Awards await their recipients at this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony at Dominion Energy Center. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
PR practitioners got to take center stage at this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards, which saw communications firm Padilla take two of the evening’s top honors.
The Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond chapter hosted the annual awards at the Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre on Wednesday. The ceremony and banquet took place on the stage of the nearly century-old theater.
The ceremony filled the Carpenter Theatre stage.
Minneapolis-based Padilla, which has an office in Manchester, was the night’s big winner, taking home the Best-in-Show in the Capital Award category for its work for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, as well as the Excellence in Public Relations Award, which went to Padilla executive Jeff Wilson.
Jeff Wilson
Wilson, chief of staff and vice president of workplace culture and diversity equity and inclusion at Padilla, is the first black recipient of the award, which recognizes achievements of seasoned professionals in the Richmond region.
Best-in-Show in the Commonwealth Award category went to Roanoke County Public Schools for its Load the Bus campaign. The campaign raised more than $31,000 worth of school supplies for children in the Roanoke region.
The Capital and Commonwealth categories honor the year’s best public relations tactics and PR programs and campaigns, respectively.
Taylor Fuqua, PR and marketing manager at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, was recognized with this year’s Rising Star award, given to a PR professional with five years’ experience or less who has excelled in the field.
Taylor Fuqua, left, and Jeff Wilson with PRSA Richmond Chapter President Taya Jarman. (Lauren Kent Photography)
Over 100 individuals and organizations were recognized for PR campaigns and tactics in various categories. Entries are taken for local, statewide, national and global campaigns, from government entities, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and PR agencies and independent practitioners. PRSA’s Georgia chapter judged this year’s competition.
Local Capital Awards recipients included University of Richmond for “Giving Spotlights,” VCU Business Services for “Let’s Eat! VCUDine” brochure, MCV Foundation for “Inaugural MCV Foundation Impact Report,” Richmond Region Tourism for “Pet Friendly Richmond,” Virginia DMV for its use of regional hashtags, and Virginia ABC for “Reusable Bags.”
Over 100 individuals and organizations were recognized for PR campaigns and tactics in various categories.
Other local recipients of Capital and Commonwealth awards included Alliance Group, Capital One, Carillon Clinic, CarMax/Finn Partners, CarMax/The Martin Agency, Commonwealth PR, Elevation, Garden Club of Virginia, Hodges Partnership, JLV Communications, Keiter., Kimley-Horn, Padilla, Soar365, Vance/Siddall Communications, VCU, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Department of General Services, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Virginia DMV and Virginia Lottery.
Awards await their recipients at this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony at Dominion Energy Center. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
PR practitioners got to take center stage at this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards, which saw communications firm Padilla take two of the evening’s top honors.
The Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond chapter hosted the annual awards at the Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre on Wednesday. The ceremony and banquet took place on the stage of the nearly century-old theater.
The ceremony filled the Carpenter Theatre stage.
Minneapolis-based Padilla, which has an office in Manchester, was the night’s big winner, taking home the Best-in-Show in the Capital Award category for its work for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, as well as the Excellence in Public Relations Award, which went to Padilla executive Jeff Wilson.
Jeff Wilson
Wilson, chief of staff and vice president of workplace culture and diversity equity and inclusion at Padilla, is the first black recipient of the award, which recognizes achievements of seasoned professionals in the Richmond region.
Best-in-Show in the Commonwealth Award category went to Roanoke County Public Schools for its Load the Bus campaign. The campaign raised more than $31,000 worth of school supplies for children in the Roanoke region.
The Capital and Commonwealth categories honor the year’s best public relations tactics and PR programs and campaigns, respectively.
Taylor Fuqua, PR and marketing manager at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, was recognized with this year’s Rising Star award, given to a PR professional with five years’ experience or less who has excelled in the field.
Taylor Fuqua, left, and Jeff Wilson with PRSA Richmond Chapter President Taya Jarman. (Lauren Kent Photography)
Over 100 individuals and organizations were recognized for PR campaigns and tactics in various categories. Entries are taken for local, statewide, national and global campaigns, from government entities, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and PR agencies and independent practitioners. PRSA’s Georgia chapter judged this year’s competition.
Local Capital Awards recipients included University of Richmond for “Giving Spotlights,” VCU Business Services for “Let’s Eat! VCUDine” brochure, MCV Foundation for “Inaugural MCV Foundation Impact Report,” Richmond Region Tourism for “Pet Friendly Richmond,” Virginia DMV for its use of regional hashtags, and Virginia ABC for “Reusable Bags.”
Over 100 individuals and organizations were recognized for PR campaigns and tactics in various categories.
Other local recipients of Capital and Commonwealth awards included Alliance Group, Capital One, Carillon Clinic, CarMax/Finn Partners, CarMax/The Martin Agency, Commonwealth PR, Elevation, Garden Club of Virginia, Hodges Partnership, JLV Communications, Keiter., Kimley-Horn, Padilla, Soar365, Vance/Siddall Communications, VCU, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Department of General Services, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Virginia DMV and Virginia Lottery.