Spotlight Awards Program - Public Relations Society of America Oregon/SW Washington Chapter

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2023 Spotlight Awards and Awards of Distinction Event

Thanks to all who attended this year’s 2023 Spotlight Awards and Awards of Distinction Event!

On October 25, 2023, we gathered for an unforgettable evening dedicated to recognizing the outstanding contributions of PR and communications professionals in our region.

Participation and membership in PRSA — advancing the profession in line with the standards and ethics of our association and honoring our work that upholds these values — is so important to our practice and the many organizations and communities served by this work.

The evening program showcased the excellent work of our Spotlight and Merit awardees and recognize three distinguished professionals with Awards of Distinction.

Thank you to all the PRSA Oregon volunteers, including members of our board of directors, Spotlight committee, and all our committee volunteers — your contributions make this one of the strongest Chapters in the nation, serving nearly 300 members across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

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Program

Spotlight Awards

Recognition of College Fellows 2023

Mark Mohammadpour, APR, Fellow PRSA

Kelliann Amico College of Fellows Graphic

Kelliann Amico, APR, Fellow PRSA

Evening Program and Award Recipients

Awards of Distinction

Olga M. Haley Mentorship Award
The Olga M. Haley Mentorship award reflects our chapter’s dedication to supporting members at every stage of their careers and lives. A legendary figure in Portland public relations, Haley’s background included leadership roles at Gerber and Leopold Ketel, where she spent most of her career before forming her own firm, Power Public Relations. A longtime member of the PRSA Portland Metro Chapter and accredited in public relations, Haley served as president in 2003.

This year’s Olga M. Haley Mentorship award goes to an incredible individual who has exemplified the spirit of giving back to her community for more than 20 years, Tracey Lam.

Tracey is an award-winning communications professional and equity and inclusion advocate with more than 25 years of experience in journalism, public relations, program development and equity work. Prior to serving as the Director of Programs and Communications at Partners in Diversity, Tracey worked at OHSU Center for Diversity and Inclusion as its communications specialist, Make-A-Wish Oregon as its communications manager, and KATU-TV as its executive producer of special projects.

Tracey is very involved in her community. In 2014, she co-founded API Forward, a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to the education, leadership development and advancement of Asians and Pacific Islanders. She is a board member of Sport Oregon, volunteers on the Multnomah County Budget Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee of Public Relations Society of America Oregon Chapter.

Watch Tracey Lam's Award of Distinction video:

Ron Schmidt Community Involvement Award
The Ron Schmidt Community Involvement award honors the outstanding use of public relations to support community improvement and important causes. Schmidt continually raised our collective awareness, consciousness and commitment. Schmidt served nationally on the President’s Commission on the Arts and the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

This year’s Ron Schmidt Community Service Award goes to Josh Thomas, Executive Director at Oregon Utility Notification Center.

The Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) is the state agency that administers Oregon’s excavation laws and statewide locate requests. Its work helps prevent accidents and costly damage to underground utilities through the 811 “One-Call Center” and efforts to educate and encourage people to “Dig Safely” and “Call Before You Dig.”

As Executive Director, Josh supports the 20-member OUNC board of directors, all of whom represent an industry segment and are appointed by the Governor for a four-year term. The board is tasked with administering the OUNC and carrying out a variety of public relations and educational programs focused on spreading the “dig safely” damage prevention message.

Watch Josh Thomas' Award of Distinction video:

William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award
The William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement award honors an outstanding leader in the field of public relations. For nearly four decades, Marsh was a towering figure in public relations in Oregon. A charter member of the Portland Metro Chapter, which was merged into the PRSA Oregon Chapter in 2017, Marsh served as president in 1963. After 28 years in the profession, Marsh joined Marylhurst University, where he taught from 1986 to 1993, establishing a public relations certificate program.

The 2023 recipient of the William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award is Vicki Guinn, MS, corporate communications leader at Legacy Health.

Vicki Guinn headshot 2023

Vicki is a long-time public relations professional who spent most of her career in health care, serving in private healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and public health. Her areas of focus include reputation management, media relations, storytelling, and issues/crisis management. Vicki also worked as a learning and organizational development college instructor and enjoys volunteering with organizations that help youth of color prepare for college.

Watch Vicki Guinn's Award of Distinction video:

2023 Spotlight Awards

CAMPAIGN

Category: Community Relations

Fourth Plain for All Project

PointNorth

TACTIC

Category: Editorial/OP-ED Column

Op-ed: Do something about healthcare worker misclassification

Resolute Public Affairs

TACTIC

Category: Feature Story

Making Olive Oil Summer's Must-Have BBQ Accessory

Finn Partners

TACTIC

Category: Best Use of Social Media

Shining Light on Affordable Housing

Finn Partners

CAMPAIGN

Category: Events and Observances

Stronger Together- Engaging Seven Decades of Women Veterans

VanNatta Public Relations

CAMPAIGN

Category: Community Relations

Vietnam War Memorial Fund: Sharing the Vietnam War Memorial's Interpretive Panels with Veterans and Diverse Communities

VanNatta Public Relations

CAMPAIGN

Category: DEI/Multicultural Public Relations

Fourth Plain for All Project

PointNorth

CAMPAIGN

Category: Social Media

Level Up at Lane

Lane Community College

CAMPAIGN

Category: Public Service

Oregon Lottery honors state educators through Teacher of the Year Program

Oregon Lottery

CAMPAIGN

Category: Internal Communications

Nurses Week and Health System Employee Appreciation Week Campaign

Legacy Health

CAMPAIGN

Category: Public Service

Lane Electric Wildfire Preparedness Public Service Campaign

Quinn Thomas

TACTIC

Category: Website

Environmental Law Web Pages: Inspiring!

Lewis & Clark Law School

TACTIC

Category: Best Use of Social Media

Interstate Bridge Replacement program's best use of social media

CAMPAIGN

Category: DEI/Multicultural Public Relations

Interstate Bridge Program Centers Equity

CAMPAIGN

Category: Reputation/Brand Management

Oregon InC Innovation Awareness Campaign

Quinn Thomas

CAMPAIGN

Category: Internal Communications

Del Monte Foods Education Scholarship Program

Del Monte Foods

2023 Merit Awards

TACTIC

Category: Editorial

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest

A.wordsmith

TACTIC