PRSA-Las Vegas Valley Chapter Announces Winners in Tenth Annual Pinnacle Awards Competition.

Awards Spotlight the Best in Local Public Relations Strategies, Programs and Tactics

LAS VEGAS -- From an outstanding field of nearly 90 entries, Purdue Marion & Associates and the Southern Nevada Water Authority won Best of Show honors in the Public Relations Society of America-Las Vegas Valley Chapter's 10th annual Pinnacle Awards.

Meanwhile, Lynn Purdue and Paige Candee, both with Purdue Marion & Associates, received individual honors as Principal of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, respectively, in ceremonies held Nov. 2 at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas.

Purdue Marion & Associates won the Best of Show Award for Public Relations Programs for its "Community 911" program, which also earned the Pinnacle Award in the Public Service category. The SNWA took home the Best of Show Award in Tools & Techniques for its 2006 Water Smart Calendar, which also earned top honors for Direct Mail.

Pinnacle entries are accepted in two categories, Public Relations Programs and Tools and Techniques, which include a combined 32 subcategories. Three award levels are presented, Award of Merit, Award of Excellence, and Pinnacle Award. Best of Show awards are given to the top entries in each category. The chapter has also presents individual awards recognizing outstanding practitioners for Newcomer of the Year (been in full-time practice for less than five years) and Principal of the Year (an established practitioner who is recognized for exceptional leadership and professional accomplishments during the previous year).

This year marked the addition of four new sub-categories, Internet and Online Marketing Programs, Multicultural Programs, Press Conference and Media Tour. Also this year, the Chapter launched a dedicated Pinnacle Awards Web site, PRSAPinnacleAwards.com.

The Pinnacle Awards competition is open to public relations professionals, agencies, and non-profit and public and private sector organizations in southern Nevada, southern Utah and northern Arizona.

"These coveted awards represent countless hours of hard work performed during the past year by our region's public relations professionals," said Diane Lancaster-Gibes, the Chapter's 2006 Director-At-Large for the Pinnacle Awards. "Congratulations to all the winners who continue to raise the bar for achieving excellence in public relations for their clients, their respective organizations and the profession as a whole."

The 2006 Pinnacle Awards winners for Public Relations Programs were:

Community Relations Programs

* Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for National Tourism Week

Public Service

* Purdue Marion & Associates, "Community 911"

Marketing Communications

* UNLV Division of Student Life, "Rebel Connection - Fall 2006"

Special Events, $25,000 and above

* Cox Communications, "Teen Summit on Internet Safety"

Emergency or Crisis Programs

* Southern Nevada Health District and Brown & Partners, "Clark County Health District 'Can It' Emergency Readiness Campaign"

Quick Turnaround Programs

* Purdue Marion & Associates, "Rhodes Homes Video"

For entries in the Public Relations Tools and Techniques categories:

External Video

* Boyd Gaming Corp. and LMNO Productions, "Boyd Gaming Corporate Video"

News Magazine Video/Show

* Regional Flood Control District, "The Flood Channel - 'Always Be Flood Safe'"

Internet Site

* UNLV Performing Arts Center Web Site

Intranet Site

* Purdue Marion & Associates, "Community 911"

Electronic Newsletter

* Bechtel SAIC Co., "The Crest"

Media Kit

* Cox Communications, "Press Kit for Launch of Cox Digital Telephone"

News Article

* Harrah's Entertainment, "A Tempting Wager" (published in Barron's, April 10, 2006)

Publications-Annual Report

* Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2005 SNWA Annual Report - "Synergy"

Brochures

* UNLV Division of Student Life, "Student Life Profile"

Direct Mail

* Southern Nevada Water Authority, "2006 SNWA Water Smart Calendar"

Newsletters, Three or More Colors

* Southern Nevada Water Authority, "Water Smart by Design"

The Pinnacle Awards are judged by out-of-state, accredited PRSA members with previous judging experience and exceptional personal public relations practitioner accomplishments. This year the four judges, who included a member of the PRSA College of Fellows, came from California, Colorado and Texas to review nearly 90 Pinnacle Award entries on Sept. 23. A complete list of winners is available at PRSAPinnacleAwards.com.

About PRSA-Las Vegas Valley Chapter (PRSA-LVVC)

The Las Vegas Valley Chapter of PRSA was formed with six members in 1975 when it was called the Nevada Chapter of PRSA. The chapter has grown to include nearly 150 members and is operated by a 17-member volunteer board governed by local and national bylaws. PRSA-LVVC provides a variety of benefits including monthly luncheon seminars with guest speakers, professional development workshops, continuing education certification in partnership with UNLV, the Pinnacle Awards, scholarships for local college and university public relations students, a job bank, membership directory and mixers. Visit PRSALasVegas.com for more information.

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

The Public Relations Society of America (prsa.org), based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has more than 30,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 112 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections, along with Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 278 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.