Local PR Association Chapter Celebrates Annual Image Awards

April 21, 2023 – 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 “2023 Image Awards: All That Glitters” event on April 19 at The Grove. 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 professionalism in our area.

The competition recognizes work in four divisions: Public Relations Programs, Collateral of Public Relations, Digital Tools of Public Relations, and Student Projects in Public Relations. Possible honors include: Judges’ Award, for an outstanding entry that achieves maximum return on investment; Award of Distinction, presented to entries that meet the standards of excellence set by the panel of judges; and the Image Award, which may be presented to the top-scoring entry in each category if the entry meets predetermined criteria of excellence by the judges.

Awards were presented by chapter president Sheryl Vieira; event emcees were Hallie Young, CWC-FPRA’s Image Awards director, and SNN Chief Meteorologist Justin Mosely.

Earning top honors during the celebration was Hunter Carpenter/First Watch: the company earned an Image Award and Judges’ Award for its “Sip, Sip Hooray Phade Straw Campaign” in Division A (Public Relations Programs).

The other award-winners were:

• Division A: Heather Empsall and Andrea Knies/Realize Bradenton, “Meet Me at the Market,” Award of Distinction; Erin Hoffer/KSC Advertising and PR, “NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties’ 2022 Giving Challenge,” Award of Distinction; and Muffy Lavens/Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, “The Healing Power of Music,” Judges’ Award.
• Division B (Collateral of Public Relations): Hallie Young/The Haven, “My Disability Is My Superpower,” Award of Distinction.
• Division C (Digital Tools of Public Relations): Alyssa Holcomb/Florida Swimming Pool Association, “FSPA’s Hurricane Ian Relief Fund Campaign,” Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award.

Travis Cornwell, Client Experience and Development Manager for Next-Mark, was named the chapter’s 2023 Joe Curley Rising Leader. Cornwell has been very active with the chapter, serving this year as Membership Director. He will join a class of Rising Leaders from chapters across the state and be in contention for the Joe Curley Rising Leader Award at the state level during the FPRA Annual Conference in August. 

“The annual Image Awards celebrate work from the past year that showcases best practices and raises the bar for the public relations profession,” said Young. “There were 12 entries from talented local professionals, demonstrating creativity, strategy, effective implementation, goal achievement, and program evaluation. It was an honor to celebrate these accomplishments with our peers.”

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 15. Details can be found at fpra.org.

CWC-FPRA is grateful to its annual sponsors: Next-Mark and Caldwell Trust Company. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties and Sir Speedy have graciously donated spaces and resources as in-kind sponsors.

The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit cwcfpra.com for more information.