PRSA RICHMOND ANNOUNCES 2007 VIRGINIA PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD WINNERS AT 60th ANNUAL EVENT

Contact:            Chuck Hansen 
                         804-240-7743

PRSA RICHMOND ANNOUNCES 2007 VIRGINIA PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD WINNERS AT 60^th ANNUAL EVENT

• Top Awards include: Silver Best in Show – Charles Ryan Associates; Bronze Best in Show – CarMax
• Mark Raper named 17^th recipient of Thomas Jefferson Award

RICHMOND – Last night the Richmond chapter of the Public Relations Society of America awarded medallion and certificate of merit awards, including Best in Show awards, during the 60^th annual Virginia Public Relations Awards program. The event was held at the Jefferson Hotel.

There are two divisions of awards: Programs (Silver) and Tactics (Bronze). Programs are entire communication campaigns while Tactics are specific pieces of campaigns. There are a number of categories in each divisions, and within those categories, there can be up to one Medallion winner and a number of Certificate of Merit winners.

Programs entries were judged for research, planning, execution and evaluation. Tactics entries were judged for planning and content, creativity and quality, technical excellence and results. The judges were members of the Maine Public Relations Council.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Public Relations to Mark Raper, chairman and CEO of CRT/tanaka. The award, presented only 17 times since 1975, recognizes extraordinary achievement by an individual working in public relations in the metropolitan Richmond area.

As chairman and CEO of CRT/tanaka, Mark has led the company to become one of the largest independent public relations firms in the country. Clients from all industries respect his candid, insightful counsel that draws upon his leadership roles within Fortune 500, not-for-profit and consulting organizations. Mark has worked with major consumer brands, B2B marketers and retailers. In his 20+ years in public relations, he has worked in many aspects of health care marketing, from launching new prescription medications to developing cause-related marketing campaigns and promotions for brands such as Robitussin, Dimetapp and Advil. Prior to his work in the PR agency world, Mark served as director of marketing for Sentara Healthcare, where he was a member of the communications team for the birth of the first in-vitro baby born in the United States. He also previously served as manager of divisional public relations and advertising for Figgie International, a 35-division consumer and B2B conglomerate with annual sales of $1.2 billion.

PRSA Richmond is a professional association serving Central Virginia public relations practitioners. Both the national organization and the local chapter share the vision to unify, strengthen and advance the profession of public relations.

List of Winners:

Silver Best in Show

Charles Ryan Associates
“Virginians for Better Transportation: It’s Time Public Education Campaign”
Category: Community Relations Program

Bronze Best in Show

CarMax
“Road Rally for Charity”
Category: Creative Tactics

Silver Medallion Winners

BCF
“Virginia Beach’s Life the Life Campaign”
Category: Integrated Communications

Capital One
“Change Management Communications”
Category: Internal Communications

CRT/tanaka
“Longwood University: Discover the Power in You”
Category: Reputation/Brand Management

Slay Public Relations
“Fighter Mom Program”
Category: Public Service

Bronze Medallion Winners

CRT/tanaka
“Girls Scouts of the USA – Girl Scouts of the USA Healthy Living Launch”
Category: Media Relations

Longwood University
“Longwood REAL Life”
Category: Blogs

Research!America
“America Speaks, Poll Data Summary Volume 7”
Category: Brochures

Research!America
“Your Candidates–Your Health”
Category: Web Sites

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
“LOOK HERE: Dazzle Op Ed Piece”
Category: Editorials/Op Ed Columns

Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
“Financial Fitness Calendar”
Category: Publications

Westminster Canterbury Richmond
“The Lamp”
Category: Newsletters

Silver Certificates of Merit

BCF
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 20th Anniversary
Category: Brief events and Observances

CarMax
CarMax - A Culture of Integrity
Category: Reputation/Brand Management

CarMax
Marketing "Marketing"
Category: Internal Communications

Charles Ryan Associates
Brick Street Insurance
Category: Integrated Communications

City of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach and BRAC Challenge
Category: Crisis Communications

