    Sachs Media Group and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the “Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide”
  • Newsletter-Image Award
    Department of Financial Services and the Office of Research and Planning for  “Florida’s Bottom Line Newsletter—A Publication of the Department of Financial Services”
  • News Release-Image Award
    Sachs Media Group for “Florida Healthy Kids Children’s Week Op-ed Series”

 Division C: Audio/Visual/Online Tools of Public Relations, includes any online, audio or audio/visual presentation or program that serves a public relations objective.

  • Online Audience Engagement-Award of Distinction
    Moore Communications Group for  “Florida Prepaid Blogger Engagement Campaign”
  • Online Audience Engagement- Image Award
    Leon County Schools’ Chris Petley for “hashtag #LCS First Day of School”
  • Online Promotion-Award of Distinction
    Sachs Media Group and its client, Florida Healthy Kids for  “Florida KidCare ‘Back-to-School’ Campaign”
  • Newsletter-Award of Distinction
    Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ Office of Communications for “The Champion”
  • Online Promotion-Image Award
    BowStern for  “Everglades Isle: FMCA Eblast Campaign”
  • Online Promotion-Judges’ Award
    BowStern for  “Everglades Isle: FMCA Eblast Campaign”
  • Website- Image Award
    Salter>Mitchell for  “Rhinos.org Website Rebuild”

Public relations practitioners consider the Image Awards a standard of excellence not only in Tallahassee, but throughout Florida. Capital Chapter members now look forward to entering their winning campaigns in  the statewide Golden Image Awards competition. That takes place when the Florida Public Relations Association holds its 78th Annual Conference, August 7-10 at the Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Tampa Bay. www.fpra-capital.org

###