BALTIMORE (December 13, 2022) – The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Maryland Chapter held its annual Best in Maryland Awards Gala on Thursday, December 8 at the Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre. A total of 28 awards were given to organizations and individuals who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a communications challenge with exemplary professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness.
WMAR-TV Channel 2 News Anchor Kelly Swoope emceed the evening which saw 28 awards given across over 20 categories organized by being a component or campaign. Awards are modeled after PRSA’s Silver and Bronze Anvil Awards and submissions were judged by the PRSA Houston Chapter. All PRSA Maryland Best in Maryland campaign entries are automatically considered for the top award, Best in Show.
The 2022 Best in Show award was presented to
Crosby Marketing Communications and
Military OneSource for Exceptional Family Member Program, an integrated communications campaign.
David Imre was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award, Jessica Fast received the Paul E. Welsh award, Staff Sergeant Sarah McClanahan of the Maryland National Guard was awarded Rising Star, and the PR Team of the Year went to Planit.
The David Imre Scholarship was also announced and will recognize and assist one young person per academic year for commitment to the practice of public relations. This scholarship will be open to PRSSA members attending a Maryland-based college or university and awarded to a student who is committed to an inclusive environment, encouraging different perspectives, empathy, and respect, which has been a driver of the success of Imre’s agency, imre. More details about the application process will be available soon. Applications will open in early 2023 and close in May.
The following is a list of all awards and winners:
Professional Awards
Lifetime Achievement: Dave Imre, imre
Paul E. Welsh: Jessica Fast, Abel Communications
Rising Star: Staff Sergeant Sarah McClanahan, Maryland National Guard
PR Team of the Year: Planit
Best in Maryland Awards
Annual Reports (Components)
Award of Excellence: Carroll Hospital “Stories Worth Sharing” Annual Report, Devaney and Associates
Editorial/Op-Ed Columns (Components)
Award of Excellence: Central American Migration Op-Ed, Catholic Relief Services
Media Relations: Assoc/Nonprofit/Govt (Components)
Best in Maryland: Haiti Earthquake 2021, Catholic Relief Services
Award of Excellence: Establishing a New Go-To Resource for the Media, Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS with J-Davis Public Relations
Media Relations – For Profit (Components)
Best in Maryland: The Sheetz Columbus Market Launch, Planit
Publications (Components)
Best in Maryland: Brookside Gardens Strolls for Well-Being Journal, Montgomery Parks
Award of Excellence: 2022 Scholarly Journals Subscription Catalog, Johns Hopkins University Press
Social Media: Assoc/Nonprofit/Govt (Components)
Award of Excellence: The Hatcher and Maryland 529, The Hatcher Group
Videos (Components)
Best in Maryland: Discover Your Happy Place, Montgomery Parks
Award of Excellence: ‘Officers Redo Roof After Elderly Couple Scammed’, Howard County Police Department
Websites (Components)
Best in Maryland: Dwyer Workforce Development Website, Devaney and Associates
COVID-19 Communications (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: Stick It to COVID, Adventist HealthCare
Award of Excellence: MedStar Montgomery Medical Center COVID-19 Webinars, Abel Communications
Community Relations (Campaigns)
Award of Excellence: Open Gate Brewery Allyship Through Collaboration, Collins and Company
Content Marketing (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: One Digital Coffee Break and Casual Friday Video Series, Abel Communications
Events and Observances < 7 days (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: Montgomery Parks Urban Wood Sale, Montgomery Parks
Award of Excellence: The Hatcher Group and National Assessment Governing Board, The Hatcher Group
Events and Observances > 7 days (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: Garden of Lights, Montgomery Parks
Award of Excellence: United to End Domestic Abuse, Crosby Marketing Communications and Military OneSource
Integrated Communications (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: Exceptional Family Member Program, Crosby Marketing Communications and Military OneSource
Award of Excellence: Re the We: Relationship Initiative, Crosby Marketing Communications and Military OneSource
Marketing (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: Josiah Henson Museum and Park Opening, Montgomery Parks
Pro-Bono (Campaigns)
Best in Maryland: TBC x Unified Efforts: When I Grow Up, TBC
Reputation/Brand Management (Campaigns)
Award of Excellence: Hatcher and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, The Hatcher Group\
PRSA Maryland’s 2022 BIM sponsors are
Abel Communications,
Planit,
Maryland Department of Commerce,
Coyle Studios,
Gavin, and
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.
The 2022 Best in Maryland committee includes Renata Allen, Ashley Biggs, Lisa Bruscio-Coster, Dr. Jana Duckett, David Harrison, Lindsay Hebert, Lia Hyman, Aamanda Mantiply, Megan Mattis, Emily McDermott, Teri O’Neal, Kelly Stoll, and Danita Terry.
About PRSA Maryland
The Maryland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) was established in the 1960s to help public relations and communications professionals stay connected professionally and personally. As part of the nation’s largest organization of communication professionals, PRSA Maryland offers networking, training, resources and support to help members in their practice of public relations. For more information, go to
www.prsamd.org.
Media Contact
Emily McDermott on behalf of PRSA MD
info@prsamd.org
443-283-8060