AT LOCAL PR AWARDS Lansing agency receives 10 Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America PACE Awards

LANSING MI, – The Central Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized Piper & Gold Public Relations with 10 PACE Awards– including six Pinnacle Awards, the highest level awarded ⁠- at the first-ever virtual PACE Awards ceremony. The agency also won Best in Show, which signifies the highest point score of all entries submitted. The honor was for the social marketing campaign, “Growth: Merging Data and Science for Social Success,” a project done in partnership with the Michigan Apple Committee. 

In addition to the awards for the agency’s campaigns and tactics, Piper & Gold Assistant Strategist Hadley Kerr was the 2020 recipient of the George Brown Memorial Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding student practitioner from among the ranks of the Michigan State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. 

“Whether it’s visiting different public relations agencies around the world to expand her professional network, or working on a client’s social strategy, Hadley approaches each challenge within public relations with the same solutions-focused candor,” Snyder said. “Hadley shows up ready to get to work, make it work and prove it works daily, and she does us all proud as a fellow PR practitioner.”  

Piper & Gold was recognized in the following PACE Award categories: 

Best in Show

• Social Marketing: Growth: Merging Data and Science for Social Success, Michigan Apple Committee 

Pinnacle Award 

• Social Marketing: Growth: Merging Data and Science for Social Success, Michigan Apple Committee  

• Public Affairs: Developing policies to make Michigan the best place in the country to have and raise a child, Early Childhood Investment Corporation 

• Shoestring Budget:#ArtEL: A Downtown Takeover, Downtown East Lansing

• Brochures: Welcome to Clinton County: Growing Innovation, Growing Families, Clinton County 

• Innovative Tactics:#ArtEL: A Downtown Takeover, Downtown East Lansing 

• Research: Your story matters: Munson Healthcare’s listening and learning experience, Munson Healthcare 

Award of Excellence 

• Annual Reports: Connected Together: Capital Area Michigan Works! 2019 Annual Report, Capital Area Michigan Works! 

• Research: The PR Dream: Leveraging research for Barr Engineering Co.’s strategic communications, Barr Engineering Co. 

Award of Achievement

• Special Events: A SMASHing Grand Opening at Impression 5 Science Center, Impression 5 Science Center 

Piper & Gold’s award for its campaign with the Michigan Apple Committee marks the agency’s first-ever Best in Show honor. The campaign promoting the organization’s annual harvest dug into apple statistics with a focus on science, scientific data and education, highlighting the patterns in the apple industry while remaining entertaining and relevant, growing overall fans across each social platform and driving sales for Michigan apples.

Held annually, the CMPRSA PACE Awards are mid-Michigan’s highest honor in public relations activities and are awarded to public relations practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award ceremony was held virtually and live-streamed for the public. 

“It’s an absolute honor to be recognized by our peers around the country, and showcase the incredible work our clients do each and every day in the community,” said Kate Snyder, Piper & Gold principal strategist and founder. “This year, it was particularly meaningful to be recognized for equity and social justice work amidst the local and national focus on coronavirus disparities and the Black Lives Matter movement. Our team and clients are constantly striving to grow and do better, as we all should be. While the validation of our work is meaningful, there’s still much to be done and PR can play a significant role in that. Awards are great. Action is greater, and we remain committed to action.”

With an emphasis on government organizations, nonprofits, associations and small business, Piper & Gold focuses on creating a more just society through communications. The agency assists clients with communications strategy and planning, media relations, social media, event planning and more, and prides itself on serving as an extension of its clients’ teams.

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