Local PR Association Celebrates Image Award Winners

May 4, 2022 – Sarasota

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 “2022 Image Awards: Modern PR” event on April 28. The local Image Awards competition is conducted annually to recognize outstanding public relations programs and to encourage and promote the development of the public relations profession in our area. 

Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning, and design. The competition recognizes work in three divisions: Public Relations Programs, Collateral of Public Relations, and Digital Tools of Public Relations. The chapter also named this year’s Joe Curley Rising Leader, who will join a class of Rising Leaders from chapters across the state.

Awards were presented by chapter president, Melanie Reda, APR, CPRC, and Image Awards director, Laitin Sterling, APR, and were sponsored by Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Next-Mark. Andrea Knies and Mimi Cirbusova of Compass Rose History Experiences served as emcees. 

Two organizations earned top honors. North Port Parks & Recreation’s “Experience Vintage Florida” Warm Mineral Springs Park Campaign was the top winner with a Grand All Image Award, and the Barancik Foundation’s “2021 Year in Review” Annual Report took home a Grand Image Award.

Earning Image Awards were: City of North Port’s “Water Safety Campaign” and “Experience Vintage Florida” Warm Mineral Springs Park Campaign; and Barancik Foundation’s “2021 Year in Review” Annual Report.

Earning Awards of Distinction were: KSC, Inc. and Sarasota Orchestra’s 2022 Sarasota Music Festival “Fellow Recruitment Campaign”; WordSlinger Marketing & PR and Safe Children Coalition’s “Adult Adoption Story”; and Hamlet’s Eatery’s “To Meat or Not to Meat” audience engagement campaign.

Earning Judges Awards for return on investment were: North Port Parks & Recreation’s “Experience Vintage Florida” Warm Mineral Springs Park Campaign; KSC, Inc. and Sarasota Orchestra’s 2022 Sarasota Music Festival “Fellow Recruitment Campaign”; the Barancik Foundation’s “2021 Year in Review” Annual Report; and WordSlinger Marketing & PR and Safe Children Coalition’s “Adult Adoption Story.”

Hunter Carpenter, public relations manager at First Watch Restaurants, was named the chapter’s 2022 Joe Curley Rising Leader. Carpenter serves on CWC-FPRA’s board as co-director of events, planning and securing speakers for the chapter’s professional development events. The award identifies and honors an individual FPRA member who demonstrates leadership traits along with dedicated, active involvement in FPRA chapter activities, programs, functions and events. 

“The annual Image Awards competition is a time to reflect on our best public relations work from the past year,” said Sterling. “This year, 12 awards were earned by creative, strategic thinking professionals that went above and beyond for their organizations.”

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 13. Details can be found at www.fpra.org/recognition/golden-image-awards/. 

CWC-FPRA meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. More information can be found online at cwcfpra.com.