PROTOS Awards 2023
OCPRSA Celebrates 60 Years of PR Excellence at Sold-Out PROTOS Awards at the House of Blues Anaheim, Presented by Diamond Sponsor Forge Media Group
Les Goldberg was honored with the first-ever Lifetime Legacy award, while
Revielle, Inc., City of Hope, Experian and Ken Hagihara were awarded top honors of the night,
sponsored by The Smart Agency.
Revisit our dazzling evening.
View and download photos, courtesy of our Diamond Sponsor Forge Media Group, HERE.
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 its 48th Annual PROTOS Awards show held on September 27 at the House of Blues in Anaheim.
Presented by Diamond sponsor, Forge Media Group, with supporting Sapphire sponsor, The Smart Agency, the awards recognized 30 campaigns and organizations for their work across 38 categories ranging from best media relations programs to community relations programs. Topaz table sponsors ArtsPR, Powerhouse+Co, Westbound Communications, and Experian contributed to the evening’s sold-out show.
Themed “A Diamond Jubilee,” cocktail hour opened with Orange County’s Bite Me Bambi, a seven-piece ska band performing covers spanning six decades alongside original hits. The awards ceremony was emceed by award-winning broadcast journalist Maria Hall-Brown, best known for her work as producer and reporter for the nightly news program Real Orange, on PBS SoCal, (KOCE), with opening remarks from 2023 OCPRSA President Elena Bosch, APR.
"Being a part of another successful PROTOS awards ceremony was an absolute joy and privilege, especially as we celebrate such an important milestone for our chapter,” shared Elena. “Like the precious stone that inspired our theme, the brilliance of diamonds shines even brighter when they come together, and tonight was a true testament to the power of our public relations community.”
The chapter’s accreditation chair and incoming president-elect Meg Treat, APR, Owner and Principal Treat Public Relations recognized Elaine Legere, MBA, APR, senior director of marketing and communications for Think Together, for earning her accreditation in public relations. Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) is the nationally recognized credentialing program for communications professionals, issued by the Universal Accreditation Board. It is designed to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to ethical public relations and communications practices.
Kristin Daher, founder and CEO of Powerhouse+Co, was the recipient of the 2023 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. Kristin is also the OCPRSA PRSSA Liason and the California State Fullerton Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) professional advisor.
The 2023 Distinguished Service Awards were given to Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA, MCM (in the “individual” category) and Experian (in the “organization” category). Ken is the president of Integrity Public Relations, Inc. and lecturer for the School of Communications at California State University, Fullerton as well as PRSSA faculty advisor. Victoria Lim, senior manager of executive and employee communications at Experian, accepted on behalf of the award winner recognizing their dedication to diversity and inclusion, and their commitment to industry excellence.
To celebrate 60 years of PR excellence, the chapter’s PROTOS committee unanimously selected Les Goldberg as its first-ever Lifetime Legacy honoree for his service to the chapter and his impact as a mentor to generations of public relations professionals within Orange County.
To conclude the awards program, OCPRSA honored its top award, Best in Show, to Reveille, Inc. and City of Hope Orange County for their work together on the City of Hope OC Lennar Foundation Cancer Center Grand Opening campaign. The campaign secured over 100 interviews with local print, television, and radio reporters and achieved remarkable success through its well-crafted strategy.
Congratulations to each of our esteemed winners.
Best in Show
Reveille, Inc. and City of Hope Orange County
City of Hope OC Lennar Foundation Cancer Center Grand Opening
Lifetime Legacy Award
Les Goldberg, APR
Distinguished Service Award - Organization
Experian
Distinguished Service Award - Individual
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA, MCM
OCPRSA Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award
Kristin Daher
PROTOS Awards
Total Program Consumer
City of Newport Beach
Ride the Wave to Water Savings
Total Program Consumer
Powerhouse+Co.
Mountain Mike’s Heart-Shaped Pizza
Total Program Business to Business
Gina Ray, APR & ABBYY's Global PR & Corporate Marketing Team
Positioning ABBYY as a Thought Leader in AP Automation
Total Program Nonprofit
Westbound Communications and Providence
Green Bench OC Movement
Media Relations Programs
Powerhouse+Co.
RobotLAB National Robotics Week
Media Relations Programs
Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc.
Dr. Talal Thought Leadership
Media Relations Programs
Powerhouse+Co.
CRF Wells Fargo Broadcast Campaign
Media Relations Programs
City of Hope OC and Reveille
City of Hope OC Lennar Foundation Cancer Center Grand Opening
Press Conference or Press Tour
Reveille, Inc.
Orange County Power Authority State Audit Press Conference
Broadcast Productions
Orange County Transportation Authority
I-405 Improvement Project Inside the 405
Article for Consumer Publication Pitched
Westbound Communications
Alsana Helps to Reduce Eating Disorder Stigma
Best Single Media Placement Print or Broadcast
Powerhouse+Co.
Merchant Centric Inc.com
Best Single Media Placement Print or Broadcast
Treat Public Relations
Andrea Lytle Peet Is America Strong
Speeches and/or Multimedia Presentations
The Smart Agency
The Smart Agency Makes an Impact for Avanath Capital Management
Corporate Identity
The Smart Agency
The Smart Agency Creates Powerful Brand for Bandon Capital Advisors
Social Media Program
Rocket Launch & Haven Collective
Restaurant, Cafe, Brewery & Coffee Brand Expands Social Footprint
Awards of Excellence
Community Relations/Institutional Programs
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
STEM Education
Community Relations/Institutional Programs
Westbound Communications, Riverside Art Museum, Shearer PR, CauseConnect
Riverside Art Museum Opens The Cheech Marin Center
Media Relations Programs
Treat Public Relations
26.2 Is Back In C-U
Special Events and Observances
Visit Newport Beach
114th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
News Release or Media Alert Nonprofit
Reveille Inc. and Waymakers
2023 Clothesline Project
News Release or Media Alert – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Westbound Communications
Experian Reveals Center for Financial Advancement Credit Academy Competition Finalists
Article for Trade Publication – Written
Master Plan Communications
Nucor Warehouse Systems Setting the Standard for Sustainability
Internal Communications Materials – Internal Audiences
Trabuco Canyon Water District & Rockspark Communications
TCWD Strategic Communications Plan
Internal Communications Materials – Internal Audiences
OC Child Support Services
Directors Newsletter In The Loop
Social Media Program
Westbound Communications and Mesa Water District
Mesa Water Social Media Programs
Apps
Mesa Water District
Mesa Water Notify
Broadcast Productions
T&Co. Branding, Marketing & PR
Joseph J. Albanese, Inc. Career Video Series
Internal Communications Programs
City of Hope Orange County
Expanding Hope
Total Program - Nonprofit
Westbound Communications and Providence
Green Bench OC Movement
Website Development
The Smart Agency
The Smart Agency Creates a Magical Result for OTL, Inc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected]
THANK YOU TO OUR PROTOS SPONSORS
FORGE MEDIA GROUP NAMED DIAMOND PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE 2023 OCPRSA PROTOS AWARDS
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Forge Media Group is a creative agency with production at its core, grounded in creativity and driven by strategy. Forge Media Group first started collaborating with OCPRSA as the chapter’s official media sponsor earlier this year, providing videography and photography for its networking events and programs. Thank you Forge Media Group for celebrating 60 years of PR excellence with us. |
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