2017 Renaissance Award Winners: The Complete List

On Jan. 26, the city’s most talented communicators gathered together at the Sheraton Hotel in Station Square to honor the best public relations campaigns, tactics and individual practitioners as part of PRSA Pittsburgh’s 2017 Renaissance Awards. Karamagi Rujumba, director of public communications and advocacy for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, served as the master of ceremonies.

Entries were independently evaluated by a panel of judges from PRSA’s Alaska Chapter. The top scored entries received the ‘Renaissance Award’ distinction and the runner-ups received the ‘Award of Merit.’ Several categories had multiple winners depending on the numeric score of the judges.

Complete list of winners:

CAMPAIGNS

B2B Campaign

Renaissance Awards

  • Burson-Marsteller, Research, Relationships and Resources for Small Businesses
  • Burson-Marsteller, Introducing A Product, Changing Industry Paradigms
  • Havas PR, Transitions Optical: Adapting to Younger Eyes
  • Havas PR, Listen Hear! Live Well

Digital Campaign

 Renaissance Award

  • Top Hat IMC, OnTheRocks – Soars 300% Past Its Crowdfunding Goal

Social Media Campaign

 Renaissance Awards

  • Blender, Inc., #IWantToWork: One selfie turns into life-changing legislation
  • Gatesman, Camp Invention Blogger Program

Awards of Merit

  • Elias/Savion Public Relations, COREworkout
  • MARC USA, Firehouse Subs Dogs of Firehouse Social Campaign

Reputation Management

 Renaissance Awards

  • Burson-Marsteller, Rewriting the Narrative – Elevating Bank of America’s Leadership Through Exploration of Modern Homebuying Trends
  • Havas PR, A Recruitment Challenge: Proving that National Vision, Inc. Has What ODs Want

Awards of Merit

  • Elias/Savion Public Relations, Airmall USA: Fit2Fly Week
  • Garrison Hughes, Western Reserve Academy Campaign

Crisis Communications

 Award of Merit

  • Burson-Marsteller, Overcoming the Efficiency of Robotics

Media Relations

 Renaissance Awards

  • Elias/Savion Public Relations, Center for Organ Recovery & Education Media Relations
  • Havas PR, Solar Impulse Flies High with Covestro
  • Michael Baker International, Michael Baker International Media Relations Program
  • Burson-Marsteller, Cutting through the Clutter – Elevating Bank of America to the Industry Fintech

Awards of Merit

  • Burson-Marsteller, CITGO Petroleum Corporation Fuels Education for Students Nationwide
  • Chemistry, Carollo Engineers: ACE Trade Show
  • Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport Media Relations Campaign

Influencer Relations

 Awards of Merit

  • Burson-Marsteller, Building Allies By Changing Industry Paradigms
  • Chemistry, Bloggers Show DIY How To Create their Own Style with Painters Paint Pens by Elmers

Internal Communications

 Renaissance Award

  • FedEx Ground, Injury Reduction Communications Campaign

New Products & Services Communications

 Renaissance Awards

  • Havas PR, Listen Hear! Live Well
  • Mindful Kreative, ”Catering to Your Needs” Campaign
  • Shift Collaborative, Nation’s First Restaurant Incubator, Smallman Galley, Launches in Pittsburgh

Award of Merit

  • Garrison Hughes, Heinz History Center – WWII Campaign

Content Marketing Campaign

 Awards of Merit

  • Garrison Hughes, Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh Penguins Campaign
  • Chemistry, DIYers Discover How Painters Paint Pens Transform Everyday Items

Events

 Award of Merit

  • Elias/Savion Public Relations, Southwest PA Says NO More Father’s Day Pledge Public Signing Event

Integrated Marketing Campaign

 Renaissance Awards

  • Blender, Inc., What’s a SHIM? And how can it help feed neighbors in need?
  • Brunner, Compact Power Equipment Rental Integrated Marketing Campaign
  • Burson-Marsteller, Cutting through the Clutter – Elevating Bank of America to the Industry Fintech

Awards of Merit

  • Brunner, Collections Infinies Launch
  • Gatesman, Thorntons Real Kitch. Real Food. 

TACTICS

 Written Content

 Renaissance Award

  • Michael Baker International, Michael Baker International Social Media Management

Awards of Merit

  • Michael Baker International, Michael Baker International Internal Newsletter
  • Michael Baker International, Michael Baker International Signature Magazine
  • HM Insurance Group, Inside HM – Employee Communications/Medium Format Content

Multimedia Content

 Renaissance Awards

  • Brunner, Compact Power Equipment Rental How-To Videos
  • Em-media, Inc., Randy’s Story
  • MarketSpace Communications, Pittsburgh International Airport Media Relations Campaign
  • Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County Airport Authority – “The Sky Beneath Our Feet” – New Terrazzo
  • MARC USA, Rite Aid Instagram Content

Awards of Merit

  • Burson-Marsteller, This is Milk
  • Chemistry, Shake, Press and Express Yourself with Painters Paint Pens
  • MarketSpace Communications, Women and Girls Foundation – Foundation Awareness Video

Promotional Content

 Renaissance Award

  • Brunner, Bob Evans Food Products SMT with Sandra Lee

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

 Communicator of the Year

  • Rick Steiner, First National Bank

PR Disruption Award

  • Michelle Flynn, BurghTV

PR Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Dan Ayer, Field General

PR Team of the Year

  • Gatesman PR

PRSSA Chapter of the Year

  • Waynesburg University PRSSA

PRSA Rising Star Award

  • Greta Edgar, PPG

PRSA Member of the Year

  • Robin Rectenwald, WordWrite Communications

Bob O’Gara Student Scholarship

  • Lauren Joseph, Point Park University

Hall of Fame Award

  • Lynne Glover, VisitPITTSBURGH

Best in Show

  • Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County Airport Authority – “The Sky Beneath Our Feet” – New Terrazzo
  • MARC USA, Rite Aid Instagram Content
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