Isle PR practitioners honor their stars
POSTED: Friday, July 17, 2009
This story has been corrected. See below. |
Last night's 26th annual awards gala for the Public Relations Society of America's Hawaii chapter was all about upstarts and veterans.
PRSA Hawaii received nearly 120 entries, and a record 61 Koa Anvil and Koa Hammer awards were presented in the Sheraton Waikiki Kauai Ballroom for excellence in public relations programs and tactics, respectively.
The awards “;stand for the work of many savvy professionals in the public relations industry who often work behind the scenes on behalf of their clients and employers”; said Kristen Bonilla, PRSA Hawaii president.
The event “;allows these deserving professionals to emerge from the shadows and take a bow.”;
McNeil Wilson Communications Inc. won 13 in all, including awards of excellence. The other double-digit winner was Bennet Group Strategic Communications, with 10.
Upstart Pang Communications won the Best of Show award with the highest score among Koa Anvil entries for its “;Graham Builders/Multi-Generational Home and Aging-in Place Specialists”; campaign.
Jennifer Pang founded the company in 2006 following her years at Communications-Pacific Inc.
Michael Ni, account executive at McNeil Wilson, won the Hokupa'a Award, presented to an outstanding practitioner with fewer than five years' experience.
Ni is the chapter's treasurer and has led the awards committee for two years.
Veteran PR man and literal veteran Lou Torraca received the Hall of Honor Award, PRSA Hawaii's highest recognition for a practitioner with a distinguished and exemplary career.
A retired Air Force colonel, Torraca's more than 40-year career has spanned the U.S. Pacific Command, Bishop Museum and the state Department of Education—and he has served as an adjunct faculty member at Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii. Torraca served on the chapter's board of directors for many years, including as president in 1995.
The Gregg W. Perry Public Relations Professional of the Year award honoring major contributions to the profession was presented to Nancy Daniels, director of public relations for Outrigger Enterprises Group. Daniels, a longtime member, has served as a board member for eight years and as a Western District representative for two years.
The President's Leadership Award was presented to Ruth Ann Becker, president of Becker Communications Inc., for support of her staff's involvement in PRSA and her mentorship of members of PRSSA, the student chapter.
The two recipients of $1,000 Roy Leffingwell Scholarships were Boston University junior Callie Fisher of Honolulu and Amber Marques, a junior at Loyola Marymount University, originally from Kapaau on the Big Island.
CORRECTION
The following winner of a Public Relations Society of America-Hawaii Chapter Koa Hammer Award was omitted from the list of winners yesterday on Page 30. Entry: Ala Moana Center Celebrates Shop a Le'a and Grand Opening of New Nordstrom Wing. Company: Bennet Group Strategic Communications. Category: Media Relations—Consumer Products. Subcategory: Non-Packaged Goods.
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KOA ANVIL WINNERS
Entry: Graham Builders/Multi-Generation Home and Aging-in Place Specialists
Entry: Ala Moana Center Celebrates Shop a Le‘a and Grand Opening of New Nordstrom Wing
Entry: Ala Moana Center Celebrates Shop a Le‘a and Grand Opening of New Nordstrom Wing
Entry: Hawaii Superferry 125,000th Passenger Promotion
Entry: 10th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony
Entry: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Reopening
Entry: Ignition Interlock Becomes Law in Hawaii
Entry: Ignition Interlock Becomes Law in Hawaii
Entry: Mabuhay Manila! - Hawaiian Airlines Launches Honolulu - Manila Flights
Entry: Hawaii’s Return on Vacation Campaign
KOA ANVIL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Entry: Rebranding Royal Hawaiian Center
Entry: Aloha Medical Mission 25th Silver Anniversary Gala
Entry: Aloha Festivals - Preserving An Island Tradition
Entry: UH Bone Marrow Drive
Entry: “The Power of Effective Public Relations: Winning the Fight for a West Maui Hospital”
Entry: Kraft Foods in Hawaii - Shop & Score 2008
Entry: Kona Village “Green for Decades” Campaign
Entry: King Lunalilo Home
Entry: Introduction of Better Place Hawaii
Entry: Navigating a Voluntary Recall
KOA HAMMER WINNERS
Entry: Ala Moana Center Celebrates Shop a Le'a and Grand Opening of New Nordstrom Wing.
Entry: Hawaiian Host Christmas Medley with Raiatea Helm
Entry: bebe Loves Hawaii at Royal Hawaiian Center
Entry: ‘Iolani Palace Awareness Campaign
Entry: “Affordable Kauai” News Release
Entry: “Culinary Rehab”
Entry: Opinion Editorial: “Evolving Waikiki Stays Popular and Competitive”
Entry: Huaka‘i ‘Aina Ho‘oilina: Exploring the Lands that Sustain Us
Entry: Hawaii Theatre 2008-2009: A Season for All to Enjoy
Entry: “Fit to Fight: Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard 1908-2008 The Story of “the Yard” and the Men and Women Who Made Her Great”
Entry: Olelo Community Television Report to the Community
Entry: Kona Village Repeat Guest Postcard Campaign
KOA HAMMER AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Entry: Club Monaco’s Hawaii Debut
Entry: Whole Foods Market Offers Sneak Peek of First Hawaii Store
Entry: Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park New Year’s Eve
Entry: Ala Moana Center’s 17th Annual Fourth of July Fireworks
Entry: Puna Geothermal Venture 15th Anniversary Celebration
Entry: Philip K White & Associates 40 S. School St. Offices Demonstrate Commitment to Building and Living Green
Entry: Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties 10-Day Sales Event
Entry: The Power of Effective Media Relations: Winning the Fight for West Maui Hospital
Entry: Polynesian Cultural Center’s Iosepa: Voyage of Discovery
Entry: Tornado Grand Opening
Entry: News Releases Regarding ATA & Aloha Airlines Shutdowns
Entry: Op-Ed: Health research a sure way to better Isle lives, economy
Entry: New $70 million plan will deliver more than a hospital to West Maui
Entry: OutriggerHawaii.com (External Website)
Entry: Promoting Loyalty - One Photo at a Time
Entry: Maryknoll School - Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation Press Conference
Entry: Hilton Grand Vacations’ Grand Waikikian Soft Opening
Entry: Club Monaco’s Hawaii Debut
Entry: Project DVD of the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Section 4(f) Evaluation
Entry: Verizon Wireless’ Commitment to the Community
Entry: “Reflections: The Ritz-Carlton at Kauai Lagoons” Newsletter
Entry: Ha‘i ‘Olelo Ma Ka‘upulehu - Storytelling at Ka‘upulehu
Entry: Battleship Missouri Special Events Brochure
Entry: Ku I ka Mahalo
Entry: Annual Quality Report
Entry: Chip In for Castle Golf Tournament
Entry: Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner invitation and program
Entry: Hawaii Superferry Serves Building Trade Industry
Entry: Hawaii Convention Center Advertorial
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