The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) and its members were recognized with multiple awards at FPRA’s Golden Image Awards and Pinnacle Awards Gala held Aug. 5 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando as part of the PR & Comms Summit, a three-day public relations, communications and marketing conference.

The award ceremony is conducted annually to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of the public relations profession. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design.

The Southwest Florida Chapter itself won awards across several divisions and categories, including two Golden Image Awards of Distinction and three President’s Awards.

“These awards are a testament to this board’s dedication, commitment to members, and service to our profession and community,” said Southwest Florida Chapter President, Lauren Bernaldo, APR, CPRC.

This year, the awards presented included: Judges’ Award, for entries that demonstrate outstanding return on investment; Judges’ Creativity Award, for entries that demonstrate outstanding creativity; Award of Distinction, for excellent and high scoring entries within each category; Golden Image Awards, for the highest scoring entry in each category; Grand Golden Image Awards, for the top entries in the Collateral of Public Relations and the Digital Tools of Public Relations divisions; and the Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award, for the top entry in the Public Relations Programs division.

Awards Recognitions:

Division A: Public Relations Programs

Public Service Category:

  • Priority Marketing received a Golden Image Award for “No Soldier Left Behind: Warrior Homes of Collier Battles to End Veteran Homelessness.”

Promotional/Marketing Category:

  • Pushing the Envelope received a Golden Image Award for “Mondays are for Friends and Fine Dining.”

Integrated Marketing Category:

  • Priority Marketing and Lee County received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Creativity Award for “Gnome Matter What! Lee County Fertilize Smart Awareness Campaign.”

Special Event Category:

  • Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA, FPRA Student Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University, and the Department of Communication and Philosophy at FGCU received an Award of Distinction for “Soaring Connections.”

Other Category:

  • Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Award for “Vote-by-Mail Voter Education & Promotional Campaign.”
  • Pushing the Envelope received an Award of Distinction for “Welcome Home, Welcome Back.”
  • Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA Credentialing Team received an Award of Distinction for “Enhancing the Accreditation and Credentialing Process.”

Division B: Collateral Tools of Public Relations

Brochure Category:

  • Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations received a Judges’ Creativity Award for “Wellen Park Model Home Showcase Tour Book.”

News Release or Pitch Category:

  • Lee County Government received an Award of Distinction and Judges’ Creativity Award for “Lee County Government Meteorologist Pitch – Flood/Surge Awareness.”

Other Category:

  • Keagan Giblin & Vanessa Caporale received an Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award for “Collier County Solid Waste.”

Division C: Digital Tools of Public Relations

Online Audience Engagement Category:

  • Pushing the Envelope received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Award for “Subscriber Splash.”
  • Priority Marketing received an Award of Distinction for “Bigham Bling! Influencer and Social Media Campaign.”

Website Category:

  • LCEC Public Relations Team received a Golden Image Award for “LCEC Website Refresh.”
  • Lee County Tax Collector received an Award of Distinction for “LCTC Connect.”

Pinnacle Awards

  • Priority Marketing received the Gold Pinnacle Award for Medium Agency of the Year.

President’s Awards

FPRA State President Julie Frey, APR, CPRC, presented the chapter with the Chapter Management Award, Membership Retention Award and Time is Now Award, for exemplifying the state theme throughout the last year.

For more information about the Golden Image Awards, visit https://goldenimageawards.org/, and for information about the Pinnacle Awards, visit https://goldenimageawards.org/pinnacle-awards/.