Governor Andy Beshear Selected Communicator of the Year by Thoroughbred Public Relations Group
Governor Andy Beshear Selected Communicator of the Year by Thoroughbred Public Relations Group
(LEXINGTON, KY) June 22, 2021 — The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announces the winner of its annual Communicator of the Year award goes to Governor Andy Beshear and Team Kentucky.
The award is bestowed on the Governor and his team for the work they did to communicate with the people of Kentucky during the COVID 19 pandemic crisis in the calendar year 2020. The award goes to a person or group who does not work as a public relations professional, but exemplifies excellent communications of their message to a variety of audiences. The selection is made by the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Chapter of PRSA located in Lexington.
“2020 was a year of extraordinary challenges, however Governor Andy Beshear, Dr. Steven Stack, and Virginia Moore worked tirelessly to lead Team Kentucky through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ryan Worthen, president of the Public Relations Society of America Thoroughbred Chapter. “The Governor’s daily press conferences and frequent updates informed and educated Kentuckians, and his caring and compassionate communication provided peace of mind to many in a time of great uncertainty.”
This is the 24th year the Thoroughbred Chapter has selected a Communicator of the Year. Other recipients include form UK women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell, Catholic Action Center director Ginny Ramsey, former UK president Dr. Lee Todd, and former EKU president Doug Whitlock. Former Governor Steve Beshear was the honoree in 2015.
Individual and company awards were also presented. Each entry was judged by members of a sister PRSA chapter and could receive either a Win (First), Place (Second) or Show (Third) designation.
Award recipients include:
Tina Bryson, Assistant Director of Communications, Christian Appalachian Project
One Win (Kentucky Education Television PSAs), Two Place certificates and two Show certificates.
Bethany Langdon, Corporate Director of Marketing & Communications, New Vista
Two Wins (New Vista News – Social Media: See The Good), One Show certificate.
Holly Weimers, Communications Director, UK Ag Equine Programs
Two Wins (UK Equine Weekly – Equine Science Newsletter).
Brittney Kinison, Director of Marketing & Communications, Frontier Nursing University
One Win (FNU Quarterly Newsletter), One Place certificate & One Show certificate.
Todd Wold, Professor/Sponsor of Communication Students, Asbury University
One Win (2020 Highbridge Film Festival – Won by student group)
Mackenzie Davis, PR & Creative Services Coordinator, Wiser Strategies
Two Place certificates.
Ashley Tabb, Publications Production Manager, UK Health Care
One Place certificate.
Beth Goins, Director of Marketing Communications, UK College of Education
One Place certificate.
Kristi Middleton, Chief External Affairs Officer, EKU Communications & Brand Management
One Show certificate.
“On behalf of the chapter’s board of directors, we applaud the excellent work done by public relations and communications professionals throughout central Kentucky,” Worthen said.
See the Governor’s acceptance video here.
###
Thoroughbred Awards – Things You Need to Know
Thoroughbred Awards – Things You Need to Know
The entry deadline for this year’s annual Thoroughbred Awards is in less than one month here’s information you need to know to enter this year.
The deadline for submitting electronic entries is St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
Individual & Company Awards
The awards categories for individual and company PR professionals highlights the work from the previous year. Click on the link to see this year’s categories.
Details…
- All entries MUST be submitted electronically
- Students can enter
- Send final submissions containing all materials via email to a designated awards email address: awards@kyprsa.org
- Submissions can be sent in the following formats:
-
- A complete Dropbox folder link
- A PDF
- Word Document
- Payments will be made via PayPal
You will receive an acknowledgment of each email within 72 hours after submission. If you don’t receive a response, please follow up.
Question regarding entries or submissions can be directed to Katie McDaniel at kmcdaniel@aaep.org
Communicator of the Year
Each year the Thoroughbred chapter awards a Communicator of the Year award. This is the 23rd year in which our chapter honors a person or persons who during the last calendar year have done an excellent job of communicating his or her passion, but does not work as a PR professional.
