PadillaCRT Executive, Others Honored at 69th Virginia PR Awards

RICHMOND, Va. (May 18, 2016) – With more than 325 public relations professionals in attendance, the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) honored statewide organizations and companies for excellence in public relations at the 2016 Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA).

For the first time in the awards’ history, the same project swept both Best in Show awards – Neathawk Dubuque & Packett’s (ND&P) work on the VMFA Japanese Tattoo exhibit. ND&P won the Capital Best in Show for its creative tactics entry and the Commonwealth Best in Show for its brief observances and events campaign. ND&P’s efforts in media, partnerships, creative, events and social media earned lasting ink for the museum.

PadillaCRT executive vice president Mike Mulvihill, APR, was honored with this year’s Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Public Relations. Mulvihill leads the agency’s corporate practice. The Thomas Jefferson Award, which recognizes a public relations professional at the height of his or her career, is open to PR practitioners in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area. PRSA Richmond donates $1,000 to the charity of the recipient’s choice. Mulvihill will be making the donation to the Virginia Local Initiatives Support Cooperation.

“The Virginia PR Awards recognize the best PR professionals in the Commonwealth for their creativity and excellence,” said Andrew K. Ryan, APR, president of PRSA Richmond. “The caliber of work seen at this year’s awards was once again outstanding and a clear sign that the public relations work coming out of Virginia is second to none.”

PRSA Richmond also honored Alexsis Rodgers with the Rising Star Award, which recognizes a Richmond professional who has five or fewer years of experience in the public relations profession. Rodgers is the policy director for Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam.

The Virginia Public Relations Awards are separated into two divisions: the Commonwealth Awards that honor the best public relations programs and campaigns of the year and the Capital Awards that honor the best public relations tactics of the year. A total of 161 awards were given at this year’s ceremony.