The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Phoenix chapter awarded 38 awards during its annual Copper Anvil Awards, a program that recognizes outstanding public relations tactics and campaigns that reflect the highest standards of performance in public relations. During the event on Sept. 8, two additional awards of recognition and two student scholarships were presented.

The PRSA Phoenix chapter awarded Mary Beth Reisinger, chief administrative officer at AAA Arizona, with the prestigious Phoenix Award, which recognizes a CEO, business leader or community leader who has elevated the best practices of public relations. The chapter has only bestowed the Phoenix Award 20 times in its history, including last year’s winner Patrick Banger, Town Manager for Gilbert, Arizona.

The PRSA Phoenix chapter also awarded Susan de Queljoe, senior associate for marketing and communications for the Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, with the Percy Award. The award honors a professional who has demonstrated excellence in the practice of public relations, is an active supporter of PRSA Phoenix, and has made positive contributions to the Phoenix community. Since 1960, this prestigious award has been awarded to 38 Valley public relations practitioners.

Caitlin Bohrer and Savannah Harrelson, seniors at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, each received the chapter’s annual student scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each.

Of the 38 awards given, 11 were Copper Anvil Awards and 27 were Award of Merits. While both awards recognize excellence in public relations, the Copper Anvil Award is the highest honor bestowed by PRSA Phoenix followed by the Award of Merit. Finalists and award type are determined by the final point score given by the judging chapter.

2016 Copper Anvil Award winners:

  • Community Relations: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona – All About Healthy Living Patch Program
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: AAA Arizona – AAA Serves the Community
  • Integrated Communications: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona – Healthcare Organization Negotiation
  • Public Affairs: Fingerpaint – We Bring the Heavy Trash Talk, yo. Don’t Trash Arizona
  • Special Events: One to Seven Days: ASU Cronkite PR Lab – 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire
  • Special Events: One to Seven Days: Big Yam – Official Launch of the New Harley Davidson of Scottsdale
  • Special Events: More Than Seven Days: Decibel Blue – Cancer Treatment Centers of America Breast Cancer Awareness Month PR 2015
  • Special Events: More Than Seven Days: Town of Queen Creek – Queen Creek mid-decade census
  • Publications: Annual Report: Town of Gilbert – Gilbert, Ariz. Office of Economic Development Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
  • Publicity/Promotion: Editorial/Op Ed: Havas PR – Tucson Values Teachers
  • Special Events: Groundbreaking/Grand Opening: The James Agency – Moxy Tempe Grand Opening

2016 Award of Merit winners:

  • Community Relations: Allstate – Good Hood Campaign
  • Community Relations: Allstate – Water Watchers Safety Campaign
  • Community Relations: ASU Cronkite PR Lab – 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire
  • Community Relations: HAV/Pedene PR – Phoenix Veterans Day Parade
  • Community Relations: The James Agency – Pei Wei Hunger Action Month Campaign
  • Integrated Communications: AAA Arizona – Hispanic Marketing Initiative
  • Integrated Communications: ASU Cronkite PR Lab – 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire
  • External Communications: Allison + Partners – National Relief Charities Becomes Partnership With Native Americans
  • External Communications: Arizona Humane Society – Hurricane Katrina 10-Year Retrospective: The Local Heroes and Animal Survivors
  • External Communications: Fingerpaint – #CantBeatDeath
  • External Communications: Town of Queen Creek – Queen Creek mid-decade census
  • Digital/Social Media: Arizona Department of Health Services – Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease – The DeNoble Files
  • Multicultural Communications: AAA Arizona – Steer Factor
  • Reputation Management: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona – Healthcare Organization Negotiation
  • Special Events: One to Seven Days: Carrington College – Carrington Breaks Records
  • Special Events: One to Seven Days: Arizona Diamondbacks – D-backs Grumpy Cat Day
  • Special Events: One to Seven Days: HMA Public Relations – An Afternoon with a Hearing Loss
  • Special Events: More Than Seven Days: HMA Public Relations – Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge
  • Special Events: More Than Seven Days: Resolute Consulting – Deploying Google’s Self-Driving Car Project in the Valley of the Sun
  • Publicity/Promotion: Feature Story: HMA Public Relations – Take a Hike
  • Publicity/Promotion: Editorial/Op Ed: Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ – Healthcare Organization Negotiation
  • Publicity/Promotion: Other: ASU Cronkite PR Lab – 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire
  • Publicity/Promotion: Other: ASU Cronkite PR Lab – 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire
  • Publicity/Promotion: Other: HMA Public Relations – Blaze of Glory
  • Special Events: Groundbreaking/Grand Opening: Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council – Honoring the Past & Recognizing the Future
  • Special Events: Other: 48 West Agency – Hallow-Clean Presented by Jacksons

The Phoenix Chapter also recognized AAA Arizona’s corporate social responsibility entry, AAA Serves the Community, with the coveted Judges’ Award, which is presented to the campaign or tactic that the reciprocating judging chapter felt best defined public relations excellence.

The event was made possible by annual chapter sponsor, APS in addition to event sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Clique Photo Station, Fingerpaint, Ideas Collide and Katz Concepts.