We are pleased to present the recipients of this year’s Edward L. Bernays Awards! This year’s theme was “Emanating Excellence,” a tribute to the hard work of local PR professionals who continue telling informational, inspirational and community-focused stories, creating campaigns and organizing events in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
This year, the board of PRSA San Diego-Imperial County was incredibly excited to gather in person, returning to a full-scale Bernays celebration and collectively recognize all the ways our regional public relations professionals have emanated excellence over the past year. And here are the winners.
The 2022 Edward L. Bernays Award entries were judged by the Minnesota Chapter of PRSA. As usual, we award one Excellence Award and up to two Merit Awards in each category, unless there is a tie. The “Best of Show” award represents the entry, or entries in case of a tie, with the highest overall score of all Silver Bernays entries and all Bronze Bernays entries, respectively. The Special Awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the public relations profession in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Winners
- DEI Public Relations Professional of the Year: Lt. Jarred Reid-Dixon
- New Pro of the Year: Monica Gil dos Santos
- Otto Boss Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award: Jorge D’Garay-Palleres
- PR Pro of the Year: Jacqueline Carr
- PR Team of the Year: County of San Diego Communications Team
- Student Award: Dare to Change PR: Rox Boren, Alessandra Elicone, Patrick Ezewiro, Serena Randazzo, Sonia Quintero, Annemarie Munoz, Aleesia Benkey, Avery Judon, Sarah Joyce, Gemelee Memije, Trinity Tran
Silver Awards
Silver Excellence Award
- Best in Show: Mid-Coast Blue Line Extension Grand Opening Celebration—Katz & Associates and SANDAG
- Best in Show: DEI Drives Pepper Park Community Input Project—The Port of San Diego and Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
- Community Relations, Business: Southern California McDonald’s Supports Stand Down for Vets—Nuffer, Smith,Tucker and Southern California McDonald’s
- Community Relations, Nonprofit/Association: Vaccinate with Confidence: Addressing Vaccine Misinformation—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
- Community Relations, Government: Our Home, Our Future – Updating Carlsbad’s Housing Plan—City of Carlsbad
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Communications: DEI Drives Pepper Park Community Input Project—The Port of San Diego and Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
- Events and Observances Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association: Mid-Coast Blue Line Extension Grand Opening Celebration—Katz & Associates and SANDAG
- Internal Communications: Inside Carlsbad Employee Website And YouTube Channel—City of Carlsbad
- Public Affairs: Drought-Safe San Diego—San Diego County Water Authority
- Reputation/Brand Management: Building Affinity for Affini-T in Only 8 Months—Evoke Canale – Affini-T Therapeutics Team
- Social/Digital Media: Vaccinate with Confidence: Addressing Vaccine Misinformation—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
Silver Merit Award
- Community Relations, Business: Pure Water Oceanside Puts Customers 1st During Construction—City of Oceanside and Ardurra
- Community Relations, Government: New T1 is Cleared for Take Off!—SDCRAA, Katz & Associates and Civilian
- Community Relations, Government: Spring 2022 Bikeway Grand Openings—SANDAG and Southwest Strategies
- Community Relations , Nonprofit/Association: Serving Seniors Needs Assessment Report—Falcon Valley Group / Serving Seniors
- Events and Observances Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association: 2021 Construction Expo 3-Day Event—San Diego Unified School District Business Outreach Program
- Events and Observances Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association: Building Our Water Future – East County AWP Groundbreaking—East County Advanced Water Purification Program and Ardurra
- Events and Observances More Than Seven Days: 2021 Regional Plan Fall Outreach Campaign—SANDAG and Southwest Strategies
- Public Service: Serving Seniors Needs Assessment Report—Falcon Valley Group / Serving Seniors
- Reputation/Brand Management: Kema Ogden: Entrepreneur, Industry Leader—Oster and Associates – Kema Ogden
- Reputation/Brand Management: AGT: Emerging from Crisis and Rebuilding for the Future—Evoke Canale
Bronze Awards
Bronze Excellence Award
- Best in Show: Vaccinate with Confidence: Addressing Vaccine Misinformation—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
- Best in Show: Media Strategy Puts First-of-Its-Kind Non-Profit on the Map—Evoke Canale
- Brochures: Serving Seniors Needs Assessment Report—Falcon Valley Group / Serving Seniors / Mance Creative
