2016 Public Relations Award Winners

Stevie® Awards in these categories were presented at The 14th Annual American Business Awards banquet on Monday, June 20, 2016 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Public Relations Agency of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
PMK-BNC, Los Angeles, CA
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Matter Communications, Newburyport, MA
Merritt Group, McLean, VA
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Eastwick Communications, San Francisco, CA
Paragon Public Relations, Hoboken, NJ

Communications Department of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, DC: USGBC's Communications and PR Team
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Kansas Turnpike Authority, Wichita, KS: Kansas Turnpike Authority: Marketing and Communications Department
T-Mobile US, Inc., Bellevue, WA: T-Mobile's hard-working, results-generating communications team gets big wins
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
John Hancock, Boston, MA: John Hancock Retirement Plan Services Transitions Marketing Department and 2016 Roland" Calendar"
The Henker Group LLC, Easton, MD: The Henker Group's Communication Department - Promotion of Client, Tidewater Physical Therapy
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, Orlando, FL: Marriott Vacation Club Owner Services Communication Department

Communications Team of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Pascale Communications, LLC, Fairfield, CT: Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Communications Team
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Humana, Inc., Louisville, KY: Strategic Communications gives Humana Competitive Advantage
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Cigna, Bloomfield, CT: Cigna Health Care Reform Consulting and Communications Team: Creating a brand experience around health care reform
NAVEX Global, Lake Oswego, OR: NAVEX Global Code of Conduct Team: Creating the World?s Best Business Codes
OptumRx, Irvine, CA: OptumRx Learning Communications Team

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Community Relations
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
MWW, East Rutherford, NJ: Building Blocks for the Future: Samsung Technology Partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
The James Agency, Scottsdale, AZ: Pei Wei Hunger Action Month Campaign

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Crisis Communications
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Recall Holdings, Norcross, GA with MSLGROUP, Boston, MA: All Ablaze in Brooklyn: Managing Reputation through Crisis Communications

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Events & Observances
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
MWW, East Rutherford, NJ: Toasting Individuality: Southern Comfort Celebrates “Whatever’s Comfortable”
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Novartis AG, New York, NY: Novartis walks the talk of patient-centricity and corporate transparency by opening its doors to media
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Karma Agency, Philadelphia, PA: Karma Agency: Simon Properties Gloucester Premium Outlets Grand Opening
OptumRx, Irvine, CA: Quality Day

Communications or PR Campaign/Program of the Year - Internal Communications
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Blue Communications, Hollywood, CA and StayWell: AECOM: Wellness at AECOM
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Blue Communications, Hollywood, CA and Towers Watson and Aon Hewitt: AECOM: AECOM Open Enrollment
Blue Communications, Hollywood, CA: Securitas: Securitas Annual Enrollment
Insights Learning & Development, Austin, TX: How a robust internal communications campaign bought our new customer strategy to life
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
BMO Capital Markets, Chicago, IL: Capital Markets Quarterly
Cigna, Bloomfield, CT: WCRR: Cigna Reform Radio Show
MC², Chestnut Ridge, NY: Bell Labs - The Anomaly""
SocialCode, New York, NY: SocialCode's 'Learn The Code' Onboarding Program
Sullivan Branding, Memphis, TN: Embassy Suites by Hilton: Make a Difference Orientation Kit

Communications or PR Campaign/Program of the Year - Investor Relations
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
VirtusaPolaris, Westborough, MA: An Ongoing commitment to openness and transparency to elevate the investment community’s understanding of Virtusa

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Issues Management
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA: Historic Leadership Transition at Cisco, a Leading Tech Innovator
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Karma Agency, Philadelphia, PA: Karma Agency: FMC Food Science Matters
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
MWW, East Rutherford, NJ: No Fan Wasted: Activating Waste Management’s Social Media Followers

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Low Budget (Under $10,000)
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Karma Agency, Philadelphia, PA: Karma Agency: Museum of the American Revolution

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Marketing - Business-to-Business
GOLD STEVIE WINNERS:
T-Mobile US, Inc., Bellevue, WA: T-Mobile brings the Un-carrier to business
Turkish Hazelnut Promotion Group with MSLGROUP, Seattle, WA: Expanding the U.S. Market for Turkish Hazelnuts
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Arketi Group, Atlanta, GA: NCR Sliver Generates Small Business Media Buzz
United Soybean Board, Chesterfield, MO with MSLGROUP, Seattle, WA: The (Soy) Secret to Driving Vegetable Oil and Product Sales
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Karma Agency, Philadelphia, PA: Karma Agency: FMC Natural Colors (FMC Corporation)
Karma Agency, Philadelphia, PA: Karma Agency: Lincoln Financial Distributors and Lincoln Financial Network
Monitronics Security, Farmers Branch, TX: ISC West 2015 Campaign
Tanis Communications, Mountain View, CA: RetailNext - Acquisition of Pikato Expands Platform

