PR Society honors campaigns

The best public relations programs in northern Nevada were

honored at the 2002 Silver Spike Awards sponsored by the

Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of

America last week.

Silver Spike Award winners and categories include:

Ongoing programs:

* Rose/Glenn Group for Cricket Communications' ongoing

public relations campaign

Community relations:

* EstiponaVialpando Partners for the JLH Inc. community

relations program;

* KPS/3 Advertising, E-Marketing and Public Relations for

Saint Mary's Salud en Accion; and

* Olsen & Associates for Truckee Meadows Water

Authority: "Save it Today so We'll Have it Tomorrow" poster

contest.

Emergency or Crisis Program:

* Airport Authority of Washoe County for the airport's

response to Sept. 11.

Overall campaign, all-inclusive budget of more than $25,000:

* R&R Partners for Nevada: Bring It On

Publications, additional collateral:

* EstiponaVialpando Partners for the NIAA 2001-2002

State Championship Posters "Just a Dream"; and

* Olsen & Associates for the Great Reno Balloon Race

Program

Publications, newsletter:

* EstiponaVialpando Partners for Harrah's Reno Hotline

Newsletter

Publications, annual report:

* EstiponaVialpando Partners for Washoe Health System

Annual Report

Media relations:

* KPS/3 Advertising, E-Marketing and Public Relations for

REMSA Partnership with Washoe County High Schools

R&R Partners was honored with a Judges' Choice award for

the "Nevada: Bring It On Campaign." The judges cited the

campaign's solid research, strategy, use of resources, creativity

and effectiveness.

Individual awards included:

* Hall of Fame Award: Lynne Atcheson, the vice president

for marketing communications for Washoe Health System.

Atcheson was a founder of the Nevada Women's Fund and

Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and served as a board member of

the Reno Philharmonic. She is Washoe Health System's

spokesperson and director of marketing strategy.

* Golden Spike Award: Julie Ardito, senior vice president

and director of public relations for the Rose/Glenn Group. The

award honors experienced public relations professionals. Ardito

has worked in field for more than 13 years.

Mark Twain Award: Michael Thomas, director of business

development for Twelve Horses North America. Thomas spent

the last two years as executive director of TechAlliance, in

which he communicated with local and national audiences

northern Nevada's growing position as a technical and entrepreneurial

location.

Mark Curtis Sr. Award: Ronele Klingensmith, independent

public relations consultant and 2002 PRSA Sierra Nevada

Chapter president. the award is based on excellent work within

PRSA as well as the profession.With more than 10 years public

relations experience, Klingensmith has held several chapter

offices and has dedicated herself to the success of the chapter,

in addition to her involvement in the local community.