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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Photo Cutline: Pictured is the Washoe County communications team who received Best of Show for their work regarding the 2022 election livestream coverage. Event photography was provided by Michael Higdon from Flanz Media.

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.