In the face of an unprecedented pandemic and economic slowdown, New Jersey’s top PR and Communications professionals delivered a creative and effective body of work to their clients throughout 2020.
All that talent was on display in October when PRSA NJ rolled out a special virtual version of its annual Pyramid Awards ceremony. Instead of the traditional gala setting, winners shared their acceptance speeches in a series of videos released through social media.
For any PRSA NJ members who missed the online social affair, here are the Pyramid Awards and Honorable Mentions. See the full list of winners below.
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors:
Rutgers School of Communication & Information
Thanks as well to the outstanding efforts of chapter Event Champions Michael Lauer (Event Chair), Anjelica Sena, and Deirdre Lopian, and Joe Contrino.
Excellence Awards
Chapter Service Award
Jemia Kinsey Singleton, Kinsey Communications
Congrats to Jemia Kinsey Singleton, the recipient of this year’s Chapter Service Award. Every year, the PRSA NJ board recognizes a fellow board member who goes above and beyond their standard role and responsibility.
In addition to serving as our 2021 president-elect, Jemia leads PRSA NJ’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, where she successfully recruited numerous volunteers to support our robust webinar series, “Courageous Conversations,” in partnership with the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance.
Thanks to Jemia’s leadership, PRSA NJ is contributing to much-needed discussions around racial inequity and how businesses can change to truly cultivate inclusion at the workplace.
PR Pro of The Year
The PR Pro of the Year Award honors excellence in public relations and those who serve as a role model to staff and practitioners entering the field.
Rosemary Ostmann, RoseComm
Future PR Pro of the Year
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson the Future Public Relations Professional of the Year Award scholarship recognizes an undergraduate student who demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of and commitment to the public relations profession.
Camryn Hadley, Rowan University
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award honors PR professionals under the age of 35 who have made outstanding contributions to their organizations and the advancement of the profession.
Lisa Marcellari, Gillian Small PR
Best in Show Winners
Best In Show – Campaign Division
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 LAUNCH
Client: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Best In Show – Single-Item Division
GATEWAY: A Story of How Surgery and Opioids Transformed the Lives of Three Families
Client: Pacira Bio Sciences, Inc
Program Awards
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
PYRAMID – Safer Together: Keeping Families and Pets Together in Times of Trouble
Client: Banfield Foundation
PYRAMID – BML Public Relations & Price Rite Marketplace: Price Rite Marketplace Unveils a Fresh New Look
Client: Price Rite Marketplace
CONTENT / CONTENT MARKETING
PYRAMID – Mr. Kalamarides Goes to Washington: How a Profile Piece Established a National Platform
Client: Prudential Group Insurance
PYRAMID – USA Today Exclusive on the Fight Against Sex Trafficking
Client: Shared Hope International
HONORABLE MENTION
AKCG – Public Relations for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic
The Philadelphia Inquirer Feature Series: Thought-leadership Positioning in a Crowded Healthcare Market
CMA for Amerlux
Be Seen In The Best Light
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CAMPAIGNS
PYRAMID – Making Flying Accessible: Pittsburgh Airport Opens World’s Largest Space for Autistic Travelers
Client: Pittsburgh International Airport
PYRAMID – Legacy Lives On: Creating an Authentic Conversation About Financial Wellness with Black Consumers
Client: Prudential Financial, Inc
HONORABLE MENTION
Johnson PR & Events for Diverse & Engaged
D&I Honors: Where CONGRESS Meets CULTURE, Inclusion + Belonging
EVENTS
PYRAMID – 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 LAUNCH at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Client: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
PYRAMID – BML Public Relations & Big SNOW American Dream: Big SNOW American Dream’s 2019 Grand Opening
Client: Big SNOW American Dream
PYRAMID – Kansas City Showcases Next-Gen Technologies at #SXSW2019
Client: Kansas City Area Development Council
PYRAMID – Dialing Up the Hampton by Hilton Real Travel Roadtrip Hotline
Client: Hampton by Hilton
PYRAMID – Green Giant Dishes Up Viral Story with Record-Breaking 1,000-lb Green Bean Casserole
Client: Green Giant
HONORABLE MENTION
Ferrero USA for Kinder Bueno
Popular European Chocolate Bar, Kinder Bueno, Makes U.S. Debut with “Sweeteasy” Pop-up
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
HONORABLE MENTION
IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
Creating Workplace Leaders with IMA’s CMA Certification
INFLUENCER CAMPAIGNS – Paid Endorser
PYRAMID – More Than Skin Deep: CeraVe Loyalists Become Influencers
Client: CeraVe
HONORABLE MENTION
Litzky PR for Kamik
Creating Fashion-Forward Footwear Buzz for Kamik
BML Public Relations for Discover Boating
BML Public Relations & Discover Boating: Capturing the Boating Lifestyle
INFLUENCER CAMPAIGNS – Without Paid Endorser
PYRAMID – BML Public Relations & ShopRite: Smarter Snacking Influencer Campaign
Client: ShopRite
HONORABLE MENTION
Litzky PR for Hasbro
Mobilizing NERF Nation
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
HONORABLE MENTION
SPI Group for Merck & Co. Inc.