The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame
The Thoroughbred chapter periodically awards one of our chapter members a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the requirements, among others, is the recipient must have at least a 20-year career in public relations. It is not presented every year… just at times when the chapter board feels it should be presented. The last two recipients were Cliff Feltham and Mary Hemlepp.
The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
Lifetime Achievement Nominee Form
Questions? Contact Cliff Feltham by email at cjfeltham27@gmail.com.
It’s time to get organized. Get to work and the rewards will be yours.
###
Save the Date for Submitting PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Award Entries
Award Update from Cliff Feltham and Katie McDaniel
Yes… We are having awards In 2021 and it will be all online again this year!
It’s awards season for our chapter and it’s time to start thinking about what you’d like to submit from all your ‘working-at-home’ work the last calendar year. This is a heads-up for the deadline to keep in mind.
Individual & Company Awards
The key date is St. Patrick’s Day. The deadline for submitting electronic entries is Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
We are tweaking some of the entry categories. Those categories and entry forms will be revealed soon. No major changes, so go ahead and consider the categories from last year to get started.
Communicator of the Year
Each year, the Thoroughbred Chapter awards a Communicator of the Year award. This will be the 23rd year for it which honors a person (or persons) who during the last calendar year have done an excellent job of communicating his or her passion but does not work as a PR professional.
The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame
The Thoroughbred chapter also periodically awards one of our chapter members a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the requirements (among others) is the recipient must have at least a 20-year career in public relations. It is not presented every year…just at those times as the chapter members and board feel it should be presented.
The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
It’s time to get thinking and organized. More information is coming soon!
PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Announces 2021 Board of Directors
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has announced its 2021 Board of Directors.
Officers
Ryan Worthen, 2021 President
- President: Ryan Worthen, Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI)
- Past President: Natalie Wilks, Cornett
- President Elect: Bethany Langdon, New Vista
- Secretary: Brittney Edwards Kinison, Frontier Nursing University
- Treasurer: Ashley Tabb, UK Healthcare
Directors-at-large
- Awards Co-Chair: Cliff Feltham, Kentucky Utilities (Retired)
- Awards Co-Chair: Katie McDaniel, American Association of Equine Practitioners
- Ethics Chair, APR Co-Chair: Holly Wiemers, APR, University of Kentucky- Ag Equine
- Diversity Chair: Tina Bryson, Christian Appalachian Project
- PRSSA Liaison: Katie Neal, Katie Neal Consulting
- Social Media Chair: Jessica Sparrow, Kentucky Interactive (Kentucky.gov)
- Communications Chair: Mackenzie Davis, Wiser Strategies
- APR Co-Chair: Amy Preske, APR, Buffalo Trace Distillery
- APR Co-Chair: Brant Welch, APR, Farmers National Bank of Danville
2020 Thoroughbred Awards
(LEXINGTON, KY) July 27, 2020 —- The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announces the winners of its annual awards competition. The entries were in two main categories. Campaigns & Tactics. Each entry could be awarded either a Win (First), Place (Second) or Show (Third) designation. View a PDF version of this list here.
Campaigns
Place – Nicholasville Stormwater Community Champion category
Wiser Strategies & the City of Nicholasville
Win – Big Family Integrated Communications
KET staff & others – Todd Piccirilli, Abby Malik, John Dawahare, Rob Elliott, Reggie Beehner, Lauren Bennett, Ann Bransom, Patrick Brumback, Bullhorn Creative, Mollie Eblen, Grand Communications, Nancy Howard, Lisa Meek, Audra Miller, Robin Roenker, Steve Shaffer, Josh Sims, Micah Trvisonno and Missy Upton.
