FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virginia Beach, Va. – On June 13, the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) held its annual Pinnacle Awards ceremony recognizing the best public relations programs and tactics in the region.

Joel Rubin, president of Rubin Communications Group, was recognized with the newly renamed P. Lee Starkey Public Relations Practitioner of the Year award. Starkey, the chapter’s first Public Relations Practitioner of the Year, passed away in 2012. He was described as “a patriot, a gentleman and the father of public relations in Hampton Roads.” His wife, Earlene, attended the luncheon and presented the award to Rubin. Other Pinnacle Award-Winners include:

Newsletters $3,500 and above

1^st Place: EVMS Magazine and EVMS Marketing and Communications

2^nd Place: Virginia Aquarium Quarterly and Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Brochures $3,499 and below

Man Up Monday

Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia and The Monday Campaigns

Annual Reports $3,500 and above

1^st Place: Fired Up For The Future, Hampton Roads Community Foundation Annual Report and Hampton Roads Community Foundation

2^nd Place: “Embracing the Possibilities” and St. Mary’s Home and Brickell & Partners

Interactive/AV Communications $3,500 and above

EVMS My Story Project

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Interactive/AV Communications $3,499 and below

Virginia Beach’s Online Pressroom

Ron Kuhlman, Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Social Media $3,499 and below

Virginia Aquarium Otter Blog

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Media Kits $3,499 and below

VDOT/Gilmerton Bridge Replacement Project Float-In Media Kit

Virginia Department of Transportation

Seventh Point Public Relations

BEST IN SHOW- TACTICS:

EVMS Magazine

EVMS Marketing and Communications

Special Events $3,500 and above

1^st Place: OpSail 2012 Virginia and Dave Iwans & Associates

2^nd Place: VDOT/Gilmerton Bridge/Federal Highway Administration Event, Virginia Department of Transportation and Seventh Point Public Relations

Community Relations Campaigns $3,500 and above

1^st Place: VDOT/Gilmerton Bridge/Lift-Span Float-In Community Relations Campaign, Virginia Department of Transportation and Seventh Point Public Relations

2^nd Place: Wounded Warrior Project Collegiate Sports Program and Meridian Group

Community Relations Campaigns $3,499 and below

Meet, Greet + Imagine: The Granby Experience

City of Norfolk Office of the City Manager

Public Relations Projects $3,500 and above

Virginia Beach’s 2012 “Love the Moment” Campaign

Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Reputation/Brand Management $3,500 and above

511/ Reach the Beach

VDOT Hampton Roads District Communications

BEST IN SHOW-PROGRAMS:

VDOT/Gilmerton Bridge/Lift-Span Float-In Community Relations Campaign

Virginia Department of Transportation

Seventh Point Public Relations

For more information about PRSA Hampton Roads, visit www.prsahr.org.

###