30th Annual Pyramid Awards Celebrate New Jersey’s Most Innovative PR Storytellers
PRSA NJ Recognizes Top Achievements in Public Relations and Communications
More than 100 of New Jersey’s top public relations and digital communications professionals gathered at Basking Ridge Country Club on June 12 for PRSA NJ’s 30th Pyramid Awards ceremony – the state’s most prestigious communications honor.
The 28 award winners out of 59 entries (see chart below) ranged from large agencies to individual consultants. Their outstanding PR campaigns and projects demonstrated skill, ingenuity and effectiveness in areas such as events, social media, marketing, issues management, and working within a “shoestring” budget. “As innovative storytellers, this is our night to shine a light on all the creative, results-oriented work that’s done in this state to advance organizations of all shapes and sizes,” said PRSA NJ President Ilana Zalika.
Top honors of the evening recognized specific individuals at every stage in their PR careers:
- PR Professional of the Year, sponsored by MultiVu – a leader in content creation, distribution and media strategy.
Brian M. Lowe, president and CEO of BML Public Relations in Florham Park. After starting his agency 13 years ago, Lowe has built his company into a $2.3 million firm with 20 employees. His company’s revenue increased nearly 40 percent in 2018-2019. Mr. Lowe gave much of the credit to his BMLPR staff due to their “passion, creativity, and dedication to serving our clients”.
That dedication to clients was on full display throughout this year’s Pyramid event as BML won Pyramid awards in Community Relations (ShopRite) and Special Programs (Mountain Creek) as well as an Honorable Mention in PR on a Shoestring Budget (Villa Italian Kitchen).
PRSA NJ President Ilana Zalika presents the 2019 PR Professional of the Year Award to BML Public Relations CEO Brian Lowe.
- Future PR Professional of the Year, sponsored by Johnson and Johnson – the NJ-based multinational leader in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods manufacturing worldwide.
Monmouth University student Karalyn Hoover. Karalyn was recognized for demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of public relations and commitment to the profession. She will lead university’s PRSSA chapter during her senior year, and plans to graduate in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and PR/Journalism and a minor in marketing.
Karalyn’s crisis communications report was praised by Pyramid Award judges for its insightful situational analysis and comprehensive strategy. She thanked her professors for their support, and noted that ““PRSSA has been such an important part of my experience at Monmouth University.”
As this year’s Future PR Pro, Karalyn received a cash scholarship of $3,000, Certificate of Achievement and one-year membership for PRSA National and PRSA NJ ($95 value).
Johnson & Johnson’s Michael Lauer presents the 2019 Future PR Pro award to Karalyn Hoover of the Monmouth University PRSSA.
- PRSA NJ Chapter Service Award
Joe Gargiulo, Senior Vice President at Coyne Public Relations, was recognized by his peers in appreciation of his five years of service as PRSA NJ’s treasurer. In accepting the award, he observed that “our NJ chapter continues to thrive due to the dedication of many professionals who give of their time and expertise to foster a professional PR community in our state.”
Joe Gargiulo of Coyne PR accepts the 2019 Chapter Service Award from President-Elect Anjelica Sena (Prudential Financial) and Board Director Ken Hunter (NAFA Fleet Management Association).
Other honorees of the evening included Montclair-based RoseComm won best Best-in-Show (Campaign) for its work on the benefits of breastfeeding for Byram Healthcare, based in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. RWJ Barnabas Health, based in West Orange, won Best-in-Show (Single Item) for its print magazine.
Princeton-based Resound Marketing and Violet PR in Montclair won four awards apiece. Resound Marketing won the Pyramid award (i.e. first place) in Media Relations-Consumer (WowWee Toys), Content (Replicon) and PR on a Shoestring Budget (Java House Cold Brew Coffee), as well as an honorable mention in Influencer Campaigns (WowWee Toys). Violet PR won Pyramids in Media Relatons-B2B (Lincoln Equities Group), Events (Kansas City Area Development) and PR on a Shoestring Budget (The Alleghany Conference on Community Development), as well as an honorable mention in Digital and Social Media Communication (The IBM Foundation).
