Laughlin Constable was honored with the Best in Show award for its work with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism during the 2013 Paragon Awards, Southeastern Wisconsin Public Relations Society of America’s annual awards program honoring the best in professional communications.
More than 50 public relations professionals were honored during the program held this week at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.
The Best in Show award-winning submission – “Travel Wisconsin Helps Keep Wisconsinites Warm with ‘The Big Bundle Up’” – served to promote the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s annual community relations campaign to collect warm clothing items for needy families.
The campaign – spearheaded by Lisa Todd of Laughlin Constable and Danielle Johnson of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism – utilized multiple communications platforms resulting in a 550 percent year-over-year increase in the total number of items collected.
“To win 12 Paragons, including ‘Best in Show,’ is a tremendous honor and truly reflective of our agency’s dedication to quality,” said Evan Zeppos, executive vice president and managing director of public relations for Laughlin Constable. “Laughlin Constable has a great team of talented and passionate individuals whose goal is to consistently exceed client expectations. We couldn’t be more proud about today’s big win – it reinforces the successes we find in providing a diverse and high level of service through our Full Circle Branding efforts.”
“We had many outstanding submissions this year,” said Don Klein, president of the Southeastern Wisconsin PRSA chapter. “It’s truly a testament to the quality of communications work going on in the region.”
This year’s Communicator of the Year is Jeff Sherman, president and co-owner of OnMilwaukee.com.
This year’s winner of the Dorothy Thomas Black award is Dale Brown, who led the firm Brown and Martin for more than 30 years before his recent retirement. His use of ventriloquism as a serious communications tool has gained him national attention.
The following is a list of other 2013 Paragon Award winners:
Media Relations Programs – Business & Industry
Award of Merit – Colin Hutt, Kristen Davis Ashley Cobert and Nikki Butgereit of Primum Marketing Communications for 7Summits.
Award of Merit – Ryan Amundson, Kim Mitschke and Kelly Skindzelewski of Potawatomi Bingo Casino for “Wild Earth Cucina Italiana Restaurant Opening.”
Award of Merit – John Verre and Elizabeth Siepmann of Emerald Isle PR for “Rooting for A&W Root Beer.”
Media Relations Programs – Government and Nonprofit
Award of Merit – Kathy Bero and Gina Rupcic of Emerald Isle PR for “Promoting Better Food; A Better Life.”
Award of Excellence – Elizabeth Hockerman, Mallory Steinberg and Laura Mandell of Bader Rutter & Associates for Dairy Management Inc. Inaugural Sustainability Awards.
Award of Excellence – Megan Greve and Lisa Marshall of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism 2012 Media Relations.
Ongoing Social Media Campaign
Award of Merit – Amanda Eggert and Kelly Borde of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for the Travel Wisconsin Social Media Strategy.
Community Relations Programs
Award of Excellence – Standard Process for “Giving Palmyra the Royal Lee Treatment.
Award of Excellence – Lisa Todd and Danielle Johnson of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for “Travel Wisconsin Helps Keep Wisconsinites Warm with ‘The Big Bundle Up.’”
Public Service Programs
Award of Merit – Kelly Savage of State Farm Insurance for “Celebrate My Drive.”
Crisis Communications Implementation
Award of Merit – Carolyn Bellin, Kathy Sieja, Beth Strohbusch and Nalissa Wienke of Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin for “Managing and International Crisis.”
Integrated Communications Programs – Business or Industry
Award of Merit – Hare Strigenz for “Pizza Pizzam! by Chartwells.”
Award of Merit – Beth Crivello-Wagner, Dana Carpenter and Colin Deval of Core Creative for Verizon Wireless 400th 4G LTE Market Launch.
Award of Excellence – Erica Zipp, Mary Anderson, Tim Duffin, Scott Mozing and Katie Rotella of Bader Rutter & Associates for Burpee Home Gardens.
Award of Excellence – Anna Zeck, Jeff Dardis and Michael Peppers for Laughlin Constable with McDonald’s Restaurants of Southeastern Wisconsin for Free Oatmeal Day at McDonald’s.
Integrated Communications Programs – Government of Nonprofit
Award of Excellence – Jeannine Sherman of VISIT Milwaukee for Dear MKE: Phase 1.
Award of Excellence – Sandy Leske and Gina Rupcic of Emerald Isle PR with Catholic Charities for the “Make a Ripple” campaign.
Award of Excellence – Lisa Marshall and Danielle Johnson of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for “Travel Wisconsin Pairs Up with the Zucker Brothers to Film State Tourism Ads”
Marketing Consumer Products and Services
Award of Excellence – Erica Zipp, Mary Anderson, Tim Duffin and Katie Rotella of Bader Rutter and Associates for Burpee Home Gardens.
Marketing Business to Business
Award of Merit – Colin Hutt, Kristen Davis, Ashley Cobert and Nikki Butgereit of Primum Marketing Communications for Provade.
