OC Health Care Agency Communications
Wins “Best in Show” at 45th annual PROTOS Awards
David Cordero, APR and Providence St. Joseph Health Honored
With Distinguished Service Awards while Teri Sawyer Earns Mentorship Award
OCTOBER 8, 2020 (ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.) – In a year hampered in many ways by the global pandemic, exceptional public relations and communications work shone through at the 45th Annual PROTOS Awards Gala. The annual awards program administered by the Orange County Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (OCPRSA) made history, with its first virtual ceremony, emceed by KTLA-TV General Assignment Reporter, Kareen Wynter.
“Producing the chapter’s first-ever virtual PROTOS Awards Gala was an exciting opportunity, and I was ready for the challenge,” said PROTOS Co-Chair, Kara Mikulka. “I had to ensure our guests felt the same excitement and camaraderie as if they were in-person, celebrating each other’s victories. I am grateful for my co-chair, Erik Fallis, and all those involved who helped make it a success.”
OC Health Care Agency Communications took top honors, winning “Best in Show” for its “Could it be COVID?” campaign, which kept the public informed and engaged in the midst of a once-in-a-generation health crisis.
Teri Sawyer, Founder of T&Co was the winner of the Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award, established in memory of Rick Miltenberger from Westbound Communications, and given to an individual who exemplifies mentorship as Miltenberger did throughout his career.
The 2020 Distinguished Service Award winners are Providence St. Joseph’s Health (in the “organization” category) and David Cordero, APR (in the “individual” category), Executive Director of Apartment Association of Orange County. The team at Providence St. Joseph’s Health and Cordero were honored for their outstanding contributions to the goals and ethics of the public relations profession and exemplary dedication to the Orange County community.
Elena Bosch, APR, Janelle Kruly, APR, Kristina Sarenas, APR, and Justine Houston-Brown, APR were also recognized for earning an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certified by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB). The accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession.
“It takes an extraordinary group of professionals to stay focused and help disseminate important community information during significant times, and members of the Orange County public relations industry are no exception. Being on the front lines of sharing sometimes life-saving information is stressful, and I am proud of our community,” said Charla Batey, President of OCPRSA.
See below for the full list of this year’s winners.
Best in Show
OC Health Care Agency Communications
COVID-19 Response, Crisis & Issues Communications – Could it be COVID?
Distinguished Service Award – Organization
Providence St. Joseph Health
Distinguished Service Award – Individual
David Cordero, APR
OCPRSA Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award
Teri Sawyer
PROTOS Awards
Community Relations/Institutional Programs
Westbound Communications
County of Orange 2020 Census Campaign “Self-Response Period”
Community Relations/Institutional Programs
Idea Hall with United to End Homelessness
Changing Hearts & Minds about OC’s Homeless Population
Total Program – Consumer Programs
Rocket Science Marketing & PR
Dole and Disney’s Frozen 2 Frozen Family Fun
Total Program – Nonprofit Programs
Westbound Communications
Promise to Talk Mental Health Month Campaign
Total Program – Nonprofit Programs
Reveille, Inc. and City of Hope OC
City of Hope Orange County’s Newport Beach Grand Opening
Media Relations Programs
Rocket Science Marketing & PR
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast Pursue Greatness
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Westbound Communications
Mission Hospital COVID-19 Media Relations Campaign
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Think Together
Think Together Launches the Shalimar Relief Fund
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Master Plan Communications
Igloo Pledges Profits to CDC Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund
COVID-19 Response, Crisis & Issues Communications
OC Health Care Agency Communications
Could it be COVID?
Press Kit – Hard Copy and/or Electronic
Westbound Communications
Visit Laguna Beach Launches First Destination-Wide Wellness Trail
News Release or Media Alert – Nonprofit
ArtsPR, – Christopher Trela
Irvine Barclay Theatre presents National Choreographers Initiative
Best Single Media Placement – Print or Broadcast
Westbound Communications
KABC Channel 7 Mission Hospital Health Hero Spotlight: Dr. Goldberg
Best Single Media Placement – Print or Broadcast
Reveille, Inc. and YMCA of OC
YMCA of Orange County: Older Adults Staying Active
Best Single Media Placement – Print or Broadcast
Think Together
Think Together’s Shalimar Relief Fund Helps Meet the Moment
Collateral Materials – External Audiences
Idea Hall, Cystinosis Research Foundation
Transforming Cystinosis Magazine into a Fundraising, Education Tool
Apps
Westbound Communications
ReadyOC Emergency Preparedness Mobile App
Awards of Excellence
Total Program – Consumer Programs
Newport Beach & Company
Newport Beach Wellness Week
Total Program – Consumer Programs
Citizen Relations for Hotwire
Hotwire “Make it a Quickie”
Total Program – Business-to-Business Programs
ABBYY Global PR Team
ABBYY Launches Digital Intelligence PR Campaign
Media Relations Programs
ABBYY Global PR Team
ABBYY Promotes Trustworthy AI
Media Relations Programs
Idea Hall for Hendy
Positioning Hendy as a Leading Interior Architecture Firm
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Reveille, Inc., Second Harvest of OC
Second Harvest Food Bank of OC: Feeding a County in Crisis
Special Events and Observances
Brand Orbit PR & Advertising
Brand Orbit’s 50th Anniversary
Internal Communications Programs
Idea Hall with C.W. Driver Companies
100 Years, One Driver: Ideal Hall with C.W. Driver Companies
COVID-19 Response, Internal Communications
Orange County Fire Authority
COVID-19 Response, Internal Communications
COVID-19 Response, Crisis & Issues Communications
OCTA Marketing Department
OCTA COVID-19 Awareness and Customer Education
Article for Consumer Publication – Written
Les Goldberg Public Relations
The Unsuspecting Field of Dreams
Article for Trade Publication – Pitched
Master Plan Communications
Retiring Twinlode CEO Featured in Modern Materials Handling
Best Single Media Placement – Print or Broadcast
Master Plan Communications
Igloo x Star Wars Single Best Media Placement – HuffPost
Annual Report
Coast Community College District
Our Communities, Our Colleges
Social Media Program
Moonsail North & MSUCOM
#SpartanDO Virtual Match Day 2020 Campaign
Social Media Program
Master Plan Communications
LAMO QVC Social Media Activation
COVID-19 Response, Social Media Program
IMW Agency
Virtual Tours at the Flower Fields 2020
Blogs
OCTA Marketing Department
OCTA’s Corporate Blog, “On The Move”
PROTOS Chairs
Erik Fallis, APR
Coast Community College District
Kara Mikulka
La Voz Marketing
protos (at) ocprsa (dot) org