The Central West Coast Chapter (CWC) of the Florida Public Relations Association recently held its annual Image and Chapter Awards competition on April 22 at and the winners were announced at a banquet at Fete Ballroom at the Polo Grill.

This year the Central West Coast Chapter recognized six award-winning programs and five individuals; awards were presented by Emily Sperling, CWC FPRA Chapter President, and Jennifer Moss, APR, CPRC, State FPRA President-Elect.

Individual achievement awards were presented to:

•  Debby Steele, Director of Communications and Marketing at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, was recognized as Chapter Member of the Year
• Elise Lipoff, Willis Smith Construction, won the Chapter’s “Thomas E. Nunan Rising Star” Award
• Sally Hill, Suncoast Workforce Board earned the “Promoting the Profession” award
• Cheray Keyes-Shima was presented the “Ginnie Duffey-Troyer Award of Professionalism”
• The “Joseph Curley Lifetime Achievement Award” was presented to Ginya Carnahan, APR, CPRC, of Dattoli Cancer Center.

Image Awards were presented in the following categories:
Division A (Public Relations Programs) recognizes complete public relations campaigns. 2010 winners at this level include:

• Ringling Museum of Art for the Ringling International Arts Festival won an Image Award, a Judge’s Award, and a Grand All Image Award
• Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau won an Award of Distinction for “Visitors Bureau Circus Heritage Guide” 
• Willis Smith Construction won an Image Award for Open House and Sustainable Showcase special event 
• Sarasota Family YMCA won Award of Distinction for “New Balance Ringling Bridge Run”

The Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence in the state of Florida. The Image and Chapter Awards are part of a two-tiered process by which entrants and winners are encouraged to submit their entries to the state Golden Image Awards. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design in public relations.

Division B (Printed Tools of Public Relations) recognizes printed tools such as brochures, news releases and magazines.

• Holland & Knight won an Image Award, a Judge’s Award also a Grand Image award for the “Holland & Knight Attorney Takes Client to New Greener Heights” news release and campaign

Division C (Audio/Visual Tools of Public Relations) recognizes audio/visual tools used in public relations such as web sites, PSA’s, blogs, and social media.

• Sarasota Family YMCA won an Award of Distinction for their Holiday Advertising Campaign.

FPRA is a statewide organization of more than 1,500 public relations professionals dedicated to fostering the highest professional standards and ethics in its members through professional and personal growth. It is the oldest statewide public relations organization in the United States. The Central West Coast Chapter’s monthly development meetings are held at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse located at 2001 Siesta Drive in Sarasota.