PRSA NJ Recognizes 30+ Winners During Annual Pyramid Awards

On Oct 14, 2021

PRSA NJ recognized more than 30 award-winning campaigns during the Public Relations Society of America New Jersey’s 32nd Annual Pyramid Awards, honoring the most impactful communications campaigns of the last year. Winners were announced throughout the day across several PRSA NJ social media channels, primarily with the @PRSANJ Twitter account.

AKCG Public Relations Counselors, based in Glassboro, was awarded Best in Show (Community Relations) for its efforts to promote Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic in a campaign entitled, “Combatting Regional Food Insecurity in Quest to Feed Community.”

“During one of the most challenging years, our industry’s creative storytellers found hope, inspiration and acts of kindness that underscored our collective humanity,” said PRSA NJ President Jemia Kinsey Singleton, who is also president of Kinsey Communications. “As PR professionals, it is our mission to tell the stories that cut through the clutter, answer critical questions and find the emotion behind every ‘why’ so we all can do more together. Our annual Pyramid Awards celebrate this feat.”

Singleton said PRSA NJ’s award ceremony would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors, which include MDL Strategic Communications, Coyne PR, Deirdre Lopian Public Relations LLC, BML PR, Johnson & Johnson, Monmouth University, Goodman Media International, O’Brien Media Group, R&J Strategic Communications, Audacy and Town Square Media.

Notable highlights include Coyne PR of Parsippany, which won eight Pyramid Awards in the following categories: Content Single-Item (VTech and LeapFrog), Diversity & Inclusion (Courvoisier Cognac), Events (Shell Rotella), Events (Etch a Sketch), Influencer Campaigns (CeraVe), Media Relations (Robitussin) PR on a Shoestring Budget (Crook & Marker) and Public Affairs (International Code Council).

Other top winners include:

• CMA, based in Princeton Junction, won two Pyramid Awards in Executive Communications (First Bank) and Public Affairs (New Jersey State Nurses Association).
• Violet PR, based in Montclair, won two Pyramid Awards in Media Relations (Greater Topeka Partnership) and Events (The New Jersey Business Action Center).
• Gillian Small Public Relations, based in Hoboken, won two Pyramid Awards in PR on a Shoestring Budget (B&G Foods) and Media Relations (B&G Foods).

President-elect Deirdre Lopian of DLPR and Programming Committee board members Michael Lauer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Shana Walther of Coyne PR produced this year’s Pyramid Awards.

Future PR Pro of the Year Award

Madison Vance, a senior at Seton Hall University, was named the 2021 PRSA NJ Future PR Pro of the Year. As part of her application, the South Orange resident developed an integrated PR campaign to introduce a new cola brand to the 18-to-30 U.S. market.

Vance recently devised and executed a PR campaign that helped build the profile of Seton Hall University by successfully promoting its test-optional admissions process and its upcoming virtual open house. The strategy, which leveraged niche markets, yielded 51 media placements in top news outlets and an online reach of more than 1.3 million. The virtual open house yielded 1,211 registrants (+9%) and 580 attendees (+33%).

Kathryn Lancioni, professor of communication at Seton Hall University, and Laurie A. Pine, director of media relations at Seton Hall University, nominated Vance for the award.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: