External Affairs team wins 17 awards for effective communication programs
June 5, 2012
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority received 17 awards for superior work in public relations and marketing, including the highest honor of Best in Show for the O.C. Jobs Now Initiative.
The Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (OC/PRSA) delivered eight first-place Protos Awards and eight Awards of Excellence to OCTA’s External Affairs team for unsurpassed work in community relations, media relations and marketing. OCTA Public Communications and Media Relations Manager Ted Nugyen also was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the public relations profession.
The awards program – named Protos for “first” in Greek – recognizes outstanding performance in categories ranging from community outreach, multicultural and media relations programs to communication collateral materials and multimedia presentations.
“Reaching the public is a critical part of OCTA’s mission and I’m proud of our team’s hard work in delivering cost-effective programs,” said Will Kempton, OCTA’s CEO. “These programs required superior strategic planning and precise execution that netted impressive results to enhance transportation in Orange County.”
The O.C. Jobs Now Initiative received the Best in Show Award for effectiveness in communicating with key target publics regarding how jobs could be created by breaking down barriers in the project delivery process. The initiative brought together experts and elected officials from around the country to provide insight into what’s happening with the economy and how transportation infrastructure can pave the way for jobs in Orange County and across the country.
OCTA also was honored with first-place Protos Awards for:
- O.C. Jobs Now Initiative by Breaking Down Barriers
- 7th Street Bridge Closure Public Awareness Campaign
- Counter Terrorism Hits Streets of O.C. Press Conference
- Measure M with Promises and Projects Delivered Media Pitch
- 2011 Jingle Pass Holiday Pass Promotion
- Freeway Environmental Mitigation Program First Property Acquisition Celebration Event
- O.C. Jobs Now Summit by Breaking Down Barriers Summit
More than 200 public relations and marketing professionals gathered over the weekend to honor this year’s top-performing communications professionals and programs during the 37th annual Protos Awards at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.
