SARASOTA, FL – The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) recognized the area’s best work in public relations, marketing and communications during its “2019 Image Awards: All that Glitters is Gold” event on April 17 at GROVE Restaurant. The local Image Awards competition is conducted annually to recognize outstanding public relations, marketing and communications programs and to encourage and promote the development of the public relations profession.
Winners are selected for their excellence in sound research and planning as well as production, execution and evaluation of results, including budget. Judging is done in four categories: PR and Marketing Programs, Printed Tools of PR and Marketing, Digital Tools of PR and Marketing, and Student Projects.
Kim Livengood, APR of The Eclipse Agency earned top honors – the Grand All Image Award – for her entry, “Finding the Bazaar.”
Earning Image Awards were Livengood for “Finding the Bazaar” and “Passport to the Bazaar”; Sharon Kunkel, Wordslinger Marketing & PR, for “Goodwill Manasota: A Hand Up Pays Off”; Premiere Sotheby’s International Realty for “Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando Home Press Release” – which also earned a Judges’ Award for cost-efficiency; and Visit Sarasota County for “VSC Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.”
Earning Awards of Distinction were: Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County for “Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota Art Battle”; Next-Mark for “CMX Cinemas Makes an Epic Entrance into a New Market”; Habitat for Humanity Sarasota for “Lives Transformed: The Campaign for Hammock Place”; First Watch for “First Watch Blog”; and FCCI Insurance Group for “FCCI Website.”
Eleni Pierce was recognized with The Joe Curley Rising Leader Award. This program identifies and honors up-and-coming individual FPRA members who demonstrate emerging leadership traits and demonstrate active involvement in FPRA chapter activities, programs, functions and events.
“The Image Awards are the standard of public relations excellence in the state,” said Elise Ramer, director of Image Awards for the CWC-FPRA, and a multi-Image Award winner. “We are proud to recognize our local chapters’ innovators and award-winners in planning, execution, and design.” Ramer adds that participation in the Image Awards is not required to enter at the statewide level for the FPRA’s Golden Image Awards; entries are due by May 10, 2019.
Keynote speaker was the inspirational Rachel Weeks, who is a triathlete and track cyclist despite being “deafblind” due to Usher syndrome. Emcee for the awards was SNN anchor Hallie Peilet. The sponsor of the event was Premiere Sotheby’s International Realty.
CWC-FPRA meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. More information can be found online at cwcfpra.com.
About FPRA
The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. The organization’s 15 professional and 12 student chapters provide professional development, networking, and recognition opportunities for nearly 1,500 members across the state. FPRA is the nation’s oldest public relations organization, established by Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC in 1938. For information about membership in the local chapter as well as upcoming programs and events, visit www.cwcfpra.org.