PROTOS Awards 2022
Orange County Public Relations Society of America Celebrates Sold-Out 47th PROTOS Awards at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar
Westbound Communications Earns ‘Best in Show’ while the OC Forum, Charla Jeannine Batey, MBA, APR and Matt Prince take home top honors at Orange County’s top PR awards show.
OCTOBER 7, 2022 (ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.) - The Orange County Public Relations Society of America (OCPRSA), the region’s premier industry association for public relations professionals, is thrilled to announce it hosted a sold-out 47th Annual PROTOS Awards show held on October 7 at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar.
The annual awards ceremony themed “Collective Intelligence” was emceed by Joanna Waterfall, the founder of Yellow Co., and celebrated how as a chapter, by coming together and learning from one another, public relations and communications professionals reach new heights of excellence with each passing year.
“The strength of our chapter would not be possible without the dedicated members and volunteers who invest their time and resources back into OCPRSA,” said Patty Conover, OCPRSA president. “Like trees in a forest, we exist in an inter-connected community of collective intelligence, and together, we help each other grow and succeed in our roles.”
Presented by Garden Sponsor Reveille, Inc., with supporting sponsors Cox Communications and Powerhouse Communications, the awards recognized more than 30 campaigns and organizations for their work across 19 categories ranging from best media relations programs to community relations programs. In addition, Rocket Launch Marketing & Public Relations and Westbound Communications were proud table sponsors for the event.
Westbound Communications earned “Best in Show” for its San Bernardino County Voter Education campaign. The multi-faceted voter education campaign was a tremendous success. Ultimately, the Registrar of Voters, local media, and elected officials on both sides of the political aisle saw the effort as a success and an exemplary model of voter outreach.
Matt Prince, head of marketing and communications for Taco Bell was the fourth recipient of the Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award, established in memory of Rick Miltenberger by Westbound Communications, and given to an individual who exemplifies mentorship as Miltenberger did throughout his career. Matt, also the founder of Net Net Synergy, has mentored countless young professionals over his 15-year career and has established a unique network with more than 170 mentors to help entry-level professionals secure positions within the field.
The 2022 Distinguished Service Awards were given to Charla Jeannine Batey, MBA, APR (in the “individual” category) and the OC Forum (in the “organization” category). Charla is a past-president of the chapter as well as a PRSA Western District liaison and also actively volunteers on the national PRSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Charla is also an active advisor to the OCPRSA executive board and a longtime member of the OCPRSA YoPro mentorship program.
The OC Forum is a nonprofit organization that was honored for raising the bar in delivering accessible, nonpartisan programming on important and timely topics aimed at helping the community stay informed about all sides of an issue, while cultivating healthy and civil debate in a time when national public discourse is often inflammatory and extreme.
“There was such a warm feeling of community last night at our PROTOS Awards as we came together to celebrate the creativity, hard work and accomplishments of Orange County's public relations professionals,” said OCPRSA PROTOS chair Janelle Kruly, APR. “The garden setting was an elegant and beautiful backdrop for our first in-person awards show since 2019 and I look forward to many more events to come."
Congratulations to each of our esteemed winners.
Best in Show
Westbound Communications
San Bernardino County 2021 Voter Education
Distinguished Service Award - Organization
OC Forum
Distinguished Service Award - Individual
Charla Jeannine Batey, MBA, APR
OCPRSA Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award
Matt Prince
PROTOS Awards
Broadcast Productions
T&Co.
Joseph J. Albanese, Inc. Videos
Collateral Materials - External Audiences
RockSpark Communications + Marketing
RockSpark Personal Branding Workbook
Collateral Materials - External Audiences
Idea Hall
Cystinosis Magazine Spring & Fall Editions
Community Relations/Institutional Programs
Idea Hall
Be Well OC "Hope Happens Here" Podcast
COVID-19 Response Media Relations Programs
Westbound Communications
Providence Mission Hospital COVID-19 2021 Media Relations Campaign
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Idea Hall
MemorialCare: Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Powerhouse Communications
CRF Resilience Fund Campaign
Media Relations Programs
Reveille, Inc. & Families Forward
Families Forward Media Relations Program
Media Relations Programs
Powerhouse Communications
EvolveYou Rebrand
News Release or Media Alert - Nonprofit
Reveille, Inc. & Second Harvest
Harvest Solutions Farm Launch
Press Conference or Press Tour
Reveille, Inc. & Human Options
2022 Domestic Violence Death Review Team Press Conference
Social Media Program
PRactical ADvantage Communications
CSUF Graduate Program COMMit To Higher Education
Social Media Program
Idea Hall
FuelRod: Portable Chargers for the Travel Bug
Special Events and Observances
Westbound Communications
Promise To Talk May Mental Health Month Campaign
Speeches or Multimedia Presentations
RockSpark Communications + Marketing
7 Steps to Build Your Personal Brand Webinar
Total Program Nonprofit Programs
Rocket Launch Marketing + Communication & Family Promise
House of Ruth Building Campaign to End Family Homelessness in OC
Total Program - Consumer Programs
Powerhouse Communications
Mom's Touch - U.S. Launch
Total Program - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Orange County Transportation Authority
405 Forward Program
Website Development
Orange County Transportation Authority
91 Express Lanes Website – Live Life On Time
Awards of Excellence
Annual Report
Think Together
Think Together Annual Report
Article for Trade Publication – Pitched
Westbound Communications
Mitsubishi Electric “UV in the Sky with Resin” SatMagazine Article
Article for Trade Publication – Pitched
Visit Anaheim
Anaheim Spotlight in Meetings Today
Best Single Media Placement
Integrity Public Relations, Inc.
LA Fleet Week Goes National
Collateral Materials – External Audiences
El Toro Water District
El Toro Water District Water Views Newsletter
COVID-19 Response, Media Relations Programs
Master Plan Communications, Inc.
Igloo Products Corp.
2022 ECO Event News Release or Media Alert – Consumer
Visit Anaheim
Visit Anaheim Gives Rise to Bleisure Trend
Press Conference or Press Tour
Orange County Fire Authority
Holiday Fire Hazard Demonstrations and Safety Tips
Public Affairs Programs
Think Together
Think Together Lights the Way for Afterschool Programs
Social Media Program
University of California, Irvine
#IAmUCI
Special Events and Observances
Integrity Public Relations, Inc.
Los Angeles Fleet Week 2022
Website Development
T&Co.
Joseph J. Albanese, Inc. New Website
Website Development
University of California, Irvine
California's Climate Crisis & Solutions
