Davis Lundy, president of the Moriah Group, and Jim Gilliland, vice president, are shown accepting national advertising award in New York City. Click to enlarge.
The Moriah Group is the recipient of this year’s prestigious Silver Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), for its work with American Water and Kentucky American Water in Lexington, Ky.
The Silver Anvil, which recognizes outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation, was presented during the Silver Anvil Awards Evening held June 14 in New York City.
The Moriah Group received the 2007 Silver Anvil Award for its VOTE NO campaign in the Public Affairs-Business category. The four-and-a-half month VOTE NO campaign was the culmination of a 57-month effort to prevent local government in Lexington from using their power of eminent domain to take over Kentucky American Water.
The four-month referendum initiative ended when voters overwhelmingly rejecting the use of eminent by a 61-39 margin.
“This was an extraordinary team effort where a group of customers stood with a company they trusted and against the misuse of eminent domain for nearly five years,” said Davis Lundy, president of the firm. “It’s a privilege to have a client committed to a project where a firm like ours can use all aspects of our business to keep the public informed, educated and engaged.”
The Moriah Group’s research-based strategy utilized public relations, employee relations, community relations, government relations, crisis/issues management, advertising and media relations, it was stated.
The Moriah Group designed, implemented and managed all aspects of the campaign that resulted in a favorable outcome for the local water company owned by American Water.
Mr. Lundy said Jim Gilliland, vice president, and Vince Butler, account supervisor, with TMG, coordinated the campaign that worked with other local firms in Lexington and Chattanooga.
TMG worked with strategic partners Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Public Opinion Strategies of Arlington, Va.; Preston-Osborne of Lexington; and Dye Van Mol & Lawrence of Nashville.
“The Moriah Group is a strategic partner of American Water, and we appreciate the firm’s efforts on behalf of American Water and Kentucky American Water,” said Dan Kelleher of American Water, who accepted the award in New York City.
“The Moriah Group is uniquely qualified for this work, and we are proud that they have been recognized by PRSA for their leadership, vision and work in this campaign.”
There were more than 855 national and international entries in this year’s Silver Anvil Awards with 34 Silver Anvil Award winners. The Moriah Group was one of only two companies in Tennessee to win a Silver Anvil Award.
“The PRSA Silver Anvil Awards are the highest watermark of success for any public relations practitioner,” said Sherry Goldman, 2007 PRSA Silver Anvil Awards chair and president, Goldman Communications Group, Inc. “We congratulate The Moriah Group for their public affairs program that incorporated measurable and sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. This program contributes to the best practices of our industry.”
The Silver Anvil Awards has grown in scope and stature since its inception in 1946. In the 60 years since the inception of the program, more than 1,000 organizations have received Silver Anvils for excellence in strategic public relations planning and implementation.
About The Moriah Group
The Moriah Group, based in Chattanooga, is a communication strategy and public affairs company, founded by Davis Lundy in 1994.
About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), headquartered in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals with more than 31,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 109 Chapters nationwide and 20 Professional Interest Sections and 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 285 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The local chapter of PRSA is the Lookout Chapter.