- Creative Tactics: San Diego Convention Center Reopening—San Diego Convention Center Communications Team
- Direct Mail/Direct Response: UC San Diego Health New Mover Mailer—UC San Diego Health
- Media Relations, Associations/Government: New T1 Media Relations – Airport Construction Awareness—San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
- Media Relations, Business to Business: Building Media Momentum for Kriya in 12 Months—Evoke Canale – Kriya Therapeutics Team
- Media Relations, Consumer Products and Services: CBX Sends Wait Times Packing Through New Airport Facility—Intesa Communications Group and Cross Border Xpress
- Media Relations, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Controversy to Inclusivity: Hillel Breaks Ground at UCSD—Intesa Communications Group and Hillel of San Diego
- Media Relations, Nonprofit: Media Strategy Puts First-of-Its-Kind Non-Profit on the Map—Evoke Canale
- Media Relations, Press Conferences: Controversy to Inclusivity: Hillel Breaks Ground at UCSD—Intesa Communications Group and Hillel of San Diego
- Newsletters: City Manager’s Update E-Newsletter—City of Carlsbad
- Public Service Announcement: E-Bike Safety PSA Video Series—City of Carlsbad
- Social/Digital Media: Vaccinate with Confidence: Addressing Vaccine Misinformation—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
- Videos: A Water Experiential Learning Experience Using a 360° Video—East County Advanced Water Purification Program and Ardurra
Bronze Merit Award
- Annual Reports: East West Bank Annual Report—Southwest Strategies
- Brochures: The Transformation of UC San Diego Map—UC San Diego Advancement & Communications
- Collateral: Construction Expo 2021 Recap Infographic—San Diego Unified School District Business Outreach Program
- Collateral: Serving Seniors Needs Assessment Report—Falcon Valley Group / Serving Seniors / Mance Creative
- Creative Tactics: “Slam Diego” Association of Governments Padres Activation—SANDAG and Southwest Strategies
- Editorials/Op-Ed Columns: UC San Diego Park & Market Op-Ed Series—Scatena Daniels
- Executive Communications: Elevating HLM Venture Partners’ Leadership With Earned Media—Ford Hutman Media
- Magazines: Inside Salk Fall 2021—Salk Institute of Biological Studies
- Media Relations – Associations/Government: The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Development Summit—SANDAG, Caltrans, and Southwest Strategies
- Media Relations, Business to Business: Unveiling a Masterpiece: Found Lofts Open to Rave Reviews—Intesa Communications Group
- Media Relations, Business to Business: iECURE Media Launch—Evoke Canale
- Media Relations, COVID Response: Healthcare Heroes in a time of Medical Misinformation—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
- Media Relations, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Safe Parks for All: Launching “Parks After Dark”—Intesa Communications Group
- Media Relations, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Kema Ogden: Entrepreneur, Industry Leader—Oster and Associates – Kema Ogden
- Media Relations, Nonprofit: 100 Years in Bloom: Coronado Flower Show Springs Into Action—Scatena Daniels Communications
- Media Relations, Nonprofit: Solana Center SB 1383 Campaign—Scatena Daniels
- Media Relations, Press Conferences: Safe Parks for All: Launching “Parks After Dark”—Intesa Communications Group
- Media Relations, Press Conferences: East County AWP EPA $388M Loan Press Conference—East County Advanced Water Purification Program and Ardurra
- Newsletters: Coastal Currents: Making A Splash w/ AAP-CA3’s Pediatricians—American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
- Public Service Announcement: Earthquake Early Warning – ShakeReadySD—County of San Diego
- Research / Evaluation: Research and Evaluation of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022—Lt. Adagray A. Willis, APR+M
- Social/Digital Media: Intesa Sweeps Takeover Tuesday!—Intesa Communications Group
- Social/Digital Media: SANDAG, Caltrans, MTS “Bus on Shoulder” Digital Awareness—SANDAG, Caltrans, MTS and Ardurra
- Videos: The State Of Carlsbad – Inspiring Hope And Community Pride—City of Carlsbad
- Videos: New T1 Video Series – Parking & Traffic Awareness—San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
And a special thanks to our sponsors!
Platinum Sponsors
Southwest Strategies, UC San Diego
Bronze Sponsors
Alternative Strategies, Ardurra, Civilian, NV5
APR Sponsors
RMG Communications, Reliance Public Relations
Website Sponsor
Event Sponsor
F&L Media, Ashley Ringger Designs, Green Fresh Florals, AlphaGraphics San Diego
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Written by: PRSA SD/IC
Posted on: November 17, 2022
PRSA SD/IC is one of more than 100 chapters within the Public Relations Society of America, the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals.
