PRSA NEWS RELEASE
The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) recognized northern Nevada’s outstanding programs and top professional for the past year at the Annual Silver Spikes Awards on Thursday, Nov. 17.
“Our industry has advanced because of the exceptional professionals at work throughout the community,” said 2011 PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter President Annie McFarland. “The Silver Spike Awards ceremony is an opportunity to acknowledge those who set the standard and inspire others to communicate with effectiveness and integrity.” McFarland is also marketing specialist for International Game Technology.
Connie Wray of Alice 96.5 FM emceed the awards ceremony at the Atlantis Casino Resort. Three Silver Spike trophies, the organization’s top honors, were handed out to recognize the best public relations programs, plans, tools and tactics. In addition, 10 Awards of Excellence were awarded (a complete list of winners follows).
Twenty-four entries were submitted by public relations professionals throughout northern Nevada. Entrants were able to select from 23 different categories ranging from special events and ongoing PR programs to media relations and special purpose videos. Entries were judged by professionals from the Maine Public Relations Council, who rated each entry on its research, strategic planning, execution and evaluation.
Members of PRSA also selected four local professionals for their contributions to the public relations profession and the community.
Kenneth Furlong, Carson City Sheriff, was honored with the Mark Twain Community Service Award, given annually to an area newsmaker who has demonstrated integrity, honest and sincere concern about the community. Past recipients include Frankie Sue Del Papa, Joe Crowley, Mike Houghton and Trooper Chuck Allen, who introduced Sheriff Furlong.
Sheriff Furlong was recognized for his role as a community leader who has demonstrated a high standard of excellence in communicating with employees, the public and the media. As a public official, he is frequently called upon to be the face and voice of Carson City’s public. This was dramatically evident recently when Furlong was, in just a few hours, thrust into the international spotlight after a gunman entered Carson City’s IHOP restaurant and killed four people and injured 11 others. Furlong was one of the first on scene and remained as the spokesperson for international media from early September through today. He faced media openly and was very accessible in providing up-to-date information during the crisis.
Adam Mayberry, community relations manager for the city of Sparks, was presented with the Gold Spike Award. The annual award recognizes a public relations professional who uses professional skills in public service activities, providing a positive service to the social and economic well-being of the community over time. At the City of Sparks, Adam is responsible for nearly all public relations functions of the city including spearheading the city’s branding and marketing efforts and government relations. In addition to serving the community in his professional capacity, Adam has been very active in the community serving on various boards and committees. He is currently a board member for Secret Witness, and is past chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee for Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce and past commissioner of the Sparks Centennial Committee.
Bob Conrad, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was honored with the chapter member award, Mark Curtis Sr., Professional of the Year Award. The award acknowledges a member of the PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter who has demonstrated excellence over the past year in their chapter role as a public relations professional. As chapter vice president of communications, Bob created the communications plan for the chapter, including the redesign of the website and e-newsletters. He excels in online and social media, science writing, higher education administration, branding and identity, crisis communications, marketing communications, science communications, agricultural communications and environmental communications.
Meghan Wagonseller, business development coordinator at EDAWN, received the Outstanding New Practitioner Award. This award recognizes someone who has been working in the profession for less than five years and has not only demonstrated a high level of commitment to the profession and the chapter, but a sincere desire toward making our community a better place to live. Since graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010 as the Outstanding Public Relations Student, Meghan has continued to excel. In her numerous roles at EDAWN, starting with an internship and progressing to her current role, she has written, edited and disseminated local news releases and announcements for EDAWN, assisted with media pitching, event planning, research and media database maintenance, new member recruitment and retention, developing value systems that introduced new sponsorship and partnership opportunities for member companies, and managed member networking events as well as updated EDAWN’s website. She currently supports EDAWN’s business development team to recruit, expand and retain quality companies that bring good-paying, skilled jobs to the Greater Reno-Tahoe region.
The Sierra Nevada Chapter of PRSA was established in 1984 by a dozen public relations practitioners in northern Nevada. It was the second PRSA chapter in the state, complementing an older chapter based in Las Vegas and aimed at providing public relations practitioners in northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area with a closer professional connection to each other and to national public relations activities. The Chapter has been recognized as a leader in PRSA from its beginnings. Formal recognition of that leadership was accorded in 1995 with the national “Best of Chapter Excellence” award. The Chapter is active in professional development for its members and community-service service programs for organizations without formal public relations departments. It maintains a close working relationship with the Theodore E. Conover Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at the University of Nevada, helping the student organization toward a number of regional and national awards, including the prestigious Bateman Case Study championship.
For more information about the Sierra Nevada Chapter of PRSA, go to www.prsareno.org.
Complete list of Silver Spike 2011 Awards
Public Relations Programs
Special Events & Observances, Budget less than $10,000
Award of Excellence:
- Washoe County School District for “Countdown to Graduation”
Special Events & Observances, Budget more than $25,000
Award of Excellence:
- Weidinger Public Relations for “Golf the High Sierra Media Tour”
Ongoing Programs with a Budget more than $25,000
Silver Spike:
- The Glenn Group for “The Summit Public Relations Program”
Award of Excellence:
- Weidinger Public Relations for “American Century Championship – Tahoe Celebrity Golf”
Community Relations
Award of Excellence:
- University of Nevada, Reno for “National Merit Scholars: Signing the state’s best and brightest academic athletes
Marketing Communications
Award of Excellence:
- R&R Partners for “Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum-Believe in Up”
Overall Campaign, Budget more than $25,000
Award of Excellence:
- Weidinger Public Relations for “Amgen Tour of California”
Tools & Tactics
Publications – Annual Reports
Award of Excellence:
- Nevada National Guard for “Nevada National Guard Biennial Report”
Publications-Magazine
Award of Excellence:
- Nevada National Guard for “ Nevada National Guard Battle Born Magazine”
Internet-based Communications
Silver Spike:
- Washoe County School District for “WCSD Facebook Snow Day Snowman Contest”
Award of Excellence:
- City of Sparks for “It’s Happening Here” website
Media Relations
Silver Spike:
- Abbi Public Relations, Inc. for “Diggerslist.com Media Relations”
Award of Excellence:
- The Glenn Group for “50/50 Tribute Ride”
Judge’s Choice Award: This award was determined by the judging chapter from all eligible entries in both the “Programs” division and the “Tools and Tactics” division.
- The Glenn Group for “The Summit Public Relations Program”
- Washoe County School District for “WCSD Facebook Snow Day Snowman Contest”
Student’s Choice Award: This award was determined by public relations students at the University of Nevada, Reno
- RKPR Inc. for Ascent Douglas “Tweet for Chips”