Win – We See The Good Ahead, Brand Launch Integrated Communications
Work + Play Studio, Ana Coomer, Principal & Bethany Langdon, New Vista
Place – EKU Valentine’s Day-Instagram Story Social Media category
Sarah Kelley, Jessica Holly, Tara Leisure, Matt Schumacher & Brandon Moore, EKU
Show – WoW Wheel Wednesday Special Event category
Sara Jaggers, Kentucky Housing Corporation
Win – Farmers National Bank 140th Anniversary Special Event category
Brant Welch & Sharon Howell, Farmers National Bank
Place – Campus Buildings Portfolio Student category
Carson Bryant, Jessica Holly, Tara Leisure, Ashley Reaves, Brandon Moore, Amanda Cain, EKU
Place – EKU Weekly Events Highlight-Instagram Story Student Category
Sarah Kelley, Jessica Holly and Brandon Moore, EKU
Win – Hazelwood.org Website category
Trifecta Media & Bethany Langdon, New Vista
Win – Camp Horsin’ Around Website category
Mackenzie Davis, Wiser Strategies & Camp Horsin’ Around, Brant Welch
Tactics
Place – 2019-2020 Highlights Piece Brochure category
Mickey Thomas, Brandon Moore, Josh Kegley, Megan Sevier, Stephanie Waley, EKU
Win – EKU Aviation Program Multimedia category
Duane Bolin, Leonard Nave, Brandie Conder, Matt Phelps, EKU
Place – EKU Marching Colonel Hype video Multimedia category
Kristi Middleton, Brandie Conder, Leonard Nave, Dwayne Bolin, Matt Phelps, Lanny Brannock, Doug Cornett, EKU
Place – Success First Resources Guide Multimedia category
Work + Play Studio & Bethany Langdon, New Vista
Show – Success First Resources Guide Special Purpose Publication
Jessica Holly, Brandon Moore, Ashley Reaves, Mickey Thomas, Lara Vance, Travis Martin, Gill Hunter, Bethany Warner, Heather Davis, EKU
Win – New Vista 2019 Annual Report Special Purpose Publication
Trifecta Media & Bethany Langdon, New Vista
There were co-winners of the chapter’s annual Communicator of the Year Award. The award goes to a person or group who does not work as a public relations professional, and who exemplifies excellent communications of their message to a variety of audiences. The recipients are:
The late Anita Rowe-Franklin, a nurse by profession and also an advocate for gun safety by speaking out for the protection of today’s youth against gun violence. This came in the wake of the shooting death of her son, Antonio Franklin, Jr, an innocent bystander at an event in Duncan Park.
See the video for Anita Rowe-Franklin here.
And,
Dr. Aaron Thompson, a passionate advocate for higher education serving currently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the Council on Post-Secondary Education in Frankfort. He has served in a variety of education posts including interim president of Kentucky State University.
See the video for Dr. Aaron Thompson here.
Also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for at 20+ years of excellent public relations/communications work went to Sue Patrick, APR, CPE. She is currently serving as Chief Communications Officer at the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education. Sue has demonstrated her unending dedication to the public relations profession, her skill at crafting effective and engaging messages, as well as her passion for those programs and professionals she leads.
See the video for Sue Patrick, APR, CPE here.
###
March Lunch & Learn: Rob Perez from DV8 Kitchen
Our March lunch & learn will be held on March 17, 2020 at Saul Good at 123 N Broadway from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Rob and Diane Perez conceptualized, developed, and operate four restaurants and a bakery in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2017, they founded Dv8 Kitchen as a social enterprise focused on giving second chance employment opportunities to people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction through vocational, on-the-job training. Dv8 Kitchen focuses on providing “Live Changing Food”, service and atmosphere for every guest.
The Perez’s have created Soulfull Enterprises, part of the Dv8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation, after realizing that American Business may be creating an environment where the “American Dream – Rags to Riches Dream” is dying. Dv8 uncovered the need for all businesses to change how to employ, motivate and retain employees in early stages of recovery from SUD. They have formalized the DV8 employment model and are working with other businesses to apply this model to their businesses focusing on a bottoms-up approach for all second chance employees.
Rob will discuss the challenges to messaging and marketing the Soulfull Enterprise initiative and change a deep stigma and impact a social issue.