Ms. Zalika reminded the audience that PRSA NJ’s award ceremony would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. Joining Johnson & Johnson (Future PR Pro of the Year) and MultiVu (PR Pro of the Year) as sponsors were BML Public Relations (Gold), Monmouth University (Silver) and Communications Match (Bronze). Special thanks to them all!
The next Pyramid Awards event in 2020 is open to public relations and communications organizations and professionals in New Jersey who execute top performing campaigns and single projects in 2019. Competition is also open to agencies and consultants outside of New Jersey who complete projects for clients based in New Jersey.
2019 PRSA-NJ Pyramid Awards
| Campaign Division Category | Campaign Client | Company Submitting | PYRAMID/ Honorable Mention |
| Community Relations | ShopRite | BML Public Relations | PYRAMID |
| Community Relations | St. Mary Medical Center | AKCG – Public Relations Counselors | Honorable Mention |
| Digital and Social Media Communications | The IBM Foundation | Violet PR | Honorable Mention |
| Digital and Social Media Communications | SynaTek and BASF | BASF | PYRAMID |
| Events | Kansas City Area Development Council | Violet PR | PYRAMID |
| Global Communications | IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) | IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) | Honorable Mention |
| Influencer Campaigns (Without paid endorser) | WowWee Toys | Resound Marketing | Honorable Mention |
| Influencer Campaigns (Without paid endorser) | oliso | lotus823 | PYRAMID |
| Internal Communications | Team Merck for Swim Across America | SPI Group | Honorable Mention |
| Internal Communications | South Jersey Gas | SJI | Honorable Mention |
| Issues Management | Byram Healthcare | RoseComm | PYRAMID |
| Marketing Communications (B2B) | Amerlux | Creative Marketing Alliance (CMA) | PYRAMID |
| Marketing Communications (Consumer) | Stockton University | Stockton University | PYRAMID |
| Media Relations (B2B) | Lincoln Equities Group | Violet PR | PYRAMID |
| Media Relations (Consumer) | Belveron Real Estate Partners | 3E Public Relations | PYRAMID |
| Media Relations (Consumer) | WowWee Toys | Resound Marketing | PYRAMID |
| Media Relations (Consumer) | Far Hills Race Meeting | JConnelly | Honorable Mention |
| Media Relations (Consumer) | The National WWI Museum and Memorial | Sandy Hillman Communications | PYRAMID |
| Media Relations (Consumer) | Wesley Enhanced Living | AKCG – Public Relations Counselors | Honorable Mention |
| PR on a Shoestring Budget | Java House Cold Brew Coffee | Resound Marketing | PYRAMIDS |
| PR on a Shoestring Budget | The Allegheny Conference on Community Development | Violet PR | PYRAMIDS |
| PR on a Shoestring Budget | Villa Italian Kitchen | BML Public Relations | Honorable Mention |
| PR on a Shoestring Budget | Green Giant – B&G Foods | Gillian Small PR | PYRAMID |
| Public Service/Governmental Affairs | St. Mary Medical Center | AKCG – Public Relations Counselors | PYRAMID |
| Special Programs | Newark Community Economic Development Corporation | Winning Strategies | PYRAMID |
| Special Programs | Mountain Creek Resort | BML Public Relations | PYRAMID |
| Content | Replicon | Resound Marketing | PYRAMID |
| Magazines (Print) | RWJBarnabas Health | RWJBarnabas Health | PYRAMID |
| BEST IN SHOW (CAMPAIGN) | Byram Healthcare | RoseComm | |
| BEST IN SHOW (SINGLE-ITEM) | RWJBarnabas Health | RWJBarnabas |
Meet Our 2018 Award Winners
Watch this video to hear from past entrants about the value of Pyramid Awards.
PRSA NJ established the Pyramid Awards in 1989 to recognize excellence in public relations and communications in New Jersey. The competition is open to all public relations professionals in New Jersey who implemented or completed qualifying public relations campaigns or exceptional single items such as annual reports, videos, etc.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of taking home a Pyramid Award is that these awards are judged by a panel of your public relations peers. Entries are evaluated on research, planning, execution and demonstrated results, as well as the effective use of budgets and resources.