SPI Group Engages Merck Employees to Dive into the Fight Against Cancer
ACE is the Place to Be
ISSUES MANAGEMENT
HONORABLE MENTION
RoseComm for Byram Healthcare
Protecting a Woman’s Right to Breastfeed at Work
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS – Consumer
PYRAMID – Entenmann’s Proves Donut Dreams Really Do Come True
Client: Entenmann’s
MEDIA RELATIONS – B2B
PYRAMID – How a Government Shutdown Exposed Income Volatility for American Workers
HONORABLE MENTION
Violet PR for Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International: Becoming the World’s Most Inclusive, Innovative Airport
MEDIA RELATIONS – Consumer
PYRAMID – Attracting Vibrant Senior Residents to Wesley Enhanced Living
Client: Wesley Enhanced Living
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors
PYRAMID – Cleansing America’s Top Skin Sins During Cleanse Your Skin Week
Client: CeraVe
PYRAMID – ‘Entertaining’ PR Approach Hits Digital Jackpot for Gambling Website
Client: Better Collective
HONORABLE MENTION
R&J Strategic Communications for Saint Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey
How one dog is alive TODAY thanks to innovations in 3D printing
Litzky PR for OshKosh B’gosh
Back to School with OshKosh B’gosh
PODCASTS
HONORABLE MENTION
IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA® Count Me In Podcast
PR ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET
PYRAMID – BML Public Relations & Villa Italian Kitchen: Gender Reveal Lasagna
Client: Villa Italian Kitchen
HONORABLE MENTION
Violet PR for The Wellmont Theater
Wellmont Theater
COYNE PR for PEEPS
PEEPS® Makes a Difference in its Community as it Counts Down to a Sweet New Year
PUBLIC SERVICE / GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
PYRAMID – Shining a Light on Child Sex Trafficking in the United States
Client: Shared Hope International
PYRAMID – GATEWAY: A Story of How Surgery and Opioids Transformed the Lives of Three Families
Client: Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
HONORABLE MENTION
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors for Mercy Catholic Medical Center
Supporting Stroke Survivors
Leighton Communications for New Jersey Shore Rental Coalition
NO SHORE TAX — Protecting the Century-old tradition of renting a home “Down The Shore”
REPUTATION MANAGEMENT – HealthCare
HONORABLE MENTION
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors for Barclay Friends
Restoring Goodwill After a Tragic Incident
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
PYRAMID – Nutella Launches Hotella Nutella, the Ultimate Weekend Breakfast Experience
Client: Nutella
PYRAMID – She Had No Business Book Launch
Client: She Had No Business
PYRAMID – Creating a Roller Coaster of Enthusiasm Around Cancer Survivorship
PYRAMID – #AskHer
HONORABLE MENTION
Gillian Small PR for Penelope Bourbon
NJ-Based Penelope Bourbon Explodes onto the Spirits Scene; Earns Over 100 Million Media Impressions in First Calendar Year
VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS
PYRAMID – GATEWAY: A Story of How Surgery and Opioids Transformed the Lives of Three Families
Client: Pacira BioSciences, Inc
HONORABLE MENTION
RoseComm for Modern States Education Alliance
The Upside of the College Admissions Scandal