Grassroots Marketing Programs
Award of Merit – Celtic, Inc., for Milwaukee Irish Fest Tell a Friend.
Award of Merit – Jeannine Sherman of VISIT Milwaukee for the VISIT Milwaukee 2012 Street Team.
Internal Communications
Award of Merit – Northwestern Mutual for Campus Connection.
Award of Merit – Crystal McNeal, Chantel Balzell, Lisa Fernandez, Kim Mitschke, Renee Kirnberger, Ryan Amundson and Kelly Skindzelewski of Potawatomi Bingo Casino for “PBC Live.”
Award of Merit – Hare Strigenz for “Pizza Pizzam! by Chartwells.”
Media Relations Tactic – Press Kit
Award of Merit – Harley Davidson for the Harley Davidson Press Kit.
Award of Excellence – Jeff Dardis, Lisa Marshall and Danielle Johnson of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for Travel Wisconsin’s 2012 Press Kit.
Award of Excellence – Kevin Rausch and Liz Sweet of Emerald Isle PR and West Bend Mutual Insurance of “Drive for Life.”
Award of Excellence – Celtic, Inc. for “Bringing the World’s Best Running Trails to Your Living Room.”
Media Relations Tactic – Press Release or Other Tactic
Award of Merit – Hare Strigenz or “Pizza Pizzam! by Chartwells.”
Award of Merit – Celtic, Inc. for “Emergency Backup Power in the Wake of Superstorm Sandy.”
Direct Mail
Award of Merit – Sara Schmitz, Wynnie Zuchowski, Sarah Borden, Heather Bolyard, Ryann Flynn, Ray Boome, Rick Stoner, Dr. Andrea White and Wendy Irvine of Bader Rutter & Associates with Zoetis for Social Media in a Box.
Multimedia
Award of Excellence – Celtic, Inc. for Milwaukee Irish Fest Sponsorship Video.
Award of Excellence – Hare Strigenz for Fresh Cook by Chartwells.
Award of Excellence – Father Luke Strand and Darrell Bock of Emerald Isle PR and St. Francis De Sales Seminary for “Day in the Life Video.”
Special Events
Award of Excellence – Renee Kirnberger, Kelly Skindzelewski, Kymme Goodrich, Colleen Moore, Ryan Amundson, Crystal McNeal, Kim Mitschke and Chantell Balzell of Potawatomi Bingo Casino for their Hotel Ground Blessing and Official Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Award of Excellence – Ryan Amundson, Kim Mitschke and Kelly Skindzelewski of Potawatomi Bingo Casino for “Tribute to the King.”
Award of Excellence – Jeff Scrima, Norm Bruce, Susan Schoultz, Jackie Costa and Christina Steder of Clear Verve Marketing with Waukesha GuitarTown for Waukesha GuiterTown Special Event.
Award of Excellence – Northwestern Mutual for “Salute to the Stars.”
Award of Excellence – Colin Hutt, Kristen Davis, Ashley Cobert, Dustin Vrab, Marissa Gallus and Nikki Butgereit of Primum Marketing Communications for the Primum 007 Anniversary Party.
Award of Excellence – Brenna Sadler, Evan Zeppos, Brian Knox and Steve Costello of Laughlin Constable with the BMO Harris Bradley Center for “Introducing the BMO Harris Bradley Center.”
Annual Reports
Award of Merit – Madeline Gianforte, Pat Bogenschuetz, Susan Schoultz and Christina Steder of Clear Verve Marketing with CORE/El Centro for the CORE/El Centro Annual Report.
Brochures
Award of Merit – Nicole Weber and Kelly Borde of Laughlin Constable and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for the Wisconsin State Highway Map.
Social Media Tactics
Award of Merit – Laughlin Constable with Bon-Ton for the Bon-Ton Back-To-School Promotion Facebook Application.
Award of Excellence – Amanda Eggert and Kelly Borde of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for the Packer Dream Draft Sweepstakes.
Award of Excellence – Kris Naidl, Cassi Curran and Laura Krinke of Laughlin Constable with the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association for the WSCGA 125th Anniversary Sweepstakes.
Online Tactics
Award of Merit – Northwestern Mutual for Lifespan Calculator.
Award of Excellence – Wisconsin Dental Association, Group One Marketing, Punch Digital and SunAnt Creative for WDA.org website renovation.
Award of Excellence – Potawatomi Bingo Casino for Casino Connection Online.
Award of Excellence – Jamie Lindsley and Meghan Yunker of Emerald Isle PR with CCI Systems for “Transforming a High-Tech Website.”
Miscellaneous
Award of Merit – Colin Hutt, Kristen Davis, Ashley Cobert and Nikki Butgereit of Primum Marketing Communications for TEKLYNX Case Studies Campaign.