2013 Paragon Winners

laughlin best in show2013 Best in Show – Laughlin Constable for its work with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism “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. Judges, comprised of a panel of PR experts from around the country, were impressed with the project’s excellent results on a relatively small budget and its solid, measurable objectives

2013 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”

2013 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

2013 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

2013 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’”

2013 Public Service Programs
Award of Merit – Kelly Savage of State Farm Insurance for “Celebrate My Drive”

2013 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”

2013 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

2013 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”

2013 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

2013 Marketing Business to Business
Award of Merit – Colin Hutt, Kristen Davis, Ashley Cobert and Nikki Butgereit of Primum Marketing Communications for Provade

2013 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

2013 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”

2013 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”

2013 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”

2013 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.

2013 Multimedia
Award of Excellence – Celtic, Inc. for Milwaukee Irish Fest Sponsorship

2013 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”

2013 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”

2013 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

2013 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

2013 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

Dale Brown PARAGON IMAGE croppedThe 2013 Dorothy Thomas Black Award, a lifetime achievement award was given to a PRSA member for outstanding service to the chapter was award to Dale Brown, APR. Dale 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. Dale is a past president of the chapter and he was named Ventriloquist of the Year at the 15th Annual International Ventriloquists’ Convention.

Jeff Sherman PARAGON IMAGE cropped

The 2013 Communicator of the Year was awarded to Jeff Sherman, president and co-owner of OnMilwaukee.com. A vital part of OnMilwaukee.com since 2000, Jeff uses his love of sports, community building and all things Milwaukee to bring colorful stories and content to the site, which has become a Wisconsin institution over the last 15 years.