Comcast
Feria de la opportunidad
Category: Multicultural Public Relations

CRT/tanaka
Performance Food Group National Hunger Awareness Day: Together We Can Fight Hunger
Category: Brief Events and Observances

CRT/tanaka
Smart Beginnings: Virginia's Early Childhood Education
Category: Community Relations

Free Agents Marketing
Bon Secours Richmond Health System Emergency Department Campaign
Category: Integrated Communications

Lippert/Heilshorn
RCN Investor Relations Program
Category: Investor Relations

Meridian Group
STIHL's Why? Campaign: David v. Goliath
Category: Marketing Consumer Products

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program
Category: Brief events and Observances 

Rose and Womble Realty Company
Rose & Womble Cares: Taking Action in OUR Community
Category: Internal Communications

Rubin Communications Group
"Hampton Roads: America's First Region"
Category: Community Relations

Virginia Commonwealth U.
VCU Who? Building a National Reputation
Category: Reputation/Brand Management

Virginia Lottery
Virginia Lottery Employee Communications
Category: Internal Communications

Virginia Retirement System
My VRS Communications Campaign
Category: Internal Communications

Bronze Certificates of Merit

American Red Cross
Connections: Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

American Red Cross
Connections: Spring 2007 Newsletter
Category: Newsletters

BCF
Virginia Beach's 2007 Live the Life CD Media Kit
Category: Multi-Media Communications

Charles Ryan Associates
Membership Information Packet
Category: Publications

Charles Ryan Associates
Virginians for Better Transportation Blast E-Mails
Category: Creative Tactics

City of Richmond
Visions E-Newsletter
Category: Newsletters

Cooperative Living Magazine
Coping with a Long Goodbye
Category: Feature Stories

CRT/tanaka
Chadwick's Fall 2006 Collection
Category: Media Relations

CRT/tanaka
Cocktails by Jenn
Category: Media Relations

CRT/tanaka
Discover the Power in You: Longwood University Admissions Postcards
Category: Direct Mail

CRT/tanaka
Discover the Power in You: Longwood University Brochure
Category: Brochures

Dominion
A Train Wreck Waiting to Happen?
Category: Speeches

Dominion
Bear Affair
Category: Creative Tactics

Dominion
Connect Employee Newsletter
Category: Newsletters

Dominion
Invisible Partner
Category: Creative Tactics

Dominion
Ms. Bishop
Category: Creative Tactics

Dominion
Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership Writing Contest Poster
Category: Creative Tactics

Dominion
The Fist
Category: Creative Tactics

Free Agents Marketing
Bon Secours Richmond Health System Foundation Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

Goldman and Associates Public Relations
Public Relations Insights
Category: Editorials/Op-Ed Columns

Henrico County Public Schools
Crisis Communications Brochure
Category: Brochures

Longwood University
Longwood Magazine
Category: Magazines

Longwood University
Longwood Pro Series
Category: External Video

Media General
Media General 2006 Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

Media General
Media General Art Collection
Category: Publications

Media General
State of Media General
Category: Internal Video

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
Greater Richmond Association for Retarded Citizens
Category: Creative Tactics

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
ND&P holiday card
Category: Creative Tactics

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
Winchester-Frederick County Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
Zest Fest 2006
Category: Creative Tactics

Research!America
Research: Then, Now, Imagine…
Category: Annual Report

Research!America
The Research Advocate
Category: Newsletters

Righminds
Right Minds moves to Main Street Station
Category: Press Kits/Media

St. Joseph's Villa
FY 2006 Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

Virginia Commonwealth U.
Poetic PR
Category: Media Relations

Virginia Department of Social Services
SPARK: An Intranet Overhaul for a Large & Diverse System
Category: Web Sites

Virginia Department of Social Services
V-YAC Newsletter
Category: Newsletters

Virginia Lottery
The Game Plan
Category: Newsletters

Virginia Lottery
The Virginia Lottery Annual Report
Category: Annual Report

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
LOOK HERE: Dazzle PSA
Category: Television PSA

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Studio Art Classes
Category: Advertorial

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA LOOK HERE Feast Brochure
Category: Brochures

Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives
Cooperative Living Magazine
Category: Magazines

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