Act fast! Registration closes March 10th.
The Story of a Creating a Life Changing Business with Rob Perez of DV8 Kitchen
2020 PRSA Awards
UPDATE: The deadline for award entries has passed.
Because of the turbulence of the week that has consumed the time of many of our public relations professionals, we are extending the deadline for submitting entries for our annual awards competition. The deadline is now at the end of the regular work day on Tuesday, April 21st. Hopefully this will afford time for professionals to pull their entries together in what has turned out to be a pretty unusual circumstance for all of us.
It’s awards season for our chapter again and it’s time for you to get your entry or entries ready for judging and ready for the awards they deserve.
Individual & Company Awards
The award categories for individual and company PR professionals is the same as last year.
What You Need to Know
• All entries MUST be submitted electronically
• Students can enter
• Send final submissions containing all materials via email to Katie at kmcdaniel@aaep.org
• Submissions can be sent in the following formats:
- a complete Drobox folder link
- a PDF
- Word Document
• Payments will be made via PayPal
You will receive an acknowledgment of each email within 24 hours. If you don’t receive a response, please follow up.
Key Dates
The deadline for submitting electronic entries is Tuesday April 21, at 5 p.m.
The awards luncheon will be announced at a later date.
Communicator of the Year
Each year the Thoroughbred chapter awards a Communicator of the Year award. This will be the 22nd year for it which honors a person or persons who during the last calendar year have done an excellent job of communicating his or her passion but does not work as a PR professional.
Last year’s recipient was former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. Other more recent recipients include Ginny Ramsey of the Catholic Action Center, former Governor Steve Beshear and UK women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell.
The deadline for entries is also Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. Please consider who you might submit as an entry for this past calendar year and email that entry also to Katie McDaniel.
Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame
The Thoroughbred chapter also periodically awards one of our chapter members with a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the requirements among others is the recipient must have at least a 20-year career in public relations. It is not presented every year… just at those times as the chapter members and board feel it should be presented.
The most recent recipient was Cliff Feltham in 2018. Other awardees include Nancy Wiser of Wiser Strategies, Tom Harris of UK, Phil Osborne and Thomas Preston of Preston Global.
The deadline for entries is also Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. Please consider who you might submit as an entry for this award and email this nomination also to Katie McDaniel.
It’s time to get organized and good luck. Submit as many entries as you’d like.
Every PR Pro’s Secret Success Weapon with Jason Falls
Public relations is often criticized for being “fluff” or not providing hard measures of success. But every PR pro can now have a secret weapon to providing hard success metrics and illustrating not only value but versatility to his or her organization. That weapon: Search Engine Optimization. Learn how you can not only help your company website dominate search rankings, but that success can be attributed to PR’s contributions.
About the Speaker: Jason Falls leads digital strategy for the clients of Cornett. He is a noted industry thought leader listed by Forbes as one of the 10 people every entrepreneur should follow on Twitter alongside Richard Branson, Marc Cuban, Tom Peters, and Gary Vaynerchuk. Falls is the author of two books with his third set to come in late 2020 from Entrepreneur Press. He hails from Pikeville, Kentucky, and can be heard live on LinkedIn each Tuesday morning with his podcast, The Jason Falls Show – A Marketing Podcast.
Jason has a monthly newsletter right up PR professional’s ally. “Influence” is once a month and features deeper, more enriching stories than a typical blog post or podcast. It focuses on influence and persuasion in all their various iterations in our marketing and communications-driven world. Subscribe at jason.online/subscribe.
Register Now
Moving Way Too Fast
When
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Moving Way Too Fast…The Rapidly Changing Communications Environment & Its Impact in Central Kentucky
Guest Speakers: Nancy Wiser, APR, Jerry Grasso, and Jacqueline Pitts
The communications environment each of us must now manage is fluid and volatile – practically disconcerting. How does a comms professional offer his or her best counsel to executives or clients to maximize news and brand value among the white noise of multiple social media platforms? What are the real concerns we all must address with our market’s shrinking media landscape, which some say is approaching the state of a news desert in Central Kentucky?
