Reno, Nev. (June 21, 2023) – The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) celebrated six individuals, 18 Silver Spike awards, and a number of other awards during its showstopping 2023 Silver Spike event, held Wednesday, May 24 at The_Theatre in Reno, Nev.
The Silver Spike Awards ceremony celebrates local public relations and communications profession and professionals. Local marketing and public relations firms, teams, and professionals submit their work for an out-of-market PRSA chapter to judge their submissions on a 100-point scale. Based on their score, they are awarded locally a Silver Spike, Bronze Spike, or Award of Excellence.
In 2023, the Sierra Nevada Chapter of PRSA received 57 submissions, and 39 submissions were recognized for outstanding research, goals and objectives, execution, and overall results.
The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America also acknowledges local professionals based on community nominations. A selection committee made up of public relations professionals and community leaders finalizes the slate.
“The Silver Spike Awards are our public relations community’s opportunity to celebrate excellence in our field, and I’m so proud that excellence was indeed recognized,” said Rebecca Allured, APR, 2023 PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter president. “On behalf of our 2023 Board, I want to thank all who have contributed to our local PR community and congratulate all of the 2023 award winners!”
Here is a complete list of awards honored at the 2023 Silver Spikes Awards event:
Individual Award Winners
- Lifetime Achievement: Jane Tors, APR
- Public Relations Hall of Fame: Julie Ardito, APR, vice president of public relations at KPS3
- Gold Spike Community Excellence: Ivet Contreras, founder and president of IC Media Strategy
- Mark Twain Community Service: Alyson McCormick, assistant city manager at the City of Sparks
- Mark Curtis Sr., Chapter Member of the Year: Kathie Taylor, APR, chief marketing officer for In Plain Sight Marketing
- Outstanding New Practitioner: Ben Engel, account executive at The Abbi Agency
Best of Show
This is the highest-scoring entry.
Washoe County
Programs: Emergency or Crisis Programs
Election Livestream Failure
Silver Spike Award Recipients
These recipients received a score of 90+.
Argentum Partners
Programs: Public Affairs
Nevada Voters First
GOODGIANT
Programs: Special Events & Observances, 3 or more days
2022 Reno Rodeo
GOODGIANT
Programs: Overall Campaign
2022 Dolan Class Project
GOODGIANT
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
In Plain Sight Marketing
Strategies & Tactics: Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
BetterPR Podcast
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Greater Nevada Credit Union Cannabis-Related Banking
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
REMSA Health Campus Safety Reels
KPS3
Programs: Overall Campaign
Visit Carson City Nostalgia Campaign
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
WIC Social Media Strategy
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
Santa Maria Valley Beat Inflation Vacation
Nevada Department of Wildlife
Programs: Special Events & Observances, 3 or more days
Women’s Month Campaign
Northern Nevada Health System
Programs: Special Events & Observances, 3 or more days
The First Full-Service Hospital Built in Over 100 Years Comes to Reno
Northern Nevada Health System
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
The First Full-Service Hospital Built in Over 100 Years Comes to Reno
Renown Health
Programs: Issues Management
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Communications
Renown Health
Programs: Overall Campaign
Clinical and Non-Clinical Recruitment and Retention
Renown Health
Programs: Overall Campaign
Rx Care: Filled Here.
Washoe County
Programs: Internal Communications
Calm App
Washoe County
Programs: Emergency or Crisis Programs
Election Livestream Failure
Bronze Spike Award Recipients
These recipients received a score between 84-89.
Argentum Partners
Strategies & Tactics: Content Marketing
HopeLink Celebrates 30 Years
ALTER Strategies
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
Cavalier Genève Cigars
City of Reno
Programs: Community Relations
Paving the Road for a More Vibrant Downtown
Estipona Group
Programs: Overall Campaign
Nevada Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
Estipona Group
Strategies & Tactics: Content Marketing
Secret Sparks
In Plain Sight Marketing
Programs: Community Relations
Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
In Plain Sight Marketing
Programs: Issues Management
Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
Dairy Month
Northern Nevada Health System
Strategies & Tactics: Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Preventive Health and Wellness Video Education Series
Renown Health
Programs: Internal Communications
Employee Open Enrollment
The Abbi Agency, Marketing 4 Change, Ericka Aviles Consulting
Programs: Overall Campaign
Nevada Health Link 2023 Open Enrollment Campaign
The Abbi Agency
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Reno Public Market
Weidinger Public Relations
Programs: Overall Campaign
Lake Link
Weidinger Public Relations
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Tahoe Keys
Award of Excellence Recipients
These recipients received a score between 78-83.
GOODGIANT
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Barracuda Championship – Crypto Launch
KPS3
Strategies & Tactics: Content Marketing
Carson City – Road Trip Kit
Nevada Department of Wildlife
Strategies & Tactics: Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Nevada Wild Podcast
The Abbi Agency
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Sierra Nevada REALTORS®
The Decker/Royal Agency
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Visit Reno Tahoe’s Art Scene Featured on Matador Network
The Decker/Royal Agency
Strategies & Tactics: Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Visit Reno Tahoe 2/22/22 Elopement Contest
Washoe County Health District
Programs: Emergency or Crisis Programs
2022 Mpox Information & Vaccine Outreach Campaign
Event photos can be viewed on Facebook here. Connect with the Sierra Nevada PRSA chapter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. For more information, visit prsasierra.org.
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The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) consists of public relations practitioners from Northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area. 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, Reno, helping the student organization toward a number of regional and national awards, including the prestigious Bateman Case Study championship.
The 2023 Silver Spike Awards ceremony was made possible with generous support from GOODGIANT, The Abbi Agency, KPS3, Renown Health, Argentum Partners, East PR, In Plain Sight Marketing, IC Media Strategy, Plumas Bank, RAD Strategies, Northern Nevada Health System, The Gattuso Coalition, Flanz Media, and Reno Type.