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Marketing - Consumer Products or Services
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
MWW, East Rutherford, NJ: RMANJ Dispels Myths Millennials Believe About Their Fertility
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Merit Mile, Boca Raton FL: Bubble It Bracket Challenge

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year – Multicultural
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
MSLGROUP, Los Angeles, CA: Serving Up Fresh Relevance For Health Benefits of Aguacate
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
RIESTER, Phoenix, AZ: HERDEZ® Brand Celebrates Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead)"
United Soybean Board, Chesterfield, MO with MSLGROUP, Seattle, WA: Soy Para Soy: Building Awareness for a Hispanic Pantry Staple

Communications or PR Campaign/Program of the Year - New Product Launch
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Novartis Pharma AG and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ: Taking “failure” out of “heart failure” with Novartis’ breakthrough treatment, Entresto
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Cindy Riccio Communications, New York, NY: ”CRC Spoils the Apple with Kenneth Cole Connect” -- Sneak Launch Boosts Kenneth Cole Connect Coverage in Smart Watch Wars A Week Prior To Apple
Nokia Technologies, Sunnyvale, CA: OZO: the world’s first professional virtual reality camera
Thomson Reuters, Hoboken, NJ: Thomson Reuters Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Product Launch Campaign
T-Mobile US, Inc., Bellevue, WA: T-Mobile launches Data Stash with Kim Kardashian and others

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Public Affairs
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, DC: Growth in the Green Economy: 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Davies, Santa Barbara, CA: Vancouver Energy
National Association of Convenience Stores, Alexandria, VA: NACS In Store

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Public Service
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Burson-Marsteller, New York, NY: Burson-Marsteller -The On-Demand Economy Survey
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Pioneer Services, A Division of MidCountry Bank, Kansas City, MO: Pioneer Services Financial Education Program for Military Families
U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, DC: State of Our Schools: America's K-12 Facilities - A 2016 Report

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Reputation/Brand Management
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Deluxe Corporation, Shoreview, MN: Deluxe Corporation: Igniting the Small Business Revolution
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, DFW Airport, TX: DFW International Airport Brand Launch: Travel Transformed
EFG Companies in Irving, TX: EFG Companies’ F&I Innovator of the Year Competition and Award
Meals on Wheels America, Arlington, VA: Meals on Wheels America 2015 Rebrand
Novartis AG, New York, NY: Novartis leverages strategic storytelling to maintain positive reputation
PayPal, San Jose, CA: From Separation to Independence: Establishing a (new) Global Identity
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
Transurban USA, Alexandria, VA: Real Stories from the Express Lanes" Reputation/Brand Management"

Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Social Media Focused
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Weber Shandwick with Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, DC: Get Real: Rallying Around The Truth About Milk
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Transurban USA, Alexandria, VA: Real Stories from the Express Lanes" Social Media Campaign"
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
AMN Healthcare, San Diego, CA: AMN Healthcare’s Use of Social Media to Drive Awareness of Impending Changes to the Nursing Profession and Healthcare Industry
Jeunesse Global, Orlando, FL: Jeunesse Share the Joy Social Media Marketing Campaign Breaks Records

PR Innovation of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA: A Healthcare Hackathon as a Unique PR Innovation

Communications, Investor Relations, or PR Executive of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
W Magazine, New York, NY: Adriana Stan, Public Relations Director
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
T-Mobile US, Inc., Bellevue, WA: Janice Kapner, SVP, Corporate Communications, leads T-Mobile's PR juggernaut
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Dentsply Sirona, York, PA: Joshua Zable, Vice President - Investor Relations
Makovsky & Co, New York, NY: Ken Makovsky, CEO and President

Communications Professional of the Year
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Klick Communications, Los Angeles, CA: Kate Talbot, Director
SILVER STEVIE WINNERS:
Hudson Group, East Rutherford, NJ: Daniel Vahab, Manager, Social Marketing & Brand Communications
Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX: Ann Davis, PR Director
BRONZE STEVIE WINNERS:
Arketi Group, Atlanta, GA: Erica England, Account Supervisor
Benzer Pharmacy, Tampa, FL: Emah Madegwa, Media and PR Manager
Blue Chair LLC, Kansas City, MO: Tiffany Hamlett, Communications Manager
OptumRx, Irvine, CA: Bao Her, Senior Communications Specialist
Pascale Communications, LLC, Fairfield, CT: Jessica Griffith, Director, Professional Practice
Thomson Reuters, Carrollton, TX: Paul Thies, Director of Internal Communications