For expanding companies or well-established enterprises, what do the next five years look like? Can we as professionals forecast that far out?
Local communication experts Nancy Wiser, founder & president of Wiser Strategies; Jerry Grasso, vice president of marketing and communications for the YMCA of Central Kentucky; and Kentucky Chamber communication director and Bottom Line editor Jacqueline Pitts; along with moderator Risa Richardson of Columbia Gas of KY will enthusiastically discuss these topics at an upcoming Thoroughbred PRSA luncheon.
Nancy Wiser
Nancy Wiser, APR, Fellow, PRSA is president of Wiser Strategies. Prior to establishing Wiser Strategies, she co-founded Wiser, Hemlepp & Associates, was vice president of The Preston Group and worked for acute care and rehabilitation hospitals. Nancy is most in her element when analyzing, developing or managing strategic communication programs and counseling top executives. She also thrives on the creative process. Clients have included a range of businesses and non-profits, including health and medical organizations, education, technology, finance, transportation and government. Nancy has been active in the Public Relations Society of America throughout her career. She is Accredited in Public Relations, a member of the College of Fellows and the Counselors Academy, and has held leadership roles at every level of the international organization. She holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Kentucky and an undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University. She has been a visiting instructor with both universities and has presented nationally and regionally on such topics as issue management, media relations, customer satisfaction, and research.
Jerry Grasso
Jerry Grasso is the vice president of marketing and communications at the YMCA of Central Kentucky. Previously, he handled brand and reputation work for Equifax after the company’s cybersecurity incident in 2017, and before that was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Lexmark International. Grasso has also served as vice president of corporate communications for the Lexington-based printer manufacturer. In that position, he was responsible for public relations, internal communications and corporate creative services. Before Lexmark, Grasso was vice president of corporate communications at EarthLink Inc., one of the country’s largest internet service providers. Prior to EarthLink, he was director of corporate communications for Epoch Internet. Additionally, he has worked at the ARIS Corporation and with Sprint’s business division. Grasso holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Jacqueline Pitts
Jacqueline Pitts is the communications director and Managing Editor of the Kentucky Chamber’s news site, The Bottom Line. Jacqueline was hired by the Chamber in December 2014 to serve as a political reporter for the business community through stories, interviews and videos for The Bottom Line. The Kentucky Chamber was the first chamber of commerce in the nation to hire a political reporter. As communications director, Jacqueline oversees all communications, marketing, and advertising efforts for the organization. Prior to her work at the Chamber, Jacqueline worked as the political producer for cn|2’s Pure Politics, the only nightly political television show in Kentucky. Jacqueline is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science.
UK Athletics’ PR Strategies Lunch & Learn 🐱
When
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
UK Athletics’ PR Strategies Lunch & Learn 🐱
Join KYPRSA on Tuesday, May 21st as Eric Lindsey, Director of Athletics Communications and PR for the University of Kentucky’s Men’s Basketball and Women’s Golf teams, discusses branding and messaging strategies. This Lunch & Learn takes place in Building 2’s Board Room at Bluegrass.org (located on Newtown Pike).
Eric Lindsey completed his 11th year working with UK Athletics and his fifth season as the primary contact for UK’s tradition-rich men’s basketball program in 2018-19. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Lindsey has been an integral part of head coach John Calipari’s support staff since taking over the management of CoachCal.com in 2011. His first season as the primary men’s basketball communications contact came in 2014-15, when Kentucky made a historic run at an undefeated season that culminated in a Final Four berth and a 38-1 overall record. Lindsey is charged with managing the overall publicity and promotional efforts for Kentucky’s men basketball program, which includes coordinating all needs with Calipari and the coaching staff, in addition to player availability. Kentucky’s social media presence – under the direction of Lindsey – is regarded as one of the nation’s leaders in popularity, ingenuity and creativity.