The Public Relations Society of America Maryland Chapter bestowed 32 Best in Maryland and Award of Excellence awards in 16 categories, as well as two professional awards, during a virtual gala and awards show held on December 9, 2021.
The Best in Show award was presented to The Hatcher Group for its Student African American Brotherhood work to refresh SAAB’s visual brand and redesign their website. SAAB is dedicated to ensuring men of color have the support needed to excel academically, socially, and professionally while pursuing higher education.
Crosby Marketing Communications won the most awards with five, followed by Montgomery Parks (four) and MDOT SHA, Devaney and BGE, each bringing home three awards.
Entries were reviewed by a panel of judges made up of public relations professionals from PRSA’s Phoenix Chapter and carefully evaluated based on the following criteria: planning/content, creativity/quality, technical excellence and overall results.
This year’s gala, recognizing the Maryland chapter’s 60th anniversary, was emceed by Dr. David Marshall, Ph.D., APR, Professor and Chair, Department of Strategic Communication, Morgan State University and 2021 Maryland chapter president; Jeffrey Davis, APR, three-time chapter president and head of J. Davis Public Relations; and Dianna Fornaro, M.A, APR, Senior Communications Specialist, Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company and the chapter’s accreditation/APR chair.
Following is a list of all awardees:
Professional Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Anita Brightman, APR, PRSA Fellow, A. Bright Idea Advertising and PR
- Rising Star Award, recognizing an up-and-coming professional in public relations – Jamie Abell, A. Bright Idea Advertising and PR
This year’s Best in Maryland Awards Signature sponsor is Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company, supporting the chapter along with JukeStrat, Maryland Marketing Partnership, BGE, Fovndry, Maryland Lottery and TheYuCrew.
Best in Maryland Award Winners
Programs
PRO BONO
BEST IN MARYLAND – Boost Bmore, Abel Communications
COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS
BEST IN MARYLAND – Helping Marylanders Protect Themselves Against COVID-19, University of Maryland School of Medicine Office of Public Affairs & Communications
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – COVID-19 Employee and Customer Communications and Media Engagement, BGE Communications
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Promoting Public Health and Safety During COVID-19, Crosby Marketing Communications
MARKETING
BEST IN MARYLAND – BGE ConnectedRewards, BGE/Honeywell
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Fairy Tale COVID Campaign, Baltimore Gas & Electric
INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS
BEST IN MARYLAND – Re the We Relationships Initiative, Crosby Marketing Communications
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Lead Boldly B2B Campaign, Crosby Marketing Communications
PUBLIC SERVICE (Campaign)
BEST IN MARYLAND Support More Victories for Veterans PSAs, Crosby Marketing Communications
EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES <7 DAYS
BEST IN MARYLAND – REALTOR® Fest 2020, Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS (GCAAR)
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Financial Education Initiative, Maryland Auto Insurance
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – THB Bagelry & Deli Columbia Grand Opening, Planit
REPUTATION/BRAND MANAGEMENT
BEST IN MARYLAND – Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), The Hatcher Group
EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES >7 DAYS
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Open Parkways, Montgomery Parks
Tactics
MAGAZINES/NEWSLETTERS-Print
BEST IN MARYLAND – Adventist HealthCare and You Magazine, Adventist HealthCare
CREATIVE TACTICS – Assoc/Nonprofit-Govt
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Flooding Maryland with Safety: State of Maryland Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Virtual Room, AECOM
BROCHURES – Digital
BEST IN MARYLAND – Virtual Meeting Toolkit, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Co.
CREATIVE TACTICS – For Profit
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – COVID-19 Construction Safety Banners, Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance
WEBSITES
BEST IN MARYLAND – MyMOS Mobile App, Crosby Marketing Communications
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Montgomery Parks Online Programs, Montgomery Parks
BROCHURES – Digital
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Heartstrings Fund Brochure, Devaney & Associates/Baltimore Medical System
ANNUAL REPORTS
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Making a Masterpiece 2020 Annual Report, Devaney & Associates/Carroll Hospital
VIDEOS
BEST IN MARYLAND – U=U Maryland Testimonial Video, Devaney & Associates/Chase Brexton Health Care/Baltimore City Health Department
EDITORIALS/OP-ED COLUMNS
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Private Sector Voice on Challenges of Today, Greater Baltimore Committee
VIDEOS
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – 2020 Board Installation Promotional Video, Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS (GCAAR)
PUBLICATIONS
BEST IN MARYLAND 2021 Scholarly Journals Subscription Catalog, Johns Hopkins University Press
ANNUAL REPORTS
BEST IN MARYLAND – The Year in Review, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
MEDIA RELATIONS-Assoc/Nonprofit/Govt
BEST IN MARYLAND – A Highway to History: MDOT SHA Archaeologists Discover Home of Harriet Tubman’s Father, MDOT SHA
SOCIAL MEDIA – Assoc/Nonprofit/Govt
BEST IN MARYLAND – Highway Workers Nearly Struck and Killed, MDOT SHA
CREATIVE TACTICS – Assoc/Nonprofit-Govt
BEST IN MARYLAND – Trails Less Traveled, Montgomery Parks
MAGAZINES/NEWSLETTERS – Digital
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Explore From Home Newsletter, Montgomery Parks
MEDIA RELATIONS – Assoc/Nonprofit/Govt
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Tobacco Free Kids Media Relations, The Hatcher Group
About PRSA Maryland
The Maryland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Maryland) was established in 1961 to help public relations and communications professionals stay connected professionally and personally. As part of the nation’s largest and foremost organization of communication professionals, PRSA Maryland offers networking, training, resources, and support to assist members in practicing public relations at the speed of communication. For more information, visit www.prsamd.org.
