Local communications professionals win big at Gem City PR Awards

It was my distinct honor, as president of the Dayton Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, to open our annual awards program.

Hannah and me.

Me with one of the awards.

Below is the news release:

Local communications professionals win big at Gem City PR Awards

Dayton, Ohio. –  The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Dayton Area Chapter celebrated the 2022 achievements of public relations at the Gem City Awards banquet presented by CareSource held on May 24, 2023 at Top of the Market. The ceremony is held each year to recognize the best talent in public relations throughout the Miami Valley. "We have an amazing community of marketing and communications professionals here in Dayton and the Miami Valley," said Steven Solomon, Dayton Area Chapter president. "It's truly an honor to pause and celebrate their accomplishments." Eight local businesses were recognized in six categories for their superior work in public relations, with three PR Awards and 12 Awards of Merit given out during the evening. Businesses and individuals submit nominations for the Gem City PR Awards each year. The nominations are then judged by a group of PR professionals in a sister chapter (PRSA Iowa was this year’s reciprocal judging chapter), determined which entries will receive a Gem City PR Award or an Award of Merit based on overall scoring. Crystal Allen, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton, accepted the Best in Show award recognition of the article titled "MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Kids in West Dayton Need School Supplies and More," which was published by the Dayton Daily News on Oct. 15, 2022. Volunteer Hannah Krafka, media relations specialist at CareSource, contributed to the article and its successful publication. Allen was also recognized for the positive news coverage generated by the Club under her leadership. The chapter also awarded four individual awards to outstanding professionals and newsmakers who are making Dayton a better place to live and work. The individual award recipients included: Benjamin Baugham, Community Engagement Coordinator, was named Young Professional of the Year Helen Jones-Kelley, Executive Director of Montgomery County ADAMHS was named Newsmaker of the Year Lynn Hulsey, investigative reporter at the Dayton Daily News, was named Media Friend of the Year Mark D. Weinstein, Executive Director of Public Relations, Cedarville University, was named Communicator of the Year

More information about the Gem City PR Award banquet and photos from this year’s event are available on PRSA Dayton's Facebook page. Nominations for the next awards will open in January of 2024 via PRSA Dayton website.

Gem City PR award winners included:

• Dayton Children's Hospital "Lactation marketing campaign"
• Dayton Children's Hospital "COVID-19 vaccine for children campaign"
• Boys & Girls Club of Dayton “SPARK”

Award of Merit winners included:

• Montgomery County ADAMHS "Life is Better with You Here"
• Fahlgren Mortine and Swisslog "The End of a Journey Blog Post"
• Fahlgren Mortine and Swisslog "Post-Pandemic World White Paper"
• Dayton Children's Hospital "Respiratory surge"
• Dayton Children's Hospital "Elf on a shelf campaign"
• Dayton Children's Hospital "On Our Sleeves Conversation Cards"
• myCUmortgage "Mort the Mortgage Mentor's Blog"
• Community Blood Center "Little Things That Mattered"
• Community Blood Center "Larry Smith Stands Up"
• The Dayton Foundation "Momentum in Motion - The Dayton Foundation 2021-22 Report to the Community"
• Kenny Consulting Group and Kemper Mainstreet "Kemper Mainstreet Video Script"
• Midmark Corporation "Midmark American Heart Association Woman of Impact Campaign"

Special thank you to our sponsors:

• CareSource
• Fahlgren Mortine
• TriComB2B
• Kenny Consulting Group
• Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission
• Gabriel Marketing LLC
• Preservation Society
• Minute Man Press

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Dayton Area Chapter

The PRSA Dayton Area Chapter consists of public relations professionals representing all facets of the industry, including corporate, non-profit, agency and independent practitioners. The chapter offers numerous benefits to its members including monthly meetings featuring local and national speakers addressing both strategic and tactical public relations topics. The Public Relations Society of America, headquartered in New York City, is the world's largest professional organization for public relations professionals, with nearly 20,000 members, organized into 117 Chapters nationwide, who represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.