2017 Blacksmith Awards Winners

The 2017 Blacksmith Awards were announced at a ceremony at The Center on November 16, 2017. The 2017 Blacksmiths incorporated many changes, including those recommended by a task forced brought together to improve all aspects of the Award program. Thank you for your support to make the 2017 Blacksmiths a huge success, and to all the organizations that submitted entries.

Below is a list of all of the organizations that were recognized during the 2016 Blacksmiths:

Campaigns:

Community Relations

Award of Excellence: 5/3 Babies by Empower
Blacksmith Award: Fast Park’s 9th Annual Canned Food Drive by Vehr Communications and Fast Park

Integrated Communications

Award of Excellence: THE MUSIC MAN at The Carnegie by Scooter Media
Award of Excellence: Safety Dog Bus Tour by First Student with Vehr Communications
Blacksmith Award: Billion Schools: The Launch of a Movement by Wordsworth Communications & SHP Leading Design

Marketing

Award of Excellence: Tom+Chee's CHEETOS® Crunchy FLAMIN' HOT Grilled Cheese by Scooter Media
Award of Excellence: Bouncing Back After a Breakup by Wordsworth Communications and Carpe Diem
Award of Excellence: Cultural Tourism Campaign by the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network

Public Service

Award of Excellence: Talk to Your Cat About Sex by Northlich & Give Them Ten
Award of Excellence: #MarchAmnesty: Child Support Enforcement Campaign by Clermont County
Blacksmith Award: Bullet-Free 513: Anti-Violence Initiative by Pomme Communications & Christ Church Cathedral

Reputation & Brand Management

Award of Excellence: Vehr Communications and AdvancePierre Foods: Preparing the Company for Sale
Award of Excellence: Deadlines and Due Dates: How Fifth Third Bank Became a Trailblazer for Working Moms by Wordsworth Communications and Fifth Third Bank
Award of Excellence: Midwest Magnet: Building the Reputation of the Dynamic Cincinnati Region by Source Cincinnati

Special Events – 7 days or less

Award of Excellence: Christ Church Cathedral Bicentennial Kickoff by Pomme Communications
Award of Excellence: La Casa de Chako with The Center for Great Neighborhoods by Scooter Media & The Center for Great Neighborhoods
Award of Excellence: Safety Week by Intrinzic & Construction Safety Week
Award of Excellence: Cincinnati Bell Connector Opening Weekend by SORTA
Blacksmith Award: Leveraging South by Southwest by Wordsworth Communications & SHP Leading Design

Special Events – 8 days or more

Award of Excellence: Safety Dog Bus Tour by First Student & Vehr Communications

PRSSA Campaign

Blacksmith Award: Take Five Miami by Miami University PRSSA

Tactics:

Advertorials

Award of Excellence: Toyota Community Reports by Rose Communications

Annual Reports

Award of Excellence: 2016 Annual Report by Ohio National Financial Services
Award of Excellence: United We Fight. United We Win. United Way Greater Cincinnati Annual Report by Shara Clark Communications for the United Way
Blacksmith Award: 2016 Report to the Community by Hamilton County Development Disabilities Services

Blogs

Award of Excellence: Your Travel Partner – The Fast Park Blog by Vehr Communications & Fast Park

Brochures – digital or print

Award of Excellence: Preserving the Budget: Agency Retools Existing Assets for Amazing Outcome by Wordsworth Communications & Uptown Consortium, Inc

Creative Tactics

Award of Excellence: Bullet-Free 513: Christ Church Cathedral's Anti-Violence Art Installation by Pomme Communications
Award of Excellence: Human Shaming - Putting Bad Pet Owners Behind Bars by Northlich & Give Them Ten
Award of Excellence: Fake Cabin Does REAL Good by Wordsworth Communications
Blacksmith Award: People Working Cooperatively's Ramp it Up for Veterans Telethon by Scooter Media

Direct Mail – Direct Response

Award of Excellence: EMERION™ 7000 Organic Growers Product Sampling Initiative by Vehr Communications and Emery Oleochemicals: Agro Green Business
Blacksmith Award: Book an Experience with Drew Boyd by Wordsworth Communications & Drew Boyd

Media Relations

Award of Excellence: Stingray Hideaway: Enter their World by Newport Aquarium
Award of Excellence: Deadlines and Due Dates: How Fifth Third Bank Became a Trailblazer for Working Moms by Wordsworth Communications & Fifth Third Bank
Award of Excellence: Chick-fil-A Stuff The Bus Challenge by Gilchrist Group
Award of Excellence: Topspin: Using Strategic Earned Media to Build the Cincinnati Region's Reputation by Source Cincinnati
Blacksmith Award: Ride Cincinnati: New Decade, New Mission by Pomme Communications & Ride Cincinnati

Online Videos

Award of Excellence: Maternity Concierge Program Makes Social Media Magic by Wordsworth Communications & Fifth Third Bank

Satellite Media Tours

Blacksmith Award: Fifth Third Bank Radio Media Tour Redefines the American Dream by Wordsworth Communications & Fifth Third Bank

Smartphone / tablet application

Award of Excellence: Cincy EZRide Mobile Application by SORTA

Social Media

Award of Excellence: Icon Solar Social Media by Rasor Marketing Communications
Award of Excellence: Fast Park’s 5 Days of Giveaways by Vehr Communications & Fast Park
Award of Excellence: Sell Benefits, Buy Trouble by Hamilton County Job & Family Services
Blacksmith Award: Dream Dinners Social Media by Scooter Media

Speeches

Blacksmith Award: Healthcost by Wordsworth Communications & Healthcost

External Websites

Blacksmith Award: Paving with Pixels by Wordsworth Communications & Uptown Consortium, Inc

Internal Website/intranet category

Blacksmith Award: SynchronySling.com by Topic Design and Synchrony Financial

Word of Mouth

Award of Excellence: Skyline Chili Takes Off During National Aviation Day by Wordsworth Communications and Skyline Chili
Blacksmith Award: Fake Cabin Does REAL Good by Wordsworth Communication

Professional Recognition:

PR Professional of the Year: Steve Kissing, APR (Wordsworth Communications)
New PR Professional of the Year: Klare Williamson (Wordsworth Communications)
Independent PR Practitioner of the Year: Allison Schroeder, APR (Pomme Communications)
PRSSA Student of the Year from Miami University: Paige Garty
CEO Communicator of the Year: Garren Colvin, President & CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare
PRSA Small/Mid-Size Agency of the Year: Scooter Media
Large Agency of the Year: Vehr Communications
Large Agency of the Year: Wordsworth Communications